Reykjavik

About Reykjavik

Reykjavík is Iceland's capital and the primary cruise homeport for Iceland and Greenland itineraries, near the 64th parallel. Ships dock at Skarfabakki (about 10 minutes from downtown) or the Old Harbour pier within walking distance of Hallgrímskirkja church and the Harpa concert hall. Signature excursions include the Golden Circle, the Blue Lagoon, and whale-watching in Faxaflói bay. Summer features near-24-hour daylight.

• Reykjavik is the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state, sitting at latitude 64°08' N on the shore of Faxaflói bay in southwest Iceland.
• According to the Landnámabók (Book of Settlements), Iceland's settlement began in Reykjavik in 874 when Norwegian Viking Ingólfur Arnarson arrived — yet the city wasn't officially founded until 1786.
• The name 'Reykjavik' means 'Smoky Bay' in Old Norse, named by the first settlers after the steam rising from geothermal hot springs visible from the sea.
• Reykjavik runs almost entirely on renewable energy: geothermal power heats around 90% of all buildings in the city and provides hot water, making it one of the greenest cities on Earth.
• The city is home to about 139,000 people — roughly 64% of Iceland's entire national population lives in the greater Capital Region around Reykjavik.