The simplest way to get from your Reykjavík hotel to the cruise port is a pre-booked private transfer or a taxi. The key is knowing which of the three terminals your ship uses, because the distance changes a lot. Most big ships use Skarfabakki, about 4 km from the center. A car takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes, and walking takes about 45 minutes with no help for your bags. This guide shows you how to check your terminal, compare your options and plan the morning so you step on board relaxed.
TL;DR
- Check your terminal first. Reykjavík's area has three cruise ports: Skarfabakki, Miðbakki and Hafnarfjörður. Your cruise documents and the port schedule tell you which one you need.
- Skarfabakki is a short drive, not a short walk. Expect about 10 to 15 minutes by car from downtown hotels.
- Book a fixed-price pickup if you have luggage, kids or a group. It removes the stress of finding a taxi at busy times.
- Build in a buffer. Cruise lines ask you to finish check-in at the pier well before sailing, so leave the hotel early.
- Large groups should plan one vehicle plan, one meeting point and one departure time.
Table of Contents
- Which cruise terminal will your ship use?
- Hotel to Skarfabakki: your options compared
- Plan your morning around the sailing time
- Luggage, families and accessibility
- Large groups: one plan for everyone
- Our perspective
- Book your hotel-to-port transfer with us
- Quick checklist for embarkation morning
- FAQ
- Sources
Which cruise terminal will your ship use?
Before you plan anything, confirm where your ship docks. Visit Reykjavík lists three cruise ship ports in the greater Reykjavík area: Skarfabakki, Miðbakki and Hafnarfjörður. Each has its own location and transport options.
The distances from the city center are very different:
| Terminal | Where it is | Distance from city center |
|---|---|---|
| Skarfabakki | Waterfront east of downtown | About 4 km |
| Miðbakki | Old Harbour, central Reykjavík | In the center, close to attractions, restaurants and shops |
| Hafnarfjörður | Town south of Reykjavík | About 12 km |
Source for all three: Visit Reykjavík.
How to confirm your terminal
Your cruise line's boarding documents are the first place to look. You can also use the port's online schedule: select Reykjavík, pick the month, and the terminal for your ship's call is displayed, as this port guide explains. Terminals can change, so check again a few days before you travel.
If you want a closer look at how the terminals differ, our guide to where your cruise ship docks in Reykjavík covers each one.
What is new at Skarfabakki
The new Vör Cruise Terminal at Skarfabakki opened on 29 May 2026 and is the city's first new guest terminal in 60 years, according to Princess Cruises. It sits about 4 km along the waterfront east of the city center. If you have sailed from Reykjavík before, expect the arrival area to look different.
Hotel to Skarfabakki: your options compared
Skarfabakki is the terminal most travelers need, so most of this guide focuses on it. From there, downtown Reykjavík is about a 10 to 15 minute drive, and walking takes roughly 45 minutes, according to Princess Cruises.
That walk is possible in good weather with a backpack. With suitcases, it is rarely what you want on embarkation morning.
| Option | Best for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private transfer | Families, groups, luggage, early sailings | Fixed price agreed in advance, pickup at your hotel door, flight or schedule can be planned around |
| Taxi from the hotel or a taxi app | Couples and solo travelers with light bags | Quick when available, but price is an estimate and cars can be scarce when several ships are in |
| Cruise line shuttle or ship excursion bus | Passengers who booked it | Fixed meeting points and times, check your voucher |
| Walking | Light luggage, dry weather, plenty of time | About 45 minutes from downtown to Skarfabakki |
Private transfer
A private transfer is the calmest choice. The driver meets you at the hotel, loads the bags and drives you straight to the terminal. You do not need to look for a taxi, and everyone in your party travels together.
We offer door-to-door private transfers with licensed, English-speaking drivers, and our fixed pricing has no hidden fees. Our 24-hour free cancellation policy means that if your plans shift, you are covered when you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. For a hotel-to-port ride, tell us your hotel and your terminal and we will quote it. See our guide to cruise port transfers in Reykjavík for how this works in practice.
