How to Get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik City in 2025 (Best KEF Transfer Options)
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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.
First of all, congratulations on researching the best Reykjavik airport transportation options before your trip! This will save you lots of money. If you just hop on a taxi at Keflavik Airport without doing any prior research, you may be presented with a 250+ EUR bill when you get to your hotel… And no, 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 want to get to the hotel as soon as possible without any hassle, book a private transfer here. It’s cheaper than a taxi.
TIP #3: If you are looking for an airport transfer to the Blue Lagoon and from the Blue Lagoon to Reykjavik, you can book transfers here and Blue Lagoon tickets here. It’s the easiest way to get to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport if you are not renting a car. Alternatively, go to Sky Lagoon! In fact, most of our readers prefer the latter. Just be sure to book in advance because it always sells out. Here you can book Sky Lagoon tickets and transfers (from the city – there are no direct transfers from the airport).
READ ALSO: Where to Stay in Reykjavik
Reykjavik Airport Transfers – Overview:
Bus 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.
READ ALSO: Best Things to Do in Reykjavik
Gray Line – Airport Direct
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.
READ ALSO: How to See the Best of Reykjavik in 1 Day
Taxi and Uber 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.
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, and there at least you know in advance how much it costs (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.
READ ALSO: How Expensive is Iceland (& How to Save Money)
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.
READ ALSO: Best Tours and Day Trips in Iceland
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, a one-way ticket costs 2400 ISK, which is about 16 EUR).
READ ALSO: Perlan Museum in Reykjavik
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 this popular car rental search engine where you can find some of the best deals for Iceland car rental. Not only can you compare different providers and find the best prices 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. Once, we had to make a claim, and it was handled on the same day, and the money was on our account a week later.
READ ALSO: Iceland Itinerary Suggestions for 1 to 14 Days
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.
PRO TIP: Due to volcanic activity nearby, Blue Lagoon is often closed without much prior notice these days. If you want to have certainty when planning your itinerary, we recommend reserving Sky Lagoon instead.
READ ALSO: Best Half-Day Tours from Reykjavik
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.
More tips for your trip to Iceland:
- When to go: When to Visit Iceland – Summer vs. Winter
- Packing:
- Winter visit:
- What to see:
- Itineraries:
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Hi Jurga,
Thank you for the informative article! I was hoping you’d be able to help me with a question. Does the 55 bus stop quite south of the city? I am staying in the Laekir/Laugaras area in Reykjavik and want to find the cheapest way to get there. Will have I have to take 2 buses? And if so, would it then be cheaper just to book a transfer via Flybus or something?
Many thanks!
Hi Sar, unfortunately, I really have no time to research detailed information for everyone’s specific situation – thus this article to help you with the planning. You can find bus routes and schedules online. But yes, the price difference between the public bus and the Flybus is minimal these days, so I recommend choosing the most convenient option.
Dear Jurga,
Thank you very much for this detailed article. We’ll stay in a place located right next to Hotel Viking in Hafnarfjördur. I understood that we can take Flybus (without +) and ask the driver to stop in Viking hotel without paying more. Is this correct?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Cesca, yes, upon request, the FlyBus stops at Fjörukráin Hotel Viking. On the way from the hotel back to the airport, you have to be ready and visible or the bus will not stop.
This is so informative- thank you! I noted your suggestion for private transfer to the blue lagoon from the airport. But what is the best way then to get from the blue lagoon to my hotel in Reykjavik?
Asking because the site/link only appears to have one way transfers from (i) the airport to the blue lagoon; (ii) blue lagoon to the airport t; or (iii) Reykjavik to the blue lagoon. Thank you!!
There are also shuttle buses between Blue Lagoon and the city (and also from the airport to the Blue Lagoon). You can find all the options and book your transfers here.
Thank you for this blog.
My husband and I are flying from Chicago to London and I found a flight that has a 22 hour layover in Iceland and was wondering what we could see and costs for getting around if we take this flight? The flight would arrive at 9 am and leave the following day at 7am. thank you for any ideas…good or bad! 🙁
Hi Tricia, it depends a bit on the time of the year when you travel (the days are very long in the summer and the roads are easy to navigate, but it’s very dark in the winter, plus, the road conditions are not easy to predict).
