Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík: Bus, Taxi or Transfer

By Gunnar Steinn renowned Icelandic photographer

Updated 12 November 2026

Every time I land in Iceland, I can hardly wait for that first breath outside. There is nothing in the world like this fresh air, and personally I think the colder it is, the better. Then, bags in hand, comes the question almost everyone asks: how do I get into Reykjavík without stress?

Your options at a glance

You can rent a car from Blue Car Rental and drive yourself to Reykjavík.

If you prefer not to drive, the other options, from cheapest to most comfortable:

• Strætó route 55, 2,400 ISK per adult. The public bus, now stopping right at the terminal. Best for light bags and flexible timing.
• Flybus to BSÍ, from 3,999 ISK per adult, about 45 minutes. The simplest coach for solo travellers and couples.
• Flybus Plus to your hotel, from 5,299 ISK per adult. The same coach plus a shuttle to your hotel or guesthouse.
• Taxi, 22,500 ISK for 1 to 4 passengers with Hreyfill's fixed online price, plus a 490 ISK airport fee. Straight to your door.
• Private transfer, from 27,500 ISK per vehicle, about 45 minutes. A driver waits in arrivals. Best for families and late arrivals.
• Reykjanes Explorer, from 89,900 ISK per vehicle, about 3 hours. A private transfer with sightseeing stops on the way.
• Private 3 hour airport transfer and tour, from 119,900 ISK per vehicle. Your own route from or to the airport.

Prices checked live on 6 November 2026. Fares can change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay. More on each option below.

What the journey feels like

I have spent years travelling all over Iceland with my camera, and I have made this trip more times than I can count, late at night and in bright summer evenings. There is no train, and apps like Uber and Lyft do not run in Iceland, but the choices are simple once you know them.

Keflavík International Airport sits about 50 km southwest of central Reykjavík. The drive along Route 41 usually takes around 45 minutes when the weather behaves. In winter the wind and ice can stretch that, so I always leave a little buffer.

Rent a car and drive yourself

If you want to drive yourself, you can pick up a rental car as soon as you land and go straight to Reykjavík. Blue Car Rental has an office next to Keflavík Airport, a short walk from the terminal, so you can collect the car on arrival and drive into the city in about 45 minutes.

I chose to work with Blue because they offer great service, and you get 5% off when you book through this link.

If you would rather not drive, the coach, taxi, private transfer and public bus options follow below.

Flybus to BSÍ Bus Terminal

Flybus is the official airport coach between KEF and Reykjavík. Coaches run in connection with flight arrivals, day and night. Seats are usually guaranteed even when a flight is delayed, and buses typically leave about 30 to 60 minutes after arrival.

The standard ticket takes you to the BSÍ Bus Terminal in Reykjavík. Journey time is about 45 minutes. Onboard you get free WiFi. The ticket includes two bags of up to 23 kg each per person, plus one small carry on. Odd sized luggage costs 1,500 ISK and a bicycle costs 3,800 ISK on the official Flybus price list.

Live adult one way price checked 5 November 2026: 3,999 ISK. Youth ages 6 to 15: 1,999 ISK. Children ages 1 to 5 travel free.

Book it on Slice: Flybus from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík BSÍ.

From BSÍ you can walk into parts of central Reykjavík, catch a city bus, or take a short taxi if your hotel is farther out. If you want the onward hotel leg included, choose Flybus Plus instead.

Flybus Plus: hotel drop off

Flybus Plus is the same airport coach to BSÍ, then a smaller shuttle to selected hotels and guesthouses in Reykjavík. That second leg adds time, so allow more than the basic 45 minutes if your room is on the far side of town.

Live adult one way price checked 5 November 2026: 5,299 ISK. Youth ages 6 to 15: 2,649 ISK. Children ages 1 to 5 travel free.

This is the option most visitors want when they land tired and prefer not to haul bags from BSÍ. Book it here: Flybus Plus from Keflavík Airport to hotel.

Flybus also lists drop offs at Hamraborg in Kópavogur, Aktu Taktu in Garðabær and Fjörukráin in Hafnarfjörður if you are staying outside the centre. Tell the driver when you board, or select the stop when you book.

