Axel's take on Old Harbour & Grandi: #3 of 5 in Reykjavik, 7.7/10
Stay for harbour character and good eating, not the shortest walk home. Harbour character, food and easy sightseeing earn third place, but hotels score below the leaders and value is modest.
Grandagarður still feels like a working waterfront, with old industrial buildings reused for food, design and museums. The Maritime Museum and Grandi's food hall make it especially good for travellers who enjoy a harbour walk between meals. The Reykjavík Grapevine's 2026 dining guide also singles out the food hall's range.
Don't mistake the Old Harbour's near-town edge for the whole district: walking back from Grandi takes longer than staying by Austurvöllur. Recent visitors disagree about that trade-off, which is telling. Choose it for dockside character and unhurried dinners, not the shortest route home from Laugavegur's bars.
- Best for: couples, food lovers
- Skip it if: You want downtown's bars immediately outside; You want to minimise walks back between outings
- Getting around: Buses 3 and 14 serve Grandi; harbour museums are walkable and downtown is a longer stroll; KEF: Flybus via BSÍ with a booked onward shuttle; RKV: taxi.
- After dark: More dinner-led than club-led: local reporting describes the food hall as quieter in the evening, while visitors mention music around harbour-side dining.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $256 a night · usually 6% under the public rate
Where to stay in Reykjavik: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Old Harbour & Grandi
- Tryggvagata–Mýrargata. Choose the near-town harbour edge for boat departures and dockside meals without heading deep into Grandi. Hotels here: Hotel Local 101, Exeter Hotel, Reykjavik Marina Hotel.
- Grandagarður near Seljavegur. Look here for maritime museums, reused industrial buildings and leisurely food stops; it suits harbour-focused days rather than downtown bar-hopping. Hotels here: Grandi by Center Hotels.
How to choose
- Choose Hotel Local 101 if you want the lowest rate here, attentive staff and a generally quiet setting, and travel with little luggage.
- Choose Exeter Hotel if you want a sauna, bakery and restaurant alongside convenient harbour sightseeing.
- Choose Grandi by Center Hotels if spa time matters enough to accept a longer downtown walk and check access charges.
What paying more buys
Hotel Local 101 is cheaper than most here and already delivers attentive service, but rooms are tight. Exeter adds a sauna, gym and bakery; pricier Grandi adds two spa hot tubs, with access depending on your booking. If you mainly need a clean bed near downtown, Local 101 makes the extra facilities harder to justify. Typical rates with Axel here run from $197 a night at Hotel Local 101 to $333 at Grandi by Center Hotels (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Old Harbour & Grandi, ranked by Axel's take
Each hotel scored for what it is by Axel's own review; the rate is one stay Axel priced this week, beside the public rate for the same dates.
- Hotel Local 101 8.8/10, small, renovated 3-star in central Reykjavik. A strong central base, with standout staff and decidedly compact rooms. Why it's here: attentive personal service and a generally quiet central setting at the lowest rate here. Accept: very compact rooms, tight bathrooms and little luggage storage. $143 a night with Axel against $174 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $31 a night less (18%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Exeter Hotel 8.7/10, industrial-style 4-star boutique hotel by Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. A strong harbour-side base with standout staff, though rooms can feel dark. Why it's here: a harbour base combining helpful staff, a sauna and gym, and an on-site bakery. Accept: dim rooms, compact economy layouts and some street noise. $162 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Grandi by Center Hotels 8.7/10, industrial-style 4-star near Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. A strong harbour-side base with excellent staff, a worthwhile spa and practical trade-offs. Why it's here: two spa hot tubs and warm reception make a harbour-focused sightseeing-and-spa stay. Accept: nearby construction, firm beds and variable spa inclusions. $141 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Reykjavik Marina Hotel 8.5/10, characterful 4-star beside Reykjavík’s working Old Harbour. A strong harbour base with welcoming staff, but choose your room carefully. Why it's here: working-harbour character, welcoming staff and library lounges at a mid-priced rate. Accept: compact standard rooms and traffic noise on the road side. $135 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate