Getting from Reykjavik to Keflavik

Iceland's main international airport sits in the southwest corner of the country, just outside the town of Keflavík on the Reykjanes peninsula. It's about 50 km from central Reykjavik, roughly 45 minutes by road.

When I first wrote this page there was no public bus to the airport, and your choices were the Flybus or an expensive taxi. That's changed. Now you have four options: the Flybus, the Strætó public bus, a taxi or a rental car. Here's how they compare as of September 2026.

Quick comparison

• Flybus: 3,999 ISK one way, about 45 minutes, meets every flight. The easiest choice for most people.
• Strætó route 55: 2,400 ISK to Reykjavik, the cheapest option, but it runs on a fixed timetable and most trips end in Hafnarfjörður.
• Taxi: 22,500 ISK fixed price for up to four people with Hreyfill (as of 2026). Worth it for a group or a very late arrival.
• Rental car: several rental companies have desks at the airport.

The Flybus

The Flybus, run by Reykjavik Excursions, is still the simplest way into town. According to the airport, it leaves about 40 minutes after each plane lands, and more often at busy times. If your flight is late, Flybus says you're guaranteed a seat on the next departure.

• Price: 3,999 ISK one way as of September 2026, and the booking form shows a return saves 8%.
• Where it goes: to the BSÍ bus terminal, which is about a 10-minute walk from the city center, with stops on the way at Aktu Taktu in Garðabær and Fjörukráin in Hafnarfjörður.
• Hotel drop-off: the "Flybus to hotel" ticket, which adds a transfer from BSÍ to selected hotels and guesthouses or a bus stop near them, is 5,299 ISK for adults as of 2026, according to the Flybus price list.
• Bags: two bags up to 23 kg each are included.
• Tickets: online, at a ticket kiosk, or through partners. The airport recommends booking ahead.

Going back to the airport, the Flybus runs from BSÍ on a set schedule. Leave yourself plenty of time: the ride is about 45 minutes, and security at Keflavík can be slow at busy times.

The Strætó bus (route 55)

This is the big change since I first wrote this page. Strætó route 55 runs between Keflavík Airport and the capital area every day.

• Fare: 2,400 ISK for adults to Reykjavik, or 1,800 ISK to Fjörður in Hafnarfjörður. Youths (12 to 17), seniors (67+) and disabled travelers pay half, and children 11 and under ride free.
• Paying: debit or credit card or cash on board.
• Timetable: as of September 2026, the weekday buses leave the airport at 06:27 and 07:54, then at 09:54, 11:54 and 13:54, hourly from 14:54 to 18:54, and at 20:54 and 22:54. Weekend times are different.
• The catch: only the first two weekday buses go all the way to BSÍ in Reykjavik (arriving at 07:37 and 09:06). The rest end at Fjörður, the shopping center in Hafnarfjörður, about 50 minutes from the airport. From there you change to a city bus into Reykjavik (see getting around Reykjavik).

Strætó says arriving passengers catch route 55 from a stop on the departures side of the terminal. Check the map on Strætó's airport page before you go looking for it with your bags.

If you're on your own, traveling light and your flight lines up with the timetable, route 55 saves you some money. If you're landing at 6am after a red-eye with two suitcases, I'd take the Flybus.

Taxi

Taxis wait at Keflavík 24 hours a day. They're the most expensive option, but they aren't as bad as they look if you're splitting one. Hreyfill offers a fixed price of 22,500 ISK for one to four passengers and 29,250 ISK for five to eight, charged per vehicle (as of 2026). On the meter, trips starting at the airport also carry a 490 ISK airport fee. For four people, that's about 5,600 ISK each, delivered to your door.

Rental car

There are several rental car agencies at the airport, and plenty of parking if you're dropping a car off. If you're heading straight out on the road, picking up at the airport makes sense. If you're spending your first few days in Reykjavik, you won't need a car there (parking is a hassle), so consider picking one up later. See car rental in Iceland and driving in Iceland.

Combining the airport with the Blue Lagoon

If you plan to visit the Blue Lagoon, you can combine it with your trip to or from the airport. It's the best way to use the hours after an early arrival or before a late flight.

Destination Blue Lagoon, the lagoon's official transport partner, runs buses between the airport, the lagoon and Reykjavik all year. As of September 2026, its schedule shows buses from the airport to the lagoon at 07:30, 09:30, 12:30 and 16:30, and from the lagoon to the airport at 12:00, 14:30 and 16:00. Between 21 August and 31 January, buses from the lagoon to Reykjavik leave every hour from 12:15 to 22:15.

Two things have changed a lot since my first visit:

• You must book lagoon entry in advance. The lagoon says pre-booking is essential. The cheapest admission, Comfort, was listed from 11,990 ISK on 16 September 2026, and it now includes a towel and a drink.
• The area is volcanically active. The Sundhnúkur crater row near Grindavík, next to the lagoon, erupted nine times between December 2023 and August 2025; the last eruption ended on 5 August 2025. On 15 September 2026 the Icelandic Met Office reported that the ground at Svartsengi is still rising and that the most likely outcome is another magma intrusion into the Sundhnúkur crater row. Check safetravel.is before you plan the stop, and have a backup plan.

More detail is in getting to the Blue Lagoon, and if you'd rather sleep nearby, see hotels near the Blue Lagoon or airport hotels.

FAQ

How early should I leave Reykjavik for my flight?

Work back from your airline's check-in deadline and add the 45-minute ride. I'd leave the city at least three hours before an international departure. Keflavík has posted warnings about busy security screening on peak days.

Is there a train to Keflavík Airport?

No. Iceland has no railways. It's bus, taxi or car.

Can I get from Keflavík straight to a domestic flight?

Not at Keflavík. Domestic flights leave from Reykjavik Airport in the city, so take the Flybus to BSÍ, which is close to the domestic airport, and go on from there.

Photo by Ulrich Latzenhofer