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How to Get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City in 2024 (Best KEF Transfer Options)

How to Get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City in 2024 (Best KEF Transfer Options)

Are you looking for a bus from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik city? Or maybe you are wondering how to get from Keflavik to Reykjavik, and are considering a taxi, a private transfer, or a rental car? This article should answer all your questions about the best ways to travel from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik – find out!

First of all, congratulations on researching the best Reykjavik airport transportation options before your trip! This will save you lots of money.

I run a Facebook group for Iceland and Scandinavia travel and you would be surprised how often I see stories of people who just hop on a taxi at Keflavik airport without doing any prior research and are then presented with a 250+ EUR bill when they get to their Reykjavik accommodation… And no, the taxi drivers don’t scam tourists in Iceland – these are the regular taxi prices from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik.

But what is the best affordable way to get to Reykjavik from Keflavik airport (KEF)? Find out!

Good to know: Before we continue with the airport transfers, you should know that Keflavik airport is located really far from the city. It’s a 50km (30 miles) ride to town that in the best case takes at least 40-45 minutes.

TIP #1: If you are looking for the best price/quality Reykjavik airport transfer and don’t have the time to read about all the other options, then I’ll save you time. Flybus transfer between KEF airport and Reykjavik hotels is one of the best price/quality transfer options from Keflavik airport to your hotel in Reykjavik.

TIP #2: If you are looking for an airport transfer to the Blue Lagoon and from the Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik, you can book your Blue Lagoon transfers here and your Blue Lagoon tickets here. This private transfer is the easiest way to get to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport if you are not renting a car.

TIP #3: If Blue Lagoon is closed or you prefer a more intimate experience, go to Sky Lagoon instead! In fact, most of our readers prefer Sky Lagoon. Just be sure to book in advance because it always sells out, often even weeks ahead! Here you can book Sky Lagoon tickets and transfers (from the city – there are no direct transfers from the airport).

How to get from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik - all your questions answered
 

Reykjavik airport transfers – overview:

Bus and minibus transfers from KEF to Reykjavik city

I’ll start with the best price/quality way to get from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik city – bus and minibus transfers.

There are several big companies offering bus transfers from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik. They are all priced quite similarly (25-30 EUR price range), have the same discounts for the children, and offer free Wi-Fi on the bus.

However, differ a bit, mostly in drop-off locations. See a short comparison below.

 

Flybus transfer between Keflavik airport & Reykjavik

Flybus has one of the best schedules for Reykjavik airport transfers. Flybus shuttles depart at the airport 35-40 minutes after the arrival of each flight. They adapt their schedule in case of flight delays, so there is always a bus waiting for you right outside the terminal building. Your ticket is valid on any bus, so if you miss a bus, you just take the next one. Furthermore, there is no luggage restriction (or at least not for regular-size luggage).

The company says that pre-booked tickets have a seat guaranteed, so it’s wise to book in advance. But in any case, I’d head straight to the bus after you pick up your luggage as the buses can get quite crowded at times.

There is just one choice you have to make: a transfer to the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik (+ 2 stops along the way – see below) or a drop-off at your hotel in the city center. The price difference is just a few euros, so unless your hotel is located close to the bus terminal, I’d definitely opt for the second option.

Below, you can read the explanation about these two options, and you can choose one of these options when you book your FlyBus tickets.

  • Option 1 – Flybus: Bus transfer between KEF airport and BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik. The trip will take approximately 45 minutes. On request, the bus will also stop at Hotel Viking in Hafnarfjörður and at Aktu Taktu eatery in Garðabær.
  • Option 2 – Flybus+: Transfer between Keflavik airport & hotels. This option costs just a few euros more and the first part of the trip is exactly the same – you take a bus to the BSI bus terminal. There you switch to another bus that offers drop-off at most hotels, hostels, and guesthouses in Reykjavik. Note that there is a bus ban in Reykjavik downtown, so if you are staying at one of the hotels in the bus-free area, the bus will drop you off at the nearest bus stop. Depending on where you are staying, the total duration of this airport transfer should be 1-1.5 hours.

Good to know: You can book the exact same Flybus transfers from Reykjavik town back to the airport as well. In case you choose a hotel pick-up option, make sure you read the information on the voucher very clearly (or call them just to be safe). Depending on where you are staying, the bus might be waiting for you at the nearest bus stop rather than at the hotel itself.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ: How to See the Best of Reykjavik in 1 Day

Gray Line – Airport Direct

Gray Line Airport Direct has a very similar shuttle service to Flybus. There is one difference – their bus terminal is located a bit further away from the Reykjavik downtown area.

So if you decide to go with this option, it’s best to book their airport bus transfer with hotel pick-up and drop off. (You can choose this in the booking process).

The process is pretty much the same as with FlyBus – they use big buses between the airport and the bus terminal in town, and smaller minivans between the hotels and the bus terminal. So you’ll have to switch from one bus to the other, but it’s generally very simple and well organized.

