Axel's take on Old Town & Harpa: #1 of 5 in Reykjavik, 8.4/10
Stay here for the easiest introduction to Reykjavík, but choose your street carefully. Old Town wins overall for historic character, easy exploring and strong hotels, but value is weaker and bar-street noise needs checking.
Old Reykjavík around Aðalstræti and Austurvöllur makes an easy all-round base: older streets, the Settlement Exhibition, Tjörnin and the harbourfront fit naturally into the same day. Harpa adds concerts and conferences without separating you from the older town. Stay here when you want to wander out for dinner rather than organise each outing.
The catch is that central does not mean quiet. Austurstræti and the nearby bar streets belong to Reykjavík's nightlife district. Ask about street-facing noise rather than assuming a historic address guarantees sleep. Skip this area if a residential evening atmosphere matters more than having the city immediately outside.
- Best for: first-time visitors, museums and culture, luxury travelers, travelers without a car
- Skip it if: You need reliably quiet nights; You want a residential rather than visitor-focused setting
- Getting around: Bus 14 serves Lækjartorg; Old Town, Harpa and the harbour are walkable; KEF: Flybus to BSÍ with a booked onward shuttle; RKV: taxi is simplest.
- After dark: Central bars keep Austurstræti and adjoining streets lively late; do not treat a square-facing room as a quiet option.
- Rates: Typical Axel rate $270 a night
Where to stay in Reykjavik: every neighborhood ranked
Where to look in Old Town & Harpa
- Ingólfstorg and Aðalstræti. Start here for old-town wandering and easy dinners; nearby bars make this less suitable for early sleepers. Hotels here: Hotel Reykjavik Centrum, Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, Hotel Borg by Keahotels, City Center Hotel, Center Hotels Plaza.
- Smiðjustígur–Þingholtsstræti. Choose these central side streets for shopping and bar-hopping, not an escape from downtown nightlife. Hotels here: Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre, Thingholt Hotel Apartments from Center Hotels.
- Austurbakki by Harpa. Look here for waterfront walks and concert evenings while keeping the older town within walking distance. Hotels here: The Reykjavik Edition, Center Hotels Arnarhvoll.
How to choose
- Choose Hotel Reykjavik Centrum if you want helpful excursion advice and an old-town base without paying for upscale extras.
- Choose Thingholt Hotel Apartments from Center Hotels if you want a kitchen and washing machine for a longer stay, and can tolerate nightlife noise.
- Choose Center Hotels Plaza if you want the cheapest stay here with staffed reception, and can trade quiet nights for convenience.
What paying more buys
Center Hotels Plaza is cheaper than most here and covers the basics. Paying more for Reykjavik Konsulat adds boutique character and included hot-tub and sauna access; The Reykjavik Edition adds waterfront design and concierge help, but spa access costs extra. Neither premium guarantees spacious standard rooms, so daytime explorers may prefer Plaza or Hotel Reykjavik Centrum. Typical rates with Axel here run from $206 a night at Center Hotels Plaza to $529 at The Reykjavik Edition (last 30 days).
The best hotels in Old Town & Harpa, 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 Reykjavik Centrum 8.9/10, historic 4-star hotel in Reykjavík’s old town. A strong old-town base with helpful staff, trading roominess for location. Why it's here: helpful excursion advice and an easy old-town location without the upscale premium. Accept: compact rooms and showers, with warmth and possible street noise. $184 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre 8.8/10, design-led 4-star in downtown Reykjavik. A stylish downtown base with excellent breakfast, but room choice matters for sleep. Why it's here: design-led rooms and a breakfast-focused stay within walking distance of central sights. Accept: some rooms catch bar noise and lack air conditioning. $225 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton 8.8/10, upscale boutique hotel in Reykjavík’s historic center. A characterful central base with excellent service, but warm rooms can compromise sleep. Why it's here: boutique character, welcoming reception and included hot-tub and sauna access near the harbour. Accept: warm rooms, inconsistent cooling and late street noise. $291 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Hotel Borg by Keahotels 8.6/10, historic Art Deco 4-star in central Reykjavik. A characterful central base, with excellent cleanliness but some nightlife noise. Why it's here: Art Deco character overlooking Austurvöllur, with helpful reception and comfortable beds. Accept: some rooms are small, stuffy or exposed to nightlife noise. $192 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- The Reykjavik Edition 8.6/10, modern 5-star waterfront hotel beside Harpa. Strong waterfront luxury, with stylish rooms and a few five-star inconsistencies. Why it's here: waterfront design beside Harpa, with proactive concierges and extensive dining and bar options. Accept: compact standard rooms, variable dining service and extra spa charges. $364 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Thingholt Hotel Apartments from Center Hotels 8.3/10, 4-star self-catering aparthotel in central Reykjavík. A practical downtown base, provided quiet nights aren’t your priority. Why it's here: kitchens and washing machines for longer, independent stays just off Laugavegur. Accept: nightlife and apartment noise; housekeeping costs extra. $145 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- City Center Hotel 8.2/10, small 3-star boutique hotel in downtown Reykjavík. A characterful downtown base, provided nightlife matters more than guaranteed quiet. Why it's here: individually decorated rooms at a cheaper rate for travelers enjoying downtown nightlife. Accept: late bar noise and self-check-in without a front desk. $141 a night with Axel; no public rate was seen for these dates. Sign up free to book this rate
- Center Hotels Arnarhvoll 8.2/10, practical waterfront 4-star in central Reykjavik. A strong sightseeing base with rooftop views, but rooms lack four-star polish. Why it's here: Harpa-facing sightseeing convenience and rooftop views without the waterfront luxury premium. Accept: compact rooms, splash-prone showers and traffic noise with windows open. $190 a night with Axel against $246 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $56 a night less (23%). Sign up free to book this rate
- Center Hotels Plaza 8.0/10, straightforward 3-star hotel on Reykjavík’s lively old-town square. A dependable downtown base, provided you can trade quiet nights for convenience. Why it's here: the cheapest old-town option here with helpful staff and round-the-clock reception. Accept: late square noise, warm rooms and variable bathroom sizes. $145 a night with Axel against $183 a night on Expedia for the same dates and party: $38 a night less (21%). Sign up free to book this rate