Reykjavik, on the southwestern shores of Iceland, is the northernmost capital city in the world, and a popular center of culture, economy, and tourism. From its architecture, combining old world grandeur with contemporary creativity, to the stunning mountain vistas across the Faxa Bay, Reykjavik is a great city to see on foot. Despite the latitude and occasionally forbidding weather, running in Reyjavik is surprisingly good! Just be prepared for damp and snowy in winter, and the cool overcast of summer. Note: If you’d like to have a guided running experience in Reykjavik, we highly recommend our affiliate partner Go! Running Tours.
The best places to run in Reykjavik incorporate the city’s great network of bike paths: from the coastal routes like the Sculpture and Shore Walk and the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula, to inland gems like Fossvogur, Reykjavik Airport, Laugardalur, and the beautiful Park Elliðaárdalur. Our Runseeing Tour hits all of Reykjavik’s major sites in one workout. Distance runners will delight in knowing that many of these routes are close together and can be combined for an 18 km mega-loop around the city. See also our Iceland Running Highlights for fantastic running routes in other popular Iceland locations, including the Golden Circle.
Should your legs fail to outlast the sun, public transportation in Reykjavik is simple and straightforward. Buses service all of our major routes, and a Reykjavik City Card allows travelers up to 72 hours of unlimited transportation throughout the capital. Note: owing to the short days of winter, many of the bike paths are lit.