Anyway, you could just take a bus to Reykjavik and explore the city. See this guide with a recommended 1-day Reykjavik itinerary. Depending on what you decide to do in the city, it can be a very cheap or a very expensive day. But the best airport transfer by bus costs just about 25 euros per person each way, so about 100 euros for 2 people round-trip. You would also need a hotel and the prices can easily be 300 euros per night and more.
You could also rent a car and explore on your own. In that case, I recommend visiting the Golden Circle and then ending at the Sky Lagoon before driving back to one of the airport hotels for the early flight the next morning. For car hire, check this website and you can immediately see what the prices are. For the Golden Circle, read the ‘day 1’ info in this itinerary. For Sky Lagoon, be sure to book tickets in advance. For hotels, Aurora Hotel is the best option for such an early flight since it’s right at the airport (so you can return your car in the evening and simply walk to the airport next morning).
Taking into account your flight times, I personally would opt for a hotel at the airport + rent a car. Unless you are traveling in the winter. In that case, take a bus and stay in the city.
And yes, Iceland is worth it, even if just for a day. However, don’t underestimate the jet lag and how tiring that day could be if you are coming from the USA. If you are coming from Europe, then it shouldn’t be a problem at all.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Hello Jurga,
First of all thank you for putting so much info in your blogs. I just loved it. We are a couple and visiting Iceland in June 2024. We are landing on June 8th at 8:45 AM at KEF airport. We have a cruise departing on same day at 7 PM. So we just want to make best of our 7-8 hours in or around Reykjavik. Will it be a nice idea to rent a car from KEF airport and then drop nearby port cruise (if different drop offs are allowed in Reykjavik)? If we come via Flybus then we will have to depost our luggage somewhere before visiting some tourist spots. We are thinking to rent a car that will help us in a quick road trip before heading to the city plus our luggage will be safe. What do you suggest here?
Hi Dharminder, that’s a tough one indeed. I just checked rental cars for your travel date and found some options where you can pick up the car at the airport and drop it off in the city center on the same day and it seems to be possible, with prices starting from about 220 euros. I don’t think any of the drop-off locations are within walking distance of the cruise port, so you will have to take a taxi afterward. Remember that renting a car also means extra costs for insurance, fuel, and parking.
In my opinion, a more convenient (and cheaper) option would be to simply take the FlyBus to BSI Terminal, leave your luggage at the storage there, explore the city, and then pick up your luggage and take a taxi to the cruise port in the evening.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
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
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
@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?
Hi Henry, you should get a ticket (qr code) when you book your transfer and normally that’s all you need. Just show it on the bus.
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!
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!
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)?
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!
Thank you for great information. I feel pretty good now reserving a $110 taxi ride from KEF to my downtown hotel at dawn this fall. Local service through booking.com.
That’s about half the prices noted.
Recently, there is more and more competition in this sector in Iceland so the prices for private transfers have already gotten much lower than a few years ago. But yes, that’s a very good price if that’s a private transfer indeed. I saw Booking.com offering very good private transfer deals in combination with hotels for many destinations. Good to know that Iceland is now one of them too. It’s just another reason to use them for all your accommodation bookings ;).
Have a great trip!
Hi there, we are doing a cruise in August which finishes in Reykjavik cruise port and I am looking at a flight around leaving Reykjavik around 0745 to London. I need to get from port to international airport which is the best and easiest option. My husband is 70 and needs something with the least amount of hassle !!!
Hi Mary, the best hassle-free option would be a private transfer like this one. I think that you can give the details of your journey (where to pick you up in Reykjavik and at what time after you book.
Hope this helps.
Thank you, Jurga, so much for such a useful and very thorough blog post! It’s extremely helpful.
I added your site to my favourites. Although we are travelling without kids, the information I find on it is very helpful in general and will save me a lot of time when planning our trips.
Glad to hear that, Elena. Good luck with the planning and have a great trip to Iceland!
Hello Jurga,
I am going to Iceland on August 2023, that will be my second time to visit Iceland. The above article definitely helpful with all the details. Flybus will be my choice of transportation between city center and KEF airport.
Good job and thank you.
Glad to help, Portia. Have a great trip!
