Capital Region
Reykjavik and neighbors
Plan by the actual venue and neighborhood
Iceland Cities and Towns by Region
From the capital Reykjavik to remote fishing villages in the Westfjords, browse towns, rural places and wider municipalities.
Population
394,324 · Jan 1, 2026
96 destination links
Quick Answer
Reykjavík is Iceland's capital and largest city, while Akureyri is the largest urban center outside the Capital Region. Most other places commonly called Icelandic cities are small towns or villages. This guide lists them across all eight regions, with links to individual destination guides.
Iceland's population is concentrated in the Capital Region, with Reykjavik and its suburbs home to well over half of residents. See the latest Iceland population figures for official totals. Beyond the capital, you'll find fishing villages, saga sites, and remote communities where life still centers on the sea and the land.
Sources and page update
Updated: 2026-09-10
The directory mixes towns, municipalities and rural places. These regional groups support travel planning; they are not a population ranking.
For sourcing standards and how to report an error, see the editorial policy.
Official sources to check
Regions
8 regions
Each with its own towns and attractions
Remote towns
Check services
Fuel, food and check-in need separate checks
Choose the kind of stop before choosing the town
A place to sleep: compare the exact property against the next morning’s activity. A room listed under a municipality may be far from its main town. Borgarbyggd includes inland stops beyond Borgarnes; Blaskogabyggd includes three separate Golden Circle village centers.
A museum stop: check the day before building the drive around it. For example, Snorrastofa in Reykholt lists weekday visitor hours in September–April, while Safnahus in Borgarnes lists a short Saturday opening. The Borgarbyggd guide compares these options and links to their operators.
A remote base: settle both arrival and departure. Gjogur has published winter flights, but the air connection does not arrange ground transport, meals or accommodation. A route on a map is only one part of the booking.
Read population figures with their boundaries
Statistics Iceland’s January 1, 2026 release records 394,324 residents nationally and 139,804 in Reykjavik municipality. These are dated counts, not a live headcount. Its separate tables for municipalities and urban nuclei help explain why a rural municipality total should not be compared with a small village’s population.
Cities and Towns by Region
Hofudborgarsvaedid (Capital Region)
Greater Reykjavik Area
Iceland's urban center with over 60% of the population. Museums, nightlife, and services.
Sudurnes (Southern Peninsula)
Reykjanes Peninsula
Gateway to Iceland via Keflavik Airport. Geothermal fields and the Blue Lagoon.
Vesturland (West Iceland)
West Region
Saga country with Borgarfjordur valley, Langjokull glacier, and Snaefellsnes peninsula.
Akranes
Industrial town
Borgarnes
Saga center
Reykholt
Historic site, Snorri Sturluson
Hvanneyri
Agricultural university
Stykkisholmur
Snaefellsnes hub
Grundarfjordur
Kirkjufell mountain
Olafsvik
Fishing port
Hellissandur
Near Snaefellsjokull
Arnarstapi
Coastal cliffs, Snaefellsnes
Hellnar
Historic fishing hamlet
Rif
Bird watching village
Budardalur
Dalir region
Husafell
Glacier & cave gateway
Borgarbyggd
Saga country municipality
Vestfirdir (Westfjords)
Westfjords Region
Remote peninsula with steep fjords, bird cliffs, and the Arctic Fox Center.
Isafjordur
Regional capital
Bolungarvik
Fishing village
Hnifsdalur
Adjacent to Isafjordur
Flateyri
Avalanche history
Sudureyri
Fishing community
Sudavik
Arctic Fox Center
Thingeyri
Sandafell and working-harbor history
Patreksfjordur
Near Latrabjarg
Talknafjordur
Hot springs
Bildudalur
Sea monster museum
Holmavik
Witchcraft museum
Drangsnes
Hot pots by the sea
Reykholar
Seaweed harvesting
Hrafnseyri
Birthplace of Jon Sigurdsson
Gjogur
Remote Strandir coast hamlet
Nordurland Vestra (Northwest Iceland)
Northwest Region
Horse country, herring history, and remote Arctic coastline. Skagafjordur valley.