When booking this shuttle you have to indicate the time of the bus even for the transfer from the airport. So in case your flight is delayed you’ll have to ask to change your ticket to the next available bus at their desk at the airport. From what I read, it’s not a big deal and people can normally just hop on the next bus. Normally, just as FlyBus, they have buses available after all incoming flights.

 

Taxi and Uber ride from KEF airport to Reykjavik

As mentioned above, the distance between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik is quite big, therefore taking a taxi to/from Reykjavik airport is very expensive. Depending on where your hotel is, you can expect to pay over 250 EUR for a taxi ride from Reykjavik airport to the city center. Furthermore, you have no certainty about the price in advance.

I read online that a taxi ride from Keflavik to Reykjavik should cost you between 150 and 180 EUR, but I also saw many travelers sharing their experience on Facebook groups and they all paid at least 200 EUR for a taxi to get to Reykjavik. This was several years ago when this article was first written. In the meantime, the prices only went up.

The biggest advantage of taking a taxi is, of course, flexibility. It is also one of the fastest ways to get to Reykjavik. However, you get the same benefits with a private transfer as well, and there at least you know what you pay (see below for more information).

At the moment, there is no Uber (or Lyft or Bolt) in Iceland, so you cannot take an Uber from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ: Best Things to Do in Reykjavik

Private Reykjavik airport transfers

Private airport transfers in Reykjavik are the best option for those who are short on time and don’t mind spending a bit more. A private driver will be waiting for you at the Keflavik airport, so you don’t have to worry about flight delays or full buses.

A big advantage compared to taking a taxi is that you know in advance exactly what you pay. From what I see, the price of a private airport transfer to town is now at least 50-60 EUR lower than that of a taxi. This has changed a lot recently and private transfers are now much more affordable, especially if you are traveling with a bigger family/group of friends.

A private transfer to the Blue Lagoon is yet cheaper since it’s much closer to the airport than the city.

A private transfer is a very expensive option if you are traveling on your own, but if you are with 3-4 people it’s already much more affordable. You can also book a transfer by minibus for up to 8 people and in that case, it costs just a few Euros per person more than paying for 8x bus transfer described above.

Beware that there are many companies offering private transfers to and from Reykjavik airport, but many of them are even more expensive than a taxi. The private transfer I linked to above is the cheapest that I was able to find in Reykjavik.

Public transportation – bus from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik

The cheapest way to get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik is by taking a public bus. Public Reykjavik airport bus no. 55 connects Keflavik airport to Reykjavik city.

The only advantage of taking a bus is that it’s a bit cheaper than the other options. You’ll save 7-10 EUR one-way, but there are several things to consider. The main disadvantages are the inflexible and limited schedule (especially on weekends and outside regular working hours), it takes much longer, and if you miss one bus you may have to wait a long time for the next one.

But if you are visiting Iceland on a budget and have plenty of time, then bus 55 is the cheapest way to get to Reykjavik from the airport. Here, you can find more information about the bus schedule and prices (at the moment of the latest update, 1960 ISK, which is about 13-15 EUR).

Rental car

If your visit to Iceland is longer than 2-3 days I strongly recommend renting a car. Public transportation in Iceland will not get you to the most beautiful locations; it’s really not an option outside of Reykjavik. There are several bus companies that have regular routes in Iceland, but it’s so much easier to explore Iceland on your own.

Renting a car directly at Keflavik airport will save you lots of trouble as you won’t have to worry about airport transfers. If, however, you are staying in the city for longer than a day, it might be wiser to pick up your rental car in town (but don’t count on cheaper rates compared to airport pick-up). Do your research!

We use and recommend a popular car rental search engine where you can find some of the best deals for Iceland car rental, RentalCars. Not only can you compare different providers and find the best deals for your travel dates, but you are also much better protected and have a much more flexible cancelation policy than you’d ever get when booking with small local companies directly.

We rent all our cars via this website when we travel, which is usually around 3-4 rentals per year, and we never had a bad experience. We also take insurance via them and recently, we had to make a claim, and it was handled on the same day, with money on our account a week later.

Blue Lagoon transfers

Many people choose to visit the Blue Lagoon immediately after arriving in Iceland or just before departure. Since the Blue Lagoon is located just 20 minutes drive from Keflavik airport, it’s indeed quite easy to do. That is IF you have a car.

If you don’t have a car, the best way to get to the Blue Lagoon from Keflavik airport is by taking a private transfer to the Blue Lagoon. There are also bus transfers to the Blue Lagoon from the city and back, but getting there from the airport by bus isn’t easy at all.

Good to know: Please note that any of these transfers don’t include Blue Lagoon admission tickets. You have to book them well in advance because Blue Lagoon is usually completely sold out. Here you can book the regular Blue Lagoon tickets.

So, this is our guide to Reykjavik airport transfers and the best ways to get from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik. Hope you found it useful!

TIP: If you are staying in Reykjavik and don’t have a car, then you’ll need to book tours in order to see the most beautiful places nearby. See our hand-picked selection of the best guided tours from Reykjavik and also best winter tours and day trips from Reykjavik.