My flight arrives in Keflavik at about 450am. However, Flybus website only gives 6:00am as an option but I’ve read that there are buses available once a plane lands. Do you know if that’s the case with Flybus?
Hi Diane, there are buses almost all the time (+-2.30 am to midnight), so don’t worry. Normally, there are always Flybus buses waiting when you land.
Have a great trip!
What’s the best way to get from Reykjavik to hotel close to the airport for a 6am flight the next morning? Also, from ABC hotel to airport at 4 o’clock in the morning?
Hi David, if you’re staying close to the airport and don’t have a car, you can go by FlyBus from the city to the airport and there either walk, take a taxi, or take a shuttle if available. Many hotels close to the airport are along the airport shuttle route, so maybe your hotel too.
I am traveling at the moment and really have no time to research this for you. But I am sure your hotel can provide this info (or simply check their website).
Hope this helps.
Why do you suggest renting a car in town, instead of the airport, if visiting for more than one day?
Hi Debbie, I’m not sure if you understood it correctly. We strongly recommend renting a car if you are planning to stay in Iceland for more than a few days and it’s outside the winter season.
The reason to potentially rent it in the city vs the airport is IF you stay IN the city for longer than a day and don’t need a car. Rental cars in Iceland can be very expensive. So you wouldn’t want to pay for a few days of rental if you are not using a car at all, not even to mention parking costs, etc. Also, car rental prices can sometimes differ a lot depending on where you rent. It can be that it’s cheaper if picked up from the city, but it’s definitely not a guarantee. So you really have to check it for your specific travel dates.
Hope this clarifies.
do you have 1/2 to full day tours that start with airport pickup and end at cruise terminal.Arrival at 8:30 AM?
Hi Steve, this is a travel blog and we do not run any tours. What you can do is take a bus to Reykjavik and then explore the city or book a half-day tour to Golden Circle or so. Here you can find our recommendations for half-day tours from Reykjavik.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for your very informative blog about Iceland. You are the reason why, instead of just a mere layover on my way to Vancouver, Canada from Madrid, I feel I need to book a hotel to extend my stay to truly soak in the vibes of Iceland. Thank you so much. I will see Iceland in July. Bookings made already 🙂
Hi Marilou, it’s a great choice – even if you only have a short layover in Iceland, it’s well worth it. Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga,
Thanks for this detailed post. I am planning to take the 55 bus into Reykjavik. The Straeto app is showing 490 kr. per ticket but a google search is saying 55 bus should cost over 1,500 kr per adult. Am I using the wrong app? Or do I need the da ypass ticket (1,930 kr.)?
I don’t want to buy the wrong ticket.
Hi Nancy, you can find the price table on the official website and indeed, a regular adult ticket between Keflavik and Reykjavik (route 55) costs 1960 ISK one-way. The 490 ISK is the minimum price for a short-distance ticket on that route (so if you stay within Reykjavik city, for example). The airport is really far from the city center, thus higher prices.
PS You don’t absolutely have to buy a ticket in advance – the website says that ‘Passengers can pay with debit- and credit cards on board Strætó’s country buses’, so if you are not sure which ticket to buy, just ask the driver when you board the bus.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, Thanks a lot. This really helps.
After reading through your very informative descriptions of being a tourist in Iceland, I realize that a vacation to your fascinating country should be planned months in advance to secure rental cars or private transfers from KEF to Reykjavik, or just a soak in the Blue Lagoon. But we’re going to Europe in only a few weeks. Even with advance preparation, it appears a short stay will be double the cost of any other world capital such as London, Tokyo, Sydney or Singapore. Thank you also for being so upfront about all the transport hassles if we’re not renting a car. It sounds like the infrastructure in Iceland for tourists is years behind the rest of Europe, and in actuality, years behind most of Africa as well (where we’ve traveled extensively). It appears being a tourist amongst all the lovely natural sights and people would be an absolute bloody nightmare!! We will fly direct to London rather than taking advantage of Icelandair’s reasonable fares coupled with a “free” (a greater misnomer does not seem possible!) stopover in your country. Thanks again for all the information!!