Private airport transfer

A private airport transfer means a driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign and takes you straight to your address in the capital area. No shared coach, no change at BSÍ.

On the Slice listing the journey is about 45 minutes and the driver waits for up to 70 minutes after the flight’s confirmed landing. If you are delayed by lost luggage, contact the operator before that window closes.

Live price checked 6 November 2026 on Slice, from 27,500 ISK per vehicle.

Book here: Private Airport Transfer, Keflavík to Reykjavík.

Private transfer makes sense for families with children, travellers with a lot of luggage, or anyone who wants a quiet ride after a long flight. For one or two people on a budget, Flybus or Flybus Plus is usually better value.

Airport transfer with sightseeing

If your flight timing allows a little more than the straight 45 minute drive, two Slice listings turn the airport run into a short private tour.

Reykjanes Explorer: Airport Transfer with Sightseeing Adventure is a private transfer with stops on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The listing says about 3 hours, with airport pickup and hotel drop off, or the other way around. The vehicle is described as a premium car with chilled water and Icelandic treats, space for up to 3 adults, and two more seats in the third row for children (using all 5 seats limits luggage space). Stops listed on the page include the Bridge Between Continents, Gunnuhver hot springs, Iceland's oldest lighthouse, recent lava fields, a drive through Grindavík, and a photo stop at the Blue Lagoon. Live price checked 6 November 2026: from 89,900 ISK per vehicle.

Private 3 hour Airport Transfer and Tour is a custom private transfer from or to Keflavík Airport with a local guide. The driver meets you in arrivals or at your accommodation. The route is flexible and can include Reykjanes, Reykjavík, or a stop at the Blue Lagoon, but the listing says activities such as Blue Lagoon admission are charged separately, and each extra hour beyond the standard 3 hours adds to the price. The page also reminds you that the drive between the airport and the city is about 45 minutes and counts inside the 3 hour window. Live price checked 6 November 2026: from 119,900 ISK per vehicle.

These two make sense when you land with daylight to spare, or when you want one last look at the peninsula on the way back to the airport. For a tired late arrival, the plain private transfer or Flybus is usually the kinder choice.

Taxi from Keflavík Airport

Licensed taxis run from the airport rank and by prebooking. There is still no Uber or Lyft in Iceland. For the full picture of taxis, walking and city buses, read No Uber in Iceland: what actually works instead.

Hreyfill publishes a fixed online price for Keflavík to Reykjavík, valid from 18 March 2026:

• 22,500 ISK for a car with 1 to 4 passengers
• 29,250 ISK for a vehicle with 5 to 8 passengers
• An ISAVIA airport fee of 490 ISK is added on trips that start at the airport

That fixed rate applies when you book online. At the rank the meter runs instead, and night or weekend rates are higher. Hreyfill states the driver waits up to 90 minutes after landing on a prebooked airport job.

For many groups of three or four, a fixed taxi can land close to the per person cost of Flybus Plus. For a solo traveller it is usually several times more expensive than the coach.

Strætó route 55 (public bus)

Strætó route 55 is the public bus between the capital area and Keflavík Airport. Since 1 October 2026 it drives right up to the terminal. Arriving passengers board at the new KEF Komur stop on the arrivals side, reached by a covered walkway from the terminal, and on the way out the bus drops you at departures in the same spot as the airport coaches. On weekdays some trips go all the way to BSÍ in Reykjavík and others end at Fjörður in Hafnarfjörður, where you can change to city bus route 1 into central Reykjavík. At weekends every trip ends at Fjörður. Bikes can come along on five of the twelve daily departures.

Adult fares published by Strætó, checked 5 November 2026:

• KEF to Garðabær or Reykjavík: 2,400 ISK
• KEF to Fjörður, Hafnarfjörður: 1,800 ISK
• Youth ages 12 to 17, elderly 67+, and registered disability fares are half those amounts
• Children 11 and under: free

You can pay on board with cash or a contactless card. Always check the current timetable on straeto.is before you rely on it after a late arrival.

Strætó is the cheapest seat into town, and since the new terminal stops opened it is a much easier option than it used to be. It works best if you travel light and your timing matches the schedule. For most visitors with suitcases after an international flight, Flybus is the simpler choice. For a wider look at buses across Iceland, see our Iceland public transport guide.

Which option should you choose?

• Solo or couple, hotel in Reykjavík: Flybus Plus. One booking, hotel drop off, fixed fare.
• Solo or couple, fine walking or taxiing from BSÍ: standard Flybus.
• Family or group of four sharing cost: compare Flybus Plus per person with a fixed taxi or private transfer. The private vehicle can win once you split it.
• Tight budget, light bags, daytime arrival: Strætó 55 if the timetable fits.
• Late night, heavy luggage, or door to door only: private transfer or a prebooked taxi.
• Daylight to spare and you want the drive to be a tour: Reykjanes Explorer, or the private 3 hour airport transfer and tour if you want a custom route.

If you are picking up a rental car at the airport and driving onward the same day, skip the coach and go straight to the rental desk. If Reykjavík is only a stop before the Ring Road, the coach into town and a later car pickup in the city can still be easier after a long haul flight.

Practical tips for arrival day

1. Follow the signs outside arrivals. Flybus boards just outside the terminal. Strætó route 55 leaves from the KEF Komur stop on the arrivals side, under the covered walkway.
2. Book before you land if you can. You can also buy Flybus at the airport counter, but an e ticket saves a queue when several flights land together.
3. Allow buffer for winter weather. The road is Route 41 across the Reykjanes Peninsula. Wind and ice can stretch a normal 45 minute run.
4. Returning to the airport: Flybus recommends boarding at least about three hours before your flight so you have time for the transfer and airport check in. Book the coach back from BSÍ on Slice (Flybus from Reykjavík BSÍ to Keflavík Airport, from 3,999 ISK adult, checked 6 November 2026) or hotel pickup with Flybus Plus from Reykjavík hotel to Keflavík Airport (from 5,299 ISK adult, same check date). Always confirm the operator's current departure and check in guidance when you book.
5. Luggage: two standard bags per person are included on Flybus. Oversized sports gear costs extra on the official price list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Keflavík Airport from Reykjavík? About 50 km southwest of the city centre. The drive is usually around 45 minutes.

Can I rent a car at Keflavík Airport and drive to Reykjavík? Yes. You can rent a car at the airport and drive yourself. See the car rental section above.

How much is the Flybus from Keflavík to Reykjavík? As of 5 November 2026 the adult one way fare is 3,999 ISK to BSÍ and 5,299 ISK with hotel drop off (Flybus Plus). Youth ages 6 to 15 pay 1,999 ISK and 2,649 ISK respectively. Children ages 1 to 5 travel free.

Is there Uber from Keflavík Airport? No. Uber and Lyft do not operate in Iceland. Use a rental car, Flybus, a taxi, a private transfer or Strætó instead. Details: No Uber in Iceland.

Is there a public bus from the airport? Yes. Strætó route 55. Adult fare to Reykjavík or Garðabær is 2,400 ISK. Check whether your departure continues to BSÍ.

How much is a taxi from Keflavík to Reykjavík? Hreyfill’s fixed online rate (from 18 March 2026) is 22,500 ISK for 1 to 4 passengers and 29,250 ISK for 5 to 8, plus a 490 ISK airport fee when the trip starts at KEF. Metered rank fares can differ.

Should I book Flybus or a private transfer? Book Flybus or Flybus Plus for the best price as one or two people. Choose a private transfer when you want a meet and greet, a direct ride to your door, or space for a family and lots of bags. Private rates start at 27,500 ISK per vehicle.

How do I get back to Keflavík Airport from Reykjavík? The same coaches run in reverse. Flybus from BSÍ is from 3,999 ISK adult and Flybus Plus from your hotel is from 5,299 ISK adult (both checked 6 November 2026). A private transfer, taxi, or Strætó 55 also work for the return. If you want sightseeing on the way out, look at the Reykjanes Explorer or the private 3 hour airport transfer and tour.