Reykjavík City Card

Hot pools and free buses.

The Reykjavík City Card is a simple way to experience Iceland’s world’s northernmost capital without constantly checking prices. You get free entry to a big lineup of museums and galleries, admission to 8 geothermal pools in Reykjavík, and unlimited public bus rides across the city area. You can shape your days around art, history, and soaking—then use the bus network like your personal transfer system.

I especially like how the card helps you build a day that makes sense in cold weather: museum first, then a hot pool, then dinner. I also like the breadth of included sites, from the National Museum to multiple art museums (including the Ásmundarsafn, Hafnarhús, and Kjarvalsstaðir venues). The main catch is timing: the card only starts when you pick it up physically, and several pickup spots have specific hours—so you’ll want to plan your first activation carefully.

Key points to know before you go

• Unlimited Reykjavík buses across the city area, so you’re not paying per ride when stops are spread out
• 8 geothermal pools included, a classic Reykjavik move when the weather turns gray and wet
• Free museum access across a strong mix of history and art venues
• Viðey Island ferry included, handy if you want a little nature-side calm
• Kids (age 6+) pay on buses and at pools/zoo, so family math can change fast
• Activation matters: swap your voucher for the physical card first, or you can’t start using it

Price and what you really get for $40

For $40 per person, the Reykjavík City Card is priced like a “group of activities bundled together” deal. And that’s exactly what it is: admission fees add up fast in Reykjavik, especially when you’re trying to hit museums and thermal pools.

Here’s what you’re paying for in practical terms:

• Transport savings: unlimited bus rides within the Reykjavik city area can remove a whole chunk of daily spending.
• Thermal pool value: geothermal swimming pools are a signature Reykjavik experience, and your card includes admission to the city’s geothermal pools (listed as 8 thermal pools).
• Museum-and-gallery coverage: instead of picking one pricey stop, you can rotate between multiple included venues like you’re building an itinerary.
• Extras: a free ferry ride to Viðey Island and some discounts for tours/shops/services.

Where it gets even better is that you can do partial use and still come out ahead. You don’t need to max out every included site. If you visit just two major museums, ride the bus a handful of times, and catch at least one pool, the value story usually holds up well.

Picking up the card: the clock starts when you get it

This is the one detail that can trip people up. Your digital voucher isn’t the same as the card. You must swap it for the physical Reykjavík City Card at a pickup point, and that’s when you can start using it.

Your pickup locations are all real places you’d likely visit anyway:

• Reykjavík Art Museum Ásmundarsafn (open daily 13:00–17:00)
• Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús (open daily 10:00–17:00)
• Reykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir (open daily 10:00–17:00)
• Reykjavík City Museum Árbær Open Air Museum (open daily 13:00–17:00)
• Reykjavík City Museum Maritime Museum (open daily 10:00–17:00)
• Reykjavík City Museum Museum of Photography (open daily 13:00–17:00)
• Reykjavík City Museum The Settlement Exhibition (open daily 10:00–17:00)

One travel-smart tip: plan your first activation so you don’t lose prime hours. In Reykjavik, short daylight in winter and tight museum schedules can compress your choices, so activating earlier in the day helps you actually use the card.

Unlimited Reykjavík buses: use them like a routing tool

The bus system is what makes this pass feel effortless. You’re not stuck planning every move around walking distance. Instead, you can hop between included venues across town.

A few practical points I’d follow:

• Use Google Maps for route planning, especially when you’re juggling museum locations and pool time.
• If you want more bus-specific accuracy, the Klapp bus app can help you understand stops and schedules.
• Don’t expect everyone to “narrate” the bus experience to you. You’ll likely figure stops out by using your map and paying attention to where the bus goes.

The card covers free, unlimited travel by bus within the Reykjavik city area. That matters because it’s not the same as covering all geothermal options outside the core city. If a pool or attraction is outside the area covered, you may still pay.

Geothermal pools: plan your soak like a local

If you only do one thing with the City Card, make it a pool day. Reykjavik’s geothermal pools are social, relaxing, and—yes—help you recover from cold, wet feet.

What the card includes:

• Admission to the Reykjavík geothermal swimming pools, listed as 8 thermal pools.
• Access that’s meant for you to bounce between pools if your schedule changes.

What to watch:

• Most pools have different opening hours on weekdays vs weekends. So check hours the same day you plan to go.
• If a pool is closed for maintenance, you’ll need to swap to another pool on the list.

Pool timing tip: don’t cram a pool immediately after a long museum if you’re prone to wandering slowly. Give yourself buffer time for changing rooms, showers, and the fact that your body might decide it wants to stay warm longer than you planned.

The museum mix: where your free admissions actually pay off

This card isn’t just “one museum with a discount.” It covers a wide set of places, and that makes it easier to build a balanced itinerary.

National Museum of Iceland and the story of the Settlement

The National Museum of Iceland is a strong anchor stop. It’s the kind of museum that helps you make sense of what you’re seeing around Reykjavik. I like using it early in a trip because it gives context before you start hopping between art and smaller exhibits.

Two practical notes:

• Seniors (aged 67 and over) get 50% off at the National Museum.
• If you’re short on time, National Museum plus one more major site can already justify the card.

Árbær Open Air Museum: history you can walk through

The Árbær Open Air Museum is one of the best included choices if you like physical, street-level history. You’re not just reading panels—you’re moving through a setting built to show how people lived.

A good way to use it with the card:

• Pair it with another museum on the same side of town.
• Then finish with a pool when the air feels extra cold.

Maritime Museum: Reykjavik tied to the sea

The Maritime Museum is a smart museum stop for understanding why Reykjavik grew where it did. It’s also a good “weather-proof” choice when wind makes outdoor plans annoying.