Hi Gordon, a few things. I’m not from Iceland, but we have been there many times and have seen it change a lot over the years. Infrastructure is actually very good, and you shouldn’t base your conclusions on the last-minute research in this exceptional time. Because of covid, many car rental companies got rid of their cars last year and didn’t yet get enough new cars to keep up with the crazy high demand this summer. This is not just a problem in Iceland, but in many destinations in Europe and in the US as well. Because of this, car rental prices skyrocketed this summer. And Iceland was one of the first countries to open up to travelers from both, Europe as well as the US, so it’s really busy this year. Trying to book anything with just a few weeks notice is always tough in Iceland, but even more so this summer.
I urge you to plan a trip there another time and you’ll find an amazing country, with good infrastructure, and stunning nature. You can’t compare it to any other place in the world, it’s absolutely worth the trip. And if you plan well in advance, it’s much cheaper than London or Tokyo, no question about that. And definitely much better developed than anywhere we’ve been in Africa. 😉
In the meantime, enjoy your trip to Europe.
Hello!
If I need a return ride to the airport, what product should I choose?
Hi Shu, FlyBus is the best option. You can book it in any direction – from the city or from the airport. Just take two different tickets, there is no round-trip option if I recall well.
Hey! Thanks! But it is not clear about the time at BSI
Not sure what you mean by ‘time at BSI’. If you’re planning to take a bus from the BSI terminal in Reykjavik to the airport, choose the time when you want to depart there and make sure to arrive a bit before that. But even if you miss that bus, usually you can just take the next one with the same ticket; we never had a problem with that.
If you are taking a bus from the hotel, it usually means that they’ll drop you off at BSI where you have to change to another bus for the airport. It’s a very small bus station and is all very straightforward when you get there.
Hi, I land in Kef at 3:10 pm on Feb 2020 and departing the following day at 5:15 pm. Do I have time to do any tour before my departure time?
Hi Andrew, if you’re staying in Reykjavik city, yes, definitely, you can do some tours.
In the evening on the first day, book a Northern Lights tour and in the morning you could potentially do a short tour to the lava tunnelss (takes jut 3hrs).
For more, you can check our suggestions for the best half-day tours from Reykjavik, but I checked quickly and most of those would be difficult with your flight back, taking into account that you need to get to the airport in time for your flight.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga
Thanks this is such a useful site. I will be seconded over to Reykjavik in January 2020, but working at the international airport. I dont want to drive, so with going back and forth Mon-Fri i will aim to use the no. 55 bus. I am a bit confused. Does the bus start at the BSI (which seems to me to be central Reykjavik) or at Fjörður which is a few kilometers out of town. I have gone onto various sites and seem none the wiser. I am getting the impression that you have to change buses. I appreciate if you can enlighten.
Many Thanks
Hi Annie, from what I see in the bus 55 schedule, it depends on the hour. Some buses go all the way to BSI and others stop at Fjörður.
So, as long as you take the right bus, you should be fine.
we are coming with skis and ski equipment and will be overnighting for just one night.
We have visited before so we are familiar with the bus system.
What do we do about our oversized luggage? We obviously can’t carry from the bus to the hostel we will be staying, and there is no convenient storage or holding area at the airport.
Please let us know what you think. Thank you.
That’s a tough one. I think you may be better off renting a car for a day and leave the skis in the car. It will save you money on bus transfers to town and renting a car for just one day won’t be that expensive. Just an idea. (But make sure the car is long enough for the skis.) This is really the only thing that comes to mind… Good luck!
Thank you. We thought about this but the athletes are 19 years old and I doubt that they can rent a car at that age.
They also carry 4 bags of skis, somwe were hoping they could leave them at the airport, but the airline will not allow it for the lay over.
Hi Joelle, I just checked and when searching for the car, you can indicate the driver’s age (untick the box where it says driver’s age and then manually enter 19 years). There is one company that shows available cars.
I also checked a few local companies for car rental in Iceland, and some say that the minimum age for their car rentals is 18 years. So it’s definitely possible…
Not sure if this is an ideal solution, especially if there are many people and even more skis, but I really wouldn’t know of any alternatives. Otherwise, you best contact the airport directly and see if they can find a solution for you.
We are visiting Iceland in May 2019 for 3 days. When we are booking flight and hotel, they have the option of booking this “Shared Shuttle: Reykjavik Airport (KEF)” for Can$132.90 for 2 people round trip. Is this the Flybus you are talking about?
