Iceland
Reykjavík
Away-day guide
unverified draftReykjavík is the most expensive trip in this guide and one of the most memorable — a small, colourful capital under a volcanic sky, with daylight nearly round the clock in the qualifying months. Three clubs stage European ties here at small, atmospheric grounds within a few kilometres of the centre.
🚺 To Víkingsvöllur
The ground is in Fossvogur, about 3 km south-east of the centre — a 35-minute walk, a short Strætó ride, or a taxi. It is a small, tight ground with the crowd close to the pitch.
- Nearest stop
- Strætó stops on Bústaðavegur
- Lines
- Strætó buses towards Fossvogur
- Walk from centre
- 35 min
- Parking
- Free parking around the ground and the neighbouring sports facilities; it fills for European nights.
🚺 To Valbjarnarvöllur
In the Laugardalur sports park, next to the national stadium and the swimming pool, about 3 km east of the centre — a 35-minute walk along the shore path or a short bus ride.
- Nearest stop
- Laugardalur / Suðurlandsbraut Strætó stops
- Lines
- Strætó buses towards Laugardalur
- Walk from centre
- 35 min
- Parking
- Large free car parks in the Laugardalur sports complex.
🚺 To Hlíðarendi
Valur's ground sits below the Öskjuhlíð hill and Perlan, about 2 km south of the centre — a 20–25 minute walk from Laugavegur, or a short bus ride.
- Nearest stop
- Strætó stops on Hlíðarfótur / Flugvallarvegur
- Lines
- Strætó buses towards Hlíðar and the domestic airport
- Walk from centre
- 22 min
- Parking
- Parking around the ground and the neighbouring flats; walking from the centre is easy enough.
Public transport
Strætó runs the yellow city buses and that is the entire public network — no trams, no trains, no metro. A single is around 650 ISK, best bought in the Klappið app since drivers do not give change; day passes are available in the same app. The centre (101 Reykjavík) is small and walkable, and all three grounds are within 3 km of it. Taxis are eye-wateringly expensive — Hreyfill and BSR are the firms, there is no Uber or Bolt — so use the bus, walk, or share a car with three others. Renting a car for a couple of days is often cheaper than four taxi rides.
Typical prices
- Beer (0.5L)
- ISK 1,500
- Coffee
- ISK 750
- Meal, mid-range
- ISK 5,500
- Taxi from airport
- ISK 20,000
- Single transit ticket
- ISK 650
✈ Airports & cheaper alternatives
- Keflavík International Airport KEF primary 50 km Flybus and Airport Direct coaches meet every flight and run to the BSÍ terminal in the city in about 45 minutes for 3,500–4,500 ISK, with hotel drop-offs for a little more. A taxi is 18,000–22,000 ISK and not worth it. The only international airport for the city. Buy the coach ticket online in advance; and stop at the arrivals duty-free shop for beer before you leave the terminal.
- Reykjavík Airport RKV alternative 2 km A 20-minute walk or a short bus ride from the centre. Domestic and Greenland flights only — useful if you are combining the trip with the West Fjords, not for getting to Iceland.
🍺 Supporters' pubs
Víkingur Reykjavík
Home fans: Icelandic club football has no pub culture as such — crowds are small and family-heavy, and supporters go straight to the ground, where there is usually a clubhouse bar and a barbecue on. Drinking happens in town before or after.
Away fans: The Laugavegur bars are neutral and welcoming to anyone; aim for a happy hour before kick-off, then walk or take a bus out to Fossvogur.
One of the strongest Icelandic sides of recent years, playing at the compact Víkingsvöllur in Fossvogur.
Valur Reykjavík
Home fans: As above — the club's ground at Hlíðarendi has its own facilities and that is where the support gathers; there is no dedicated Valur pub in town.
Away fans: Central Reykjavík, then a 20-minute walk out past Perlan to the ground.
One of the capital's traditional clubs, playing at Hlíðarendi below the Öskjuhlíð hill.
IF Vestri
Home fans: Vestri are from Ísafjörður in the West Fjords and bring a small travelling support; there is no home scene in Reykjavík.
Away fans: Drink in the centre and walk or bus out to Laugardalur, where their home ties are staged.
Playing European home ties at Valbjarnarvöllur in Reykjavík rather than at home in the West Fjords — so this is a Reykjavík trip in practice.
Sourced from supporters' forums — always follow your club's and police advice for the fixture.
Nightlife
The rúntur is the local bar crawl and it starts very late: bars are quiet until midnight and busy until five at weekends. Laugavegur and the streets off it hold nearly all of it — Kaffibarinn is the long-standing favourite, Prikið does hip-hop and hangover breakfasts, Lebowski Bar is exactly what it sounds like. The single most important local knowledge is happy hour: nearly every bar runs one, usually 16:00–19:00, cutting a 1,500 ISK beer to 800–1,000, and Icelanders track them with an app. Plan your evening around it.
Food & drink
Icelandic lamb, langoustine, cod and skyr are the things to eat; plokkfiskur (fish stew with rye bread) is the everyday comfort food. The hot dog — pylsa, with crispy onions and remoulade — is the national street food, and the Bæjarins Beztu stand by the harbour has been selling them since 1937 for a few hundred krónur. Fermented shark and brennivín exist mainly so tourists can film each other. Icelandic craft beer is very good and very expensive.
Cheap eats & beer
Reykjavík punishes the unprepared. Three rules: buy your alcohol at the Keflavík arrivals duty-free before you leave the airport, which is far cheaper than anywhere in town and legal to bring in within the allowance; shop at Bónus, the low-cost supermarket, rather than the convenience stores; and eat at happy hour. Off-sales otherwise come only from Vínbúðin, the state monopoly, which shuts early and does not open on Sundays. A hot dog is 700–900 ISK, a bowl of soup with bread 2,500–3,000, and a bar beer 1,300–1,800 ISK outside happy hour.
Staying safe
Iceland has almost no violent crime and Reykjavík is safe at any hour — the risks here are weather and money. Even in July it can be 10°C, sideways rain and a stiff wind, so bring layers and a waterproof; the grounds are open and exposed. If you hire a car, take the wind seriously when opening doors and never drive off marked roads. Budget carefully: a casual weekend here costs what a week costs in Sofia, and the last-minute taxi to the airport will hurt.
On matchday
Three grounds are in play. Víkingur Reykjavík play at Víkingsvöllur in Fossvogur, Valur at Hlíðarendi below Öskjuhlíð and Perlan, and Vestri — who are from Ísafjörður in the West Fjords, several hours north — stage their home ties at Valbjarnarvöllur in the Laugardalur sports park next to the national stadium. All three are small, a few thousand capacity, with tickets available on the day and no meaningful segregation; big ties are occasionally moved to the national stadium at Laugardalsvöllur, so check the venue. Bring a coat whatever the forecast says, and expect a friendly, family crowd.
This city guide is still being fact-checked — some details may be inaccurate.