Quick answer: The Reykjavik City Card costs 6,100 ISK (24 hours), 8,500 ISK (48) or 10,500 ISK (72) and covers 17 museums (the National Museum, the National Gallery, the three Reykjavik Art Museum sites, the Settlement Exhibition, the Maritime Museum, Árbær open-air museum), all eight municipal thermal pools, the Strætó city buses, the Viðey ferry and the zoo; children under 18 get free museum entry with an adult card. It does not include Perlan (~5,900–6,500 ISK; 30% off), the Sky Lagoon (from ~13,000 ISK), the Blue Lagoon (from ~11,000 ISK), Hallgrímskirkja’s tower (~1,400 ISK) or Whales of Iceland (30% off). With museums at 2,000–2,900 ISK and pools at ~1,330 ISK, a 48-hour card breaks even at about three museums plus two pool visits and a few bus rides — a realistic two rainy days — while a trip built on the Golden Circle, the lagoons and Perlan gains nothing from it.
Reykjavik Passes at a Glance
| Pass | Price (2026) | Validity | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik City Card — 24h | 6,100 ISK | 24 hours from first use | 17 museums, 8 thermal pools, Strætó buses (city zone), Viðey ferry, Family Park & Zoo; discounts at Perlan, Whales of Iceland, tours and shops | One museum-heavy day with a pool and bus rides |
| Reykjavik City Card — 48h | 8,500 ISK | 48 hours | As above | Two city days between tours — the sweet spot |
| Reykjavik City Card — 72h | 10,500 ISK | 72 hours | As above | Three city days; rare unless it rains |
| Individual tickets | National Museum ~2,800 ISK; Reykjavik Art Museum ~2,500 (all three sites); Settlement Exhibition ~2,900; Maritime ~2,200; pools ~1,330; bus ~670 per ride; Perlan ~5,900–6,500; Sky Lagoon from ~13,000; Blue Lagoon from ~11,000; Hallgrímskirkja tower ~1,400; Whales of Iceland ~4,900; FlyOver Iceland ~5,500 | — | Museums walk-up; lagoons need advance slots | Tour-heavy trips with one or two museums |
Prices checked September 2026 in Icelandic króna (roughly 140 ISK to the US dollar at the time); Icelandic prices move with the currency and the card’s museum list changes slightly each year — the Perlan and Whales of Iceland discounts are 30%, not free entry. The card starts when first used, so activate on a morning; the pools are the sleeper value — a swim at Laugardalslaug or Sundhöllin is the most Icelandic thing you can do for 1,330 ISK.
Top-Rated Reykjavik Tours & Skip-the-Line Tickets
What the Main Attractions Cost — and Whether the Pass Covers Them
| Attraction | Adult ticket (2026, approx.) | In the pass? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Museum of Iceland | ~2,800 ISK | Yes | The best history overview; 2 hours |
| Reykjavik Art Museum (Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir, Ásmundarsafn) | ~2,500 ISK (one ticket, three sites) | Yes | Hafnarhús is by the harbour |
| Settlement Exhibition (Reykjavik 871±2) | ~2,900 ISK | Yes | Viking longhouse; 45 minutes |
| Maritime Museum / Árbær Open Air Museum | ~2,200 / ~2,200 ISK | Yes | Árbær needs a bus — included |
| Thermal pools (Laugardalslaug, Sundhöllin, Vesturbæjarlaug…) | ~1,330 ISK each | Yes (all 8) | Go daily; locals do |
| Strætó city buses | ~670 ISK per ride / day pass ~2,300 | Yes (city zone) | Airport bus not included |
| Viðey Island ferry | ~2,200 ISK return | Yes (summer) | Yoko Ono’s Imagine Peace Tower |
| Perlan (Wonders of Iceland, ice cave, planetarium) | ~5,900–6,500 ISK | 30% discount | Best rainy-day ticket in town |
| Sky Lagoon (Pure pass) | from ~13,000 ISK | No | Book a slot; sunset |
| Blue Lagoon (Comfort) | from ~11,000 ISK | No | Book weeks ahead; near the airport |
| Hallgrímskirkja tower | ~1,400 ISK | No | Best view in the city |
| Whales of Iceland / FlyOver Iceland | ~4,900 / ~5,500 ISK | 30% off / no | Grandi harbour district |
| Harpa, Sun Voyager, the old harbour, Laugavegur, Grótta lighthouse | Free | — | The centre is small and free |
Reykjavik splits neatly: the municipal and national museums and pools (all on the card) cost 1,300–2,900 ISK each, while the private headline attractions — Perlan, the lagoons, FlyOver, Whales of Iceland — cost 5,000–13,000 ISK and are not on it. The card is a museums-and-pools product, and it is a good one for exactly that visitor.
