Reykjavík

Pools, park & value

Laugardalur

8 min · 3 km from the centre

The green valley east of the centre — the city's biggest geothermal pool, the botanic garden, a small zoo and sports grounds, with family-friendly, better-value hotels. Calmer and more local, a 10-minute drive or bus from downtown; where to stay for space, quiet and a soak with the Reykjavíkers.

A look around

What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.

Around Laugardalur, Reykjavík
1/3

€180–300

typical per night in Iceland

mid for Iceland

The sensible middle

Cheapest in ReykjavíkPriciest

Typical prices for Reykjavík — neither steal nor splurge.

Where it sits

The circle is Laugardalur and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.

How far is everything?

Keflavík (KEF)~71 min drive39.6 km

From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.

  • The Sun Voyager8 min taxi2.6 km
  • Hallgrímskirkja8 min taxi2.7 km
  • Laugavegur8 min taxi2.7 km
  • The Reykjavík djammið8 min taxi2.8 km
  • Harpa Concert Hall9 min taxi3.2 km
  • The northern lights11 min taxi3.5 km
  • Whale watching12 min taxi3.9 km
  • The Sky Lagoon12 min taxi3.9 km

On your doorstep

What you’re living next to if you stay here.

A geothermal swimming pool in Reykjavík
A geothermal pool
The Perlan dome, Reykjavík
Perlan
The Reykjavík Botanic Garden
The Botanic Garden
  • 8.A geothermal poolThe heart of Icelandic life isn't a bar, it's the local swimming pool — a warm outdoor geothermal bath and a row of hot-pots to soak and gossip in, whatever the weather. Laugardalslaug is the biggest; cheap, wonderful, and the most authentic thing you can do. Shower naked first — it's the rule.
  • 9.PerlanA striking glass dome atop hot-water tanks on a wooded hill, housing a superb nature museum — a real indoor ice cave, a planetarium northern-lights show, and a 360° observation deck over the whole city and bay. A brilliant rainy-day option and a great primer on Iceland's wild landscapes.
  • 15.The Botanic GardenA pretty, free botanic garden in the Laugardalur valley — a surprising oasis of northern flora, ponds and a lovely café greenhouse, next to the big pool and a small family zoo. A gentle, green couple of hours away from the downtown bustle, and lovely on one of the long summer evenings.

When are you staying?

Find cheap flights to Reykjavík

Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Laugardalur; flights via Google Flights.