A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Inverness vs. Reykjavik for Food, Families, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Inverness or Reykjavik?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Inverness and Reykjavik can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a traditional, local, and historic city. This is a charming small with plenty of activities, too. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a clean, green, and safe city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Inverness and Reykjavik: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Reykjavik?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Inverness. Although Inverness and Reykjavik are popular destinations, Inverness has more sights and attractions for tourists. Inverness is very popular for its museums, food, shopping, and small town charm, while Reykjavik attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Inverness is famous for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. It is also well known for Loch Ness. Reykjavik is famous for its proximity to natural beauty and many thermal pools, as well as its active nightlife scene and many festivals.

How is Inverness different from Reykjavik?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Reykjavik and Inverness. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Inverness or Reykjavik?

Inverness is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Reykjavik does not have museums and landmarks.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Inverness can be an interesting and educational experience. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

Reykjavik does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Inverness or Reykjavik? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Inverness is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Reykjavik is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Inverness. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Reykjavik. Traditional Icelandic food may not have the best reputation, but restaurants these days are pretty good with a variety of dishes to choose from. Popular foods in the area include fish, lamb, and Icelandic skyr (a type of yogurt).

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Nightlife?

Both Inverness and Reykjavik are nice when it comes to partying.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Reykjavik. The city offers the best nightlife in Iceland and you'll be surprised at the number of clubs, bars, and craft breweries that you can choose from. Almost all of the popular nightlife spots are around Laugavegur, a major shopping street in town.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Hiking?

Reykjavik is terrific for the nearby hiking options. However, Inverness is not a hiking destination.

Many people visit Reykjavik specifically for its hiking. The city offers easy access to some of the world's most spectacular scenery. There are many hikes that you can easily reach from town. They pass through diverse landscapes that include waterfalls, mountains, glaciers, and beaches.

Inverness is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Reykjavik?

Inverness is an excellent place to visit for shopping. Also, Reykjavik is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Inverness. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Reykjavik offers some nice shopping areas. The city's main shopping street is Laugavegur, which is where you'll find the most activity around town as well as a bustling atmosphere.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Families?

Reykjavik is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Reykjavik is a very kid-friendly city. With its many outdoor activities and hands on museums, the city is great for kids. The cafes and restaurants are family-friendly and their are plenty of entertainment options for the whole family.

Inverness is a family-friendly city. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Couples?

Reykjavik is a well-known place for its romantic activities. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Reykjavik is a very popular place to visit for couples. There are museums, outdoor activities, and even the northern lights that make this city very romantic. The cafes are laid-back and the atmosphere is friendly.

Inverness is a good city for couples to visit. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Reykjavik is very good for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Reykjavik is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels around town, but they can be pretty expensive. Transportation can also be pretty challenging for backpackers.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Students?

Reykjavik is very good for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Reykjavik is a good city to visit for students. Students will enjoy a unique experience in this city. There are good academic programs as well as beautiful outdoor settings that you can explore.

Inverness is not popular with students.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Reykjavik is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Reykjavik has a few public transit options. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Reykjavik a more walkable city?

Inverness and Reykjavik both are excellent when exploring on foot.

Inverness is a very walkable city. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

Reykjavik is a very walkable destination. The city is small and compact, so it's easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Inverness Worth Visiting? and Is Reykjavik Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Reykjavik or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Reykjavik?

In either Inverness or Reykjavik, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Reykjavik than Inverness because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Inverness, and 1-5 days is enough time in Reykjavik.

Families should spend more time in Reykjavik than Inverness. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Reykjavik, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Reykjavik than Inverness. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Reykjavik that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reykjavik than Inverness if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Reykjavik.

One day in Inverness or Reykjavik?

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Inverness. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Inverness has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the city of Reykjavik. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Reykjavik has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Inverness or Reykjavik?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the traditional destination of Inverness. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the friendly destination of Reykjavik. Hikers are also drawn to this area. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Inverness or Reykjavik?

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the historic city of Inverness. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find nightlife and shopping around the safe city of Reykjavik. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. If you have five days, this city makes for a great vacation. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Most people head to the area for the hiking. Five days should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer.

A week in Inverness or Reykjavik?

Inverness is a popular choice for travelers. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Reykjavik is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Inverness and Reykjavik, we can see that Reykjavik is more expensive. And not only is Inverness much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Inverness would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Inverness and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Reykjavik would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Reykjavik than you might in Inverness.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Inverness Expensive? and Is Reykjavik Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Reykjavik?

Reykjavik has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness and Reykjavik, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Inverness or Reykjavik?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Inverness or Reykjavik in the Summer?

Both Reykjavik and Inverness during the summer are popular places to visit. The small town charm and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Inverness is generally a little warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 14°C (58°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

In the summer, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Reykjavik. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 171 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets around the same amount of rain in July as Reykjavik. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Reykjavik in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Reykjavik. Many travelers come to Inverness for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Furthermore, many visitors come to Reykjavik in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

Reykjavik can get quite cold in the autumn. Inverness is much warmer than Reykjavik in the autumn. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 9°C (49°F) in October, and Reykjavik fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).

Inverness usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Reykjavik during autumn. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 83 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Inverness usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Inverness or Reykjavik in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Reykjavik. Many visitors come to Inverness in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, most visitors come to Reykjavik for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

Reykjavik can be very cold during winter. Inverness can get quite cold in the winter. In the winter, Inverness is much warmer than Reykjavik. Typically, the winter temperatures in Inverness in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Reykjavik averages at about -0°C (32°F).

In the winter, Inverness often gets more sunshine than Reykjavik. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Reykjavik receives 27 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in January than Reykjavik. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 76 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Reykjavik in the Spring?

Both Reykjavik and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Inverness for the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the natural beauty.

The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. In April, Inverness is generally much warmer than Reykjavik. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 7°C (44°F), and Reykjavik fluctuates around 3°C (38°F).

Inverness usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Reykjavik during spring. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies, while Reykjavik receives 140 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Inverness usually receives less rain than Reykjavik. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Reykjavik receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Reykjavik and Inverness