Cheapest Transfer from Reykjavik Airport | Bus 55 Wins

Strætó Bus 55 is the cheapest KEF-to-Reykjavík transfer at about $19, but Flybus is easier after late arrivals.

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The airport-name trap costs travelers money in Iceland. For the Cheapest Transfer from Reykjavik Airport, assume the route is Keflavík International Airport (KEF) to Reykjavík city unless you mean Reykjavík Airport (RKV), the small domestic airport beside the city center.

The cheapest usable transfer from KEF is Strætó Bus 55, the public bus that runs between the airport area and Reykjavík. Flybus costs more, but it meets arriving flights, takes about 45 minutes to BSÍ Bus Terminal, and works better if you land tired, late, or with large bags.

How Cheap Is Bus 55 From KEF To Reykjavík?

Strætó Bus 55 usually costs about $19 (2,400 ISK) from Keflavík International Airport to central Reykjavík, which makes it cheaper than airport shuttles. The savings come with a timetable trade: Bus 55 is public transit, not a flight-matched airport coach.

Bus 55 is the right pick for daytime arrivals, light luggage, and travelers who do not mind checking a schedule before leaving arrivals. Strætó publishes current airport-to-city departures online, and countryside routes can be paid on board by card or cash.

Compare current airport buses and transfer times before you commit:

Reykjavík Airport Transfer Costs By Route

Keflavík-to-Reykjavík transfers split into two budget tiers: the public bus is cheapest, while airport coaches cost more but remove most timing stress. Taxis and private transfers only beat coaches on value when three or more people split the fare.

Use the table as a decision tool, not a promise that every seat will price the same. Icelandic transfer prices move with exchange rates, booking channel, luggage needs, and whether you stop at a hotel bus stop rather than BSÍ.

Before choosing the public bus, confirm the next departure in the official Route 55 timetable, because Bus 55 is not held for delayed flights.

Using Bus 55 Without Losing The Savings

Bus 55 saves money only when the timetable fits your landing time. Check the next departure before you leave the terminal, because missing one bus can erase the value if the wait is long.

• Choose Bus 55 for daytime arrivals when you can tolerate a longer ride.
• Pay on board rather than relying on an advance ticket in an app.
• Carry luggage you can handle without help at the stop and on the bus.
• Switch to Flybus if the next Bus 55 departure is far away.

Reykjavík’s BSÍ Bus Terminal sits close enough to the center for some travelers to walk onward, but not everyone should. A taxi from BSÍ to a hotel may wipe out part of the public-bus saving, so check your hotel’s location before choosing the cheapest fare.

The Low-Stress Upgrade

Flybus is the better-value upgrade when time, luggage, or a late landing matters more than saving about $13. Flybus runs in connection with arriving flights, goes to BSÍ in about 45 minutes, and includes large luggage on the standard airport-coach ticket.

Flybus also has a hotel-transfer option, but Reykjavík limits full-size coaches on some central streets. In practice, “hotel transfer” often means a smaller shuttle or a designated city bus stop near your accommodation, so read the drop-off name before paying extra.

Shared shuttles sit in the same middle lane: not as cheap as Bus 55, not as expensive as a taxi, and usually sensible for first-time Iceland arrivals after a long overnight flight. Private transfers make more sense for families, travelers with ski-sized bags, or anyone arriving when public options are thin.

Where To Stay After The Airport Transfer

Reykjavík is small enough that the right hotel area can save a second transfer after you reach the city. Staying near BSÍ, Hallgrímskirkja, or the central numbered bus stops keeps the airport-coach handoff simple.

Downtown Reykjavík costs more than outlying neighborhoods, but the airport-transfer math can still work in its favor. A cheaper room far from the center may need extra taxis, longer walks in rough weather, or a city bus after a long flight.

Check Reykjavík hotel locations against your arrival point before choosing a room:

Which Transfer Should You Take?

Solo budget travelers should take Bus 55 when the schedule works; most first-time visitors should take Flybus to BSÍ; groups should price a taxi or private van before buying several coach tickets. The cheapest transfer is only the smartest transfer when it still gets you to the right part of Reykjavík without a costly second ride.

• Lowest price: Strætó Bus 55, especially for one traveler with light luggage.
• Best balance: Flybus to BSÍ, especially after international arrivals.
• Best for groups: A fixed-price taxi or minivan once three or more people split it.
• Best for road trips: Pick up a rental car at KEF only if you are leaving Reykjavík soon.

The safest money move is simple: check the next Bus 55 departure while you are still inside KEF. If the wait is short, take the public bus. If the wait is long, pay for Flybus and save your energy for the first night in Reykjavík.