How to get from Keflavik International Airport to Reykjavik

Getting a trip off to a good start sets the tone for the rest of your holiday. That’s definitely the case with Iceland – visitors landing at Keflavik Airport enjoy a taste of the country’s striking volcanic scenery and remarkable waterfront views as they make their way to the capital.

If you’re planning a visit to Iceland, in almost all cases you’ll arrive at Keflavik Airport on the Reykjanes peninsula, about 30 miles from Reykjavik. One day, perhaps, there may be a rail link between the two, but that’s a very long way off. In the meantime, there are a number of ways to make the journey into the Icelandic capital, including an Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland transfer, so let’s take a look at your options.

Shared transfer with Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland

If you’ve had a tiring journey to get to Iceland, you might prefer to let someone else do the driving and take care of getting you from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik. Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland offers a convenient and hassle-free way of getting to the city, offering both shared and private transfers. Shared transfers are especially reasonable and you’ll find they are 15% cheaper if you opt for a return ticket at the outset.

You’ll board a comfortable coach with onboard WiFi. Settle back and enjoy the view out of the window during the 45 minute journey to the Reykjavik Terminal. There, you have the choice of continuing your onward journey independently or adding a hotel transfer bus option to your booking. This is the most efficient way of getting all passengers to their final destination in as timely fashion as possible, as you won’t spend unnecessary time dropping off at hotels in other parts of Reykjavik.

With a simple to use website, online booking is straightforward. Simply use the drop down menus to select the number of passengers and the date and time you expect to travel, and then use a major credit card to pay up front. If your flight is delayed, as unfortunately can sometimes be the case, then Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland will endeavour to get you on the next available bus. Departures are pretty much every hour, so with this regular a schedule you shouldn’t have to wait too long.

Private transfer with Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland

If you prefer, you can opt for a private transfer. The fare is also very reasonable, and the more of you there are travelling together, the better value this option becomes. It’s definitely worth doing some quick calculations to see how much of a difference there is between this and the shared transfer.

Instead of calling in at the Reykjavik Terminal, you’ll head directly to where you are staying. The time taken will of course vary according to where that is and local traffic conditions when you reach Reykjavik, but in general this is the quickest way to reach your destination in the capital.

Taxi on arrival

Of course you could wait until you arrive and then join the line for a taxi. Though this sounds like the easiest option, at peak periods you might find yourself at the end of a long queue, which can be disheartening when you just want to get started on your holiday. Fares are typically high as taking a taxi in Iceland tends to be expensive. Always make sure you have at least an estimate of how much the ride will cost you before jumping in, so there are no nasty surprises as you watch the meter tick round.

Public bus: cheap but slow

The cheapest option is to take the public bus. Although, as it’s also the slowest method of getting from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik, relatively few tourists entertain the idea. A company called Strætó run this service. They are also responsible for city buses within and around the capital as well as long distance buses in other parts of Iceland and the countryside.

To reach Reykjavik from Keflavik Airport the bus to look out for is the number 55. From the airport arrivals hall you’ll need to walk down the road as the bus stop is nearby on Kjóavellir. If you are planning to use this bus, it’s a good idea to be abreast of schedules for the departures that are most likely to coincide with the time your flight lands, as at certain times of day they can be more than two hours apart.

Another thing to watch out for is that not all services go all the way to Reykjavik. After calling in at Keflavik town, some finish up at the Fjörður shopping centre in the town of Hafnarfjördur. From there, you’d need to catch another bus to complete your trip. In all, if you find yourself on a bus whose final destination is Reykjavik, you can expect a journey time of about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

If you’re counting the króna and you have plenty of time on your hands, this could be an option. Buses are reliable and safe. However, in practice, most visitors won’t be keen to use them as they prefer to get to Reykjavik more quickly so that they can begin their holiday.

The pros and cons of self-drive in a rental car

It’s also possible to make the journey under your own steam and rent a car. There are pros and cons with this approach, so let’s take a look. Firstly, you’ll have the flexibility of stopping off on your way to Reykjavik, perhaps to see a little of the Reykjanes peninsula. Depending on where you’ve chosen to stay in Reykjavik, you’ll have a door-to-door transfer, or be able to park close by to where you are staying.

However, you’ll need to complete the paperwork at the airport before driving away in the car; some rental companies are off-site so you’ll have to wait for their representative to meet you in the arrivals hall. This can be an expensive option, too, particularly if you are a solo traveller or a couple, or like to rent a larger vehicle, an automatic or an SUV.

While this approach might be beneficial if you’re travelling around the country, if you plan to concentrate mostly on the capital region and explore Reykjavik itself, you might find that in some cases it works out more cost-effective to take advantage of an Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland transfer and book a tour or two.

However you do it, here at Gray Line we hope you have a stress-free ride between the airport and Reykjavik and wish you a pleasant stay in Iceland!