We will arrive at 3:15pm on Tuesday, plan to do local walking around in the city. Next day will take a tour of Golden Circle and Secret Lagoon Day trip. The next day is the Southern Iceland Glaciers, Waterfalls and Beaches Day Tour. If I want to go to Blue Lagoon on our return trip, Flight leaving at 4:10pm. Will this type of bus take us from Reykjavik to Blue Lagoon then from Blue Lagoon to KEF? or we have to buy separate tickets and forfeit the return tickets??
Is our plan for these 3 days good? any other suggestion?? Thank you for all your help.
Hi Winnie, the picture that you sent me the link of is of a Gray Line bus, so I guess it’s the same as this option. It’s not the same as Flybus – you can read more about these transfers in the article.
From my experience, this specific transfer will not pass the Blue Lagoon (and the Flybus won’t either). So if you want to go to the Blue Lagoon first and then to the airport, you’ll have to book two separate transfers for that. You can find information on how to get to the Blue Lagoon and from there to the airport in the article as well. Please note that you also have to book the Blue Lagoon tickets in advance as well.
Hope this helps.
Thank you very much for the detail information. It is most helpful.
We are going to be in Copenhagen for cruise in May with grandkids. one is 4 years and one is almost 1.. Will spend 3 full days there before or after the cruise. Any suggestion things we can do with these boys in Copenhagen?? Thank you for your help.
Hi Winnie, I suggest you check Tivoli Gardens if visiting Copenhagen with kids.
Hi Jurga…how do i know if the hotel we’ll be getting off at using the Flybus is in their company’s list?
Hi Joel, if you book an option to the city center, the bus will drop you off at the bus terminal. If you book an option to a hotel, they’ll bring you to your hotel. I assume most hotels in the city center will be covered, but sometimes they might drop you off within a short walking distance from it (big busses aren’t allowed in some areas, so it really depends).
If you aren’t sure, I think you can ask a question when you book the tickets, so do that.
If your hotel is somewhere further away from the old town, then it’s probably best to ask in advance or book service like Aiport Direct.
I did not plan this out properly….
Decided to do some research for my 10 hour lay-over into Keflavik the night before my departure over some whiskey. Did not realize how screwed I might have been.
I have since rented a car, and booked a narrow window of a spot for the Blue Lagoon.
So thank you for you blog. You’re an absolute legend.
Cheers!
Sam (Vancouver, Canada)
Have a great short stay in Iceland!
Hi. Ill be arriving at the airport at 11.40pm from London. Are there any buses running at that time? Thanks.
Hi Mae, Flybus runs the whole time – day and night and they always have buses after each flight. You probably want to book a transfer that goes all the way to your hotel; in that case, you change buses at the BSI terminal (they’ll show you – it’s very straightforward).
Enjoy your trip.
Hi. We are arriving at 6:40 pm at KFL and need to get to Reykjavik Hostel village on the 15th July.Does the 55 bus go near there? And also our flight leaves 7:50 am on the 18th July. Is there a bus service that will get us there for that time?
Hi Miriam, I’m not really sure. Here is a website with more detail info about the bus 55. Hope this helps.
If that info is correct, there are no busses that early in the morning, so you may need to get a FlyBus to go back.
Thanks for that. I had a look but unfortunately don’t understand it as I dont know where the destinations are in regards to where our stop is
Yes, it’s not easy. Try using Google Maps to figure out where the stops are located. It’s even possible that if you use google maps for directions and choose public transport option, that it’ll show you the nearest bus stop for your hostel…
I’m not familiar enough with the area to be able to quickly check that for you and I really have no time to research this.
We are arriving after 7pm and need to be at the airport by 3pm the next day. Is there any tour we can do in that short of a time period? Thank you.
Hi William, you could potentially go to the Blue Lagoon upon arrival (it’s open till 10PM, but needs to be booked in advance) and then stay in Reykjavik and visit the town the next day before heading back to the airport. Alternatively, go to the city in the evening, visit a few things in the morning, and then visit the Blue Lagoon for an hour or so before heading back to the airport. It’s located closer to the airport than to town and it’s one of the most popular things to do on such a short stopover in Iceland.
