Before walking over, decide what happens if the doors are closed or the aisles feel too crowded. The Settlement Exhibition, Perlan, public pools and cafés give you a more predictable indoor plan; Kolaportið depends on the day and the stalls. If one person wants food and souvenirs while another only wants shelter, set a browsing limit and a meeting point. In a downpour, the exposed walk to Harpa or the bus stop still matters, so do not treat “indoors” as the whole weather solution.
Keep food, souvenirs and impulse finds inside one luggage budget. A photo of a promising stall can save a second visit, and an easy walk towards Harpa or Kvosin gives the stop a natural end even if you buy nothing.
ICENAVI CITY FIT · TRYGGVAGATA
A strong choice when it is open; rain does not mean it runs daily
These scores measure route fit, time and rainy-day backup value. They are not a guarantee about stall quality.
The Old Harbour, Harpa and harbour restaurants sit within one walking area.
60–90 minutes is enough; you do not need to reserve half a day.
You are under cover inside, but the walk from the entrance to your hotel remains exposed to wind and rain.
Expect a changing flea market, not a fixed food hall
Kolaportið, also written Kolaportid, is a weekend flea market rather than a shopping centre with permanent brands. Stalls may carry sweaters, cameras, records, books, household pieces and crafts; the food area can add traditional Icelandic snacks and coffee. The appeal is browsing what is actually there and finding something with more character than an airport souvenir. If you need a particular brand, a quiet table or a guaranteed meal, choose a different stop.
Busy periods make the narrow aisles awkward with a thick coat, backpack or wet umbrella. Leave large luggage at the hotel or check storage arrangements before entering. Treat food tasting and souvenir shopping as options, not a checklist—the stalls change and the visit works better when the rest of the harbour day can flex.
Opening days and time cost: the key filter
| Situation | Recommended approach | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday or Sunday, within 11:00–17:00 | Browse for 60–90 minutes, then continue to an Old Harbour lunch | Worth scheduling |
| Only 20–30 minutes available | Go in quickly only if you are already at Tryggvagata 19 | Do not travel across town for it |
| Monday to Friday | Check whether that day has a special opening; do not rely on an old travel blog | Usually choose something else |
| Large luggage or a pushchair | Ask about the entrance route and stall space; avoid the busiest period | Depends on your group |
| Looking for Icelandic wool goods | Compare fibre, origin and care labels; do not assume every stall item is locally made | Take your time choosing |
From a city-centre hotel, the walk to the Old Harbour usually affects whether the stop feels worthwhile more than the market itself. From the Kvosin area, allow 10–20 minutes for rain gear and finding the entrance; from Laugavegur, leave more buffer for wind and rain. Forty-five minutes is enough to get a sense of the market, but 90 minutes lets you compare several sweater stalls and second-hand items without watching the clock. Entry is usually not the main cost. Your actual spend depends on food, second-hand goods and souvenirs, so set a cash or card budget first.
OSM brand map: place it within the Old Harbour
I would position Kolaportið in the middle of an Old Harbour segment: walk west from the hotel to the market, then continue to Harpa or a harbour restaurant for shelter. In light rain, reverse the order by looking at the harbour and boats first, then use the market as the indoor finish. The important choice is to put the place with a clear weekend window early in the day, rather than arriving at the door at 17:00.
KolaportiðTryggvagata 19 · check weekendsHarpa / Old HarbourA restaurant stop for rainy daysThree ways to build a rainy city day
Weekend half-day: Arrive around 11:00, browse for 75 minutes, have lunch at the harbour, then see Harpa; this suits a first visit when you want some shopping flexibility. Arrival day: If your luggage is put away and the market happens to be open at the weekend, browse for 45–60 minutes and return to the hotel to rest; do not force the market and Blue Lagoon into the same day. Museum day: Combining the market with the Settlement Exhibition can make the indoor content feel crowded. If your companions are not interested in second-hand goods or food, choose one complete museum and leave the remaining time for a café. In heavy rain, an indoor market is not a free pass: the walk from the entrance to the bus stop can still leave you soaked.
If you are leaving Reykjavík for a Golden Circle or South Coast day tour, put Kolaportið on the preceding weekend rather than squeezing it in after you return. Tour-bus arrival times are uncertain, while the market has a closing time; putting two fixed deadlines together is an easy way for the plan to fail. Drivers should also look beyond the straight-line distance: parking by the Old Harbour, finding a space and paying can consume a short stop.
ICENAVI · FINAL CALL
You have 60–90 minutes at the weekend and are already going to the Old Harbour: schedule it. Otherwise, check first and keep it flexible.
Kolaportið gets its character from uncertainty, which is why it cannot replace a rainy-day activity that needs to open reliably every day. Put the opening day in the itinerary, set the shopping budget and write down when you need to leave. Then you can enjoy browsing without a fixed result and still protect the rest of the day.
Q&A · Ask before you go
Is Kolaportið open every day?
It is not a dependable daily attraction. Weekend hours of 11:00–17:00 are a usual baseline, but check the current official announcement.
How long should I allow?
Allow 45–60 minutes for a quick look, or 60–90 minutes if you want to compare stalls and food.
Is it worth a special trip in the rain?
Only when it is open and you are also planning the Old Harbour. On weekdays, choose a museum or pool with reliable opening hours.
Can I buy genuine Icelandic wool?
Possibly, but check the fibre, origin and care label on each item. Do not assume every wool product at the market is locally made.
References · Check before departure
- Kolaportið official website (opening days, stalls and current notices)
- Visit Reykjavík: Kolaportið Flea Market (market profile and its relationship with the Old Harbour)
- OpenStreetMap contributors (the base map used for this branded map)
More reading
If the market is closed, use the Settlement Exhibition, or return to the Reykjavík city-base guide to redistribute your indoor time.
Turn uncertainty into breathing room
The market will not suit every traveller, which is exactly why it belongs in the middle of a city day. It should not replace a ticket you have already bought or become a last-minute stop added just to escape the rain. Before leaving, check the day, the official notice and the route from your hotel to the Old Harbour. Once there, decide how long to browse according to the crowd, your companions' interests and the weather. With a departure time, spending limit and alternative activity written down, the day still works if fewer stalls are open than expected. If you happen to find a good wool item, record or old book, treat it as a story from the trip rather than a shopping-list task. Walk along the harbour towards Harpa or back to Kvosin afterwards, and the indoor stop can lead naturally into dinner and rest.
More reading
For an indoor activity with more predictable opening hours, see the Settlement Exhibition; for a city base, return to the Reykjavík destination page.