Transportation from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik | Bus Wins

The Flybus is the easiest default from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík; Strætó 55 is cheaper, and taxis fit groups.

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Keflavík International Airport (KEF) sits about 31 miles west of Reykjavík, and there is no airport train. For transportation from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik, the easiest default is a prebooked airport coach: it meets arrivals, costs far less than a taxi, and takes about 45 minutes to BSÍ Bus Terminal.

The cheapest public option is Strætó Route 55, but it runs less often and not every departure reaches BSÍ. A taxi or private transfer is easier for families, late arrivals with bulky bags, or four people splitting one vehicle.

Keflavik Airport To Reykjavik: Every Route Compared

The airport coach is the simplest pick for most visitors because the price is fixed, the ride is direct, and the schedule is built around flight arrivals. Public bus 55 wins on fare alone, while a taxi wins only when door-to-door service matters more than the bill.

Reykjavík airport transfers are easiest to sort before landing because KEF is outside the city and late-night arrivals can be tiring. Compare live coach and transfer options before you land:

How Much Does Each Transfer Cost?

A one-way Flybus ticket starts at 3,999 ISK, about $32 at recent exchange rates, while Strætó Route 55 to Reykjavík costs 2,400 ISK, about $19. A fixed taxi starts around 22,500 ISK plus the KEF airport fee, so it only becomes sensible when the vehicle cost is shared.

Keflavík Airport’s coach-and-bus page lists Flybus between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík’s BSÍ Bus Terminal and gives the airport-to-city ride as 45 minutes.

The Airport Coach Is The Easiest Default

Flybus is the easiest airport coach for most first-time arrivals because it runs with flight arrivals and goes to BSÍ Bus Terminal near central Reykjavík. The base ride is the cleanest value if your hotel is close to BSÍ, Hlemmur, Laugavegur, or the Old Harbour.

Flybus+ adds a city shuttle leg to selected hotels and numbered bus stops, which helps when luggage is heavy or the weather is rough. The trade is time: a direct 45-minute ride can turn into more than an hour once city drop-offs begin.

• Choose the base Flybus ticket if you can walk or take a short taxi from BSÍ.
• Choose Flybus+ if your accommodation is not near BSÍ and you do not want to learn the city bus system after a long flight.
• Book the return to KEF at the same time if your departure is early; morning airport runs can fill during busy travel periods.

Use Strætó 55 Only When The Timetable Fits

Strætó Route 55 is the lowest regular fare between KEF and the capital area, but it is not as forgiving as the airport coach. Some Route 55 trips end at Fjörður in Hafnarfjörður instead of Reykjavík, so the timetable matters more than the headline fare.

The airport-side Route 55 stop is near Kjóavellir on the departure side of the terminal, not the same curb used by tour coaches. Strætó accepts debit or credit cards, cash, and countryside bus cards on this route; children age 11 and younger ride free on the KEF-capital-area fare table.

Use Route 55 only if your flight lands in time for a useful departure and your final stop is easy from BSÍ or another capital-area stop.

Taxis And Private Transfers Make Sense For Groups

A taxi from KEF to Reykjavík is expensive for one person and reasonable for a group that needs one direct ride. Hreyfill lists fixed Keflavík airport transfer fares from 22,500 ISK for 1–4 passengers and 29,250 ISK for 5–8 passengers, with a 490 ISK airport fee added to trips starting at KEF.

Use the airport taxi rank or a prebooked licensed driver, and confirm the fixed fare before the car leaves the terminal. Iceland does not work like a cheap app-ride market, so a last-minute taxi is about certainty, not savings.

Driving From KEF Works If Iceland Starts Right Away

A rental car at Keflavík Airport makes sense if your first day goes beyond Reykjavík, such as the Blue Lagoon, Reykjanes Peninsula, South Coast, or Golden Circle. A rental car is usually wasted if you are spending your first two nights in central Reykjavík, where parking costs and winter weather add friction.

Check whether your rental includes winter tires in cold months, gravel protection if you plan rural roads, and permission for the roads on your route. If your first night is outside the capital or you are starting a self-drive trip, compare rentals before choosing a bus:

Where To Stay After The Airport Transfer

Miðborg, Hlemmur, and the Old Harbour are the easiest Reykjavík bases after an airport coach because they keep taxis short and put restaurants, pickup stops, and day-tour departures close by. Staying far from the center can erase the savings from a cheaper transfer if you need extra taxis.

Pick a hotel near BSÍ if you want the simplest airport return, near Hlemmur if you want food and bus access, and near the Old Harbour if boat tours are part of the plan. Compare Reykjavík hotels on a map before you lock in the transfer:

Which Transfer Should You Choose?

The right KEF-to-Reykjavík transfer depends on group size, arrival time, luggage, and whether Reykjavík is your first stop or just a pause before the road trip. Use this verdict to choose without overpaying.

• Best balance for most visitors: Flybus to BSÍ, then walk, taxi, or city bus to your hotel.
• Lowest fare: Strætó Route 55, but only when the timetable and stop pattern fit your arrival.
• Easiest with luggage: Flybus+ or a shared shuttle to a numbered city stop near your hotel.
• Best for three or four people: A fixed taxi or private transfer can beat buying separate hotel-shuttle tickets.
• Best for a self-drive itinerary: Pick up the rental car at KEF and leave Reykjavík parking out of the plan when possible.

For most travelers, the airport coach is the right first move: it is frequent, priced clearly, and built for arrivals. Strætó is the budget play, taxis are the group play, and rental cars belong to trips that start outside the city.