You can find all the bus transfer info (to the city and also for the Blue Lagoo) in this article.
Thank you Jurga. Blue Lagoon seems pretty touristy, was hoping for an early morning tour of the Golden Circle or other natural landscapes but it doesn’t seem our time frame works for that.
Hi William, taking into account that your flight leaves in the early afternoon (and you probably need to be there at least 2hrs in advance + 1 hr time to get there from Reykjavik), I honestly think that Blue Lagoon and/or a walk in Reykjavik city are your best options.
If you stay in Reykjavik, you can pretty much see all the highlights in the morning, so just do that.
We arrive at 940am at Keflavik and have a noon pickup at Centerhotel Klopp for a Golden circle tour. What is the best option for our airport transfer? Airport Direct minibus seems the fastest, but we’d have to make the 1015am bus to insure that we got to our hotel in time. Or should we take the Flybus and either transfer to a small bus to bus stop #7, or walk (15 mins or so) to our hotel?
Hi Marcia, I think that you should be fine with most of these busses – 2,5hrs time should be enough time to get to your hotel. I think flybus drives a bit more often, but I’m not sure, and they also have an option to drop you off at the hotel, so maybe that’s an option if 10.15 seems a bit rushed…
I HIGHLY recommend that you take the 55 bus. There seems to be four buses a day in winter, all in the morning. However, most flights seem to arrive in the morning at least from the US. They have an app called Straeto where you can live track the buses. Note: it costs about 2000kr per person and you must have cash which you can get in the airport; you can only pay with the app inside city limits. To reach the stop, you have to follow the building around and cross the parking lot. The path isn’t extremely well marked, but google maps will get you there. Also, there is not a light at the stop only a little bus shelter which is helpful to keep out of the the wind. You save $10 per adult which ended up saving us $20 to the BSI terminal. If you go to a designated stop, Flybus costs even more! Most people do not think it is worth the hassle, but I personally do not like being forced to purchase a ticket. Every travel site I looked at recommended Flybus and the airplane also was selling tickets. Taking Flybus would have prevented us from experiencing the culture like the average Icelander. It was great to see many suburbs and meet the locals on the bus. In summary, it took an extra 30 minutes but it was worth it money-wise and experience-wise. Maybe we were just lucky but we only had to wait at the bus stop for 10 minutes!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sure it will be very helpful to other travelers looking for more local experience and budget-friendly way to get to Reykjavik from Keflavik. Appreciate your input!
My son and I are arriving Keflavik at 0600 on a Sunday morning. I like the Flybus option. Is there a bus (fly or public) that can take us directly to the Blue Lagoon and then into Reyjkavik?
How do you recommend getting from Reyjkavik to the Blue Lagoon?
Which is better: Blue Lagoon or Fontana Baths? Or both?
Thank you!
Marieka
Hi Marieka, yes, there are busses from the airport to the Blue Lagoon and from there to Reykjavik. You can book the bus transfer here and make sure you book your Blue Lagoon entrance tickets asap – they do sell out.
As for Blue Lagoon vs. Fontana Lagoon, they are very different experiences. Blue Lagoon is definitely more touristy. If you want to visit Fontana Lagoon, you could also do it in combination with the Golden Circle, otherwise it’s quite a ride to go there just for that. There is also a less popular and more low-key Secret Lagoon that is also nice.
For more suggestions please check our selection of the best winter day trips from Reykjavik.
PS Whatever you decide, make sure you book it asap. Sunday is in just a few days and many tours and places like the Blue Lagoon get fully booked.
Hi
I’m arriving at KEF at 04:50 on March 5 and I’m leaving KEF at 21:20 on the same day (I want to be back at the airport by 19:30). The KEF to BSI Flybus looks like the right option to me. From what I’ve read above, there’s always a bus around the clock going to BSI from KEF and it’s the same way from BSI to KEF. Is this correct? If not, what do I need to know? Thanks!
Hi JW, yes, there are busses going between Reykjavik and airport the whole day. When you book the bus, I think you have to choose the approximate time you want to take it, and then just make sure you are there. If you want to be at the airport at 7.30pm, you should probably take a bus from BSI at around 6-6.30pm. When they drop you off at BSI, just ask the driver where exactly the bus leaves for the trip back, but I think it’s the exact same place.
