Everything you need to plan the first hours and first days of your Iceland road trip when your pickup is in Reykjavik. From the city-first logistics to choosing the right day-one route, this guide is built for travellers starting from Iceland's capital.
Planning your first day in Reykjavik before the road trip
If you picked Reykjavik over Keflavik for your campervan pickup, you're betting on one or two days of urban exploration before hitting the road. That's a smart call for jet-lagged travellers, families with kids, and anyone who doesn't want to drive tired on unfamiliar left-hand-drive Icelandic roads. Here's how to make that first day count.
Where to stay on your pre-road-trip night
Most visitors book a downtown hotel for the first one or two nights. Good options include Kvosin Downtown Hotel (boutique), Reykjavik Marina (waterfront), or Kex Hostel (budget-friendly with social vibe). Park your luggage, explore on foot, and head to the depot for pickup on the morning you plan to leave the city.
Pro tip: if you're landing at Keflavik late (after 17:00) and picking up in Reykjavik the next morning, take the Flybus to the BSÍ bus terminal — it's €35 round-trip and drops you next to downtown. Skip the expensive airport taxi.
What to do in Reykjavik on a pre-trip day
- Morning: coffee at Reykjavik Roasters, walk down Laugavegur (main shopping street), visit Hallgrímskirkja church (take the elevator to the top — €10 and worth it).
- Midday: lunch at Bæjarins Beztu (legendary hot dog stand) or Grandi district's street food. Harpa Concert Hall architecture tour.
- Afternoon: Sky Lagoon or Laugardalslaug geothermal pool to reset after the flight.
- Evening: dinner at Matur og Drykkur or Messinn (seafood).
- Grocery run: drop by Bónus before they close at 18:30, stock up for the road trip (you'll thank yourself later).
Choosing your first route from Reykjavik
Reykjavik is 40 minutes from Þingvellir National Park (start of the Golden Circle) and 90 minutes from Seljalandsfoss on the South Coast. That means you have three natural day-one routes depending on trip length and energy.
Option 1 — Golden Circle loop (easy day 1)
If you want a gentle introduction, do the Golden Circle as a day trip from Reykjavik and return to Reykjavik Campsite. Route: Reykjavik → Þingvellir → Geysir → Gullfoss → Kerid crater → back to Reykjavik. 240 km, 6–7 hours with stops. Best for 7-day Iceland trips where you want to ease in before committing to the Ring Road.
Option 2 — South Coast sprint (ambitious day 1)
Head east on Route 1 toward Seljalandsfoss (2h), Skógafoss (2.5h), Reynisfjara black sand beach and Vík (3h). Sleep in Vík at Þakgil campsite or drive another hour to Kirkjubæjarklaustur. Best for travellers doing the full Ring Road counter-clockwise with limited days.
Option 3 — Snæfellsnes Peninsula day trip
The "Iceland in miniature" route. Drive north from Reykjavik through Borgarnes, do the peninsula loop (Kirkjufell mountain, Arnarstapi cliffs, Djúpalónssandur beach), and return. Round trip 380 km, 8–9 hours with stops. Best as a scenic day 1 if you're not doing the Ring Road.
Pro tip: the Golden Circle is the closest loop to Reykjavik but also the most crowded. If you're picking up your campervan at 09:00 and want quieter landscapes, head south to Vík — most tour buses don't get that far until late morning.
Parking and camping with a campervan in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is a small city by European capital standards (140,000 population) but traffic and parking logistics for vehicles over 5m still need planning. Here's the rulebook.
Overnight: Reykjavik Campsite is the only legal option
Reykjavík Tjaldsvæði at Sundlaugavegur 32 is the only official campsite within Reykjavik city limits. Open April–October, 200+ pitches, €20–30/night with hot showers, kitchen, WiFi, and a small shop. It's a 15-minute walk from downtown or 5 minutes by bus. No reservation required in shoulder season; July and early August, arrive before 16:00 to guarantee a spot. Wild camping inside Reykjavik city limits is illegal and enforced with fines.
Daytime: street parking and paid lots
- Metered zones P1–P4: downtown. Zone P1 is €3/hour, P4 drops to €0.75/hour further out. Pay via EasyPark app or street meters. Free overnight in P2–P4 zones but check signs.
- Free street parking: residential areas 10+ minutes from Laugavegur. Watch for cleaning-day signs.