Nordurland Eystra (Northeast Iceland)
Northeast Region
Akureyri, whale watching from Husavik, and the Diamond Circle route.
Olafsfjordur
Skiing destination
Siglufjordur
Herring Era museum
Dalsmynni
Rural Fnjoskadalur valley
Akureyri
Capital of the North
Husavik
Whale watching capital
Dalvik
Fishing and skiing
Arskogssandur
Beer Spa destination
Hauganes
Whale watching village
Hjalteyri
Art center, scuba diving
Grenivik
Quiet fishing village
Laugar
Geothermal area
Thorshofn
Langanes gateway
Raufarhofn
Arctic Henge
Kopasker
Remote northeast
Reykjahlid
Myvatn gateway village
Austurland (East Iceland)
Eastfjords Region
Steep-sided fjords, reindeer, and the ferry terminal at Seydisfjordur.
Egilsstadir
Regional hub
Seydisfjordur
Ferry terminal, Rainbow Street
Neskaupstadur
Easternmost town
Reydarfjordur
Eastfjords port and museum stop
Eskifjordur
Maritime museum
Faskrudsfjordur
French heritage
Vopnafjordur
Bustarfell turf museum
Stodvarfjordur
Petra's Stone Collection
Djupivogur
Eggs of Merry Bay
Breiddalsvík
Quiet fishing village
Bakkafjordur
Small fishing village
Borgarfjordur Eystri
Puffin colony
Mjoifjordur
Remote 10-house hamlet
Skriduklaustur
Historic monastery & cultural center
Fljotsdalsherad
Former municipality, now within Mulathing
Sudurland (South Iceland)
South Region
Golden Circle, waterfalls, glaciers, and black sand beaches. Most visited region.
Skalafell
Glacier farm settlement
Selfoss
South Iceland hub
Hveragerdi
Greenhouse town
Fludir
Secret Lagoon hot spring
Thorlakshofn
Alternate Herjolfur departure port
Eyrarbakki
Historic fishing village
Stokkseyri
Ghost museum
Hella
Horse farms
Hvolsvollur
Saga center, Eyjafjallajokull
Vik i Myrdal
Black sand beaches
Kirkjubaejarklaustur
Historic monastery
Hofn
Glacier-region service town
Vestmannaeyjar
Westman Islands
Laugarvatn
Golden Circle spa village
Solheimar
Eco-village community
Laugaras
Geothermal village
Blaskogabyggd
Golden Circle municipality
Planning help
Iceland Cities and Towns FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
What is the largest city in Iceland?
Reykjavik is the capital and largest city. Statistics Iceland recorded 139,804 residents in Reykjavik municipality on January 1, 2026; the wider capital area is a different geographic unit.
Why do lists disagree on the second-largest city?
A list may compare municipalities, continuous urban areas or individual towns. Check the geographic unit and reference date before treating a ranking as comparable.
How many people live in Iceland?
Statistics Iceland recorded 394,324 residents on January 1, 2026. The population guide links to later releases and explains the reference dates.
Does this directory include only towns?
No. It also includes municipalities such as Borgarbyggd and Blaskogabyggd, historical sites and rural localities. Open the individual guide to see what kind of destination you are choosing.
Do all listed places have shops and fuel?
No. A map name or accommodation listing does not guarantee groceries, fuel or a restaurant. Check those services separately, especially for rural stays and late arrivals.
How should I choose an overnight stop?
Start with your next morning’s booking or first attraction. Compare the actual drive, dinner and check-in arrangements, then check whether the route is suitable for the travel date.
Can I visit every place in a region in one day?
A regional heading is a browsing aid, not a one-day itinerary. Fjords, mountain roads and seasonal transport can make nearby-looking places separate travel days.
For national population totals and trends to put local figures in context, see our Iceland statistics.