Hi – we arrive in Reykjavik feb 9 at 6 am. i would like to book flybus to the bus terminal in town, but then how do i arrange for a transfer to our hotel near bus stop 7? Do we need to do in advance or just inquire at the main bus terminal. and for our reverse trip from a different hotel, but i think also nearest stop 7, do we need to make both arrangements (hotel transfer and flybus) in advance? thanks! Kathy
Hi Kathy, if you want the bus to drop you off at the hotel, then you have to book either ‘Airport Direct’ transfer or ‘Option 2 – Flybus+: Transfer between Keflavik Airport & Hotels’, as explained above. Flybus will bring you to the main terminal by big bus and then from there I think you’ll be divided into smaller groups with a drop-off at the place that you asked. It’s the same for the trip back, you just have to tell them where you are going/ have to be picked up when you book the transfers. If you book ‘Airport direct’, they’ll go straight to the hotel from the airport, so it takes a bit less time.
You don’t have to book these transfers in advance and can also do iso at the airport, but often it’s easier if done in advance and if it’s busy advanced bookings get priority.
Hello,
We will be travelling to Reykjavik in February 2019. We are arriving at Keflavik at 06:00AM and plan to take the FlyBus to our hotel in Reykjavik. Because we will only be there a few days and want to experience as much as we can, we booked a South Coast tour the same day that we arrive. We will be picked up at 08:00AM at our hotel for the tour. Do you think this is enough time to get from the airport to our hotel, for the tour pick-up at 08:00am? Our other option is to have the tour pick us up at the BSI bus terminal. That may save us time to just take the FlyBus to the BSI bus terminal and join our tour from there. Please advise as your recommendation or suggestions. Thank you!
Hi Kara, this sounds extremely short in my view. Even if everything goes really well, it might JUST work out, but what if your flight is delayed by 20 minutes (or more)…
It takes some time to get out of the airport, find the bus (which will not leave immediately either I suppose), then it takes about an hour to get to town. If they have to drop you off at the hotel, it might also mean that they’ll pass some other hotels first, etc.
Having the other company pick you up at the bus terminal is already a much safer option in my view, but even then I honestly find it risky.
Is there any shorter tour that you are planning to make the other day, that starts a bit later, like Golden Circle or so? In that case you better book that one for the day of arrival and leave the South Coast for later. It will save you so much worrying and stress. Here’s a so-called afternoon tour for the Golden Circle, it starts at 10.30AM – maybe a safer option? Here you can find two other options for the Golden Circle – both starting at 9AM. In that case you may also want to check Golden Circle combination tours (can find in the same post) – they also start around 9AM if I’m not mistaken and fo not just the Golden Circle, but also one of the geothermal pools on the same day.
And fingers crossed for a good trip and on-time arrival!
Hi- I land at KEF at 6:20 and have a flight from RKV to Aukureyri at 9:55. I thought this would be easily doable but am now concerned about bus transfers. Thinking Flybus may be quickest option, especially if flight is delayed? But it seems any bus line will take me to the main bus station and then I have to connect to another bus with unknown time delay? RKV is extremely close to BSI bus station, do you know if any line can drop off before getting to bus station? (Also thinking probably not walkable in winter with luggage?) Or maybe Airport Direct minibus if RKV can be selected as a hotel?
Any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks.
Hi Rachel, that’s indeed not much time, as it takes you an hour just to drive to town, not talking about the extra time you need to get out of the airport, wait for the shuttle bus to leave, also check in for your next flight…
I really don’t know what to say. Private transfer would probably be the safest option, but certainly not the cheapest. Otherwise you can probably just take a Flybus to the bus terminal and from there a taxi to the airport terminal of Reykjavik domestic airport. Ask the driver of Flybus if they can drop you off where you need to be, you never know, but I wouldn’t count on it. It’s indeed very close by, so shouldn’t cost a fortune by taxi either. Walking is also an option, but you never know how the weather will be or how much time you’ll have.
Sorry I can’t help much more. Good luck!
Car rental is very convenient!
It sure is, Maria. Renting a car is the best way to explore Iceland, except if you’re traveling in winter and aren’t used to driving in extreme winter conditions. In that case you may want to check this guide to winter driving in Iceland.