Bus Travel in Iceland

Iceland has no trains, so the bus is the only way to cross the country on the ground without driving yourself. It works, and it's cheaper than it used to be, but you give up a lot of freedom. Buses on the long routes run once a day or a few times a week, and most of the places people come to Iceland for (waterfalls, glacier lagoons, canyons) are a walk or a drive from the nearest stop.

My advice hasn't changed much since I first wrote this: if there are two or more of you, rent a car. Half the pleasure of Iceland is pulling over when something catches your eye. But if you're on your own, don't drive, or want to hike between trailheads, the bus is a real option. Here's how the system works now.

Strætó runs the long-distance network

The old BSÍ coach network I wrote about in 2010 is gone as a countryside service; bsi.is now just forwards to a tour company's site, and BSÍ itself is the terminal where the Flybus stops. Scheduled buses around the country are run by Strætó, the same company that runs Reykjavik's city buses. Its countryside network was reorganized on 1 January 2026. The routes most visitors will use:

• Route 55: Keflavík airport to Reykjavik, daily (see airports).
• Route 51: Reykjavik to Selfoss, with more weekday trips than before.
• Route 52: Reykjavik to Höfn along the south coast, four trips a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday). It stops at Hella, Hvolsvöllur, Skógar, Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón.
• Route 53: Selfoss to Landeyjahöfn, the ferry port for the Westman Islands, and Hvolsvöllur.
• Route 57: Reykjavik to Akureyri, one trip a day all year, via Borgarnes and Blönduós.
• Routes 58 and 82: Borgarnes to Stykkishólmur, then around Snæfellsnes to Grundarfjörður, Ólafsvík and Hellissandur.
• Routes 56 and 79: Akureyri to Egilsstaðir, and Akureyri to Húsavík.
• Route 93: Egilsstaðir to Seyðisfjörður, where the ferry from Denmark docks.

In the Westfjords, route 62 (Patreksfjörður to Ísafjörður) runs only in summer. Timetables change with the seasons, so check the exact days before you build a plan around a bus.

What it costs

Fares are priced by zone, at 600 ISK per zone for adults (as of 2026). Ages 12 to 17, seniors 67 and over, and disabled travelers pay half, and children 11 and under ride free. Some sample adult fares from Mjódd, the Reykjavik bus hub, taken from Strætó's South Iceland and West and North Iceland fare tables:

• Selfoss: 2,400 ISK
• Vík: 8,400 ISK
• Skaftafell: 13,200 ISK
• Jökulsárlón: 15,000 ISK
• Höfn: 17,400 ISK
• Stykkishólmur: 5,400 ISK
• Akureyri: 13,200 ISK

You pay on board by debit or credit card or cash, or with a countryside bus card. The old multi-day "passports" I described in 2010 aren't part of Strætó's system.

Is flying cheaper? It used to be, if you booked early. Now a Reykjavik to Akureyri bus ticket is 13,200 ISK and takes several hours, while Icelandair's flight takes about 45 minutes. Price the flight for your dates before you decide; when you add the day you'd lose on the bus, flying often comes out ahead. See getting from Reykjavik to Akureyri for both options.

Summer buses to the highlands

Strætó doesn't go into the interior. For Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk and the Skógar end of the Fimmvörðuháls trail, private companies run summer-only buses on the highland roads:

• Highland Bus (Reykjavik Excursions, formerly "Iceland On Your Own") runs to Skógar, Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar, mostly from 13 June to 20 September in 2026.
• Trex runs to Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar for 14,900 ISK from Reykjavik, and sells a hikers' pass for the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails for 27,900 ISK. Its 2026 season ran 19 June to 6 September.

These roads close from about mid-September until June or July, depending on snow, so outside summer there's no public way in.

Tips before you ride

• Check the timetable again on the day you travel. Winter weather can cancel buses.
• On routes with one bus a day, missing it costs you a night. Build slack into your plan.
• Pack food. There are long stretches with no shop, and the Höfn run is a long day on the bus.
• For short trips out of the city, a day tour is usually easier than piecing together public buses.

FAQ

Can you travel around Iceland's Ring Road by bus?

Mostly. Routes 52, 57 and 56 cover the south, north and northeast, but between Höfn and Egilsstaðir you're relying on local East Fjords routes (such as 94, 92 and 91) that don't join up into one through route. It takes careful planning and much more time than driving the Ring Road.

Can I take the bus to the Golden Circle?

Not in a practical way. Public buses reach Selfoss and some nearby villages, but not Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss as a loop. Take a tour or drive; see getting from Reykjavik to the Golden Circle.

Do I need to book Strætó long-distance buses in advance?

Countryside fares are paid when you board. For the private highland buses, book ahead, especially for the Laugavegur trailheads in July and August.

Photo by Tania Ho