- Large-vehicle paid lots: near Harpa and BSÍ bus terminal, €3–5/hour.
Alternative campsites in the greater Reykjavik area
- Hafnarfjörður Campsite: 15 min south of Reykjavik, quieter, €18–25/night. Close to Blue Lagoon.
- Mosfellsbær Campsite: 20 min north, rural feel, cheaper rates.
- Þingvellir National Park campsite: 45 min east, beautiful setting but basic facilities.
Pro tip: if Reykjavik Campsite is full in peak season, Hafnarfjörður is the best backup — closer to Keflavik Airport (shorter drive when you leave), and the campsite shower block is modern.
Reykjavik city pickup vs Keflavik Airport pickup — which is right for you?
Both pickup options are offered by most Iceland campervan suppliers at the same base price. The choice depends entirely on your itinerary and the shape of your first two days in Iceland.
Choose Reykjavik pickup if…
- You're spending one or two nights in Reykjavik before starting the road trip.
- You landed late the night before and want to sleep in a real hotel before driving.
- You're travelling with young kids or elderly relatives who need to decompress after the flight.
- You want to do Reykjavik tourist sights (Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, Sky Lagoon) on foot before the trip.
- You're doing a short 5–6 day loop and don't need to save an extra hour on day 1.
Choose Keflavik Airport pickup if…
- You're skipping Reykjavik entirely and heading straight for the Ring Road.
- Your flight lands before 14:00 and you have energy to drive a few hours that same day.
- You're on a tight schedule (7 days or fewer) and every hour matters.
- You want the Blue Lagoon as a first stop (it's 20 min from KEF, 40 min from Reykjavik).
- You've been to Iceland before and don't need the capital detour.
Cost and transfer logistics — side by side
- Rental price: same for both pickups (most suppliers).
- Airport to depot transfer: Keflavik → same-day shuttle to airport-area depot (10 min). Reykjavik → Flybus 45 min + taxi 10 min, or direct KEF taxi (50 min, €90–120).
- Time from landing to rolling: Keflavik 60–90 min, Reykjavik 2–4 hours.
- First-night accommodation: Keflavik pickup = campsite from night 1. Reykjavik pickup = hotel on night 1, campsite from night 2.
Pro tip: if you're uncertain, go Reykjavik. The extra half-day cost is offset by better sleep, easier logistics, and a gentler start to driving in a new country on Icelandic gravel roads.
If airport-arrival logic is what you need, our Keflavik Airport campervan rental page has the full breakdown on KEF pickup, shuttle timings and first-hour logistics.
Reykjavik logistics — supermarkets, fuel, SIM cards, gear
Reykjavik is your best opportunity to stock up cheap before Iceland's rural prices hit. Use this day-zero checklist.
Supermarkets — cheapest to most convenient
- Bónus (pink piggy logo): cheapest chain. Multiple stores in Reykjavik — one inside Kringlan mall, one on Laugavegur, one in Skeifan district. Open 11:00–18:30 (closes early!).
- Krónan: slightly pricier than Bónus, better selection, open later (until 20:00). Good for snacks and ready meals.
- Nettó: 24/7 at Mjódd. Useful for late-night arrivals needing groceries same-day.
- 10-11 or Bónus gas-station shops: avoid. 2–3× the price, only use in emergencies.
Fuel stations — top off before leaving the city
N1 and Orkan are the two main chains. Reykjavik has the cheapest fuel prices in Iceland — expect €1.90–2.00/litre. Fuel up at an N1 or Orkan on the outskirts (Vesturlandsvegur or Suðurlandsvegur) before committing to rural routes, where prices rise and stations become sparser.
SIM cards and data
Buy an Iceland SIM at Síminn or Nova kiosks — both on Laugavegur and inside Kringlan mall. Tourist SIMs with 50 GB cost around €30 for 30 days. Coverage is excellent on all main roads and Ring Road, weaker in F-roads highlands. Most travellers find 50 GB overkill; a 20 GB plan (~€20) is usually enough.
Specialty outdoor gear
- 66°North and Icewear on Laugavegur — Icelandic brands, last-chance gear for harsh weather.
- Fjällräven store for Scandinavian outdoor clothing.
- Víking and Kría sport in Kringlan mall for cheaper hiking boots and waterproofs.
Pro tip: Bónus closes at 18:30 — the earliest closing of any European supermarket chain. If your pickup is late afternoon, do your grocery run before picking up the camper, not after.
