Skarfabakki Cruise Terminal Guide

About Skarfabakki

Skarfabakki, in the Sundahöfn harbour area, is Reykjavik's main cruise berth — it takes the largest ocean liners (ships up to about 335 m). It sits roughly 4 km (about a 10–15 minute drive) east of the city centre. Most major lines dock here, including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC and Princess.

For 2026 the berth has a brand-new passenger terminal, Vör — a 5,000 m² building that opened in late May 2026 with tourist information, shops and cafés, restrooms, Wi-Fi, border control and covered waiting areas. Ships dock alongside, so there is no tendering.

Berths at a glance

Smaller ships sometimes dock at the Old Harbour (Miðbakki), right in the city centre by Harpa and the whale-watching boats — walkable into town. Check the selected excursion for its current meeting point.

Getting from Skarfabakki to the city

Skarfabakki is a working harbour 4 km from downtown, so plan your transfer:

• Shore-excursion meeting point: use the location and instructions shown for the selected excursion.
• Cruise-line shuttle: some ships run a paid shuttle to the centre (Harpa area) — the free port shuttle was discontinued in 2025, so check what your line offers on board.
• Taxi: available at the terminal; a pre-booked terminal-to-hotel transfer runs around 12,000–16,000 ISK depending on vehicle size.
• City bus: Strætó route 16 serves the Sundahöfn area (≈550 ISK), though it isn't door-to-door at the berth.
• Walking: possible (≈45–55 min) but the route along the harbour road isn't scenic.

Facilities at the Vör terminal

The new Vör terminal is purpose-built for cruise passengers, with tourist information, restrooms, Wi-Fi, a shop and cafés, border control and covered waiting areas, and it's fully wheelchair accessible. It's designed to handle thousands of passengers at peak, but it's still a transit point — use your ship's facilities before disembarking on busy days.

Practical tips for cruise passengers

• Iceland uses the króna (ISK), but cards (incl. contactless) work almost everywhere — cash is rarely needed.
• Dress in layers; Reykjavik weather changes fast even in summer.
• Keflavík International Airport is ≈50 km away — too far for a quick port-day trip.
• Compare shore-excursion schedules with your ship's current all-aboard time.
• Tap water is among the purest anywhere — bring a refillable bottle.