   

READ ALSO: Our hand-picked selection of the very best half-day tours from Reykjavik

More tips for your trip to Iceland:

What to see:

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

How to get to Reykjavik city from Keflavik airport in Iceland
 

You can also read this article about Keflavik – Reykjavik airport transfers in German: Reykjavik Flughafentransfer.

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Eric

Sunday 11th of February 2024

hi Jurga

My cruise will arrive Skarfabakki cruise terminal one day before disembark the next day. I plan to use Flybus as the cheapest option to catch my return flight leaving KEF 10am.

Based on what I find, Flybus can pick us up at the cruise terminal (#312) and go to the KEF airport. In early morning, they have one service per hour.

Do I have any misunderstanding?

I believe Gray Line no longer do similar transfer from cruise terminal to airport. Is that correct?

Thanks

Eric

Jurga

Sunday 18th of February 2024

Hi Eric, yes, FlyBus has a pick-up at the cruise terminal. You have to go to the Cruise Ship Service Center - Terminal 312. In the morning, there is a bus every hour, on the hour - so at 6 am, 7 am, 8am, etc. Book in advance and make sure to arrive at the airport well before the flight - they usually recommend 3 hours. Hope this helps.

Wes

Monday 29th of January 2024

Hi Jurga, We are arriving on a cruise ship at 7am. Is it possible to get transportation from the cruise terminal directly to the airport? We are investigating being picked up at 7:35am for a 10:35am flight.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

-wes

Jurga

Tuesday 30th of January 2024

Hi Wes, since you have very little time between your arrival and the flight (+ the airport is about 1-hour drive), I think that your best option is to arrange a private transfer in advance. You can find transfers here. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

henry

Tuesday 24th of October 2023

Hi Jurga, Great blog with udseful information. Just a quick question I saw there are two bus terminals. BSI Bus Terminal and Reykjavik Terminal. Are Gray line buses going to stop by at the latter ? Thank you.

henry

Wednesday 25th of October 2023

@Jurga, thanks for the reply. Do I still need to stop by at the FlyBus counter in the arrival hall to show them the bus ticket bought online? or just head to the bus waiting area and show drivers the tickets?

Jurga

Tuesday 24th of October 2023

Hi Henry, Gray Line now uses this location as their 'terminal'. When you book this transfer, you can choose if you want to travel to/from your hotel or 'Reykjavik stations'. If you choose the latter, then they'll normally drop you off/pick you up at the location on the map I linked to. FlyBus uses the BSI terminal (this location) and you can also choose the hotel or the bus terminal when booking your transfer. In all cases, please note that if your hotel is very central, the buses usually can't get to the hotel itself (buses are forbidden in some areas in the city center), so they will drop you off/pick you up at a location nearby. Hope this helps.

Tori

Saturday 2nd of September 2023

Great blog and thank you for sharing! I was wondering if you could help settle one last thing on our itinerary and that would be the transfers to/from KEF. My mom is 75 and we have no problem taking flybus to BSI and transferring to a smaller bus to take us to bus stop #8 for Hotel Odinsve in Reykjavik b/c we fly in at 6:15 a.m. in December 2023 and have time, but I worry about taking flybus from bus stop #8 to KEF. I worry it will take a long time to transfer and I don't want to miss our flight. Or do you think it's not a problem with flybus? I considered taking a taxi or private car, but the rates were almost $90 per person for one way. I'm hoping you can help as my eyes hurt from searching for a solution :). Thank you so much for your help!

Jurga

Sunday 3rd of September 2023

Hi Tori, I was a bit surprised to hear that you couldn't find better options, but it all can be a bit confusing and they keep on changing offers all the time too. In the past, they had small shuttles directly from the airport to the hotel or in the other direction, but they all seem to have been replaced by the bus + shuttle option now. In addition to FlyBus, there is also this bus service that offers a pick-up and drop-off directly from your hotel (but they also use smaller minivans to take you from the hotel to the bus terminal where you have to switch to the bigger buses - just like FlyBus). It's mentioned in our article as well, but seems to have changed the name/merged with another company, so I'll update the article once again. You can choose which option you want (hotel pick up or city) once you select the number of travelers and your travel dates. FlyBus is pretty much the same and is very reliable too. You just have to leave the city well in time and take into account all the travel times, so it all really depends on your preference. Otherwise, a private transfer is the most relaxing option. At the moment, this one one came up as the cheapest option in my search, but this changes all the time. Hope this helps a bit. Have a great trip!

Cynthia

Wednesday 12th of July 2023

This is a great overview, thank you.

I will be arriving around 6:30 am at the airport and would really like to visit the Viking World museum before heading into Reykjavik to my hotel. Do you have any suggestions on how to manage this (including what to do with luggage)?

Jurga

Thursday 13th of July 2023

Hi Cynthia, without a car, it's really not that easy. Maybe there is some kind of public transport as well, but you'd have to look it up yourself - I have no personal experience with this. Plus, the museum only opens at 10am. By that time, you could be in Reykjavik, have your luggage at the hotel, and exploring the city. Good luck!

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