Short answer
Decide how long you'll stay before you park. Under an hour: a P1 or P2 space. Two to four hours: a city garage. All day: P3, a few minutes' walk out. Evening or weekend: a free street space.
The right spot for your stay
| Your visit | Park here | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Quick errand (under 1 h) | P1 or P2 street | 240–660 kr |
| Lunch & shopping (2–4 h) | City garage | 330–730 kr |
| Full day (8 h) | P3 street | 900 kr |
| Evening out | Any street after paid hours | Free |
| Weekend | P3 or P4 street | Free |
What visitors get wrong downtown
- Treating every downtown street as the same price. P1 costs nearly three times P2.
- Grabbing the closest space before deciding how long the visit will really be.
- Assuming garages are the expensive option. For a few hours, they're usually the cheapest.
- Leaving a car in P1 longer than 3 hours — the maximum stay.
One rule that works everywhere
Stop optimising for the first 30 seconds after you park, and start optimising for the whole visit. A five-minute walk from P3, or a garage instead of a P1 space, is usually the difference between paying for premium convenience and paying a reasonable rate for almost the same destination.
Not sure what it adds up to? Use the cost calculator.
A small car makes this easierCompare compact rentals at Keflavík airport.
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Guides by destination
Harpa
The garage next door.
Read →Laugavegur
One street over.
Read →Hallgrímskirkja
Not at the top of the hill.
Read →Independent guide, not affiliated with the City of Reykjavík. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.