Taxi and taxi apps
Most people who stay in downtown Reykjavík take a taxi to the ship, about 10 to 15 minutes, according to Cruise Port Pro. The same source says no hotel near Skarfabakki runs a confirmed cruise shuttle, so do not count on one.
There is also a taxi app, Hopp, which works much like a ride-hailing app but with taxi vehicles. You get an approximate price and pay in the app, as travelers on a community forum describe. The price is an approximation, so treat it as an estimate rather than a fixed fare.
If your ship uses Miðbakki
Miðbakki is at the Old Harbour, in the middle of the city, so many central hotels are close. You may not need a vehicle at all. But if you have heavy bags, mobility needs or a steep, wet morning, a short transfer is still helpful. Read our guide to Miðbakki terminal transfers for pickup details.
If your ship uses Hafnarfjörður
Hafnarfjörður is about 12 km from Reykjavík city center, so this is a drive rather than a walk. Public bus number 1 runs between Hafnarfjörður and the center, with a stop called Fjörður. It runs every 10 to 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on weekends, according to Visit Reykjavík. That works for light luggage. With several bags or children, a private transfer is easier.
Plan your morning around the sailing time
Work backward from your ship's departure, not forward from breakfast.
- Find your all-aboard time in your cruise documents.
- Add check-in time at the pier. One cruise line, Explora Journeys, asks guests to complete pier check-in at least three hours before departure. Check your own line's rule, as it may differ.
- Add the drive. For Skarfabakki, allow the 10 to 15 minutes above, plus extra for traffic and loading bags.
- Add a hotel checkout buffer. Breakfast, bill and bag collection often take longer than you expect.
- Set the pickup time with your driver and confirm it the night before.
If you are flying in just before the cruise, the same cruise line recommends at least four hours between your flight arrival and the ship's departure. That allowance covers airport formalities, baggage collection and transfer time. If this is you, our guide to getting from Keflavík Airport to the cruise port helps.
Flying out after the cruise
Going the other way? Our guide to the cruise port to airport journey for Irish travelers covers disembarkation day, and the one on Reykjavík hotel to airport transfers is useful if you add hotel nights after the cruise.
Luggage, families and accessibility
Bags cause most embarkation-morning stress. A few simple habits help.
- Label every bag. MSC Cruises advises tagging bags with your name and surname, the ship's name, your cabin number and the date and port of departure.
- Print or collect your tags. NCL says luggage tags can be printed from your eDocs after online check-in, and should be attached before you arrive at the pier. Celebrity Cruises says tags are also available electronically or at the pier.
- Keep essentials with you. MSC suggests keeping what you need for embarkation day and evening, including clothes and medication, in your carry-on. Royal Caribbean also says medicine and valuables belong in hand luggage.
- Expect checked bags to arrive later. If you hand bags to a porter with correct tags, Celebrity says they should reach your stateroom within a few hours of sailing.
Traveling with children
Children, strollers and car seats multiply the load. Tell us the number of travelers and bags when you request a quote so we can match the vehicle to your party. A fixed pickup time also means you are not standing outside a hotel with tired kids waiting for a taxi.
Mobility equipment
If you travel with a wheelchair or other mobility equipment, tell both the cruise line and your transport provider early. The UK's travel association ABTA says port operators will help with check-in and luggage registration if you requested assistance, but that equipment you did not declare in advance may not be allowed on board. It also says providers usually ask for details at least 48 hours ahead, and suggests carrying the dimensions, weight and battery details with your travel documents. When you contact us, mention the equipment at booking so the vehicle suits it.
Large groups: one plan for everyone
Groups are where transfer planning matters most. Our fleet covers parties of up to 49 passengers, and our team can match vehicle size to your group.
A workable group plan looks like this:
- Confirm the terminal and the all-aboard time with your cruise line.
- Count people and bags before you ask for a quote, including children and carry-ons.
- Choose one meeting point, such as the main hotel lobby, and one departure time.
- Split into vehicles by hotel if your group stays in different places.
- Name one contact person who has the driver's details and the group list.
- Reconfirm the night before with the driver or our support team.