If you’re picking only one city-history museum, this one is worth consideration, because it helps connect the city to the ocean without needing a day trip.

Settlement Exhibition: small space, big context

The Settlement Exhibition gives a focused look at the early story of Icelandic settlement—exactly the kind of museum that makes your later wandering more meaningful.

This is also one of those stops you can fit tightly into a day:

• You can do it between transport hops without feeling like you need a full afternoon.
• It pairs well with art stops and a late pool.

Reykjavík Art Museums: Ásmundarsafn, Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir

The art museum trio is a big reason this pass can work for different tastes.

• Reykjavík Art Museum Ásmundarsafn
• Reykjavík Art Museum Hafnarhús
• Reykjavík Art Museum Kjarvalsstaðir

I like having multiple art options because you’re not locked into one building style or one curatorial mood. If you walk in and it’s not your thing, you can pivot to another included art venue without paying another ticket.

Also, don’t ignore the practical side: museum hours and bus timing matter. Having several options means you can adapt when weather and daylight shift.

Photography at Museum of Photography: hands-on feeling

The Reykjavík City Museum – Museum of Photography is included, and it’s the kind of museum that often makes Iceland feel more personal. If you like seeing how places are framed—especially in a country where weather plays such a role—this stop can be a strong use of free admission.

Culture House and National Gallery of Iceland

The card includes Culture House and the National Gallery of Iceland too. These are good picks if you want more than just history and sea stories.

Heads-up:

• Seniors (67+) get a 50% discount at the National Gallery of Iceland and Culture House (plus the National Museum).

Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum and Gerdarsafn

Two more included museum options:

• Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
• Gerdarsafn Museum

These can be excellent if you want your days to feel more like a gallery crawl than a checklist. They’re also a nice break from the bigger, more general-history museums.

Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park: included, but kids cost note

Admission to Reykjavík Zoo and Family Park is included. It’s a simple add-on if you want something calmer than museums.

But here’s the important family detail:

• Admission for children is charged on location for the bus, swimming pools, and the Family Park and Zoo.
• Museum entry is free for those under 18, but that doesn’t automatically mean kids are free everywhere on the card.

Natural History Museum of Kópavogur

The Natural History Museum of Kópavogur is included, which is a nice option if you want something different from art and people-based history. It also helps you break up a day so you’re not bouncing between only indoor culture venues.

A realistic 1–3 day game plan (so you don’t miss the best stuff)

You can absolutely do this card like a buffet. But you’ll enjoy it more if you group stops.

If you have 1 day: go big on one museum cluster plus a pool

Pick a base museum area, then add one art stop and one pool.

A good rhythm:

1) National Museum (or Maritime Museum/Settlement Exhibition)

2) One art museum from Ásmundarsafn / Hafnarhús / Kjarvalsstaðir

3) One geothermal pool to finish the day

With only 24 hours, your biggest enemy is wasted travel time. Use the bus to avoid that.

If you have 2 days: mix history + art, then repeat the pool strategy

Day 1: history anchor (National Museum or Settlement) + one smaller museum

Day 2: art museums + photography + second pool

This is where the card starts feeling like real freedom. You stop thinking about tickets and start thinking about what you want to see next.

If you have 3 days: add Zoo/Family Park and consider Viðey

On day 3, it’s easy to include the Zoo and still have time for multiple museums. You can also fit the ferry to Viðey Island if the schedule and weather cooperate.

Viðey Island ferry and other extras that stretch your day

The card includes a free ferry ride to Viðey Island. If you want a calmer change of pace from museums, this can be a good choice.

Also, the card includes discounts for certain services, tours, and shops. I’d use that mainly as a bonus, not the reason you buy the card. The core value still comes from museums, bus rides, and pools.

One weather note: ferry operations can shift depending on conditions. If the ferry doesn’t run that day, you haven’t “lost” your money—you still have buses and museum admissions to keep your days full.

Who the Reykjavík City Card fits best

This card is a great match if:

• You plan to visit multiple museums or galleries (not just one).
• You want to do at least one geothermal pool during your stay.
• You don’t want to spend mental energy planning every bus ride one by one.
• You prefer mixing culture indoors with soaking when it’s cold outside.

It’s less ideal if:

• You’re only doing one museum and mostly staying in one small area on foot.
• Your time window is so short you can’t pick up the card early enough to use it well.

Should you book the Reykjavík City Card?

Yes, if your Reykjavik plan includes more than one cultural stop and you want at least one thermal pool. The $40 price can pay for itself quickly when you combine museum admissions with unlimited buses and pool time.

Before you buy, do one quick check in your mind:

• Can you activate the card early enough on day one?
• Are at least two of the included museums on your list?
• Do you want to use geothermal pools during your stay?

If those answers are yes, the card is one of the most practical ways to experience Reykjavik without nickel-and-diming yourself on every ticket.

FAQ

How do I start using the Reykjavík City Card?

You have to swap your digital voucher for the physical Reykjavík City Card at one of the pickup points listed (like the art museums or Reykjavík City Museum locations). The card is mandatory to swap in person to start using it.

Is the ferry to Viðey Island included?

Yes. The card includes a free ferry ride to Viðey Island.

What transportation does the card cover?

It includes free unlimited travel by bus within the Reykjavik city area.

Are geothermal pools included?

Yes. The card includes admission to Reykjavík geothermal swimming pools, listed as 8 thermal pools. Geothermal pools in surrounding municipalities are not included.

Do children get free entry?

Admission is free for those under 18 in museums. For city buses, swimming pools, and the Family Park and Zoo, admission for children is charged on location (children aged 6 and older).

Is the City Card wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible.