Airports

Almost everyone who flies to Iceland lands at Keflavík International Airport (KEF), out on the Reykjanes peninsula in the southwest corner of the country. It's the only airport with regular international service, and it's about 50 kilometers from downtown Reykjavik. Domestic flights use a second, much smaller airport: Reykjavik City Airport, a short ride from the city center.

When I first wrote this guide, the only real options for getting to Keflavík were an expensive cab or the Flybus. That's changed. There's now a public bus too, and it's the cheapest way in.

Keflavík International Airport

Icelandair is the big carrier here, but it's far from the only one. The airport's airline list runs to about 30 names, among them Delta, United, Air Canada, WestJet, British Airways, easyJet, Lufthansa, SAS and Wizz Air. Two names you'll still see in old guides are gone: Iceland Express stopped flying in 2012, and PLAY shut down on 29 September 2025. See flights to Iceland for routes.

The terminal has cafes, a few shops and Ísland Duty Free. The old advice still stands: alcohol is expensive in Iceland, so stock up at duty free if you plan to drink.

Tax-free refunds

If you've bought goods to take home, you can claim back part of the VAT before you fly out. According to Iceland Revenue and Customs, a single receipt has to be at least 12,000 ISK. Ask the shop for a tax-free form, keep the receipts and the goods together, and get the form stamped at the airport before you check your bags. Change Group (the airport desk now runs as Prosegur Change, in the arrivals hall opposite the car rentals) validates forms under 100,000 ISK; above that you need a customs stamp. There's more in our guide to tax-free shopping in Iceland.

Getting between Keflavík and Reykjavik

You've got four choices, and which one wins depends mostly on how many of you there are and where you're staying. There's a longer version in getting from Reykjavik to Keflavík.

Strætó bus 55 (cheapest)

The public bus company, Strætó, runs route 55 between the airport and the capital area every day. As of 2026 an adult fare is 2,400 ISK to Reykjavik or 1,800 ISK if you get off in Hafnarfjörður; ages 12 to 17 pay half, and kids 11 and under ride free. You can pay by card or cash on board.

Two things trip people up. Not every trip goes to the BSÍ terminal in Reykjavik (some end at Fjörður in Hafnarfjörður), so read the timetable. And arriving passengers catch it at a Strætó stop near Kjóavellir, on the departures side of the terminal, not in front of arrivals.

Flybus

The Flybus is still the easy option. According to the airport, it leaves about 40 minutes after each flight lands and takes about 45 minutes to reach the BSÍ bus terminal. One way costs 3,999 ISK for adults and 1,999 ISK for ages 6 to 15 (as of 2026), and children under 6 ride free. For 5,299 ISK you get a transfer on to your hotel. Oversized bags cost an extra 1,500 ISK.

BSÍ is about a 10 minute walk from the center, so if you pack light, save the hotel add-on.

Taxi or private transfer

Taxis wait outside around the clock. It's still the priciest way in, so it only adds up for a group or a very late arrival. One Reykjavik taxi company, Hreyfill, sells pre-booked private transfers priced per vehicle, and it's worth comparing that quote with a metered cab. The drive takes about 45 minutes.

Rental car

If you're driving the country anyway, pick the car up at the airport. Avis, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt have desks in the terminal; others run a shuttle to a lot nearby or meet you in the arrivals hall. See car rental in Iceland and driving in Iceland before you book.

The Blue Lagoon on the way in or out

The Blue Lagoon sits between the airport and Reykjavik, which makes it the classic first or last stop. The lagoon's own bus partner, Destination Blue Lagoon, runs from both Keflavík and Reykjavik. Book your lagoon time online before you go, and leave yourself plenty of slack before a flight.

One big change since I wrote the first version of this page: the Sundhnúkur crater row near Grindavík erupted nine times between December 2023 and August 2025, and the lagoon has had to close and evacuate more than once. The Icelandic Met Office says magma is still building up there. Check Safetravel's Reykjanes page the day before you go. The eruptions haven't stopped flights at Keflavík, but road access around Grindavík can change fast. If you want to be close by, see hotels near the Blue Lagoon or airport hotels.

Domestic airports

Domestic flights leave from Reykjavik City Airport, not Keflavík, so leave time to cross between them if you're connecting. Icelandair flies to Akureyri several times a day (about 45 minutes), and also serves Egilsstaðir, Ísafjörður and, five times a week, Höfn in the southeast. Icelandair took over the Höfn route in September 2025 under a state contract that runs to 2028.

In mid-September 2026, Icelandair's Icelandic site listed round trips from Reykjavik to Akureyri from 23,475 ISK, and to Ísafjörður and Egilsstaðir from 26,475 ISK. Those are the cheapest fares it had seen in the previous 72 hours, and extras like bags can cost more.

The smaller routes belong to Norlandair, which Icelandair handles check-in for. It flies:

• Akureyri to Grímsey, the island on the Arctic Circle, all year
• Reykjavik to Bíldudalur in the Westfjords, all year, and to Gjögur for most of the year
• Akureyri to Vopnafjörður and Þórshöfn
• Reykjavik to the Westman Islands, December to February only
• Seasonal flights from Akureyri and Reykjavik to Nerlerit Inaat in East Greenland (see visiting Greenland from Iceland)

Flying north saves most of a day on the road. If you'd rather stay on the ground, read getting from Reykjavik to Akureyri and our bus travel page.

FAQ

What's the cheapest way from Keflavík airport to Reykjavik?

Strætó bus 55, at 2,400 ISK for an adult as of 2026. The Flybus costs 3,999 ISK but leaves after every arrival and goes straight to BSÍ.

Can I use the Flybus or bus 55 on a late-night arrival?

The Flybus is timed to meet flights, so yes. Bus 55 runs to a fixed timetable, so check the Strætó timetable for your arrival time before you count on it.

Is Keflavík the same as Reykjavik airport?

No. Keflavík (KEF) handles international flights and sits about 50 km out. Reykjavik City Airport handles domestic flights and a few Greenland routes. For the town itself, see our Keflavík page.

Photo by Zanthia