If your group stays at several hotels, send us every pickup address in one request. Our team replies with a quote within 24 hours. School groups, tour operators and travel agencies can also work with us on B2B arrangements.
Where to stay before the cruise
Staying downtown the night before is the most common choice, and Miðbakki passengers can often walk. If you are still comparing hotels, a hotel search tool such as HeyVacay can help you compare central stays by price. Pick a hotel with a lobby large enough for your party and bags, and check the checkout time against your pickup time.
Our perspective
The hotel-to-ship leg looks small on an itinerary, but it is the part that decides how your day starts. A cruise is a fixed departure. A missed taxi or a confused terminal can turn a relaxed morning into a rush.
That is why we built our service around certainty. You get a fixed price with no hidden fees, a licensed English-speaking driver, premium vehicles including Mercedes and Tesla models, and 24/7 support. Free onboard WiFi lets you check your cruise documents on the way.
We recommend a private transfer for anyone with luggage, children, mobility equipment or a group. It keeps everyone together, and you know your pickup time before you go to bed. We also cover the whole of Iceland, so if your plans extend beyond Reykjavík, we can quote that too.
Sergiu
Book your hotel-to-port transfer with us
We run private transfers across Iceland, including cruise port, hotel and airport journeys, for individuals and groups. Send us your pickup and drop-off locations through our quote form, and a sales agent replies within 24 hours.
If you also land at Keflavík Airport, our private Keflavík airport transfers start from $45 per traveler, one-off. Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon transfers start from $36 per traveler, one-off. Both are on the same page. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before pickup for a full refund.
Have a free day before or after your ship? Our private day tours include the Golden Circle from $1,550 per group, the South Coast from $1,800 per group and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula from $1,950 per group. Our guide to cruise excursion transfers explains how to fit a tour around your ship's schedule.
Quick checklist for embarkation morning
- Cruise documents, passports and bag tags in your hand luggage
- Medication, valuables and chargers in your carry-on
- Pickup time confirmed with your driver the night before
- Terminal name checked against your cruise documents
- Hotel bill settled and bags at the lobby on time
- Phone charged, with the driver's contact details saved
FAQ
How far is the Reykjavík cruise port from downtown hotels?
It depends on the terminal. Skarfabakki is about 4 km from the center, Miðbakki is at the Old Harbour in the middle of the city, and Hafnarfjörður is about 12 km away, according to Visit Reykjavík. From downtown to Skarfabakki is about a 10 to 15 minute drive.
Can I walk from my hotel to the cruise terminal?
Only in some cases. Miðbakki is in the city center, so a walk may work. Walking from downtown to Skarfabakki takes roughly 45 minutes, per Princess Cruises. With suitcases or children, most travelers prefer a car.
Is there a shuttle from hotels to the cruise ship?
Do not assume so. Cruise Port Pro reports no confirmed cruise shuttle run by hotels near Skarfabakki. Check your cruise line's documents for any shuttle it offers, or book a private transfer from your hotel.
How early should I leave my hotel?
Start from your ship's all-aboard time and allow for pier check-in, which one cruise line asks guests to finish at least three hours before departure, per Explora Journeys. Then add the drive and a hotel checkout buffer. Confirm your own cruise line's rule.
Can you pick up a large group from several hotels?
Yes. Send us all pickup addresses, the group size and your terminal in a single quote request. We can plan vehicles for groups of up to 49 passengers and reply within 24 hours.
Sources
- Arriving by Cruise Ship, Visit Reykjavík
- A guide to Reykjavik cruise port, Princess Cruises
- Reykjavik Cruise Port Guide, DIY Cruise Ports
- Reykjavik Cruise Port: Terminal, Hotels & Airport Rides, Cruise Port Pro
- Options for transport from Reykjavik city center hotel to cruise port, Rick Steves community
- Cruise Embarkation and Disembarkation, Explora Journeys
- Cruise Embarkation tips, MSC Cruises
- How do I get luggage tags, NCL
- Boarding Requirements & Checking In FAQs, Celebrity Cruises
- Frequently asked questions, Royal Caribbean
- Accessible and assisted travel guide, ABTA