The Break-Even Maths
| Itinerary | Individual tickets | Pass | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48h card: National Museum + Art Museum + Settlement Exhibition + 2 pools + 4 bus rides | ~13,500 ISK | 8,500 ISK | Card wins by ~5,000 ISK |
| 24h card: National Museum + Settlement Exhibition + 1 pool + 2 bus rides | ~8,400 ISK | 6,100 ISK | Card wins by ~2,300 ISK |
| 24h card used only for the Perlan discount + a pool | ~5,900 × 0.7 + 1,330 = ~5,500 ISK | 6,100 ISK | Individual tickets win |
| Tour-heavy trip: Golden Circle day + Sky Lagoon + Hallgrímskirkja tower | ~14,400 ISK + tour | No card fits | Buy individually |
| 72h card at a relaxed pace: 3 museums + 3 pools over 3 days | ~12,000 ISK | 10,500 ISK | Marginal — the 48h card usually suffices |
Three museums and two swims in 48 hours is the card’s natural break-even and a pleasant plan for the days between excursions. If your Reykjavik is a base for the Golden Circle, the south coast and the lagoons, the card has nothing to offer; buy Perlan and the Sky Lagoon slot directly.
| Tour | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik Food Walk – Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland | $146 | ★ 5.0 (21,166 reviews) |
| Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik | $133 | ★ 4.8 (6,630 reviews) |
| Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik | $84 | ★ 4.5 (5,776 reviews) |
| Reykjavík Small group Walking Tour – by CityWalk | $51 | ★ 4.9 (5,250 reviews) |
| Airport Transfer: Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik Center in Iceland | $39 | ★ 4.4 (2,858 reviews) |
| The Golden Circle Guided Bus Tour from Reykjavik | $88 | ★ 4.8 (2,707 reviews) |
Who Should Buy It
Buy the 48-hour card if you have two city days (say, either side of a Golden Circle tour), like museums, will swim in the local pools and are staying outside the compact centre where the bus matters. Families do especially well: children under 18 enter museums free with an adult card and the pools are cheap. Winter visitors with rain days are the classic fit.
Who Should Skip It
Skip it if your itinerary is the Golden Circle, the south coast, the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon, Perlan and Hallgrímskirkja — none is on the card — and if you are staying in the centre, where you will walk everywhere. Skip the 72-hour version unless you can name a museum and a pool for each day.
How to Get the Most Out of It
Activate on a morning you start at the National Museum, walk to the Settlement Exhibition and Hafnarhús, and end at Sundhöllin or Laugardalslaug for a swim. Use the buses to reach Árbær or the Family Park on day two, and the Viðey ferry in summer. Book Perlan (with the 30% card discount) for a rainy afternoon, and the Sky Lagoon separately for your last evening.
Guided Alternatives
A small-group Golden Circle day, a south-coast waterfalls-and-black-beach tour and a northern-lights hunt (September–April) are the three most-booked Reykjavik experiences on Viator; see private vs small-group tours in Reykjavik for the format choice. For passes and tickets in general, see best sites for attraction tickets and timed-entry tickets explained. Everything else Reykjavik: our Reykjavik tours hub, what tours cost in Reykjavik, 48 hours in Reykjavik.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Reykjavik City Card worth it?
Yes for two museum-and-pool days: the 48-hour card (8,500 ISK) pays with three museums, two swims and a few bus rides. It does not include Perlan, the Sky Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon or Hallgrímskirkja, so tour-based trips gain nothing.
How much is the Reykjavik City Card in 2026?
6,100 ISK for 24 hours, 8,500 ISK for 48 hours and 10,500 ISK for 72 hours; children under 18 get free museum entry with an adult card.
Does the Reykjavik City Card include Perlan?
No — it gives a 30% discount. Perlan costs roughly 5,900–6,500 ISK; the Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon are not discounted at all.
Does the card include the airport bus?
No. It covers Strætó city buses in the Reykjavik zone; the Flybus and airport transfers are separate.
What are the thermal pools on the card?
Eight municipal pools including Laugardalslaug (the biggest), Sundhöllin (art-deco, central) and Vesturbæjarlaug — normally about 1,330 ISK each, and the most local experience in the city.
Kratos Review is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Prices and policies were checked on 28 September 2026 and can change.
Related: Things to Do in Reykjavik When It Rains: Best Indoor Activities (2026)
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