How to Get to Reykjavik: Flights, Airport Transfers and Driving from the US

The simplest way into Reykjavík is through Keflavík Airport (KEF), then a Flybus ride of about 45 minutes to the BSÍ bus terminal in the city center. Reykjavik Airport sits in town but is the hub for domestic flights, so Keflavík is the airport to look for when you book.

At a glance

• Route: US city → Keflavík Airport (KEF) → Flybus → BSÍ Bus Terminal, central Reykjavík
• Transfer time: about 45 minutes over roughly 31 miles (50 km)
• Flybus departures from BSÍ: every 30 to 60 minutes, 4:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• Public bus: Strætó Route 55, about 1 hour 20 minutes from KEF to BSÍ
• Downtown on foot: about 20 minutes across

How do you fly to Reykjavik from the US?

Keflavík Airport (KEF) serves Reykjavík. From there you can go by private car, rental vehicle, taxi, bus, bicycle or public transportation. Flybus operates the official airport transfer between KEF and the city.

Reykjavik Airport is a different place. It lies about 1.2 miles (2 km) from the city center and is the Icelandic hub for domestic flights. If your trip continues inside Iceland by air, that is the airport you use for the next leg.

Flybus buses leave 30 to 60 minutes after each flight arrival, so there is no need to rush through the terminal to catch a set departure.

How do you get from the airport to Reykjavik?

Flybus is the easiest option. The ride between Keflavík and the BSÍ Bus Terminal covers roughly 31 miles (50 km) and takes about 45 minutes.

Strætó Route 55 runs daily between the capital area and the airport, and the trip to BSÍ takes 1 hour and 20 minutes. From the domestic Reykjavik Airport, bus number 15 reaches the city center in about 10 minutes.

Can you get to Reykjavik by train, bus or car?

Nearly the entire country is reachable from Reykjavík by public bus, apart from certain settlements in north-east Iceland. BSÍ is the bus terminal in the city center, and the Flybus from Keflavík arrives there.

Reykjavík Parking Service operates seven garages across the city center, open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight, except Bergstaðir, which is open 24 hours. At City Hall Parking Garage, short-term parking costs 280 kr. for the first hour and 150 kr. per hour after that. You can pay with coins, a card or a mobile device at a parking meter, with a mobile payment app, or online. The city has 4 tariff zones, P1 to P4.

Outside town, most South Coast waterfalls are reachable on the paved Ring Road in a standard sedan. A 4×4 vehicle is required for F-roads and river crossings in more remote areas.

How do you get around Reykjavik once you arrive?

Downtown Reykjavík can be walked across in about 20 minutes, and walking is usually much faster than driving. The city is compact, with a network of walking and cycling paths. Popular routes run through the Elliðaárdalur valley and along the seafront in West Reykjavík.

For longer hops, Strætó buses run roughly from 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. until about 11:00 p.m. or midnight. On Sundays, service starts at 11:00 a.m. A limited night bus runs until 4:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. A transfer ticket is valid for 75 minutes after issue and must be shown to the driver.

An adult single ticket costs 480 ISK. Children aged 6 to 17 and travelers 67 or older pay 240 ISK, and children up to 5 ride free with a paying adult. Strætó also sells day, three-day, monthly and annual cards, which suit a longer stay. A car is not needed downtown. It becomes useful for trips along the Ring Road.

What documents do you need to board a flight to Iceland?

U.S. citizens need no visa for Iceland for short tourist stays. According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov), no visa is needed for up to 90 days for tourism or business.

Your passport must have 3 months’ validity beyond your date of departure from the Iceland/Schengen Area, and 6 months is recommended. Iceland does not accept the 12-page U.S. emergency passport for visa-free entry unless it has 3 months beyond your planned date of departure. No vaccinations are required.