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

Should you visit Reykjavik or Houston?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Reykjavik or Houston, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is a safe, friendly, and clean city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Houston

Houston is a southern, one-of-a-kind, and diverse city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and live music.

Reykjavik and Houston: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Reykjavik or Houston?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Houston than Reykjavik. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Houston is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, music, and big city activities, while Reykjavik attracts visitors for its hiking and impressive beauty. Reykjavik is more touristy than Houston and is popular for its proximity to natural beauty and many thermal pools, as well as its active nightlife scene and many festivals. Houston is famous for its sprawling size, its local Texas restaurants, and being the home to NASA. It is also well known for The Space Center Houston.

How is Reykjavik different from Houston?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Houston 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 Houston can be an interesting and educational experience. Head to Houston's Museum District to explore 19 different museums in a walkable area. A highlight of a trip to the city is a visit to the Space Center, but other popular museums include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Houston Children's Museum.

Reykjavik does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Houston is a nice place to visit for its restaurants. However, Reykjavik is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Houston. The city is famous for its Texas barbecue, Mexican food, and a wide diversity of other different ethnic foods. It's a surprisingly diverse city and this is reflected in the restaurant selection around town.

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 Reykjavik or Houston Better for Nightlife?

Houston is an excellent place to visit for nightlife. Also, Reykjavik is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Houston has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. The nightlife is at its best on weekends when bars, dance clubs, and concert halls come to life. There are a diversity of venues around town including dance clubs, Honky Tonks, and cocktail bars. Some of the most active nightlife areas are Downtown, Midtown, Montrose, Washington Avenue, and Rice Village.

Reykjavik has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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 Reykjavik or Houston Better for Music?

Houston is a nice place to visit for live music. However, Reykjavik is not a live music destination.

The music scene helps keep Houston active and fun. Popular music venues include Fitzgerald's, Walter's Downtown, and The Continental Club.

Reykjavik is not a live music destination.

Is Reykjavik or Houston Better for Hiking?

Reykjavik is a world-class destination for its hiking experiences. However, Houston is not a hiking destination.

Reykjavik is well-known for its hiking and trekking. 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.

Houston is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Reykjavik or Houston?

Shoppers can find a variety of nice stores in both Reykjavik and Houston.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Reykjavik. 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.

Houston offers some nice shopping areas. There are a number of upscale malls and shopping centers that have brand names, chain stores, and the occasional local shop where you can pick up items.

Is Reykjavik or Houston Better for Families?

Reykjavik and Houston are both great destinations for the whole family.

Reykjavik is a very family-friendly destination. 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.

Houston is a very kid-friendly city. It is a large city with plenty of things that kids can enjoy including museums, theaters, a zoo, and even the Space Center. The Children's Museum of Houston is perfect for a rainy day. For science loving kids there's the Health Museum and the Museum of Natural Science. Houston also has a Six Flags nearby which the whole family can enjoy.

Is Reykjavik or Houston Better for Couples?

Reykjavik is well known for its romantic activities. Also, Houston is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

Couples visit Reykjavik frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. 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.

Houston is a good city for couples to visit. There's a surprising diversity of restaurants around the city. There are also performing arts productions and many outdoor parks and gardens.

Is Reykjavik or Houston Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Reykjavik is a good destination for backpackers. However, Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Plenty of backpackers visit Reykjavik. There are a number of hostels around town, but they can be pretty expensive. Transportation can also be pretty challenging for backpackers.

Houston is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Reykjavik or Houston Better for Students?

Both Reykjavik and Houston are nice destinations for students.

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

Houston is popular with students. It's a large city with a number of universities and a large student population.

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

Reykjavik is a good destination for its public transit. However, Houston is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Reykjavik, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is a fairly comprehensive bus system around town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Houston. The system includes buses and a limited light rail. Houston is known as a car-centric city and you really need a car to fully experience it.

Is Reykjavik or Houston a more walkable city?

Reykjavik is well known for its high level of walkability. However, Houston is not particularly known for its ease of walking around.

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

Houston is generally not a very walkable city. The most walkable neighborhood is the historic Houston Heights, but most parts of the city aren't very walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Houston or Reykjavik?

How long in Reykjavik or Houston?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Reykjavik and Houston. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Reykjavik than in Houston. Usually, 1-5 days is a good amount of time for Reykjavik, and 2-3 days is enough time in Houston.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Reykjavik than Houston 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 Reykjavik or Houston?

In Reykjavik, you'll find nightlife and shopping. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

People visit Houston because there is so much to do. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Reykjavik or Houston?

In Reykjavik, you'll find shopping and nightlife. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Reykjavik has to offer.

People visit Houston because there is so much to do. 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 Reykjavik or Houston?

Reykjavik is a great place to explore. It is common to spend five days here. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Reykjavik has to offer. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the southern city of Houston. 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.

A week in Reykjavik or Houston?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reykjavik. Many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting Reykjavik. One reason most visitors come is for the hiking. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Houston 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Iceland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Iceland, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Angeles, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New York City.

When comparing the travel costs between Reykjavik and Houston, we can see that Houston is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Even though Reykjavik is in Europe and Houston is in North America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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

Which is Bigger, Reykjavik or Houston?

Houston has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Reykjavik. When comparing the sizes of Reykjavik and Houston, 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 Reykjavik or Houston?

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 Reykjavik or Houston in the Summer?

Both Houston and Reykjavik during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Reykjavik for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Houston in the summer for the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Reykjavik is much colder than Houston. Typically, the summer temperatures in Reykjavik in July average around 11°C (52°F), and Houston averages at about 84°F (29°C).

Houston gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Reykjavik usually gets less rain in July than Houston. Reykjavik gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.8 inches (122 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Reykjavik or Houston in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Reykjavik and Houston. Many visitors come to Reykjavik in the autumn for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, most visitors come to Houston for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the music scene during these months.

Reykjavik can get quite cold in the autumn. In October, Reykjavik is generally much colder than Houston. Daily temperatures in Reykjavik average around 5°C (41°F), and Houston fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Houston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Reykjavik usually receives less rain than Houston. Reykjavik gets 86 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Houston receives 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Reykjavik or Houston in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Reykjavik as well as Houston. Most visitors come to Reykjavik for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months. Additionally, the winter months attract visitors to Houston because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Reykjavik can be very cold during winter. Reykjavik is much colder than Houston in the winter. The daily temperature in Reykjavik averages around -0°C (32°F) in January, and Houston fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

Reykjavik usually gets less rain in January than Houston. Reykjavik gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.6 inches (91 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Reykjavik or Houston in the Spring?

Both Houston and Reykjavik are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Reykjavik because of the natural beauty. Also, the activities around the city are the main draw to Houston this time of year.

The weather in Reykjavik can be very cold. In the spring, Reykjavik is much colder than Houston. Typically, the spring temperatures in Reykjavik in April average around 3°C (38°F), and Houston averages at about 70°F (21°C).

In April, Reykjavik usually receives less rain than Houston. Reykjavik gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Houston receives 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Houston and Reykjavik