Transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik

Learn about the airport and transferring to Reykjavik by bus, car hire, private car, taxi or shuttle

Transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik is easy. The journey takes around 45 minutes to the city, but can be longer depending on which hotel stop you are. Keflavik Airport is Iceland’s International Airport and has an interesting history. It was originally built by the US military during World War II and was used as a stop-off between America and Europe. The airport serves around 10 million visitors every year now and is currently expanding its facilities and terminal.

The bus is by far the most popular transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik as it is quick, cheap and runs regularly. Renting a car is also very popular, especially if you are staying longer and plan to explore Iceland on your own, rather than on day tours. Cars can be hired at the airport.

Arriving at Iceland’s Keflavik Airport

Iceland Keflavik Airport has one main terminal serving 3 runways, although only two are in use. The plus side of one terminal is that you do not have to worry too much about moving terminal to find onward travel, as it is all in one place. The airport serves around 28 companies flying throughout the year. Iceland does have various regional small airports so Keflavik is almost exclusively International flights only. You can use the regional airports to fly from town to town.

The road leading to Reykjavik is called Route 41. This is a 30 mile road and can get busy at times. To alleviate this there were plans to build a direct rail line into Reykjavik from the airport. The idea being that you can arrive in Reykjavik within 20 minutes on a fast-speed train. This was due to start in 2020 but with the impact of the pandemic it is currently not in progress.

As you would expect, the terminal is very well equipped with plenty of facilities. You’ll find restaurants and duty free shopping along with lounges and other standard airport shops to help make your wait for your flight more enjoyable.

Transfer to Reykjavik by bus

Flybus, Airport Direct and Grayline Airport Express

If you are not hiring a car for your stay in Iceland then using the bus is without doubt the most practical and popular route into Reykjavik from the airport.

The route is simple, driving along Route 41 and takes around 45 minutes to the BSI Terminal. As Reykjavik does not allow big buses into the city for environmental reasons, the transfer stops here and then you move to a smaller bus that then takes you to your Reykjavik hotel. This is quite a simple process as when you embark the main bus at the airport, the driver will give you the coloured ticket relating to your transfer to the hotel/area and then once at BSI Terminal in Reykjavik, you get on that colour highlighted small bus to your hotel. The whole journey could take you 1.5hrs if you were unlucky enough to be the last hotel on the route.

There are three suppliers, so you can use our links below to check prices and book.

Public Bus

There is also a public bus that will take you from the airport to Reykjavik. This is the Straeto 55 and travels between the airport and Reykjavik, every day. It may not be quite as regular a depart as the shuttles mentioned above though.

Private car transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik

Shared shuttle bus from Keflavik to Reykjavik

Sometimes you just want to be looked after as soon as you arrive at the airport. Booking a private car transfer to Reykjavik is the best way to start your break in style. You’ll be met at the airport and shown to your executive vehicle and then driven directly to your hotel. Private transfers are bookable in advance so that you can relax knowing everything is taken care of for you.

Private transfers are also good value for large families or groups travelling with lots of luggage who might otherwise dread dragging their luggage and themselves around the airport to catch the bus.

The other option is a shared shuttle transfer, this cuts the costs of a private transfer but reduces the amount of people you travel with. As these shuttle buses are smaller they can go directly into Reykjavik too.

Keflavik Airport hotel shuttle buses

When booking your accommodation it is also worth checking if your hotel offers a free shuttle bus service. This can often take the worry out of transferring as you will be picked up at the airport and taken directly to your hotel. Some hotels will charge for this service, but it can sometimes work out cheaper or more likely quicker than taking the larger bus and then transferring to the smaller one needed for getting in to the city.

You can look at a range of Reykjavik hotels or explore the Reykjavik areas to decide where you would like to stay.

Taxi from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik

The taxi ranks are located just outside the arrivals hall. Taxis are available 24-hrs a day, though there is no set agreed fee for a transfer to the city, like in some other countries. Be sure to ask about the price before your journey begins. If traffic is heavy the journey could take longer than the normal 45 minutes and increase the costs. On average the fare for Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik is €90 for a standard four seat vehicle. Prices increase depending on vehicle type and time taken.