Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík

Almost every visitor lands at Keflavík Airport (KEF), on the Reykjanes peninsula about 50 km from Reykjavík city centre ^[1]. You have four realistic ways into town: the Flybus airport transfer, the public Strætó bus 55, a taxi, or a rental car picked up at the airport. Fares below are copied from the operators' own pages on 26 October 2026; prices change, so check the linked page before you travel.

The options at a glance

Sources: Flybus price list ^[2], the airport's bus page ^[3], Strætó's route 55 page ^[4] and the airport's "Getting to and from KEF" page ^[1]. We do not quote taxi or rental prices because we found no official, fixed figure.

Flybus: the airport transfer

Flybus is operated by Icelandia and runs between Keflavík Airport and the BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík ^[2]. The airport says Flybus leaves KEF for BSÍ 40 minutes after each plane lands, and more often at rush hours; on the way it stops at Aktu taktu in Garðabær, Fjörukráin in Hafnarfjörður and selected hotels, guesthouses and bus stops ^[3]. Flybus itself describes the trip as about 45 minutes and says it guarantees a seat on the next available departure even if your flight is delayed ^[5].

Standard luggage and onboard wifi are included. Discounts are applied automatically for return bookings and for groups of four or more. Flybus takes major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay and WeChat Pay; cash in Icelandic króna is accepted only at the Keflavík Airport counter. Flybus notes that prices can change without notice ^[2]. The airport recommends booking in advance ^[3].

Going back to the airport: Flybus asks passengers to board at BSÍ or their pick-up point about 30 minutes before the scheduled time ^[5].

Looking for "Airport Direct"? When we checked on 26 October 2026, airportdirect.is redirected to the Flybus website ^[5].

Strætó bus 55: the public bus

Route 55 is the regular public bus between the capital area and Keflavík Airport, and it runs every day of the week ^[4]. It is not an airport shuttle timed to flights, so check the timetable on Strætó's page before you rely on it.

You can pay with a debit or credit card, cash, or a countryside bus card ^[4]. Bus 55 is outside the capital area's Klapp ticketing system, and countryside buses cannot be pre-booked, apart from route 84 ^[6].

Not every trip goes to or from BSÍ in Reykjavík: some trips start or end at Fjörður in Hafnarfjörður. Arriving passengers board at the Strætó stop in the Bus B pick-up area on the arrivals side of the terminal; going to the airport, the bus drops you at the terminal entrance ^[4]. Strætó's pages have described the stop in slightly different ways, so open the map on the route 55 page before you land.

Taxi

The airport says taxis are available at Keflavík Airport 24 hours a day ^[1]. We have not found an official fixed fare for the trip to Reykjavík, so we do not quote one: ask the driver for the price before you set off.

Picking up a rental car at the airport

Several car rental agencies are located at Keflavík Airport ^[1]. Many transatlantic flights arrive early in the morning. The Icelandic Transport Authority's material for foreign rental drivers points to "Nap and Go" rest before driving after an overnight flight ^[7]. Before you leave the car park:

• Check road conditions on umferdin.is (the road.is address redirects there) ^[8] and the forecast and warnings on vedur.is ^[9].
• Know the default speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on gravel roads and 90 km/h on paved roads unless signs say otherwise; headlights must always be on ^[10].
• Children under 135 cm need a child seat, so book one with the car if you travel with kids ^[10].
• Since 1 January 2026 a kilometre fee applies to all vehicles, and rental companies may pass it on to renters, shown separately on the invoice without markup ^[11]. Ask how your company charges it.

For insurance, 4x4s and F-roads, read our car rental guide.

Which should you choose?

If you are staying in Reykjavík for a few days first, a bus is usually enough: Flybus is built around flight arrivals and can take you to your hotel, while bus 55 is the cheaper public option if its timetable fits. If you are starting a road trip straight away, picking up the car at the airport saves a trip back. Travelling as a family or group late at night, compare a Flybus group fare with a taxi quote. For budgets, see our trip cost calculator; for your first days, see the Golden Circle and Reykjanes Peninsula guides.

Safety on arrival

The airport sits on the Reykjanes peninsula, where there has been volcanic activity in recent years. Check safetravel.is for current alerts and vedur.is for earthquakes, eruptions and weather warnings ^{[12] [9]}. In an emergency, call 112. It is answered 24 hours a day, all year, and you can also reach it by app, SMS or web chat ^[13].

FAQ

How far is Keflavík Airport from Reykjavík?

About 50 km from Reykjavík city centre, according to the airport operator. The airport is on the Reykjanes peninsula. ^[1]

What is the cheapest bus from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík?

On the operators' published fares (checked 26 October 2026), Strætó bus 55 costs ISK 2,400 for an adult to Garðabær/Reykjavík, and Flybus to BSÍ costs ISK 3,999 one way. Flybus applies automatic discounts for return bookings and groups of four or more. Children 11 and under ride bus 55 free; on Flybus ages 1–5 are free. ^{[4] [2]}

Does the Flybus wait for delayed flights?

Flybus says it departs shortly after every flight arrival and guarantees a seat on the next available departure even when flights are delayed. The airport says Flybus leaves for BSÍ 40 minutes after each plane lands. ^{[5] [3]}

Are there taxis at Keflavík Airport at night?

Yes. The airport says taxis are available 24 hours a day. We have not found an official fixed fare, so ask the driver for the price before you set off. ^[1]

Is it safe to drive a rental car straight after a night flight?

The Icelandic Transport Authority's material for rental drivers points to 'Nap and Go' rest before driving after an overnight flight. Check road conditions on umferdin.is and the weather on vedur.is before you leave. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

Sources

1. Getting to and from KEF
   Keflavík Airport (Isavia) · accessed 2026-10-26
2. Flybus price list
   Flybus (operated by Icelandia) · tour operator (commercial claim) · accessed 2026-10-26
3. By coach or bus
   Keflavík Airport (Isavia) · accessed 2026-10-26 · via direct fetch (services/bus redirects here)
4. Bus to/from KEF-Airport (route 55)
   Strætó bs. (public transport) · accessed 2026-10-26
5. Flybus airport transfer (home page)
   Flybus (operated by Icelandia) · tour operator (commercial claim) · accessed 2026-10-26
6. Ticketing system for the countryside
   Strætó bs. (public transport) · accessed 2026-10-26 · via web search extract
7. Educational material for car rental, for foreign drivers
   Icelandic Transport Authority (Samgöngustofa) via Ísland.is · accessed 2026-10-24
8. Umferdin.is: road conditions map (road.is redirects here)
   Vegagerðin · accessed 2026-10-25
9. Icelandic Met Office (Veðurstofa Íslands), English site
   Icelandic Met Office (IMO) · accessed 2026-10-24
10. Driving in Iceland
    Safetravel / ICE-SAR with the Icelandic Transport Authority · accessed 2026-10-25
11. Kilometer fee on vehicles
    Ísland.is / Skatturinn (Iceland Revenue and Customs) · accessed 2026-10-24
12. Safetravel.is home page
    Safetravel / ICE-SAR (Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg) · accessed 2026-10-24
13. 112 – When in need of assistance
    Neyðarlínan (112 Iceland) · accessed 2026-10-25
14. Opening of mountain roads
    Vegagerðin · accessed 2026-10-25
15. Travel conditions (alerts)
    Safetravel / ICE-SAR · accessed 2026-10-25
16. Travel plans
    Safetravel / ICE-SAR · accessed 2026-10-25