Welcome to Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the northenmost capital city in the world, it was founded in 1786. The Reykjavik Capital Area has just under 200,000 inhabitants, about 60% of the total population of 300,000.

Reykjavík is governed by the city council, directly elected by anyone aged over 18 and registered with domicile in the city. The council has 15 members that are elected for 4 year terms. The city council governs the city of Reykjavík according to law number 45/1998. The city council selects people on the boards and each board controls a different field under the city council's authority. The most important board is the city board that wields the executive rights along with the city mayor. The city mayor is the uppermost public official in the city and also the director of city operations. Other public official then control different institution under his authority.

Therefore the administration consists of two different parts. The political power that the city council wields and other boards in its authority, and the official system where public official under the authority of the city mayor take care of administering the policy and the management.

The mayor is appointed by the city council, usually one of the council members is chosen but they may also hire a mayor that is not member of the council.

Reykjavík residents can access the city’s services from three portals: community-based service centres, call centres and e-services. Six service centres, in as many neighbourhoods, are operated in the city. These focus on providing families in the city with both comprehensive and targeted welfare services and accept applications for all services provided by the city. Each service centre is a pioneer in a particular field of the services, e.g. multicultural issues and preventive measures.

The telephone centre 411 1111 connects callers to all operating units within the city infrastructure and provides general information on services and activities provided by the city. Electronic Reykjavík involves, among other things, personal areas on the website of the City of Reykjavík which residents can establish for e-business. All applications for Reykjavík City services are accessible from one area on the city’s website.

Useful links:

Visitreykjavik.is - Reykjavik's official tourist website
VisitIceland - Iceland Tourist Board
The Intercultural Centre
Multicultural and Information Centre
Icelandic Online
Your first steps in Iceland - Information booklet in 9 languages for people moving to Iceland