Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík: Transfer Options

Keflavík International Airport (IATA: KEF) is Iceland’s main international airport, located 50km southwest of Reykjavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The journey to Reykjavík takes 45–55 minutes by bus or car. Several transfer options exist at different price points — from shared coaches at ISK 3,999 to private taxis at ISK 15,000–18,000.

Flybus (Reykjavík Excursions)

The most popular option for independent travellers. Scheduled coaches run directly to BSÍ Bus Terminal in central Reykjavík, synchronised with arriving flights.

Price: approximately ISK 3,999 one way, ISK 7,299 return as of 2026.

Journey time: 45–55 minutes to BSÍ Bus Terminal.

Hotel connections: A more expensive option (approximately ISK 5,499 one way, ISK 9,799 return) includes a connecting minibus to your specific hotel in the central Reykjavík area. This eliminates the need to change buses at BSÍ with heavy luggage — worth the extra cost if you’re travelling with large bags or arriving late at night.

Timetable: Buses meet all arriving flights. After landing, clearing baggage claim, and passing through customs, look for Flybus desks and coaches in the airport arrivals area. There is no need to pre-book the timetable — buses run to meet every arriving flight. However, pre-booking online saves time at the desk.

Book at: re.is or at the Flybus desk in arrivals. Pre-booking recommended in peak season (June–August) to guarantee a seat.

Airport Express

A competing coach service running a similar route to the Flybus.

Destination: Harpa Concert Hall in central Reykjavík (a slightly different drop-off point to BSÍ; both are walkable to most central hotels).

Price: approximately ISK 3,999 one way as of 2026.

Journey time: 45–55 minutes.

Hotel connections: Airport Express also offers hotel door-to-door service for approximately ISK 5,500 one way.

Book at: airportexpress.is.

Which to choose — Flybus or Airport Express? The price and journey time are near-identical. The main difference is the drop-off location in Reykjavík (BSÍ vs. Harpa). Check which is closer to your accommodation before booking. Both services are reliable.

Private Transfer (Kiwitaxi and Similar)

For groups of 3–4 or travellers with a lot of luggage, a pre-booked private transfer is worth considering. The cost per person drops significantly in a group versus a taxi hailed at the airport.

Kiwitaxi: A popular pre-booking platform for private airport transfers. Prices for Keflavík–Reykjavík vary by vehicle type — approximately ISK 14,000–18,000 for a standard saloon (up to 3 passengers), ISK 18,000–24,000 for a minivan (up to 6 passengers), as of 2026. Book at kiwitaxi.com. The driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign.

Benefits of a pre-booked private transfer: No wait in the taxi queue, fixed price agreed in advance, door-to-door service, driver tracks your flight for delays. Recommended for early-morning arrivals, families with young children, or late-night flights when the coach frequency drops.

Taxi

Price: approximately ISK 15,000–18,000 for up to 4 passengers to central Reykjavík as of 2026.

Journey time: 45–55 minutes (traffic-dependent; minimal traffic on this route at most hours).

The main drawback of a standard taxi versus pre-booked private transfer is the variable queue in arrivals, particularly after large aircraft land simultaneously. At peak times (several widebody flights arriving within 30 minutes of each other), the taxi queue can be 30–45 minutes.

Hreyfill (+354 588 5522) is the main taxi company at KEF. You can also book via the Hreyfill website. Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Bolt) are not established in Iceland; use a taxi phone or pre-booked transfer instead.

Tip: If cost is not a concern and you have 3–4 people, a standard taxi costs per person roughly the same as the Flybus hotel connection service, and offers more flexibility.

Rental Car

If picking up a rental car at the airport (all major companies — Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar, and multiple local Icelandic companies — have desks in the arrivals hall), drive yourself to Reykjavík via Route 41. The drive is 50km and takes 45–50 minutes.

Which companies to consider: Hertz and Avis are the large international operators. Local companies like Sad Cars and GO Car Rental are often cheaper, particularly for basic vehicles. Book well in advance for summer visits — car hire in Iceland in July and August can be hard to find last-minute and significantly more expensive.

Practical note on city parking: Central Reykjavík operates a paid parking zone system (P1–P4) with hourly rates from approximately ISK 250–400 per hour. There is limited free street parking. If your accommodation is in the 101 area, consider dropping your car at a car park on arrival (P-hús Kolaportið or P-hús Kalkofnsvegur are central options) and retrieving it the day you leave the city for driving. This avoids the daily parking cost and the hassle of moving the car.

From Reykjavík to Keflavík (Departing)

Allow at least 75–90 minutes before your flight’s check-in deadline for the Flybus or Airport Express transfer, accounting for bus departure, journey time, and security queues.

Buses depart from BSÍ Bus Terminal — check the departure schedule at re.is or airportexpress.is and confirm your departure bus when booking. Airport Express also picks up at Harpa Concert Hall.

If using the hotel connection service: The hotel pickup bus departs approximately 30 minutes before the main Flybus departure from BSÍ. Check the exact timing when booking — missing this bus means making your own way to BSÍ.

Security queues: KEF can have significant security queues during morning bank departures (07:00–10:00). Allow extra time during peak summer months. Airside facilities (restaurants, duty free) are extensive, so arriving early is not a hardship.

Journey Notes

Route 41 (Suðurnesjalína) is the standard road connection between Keflavík and Reykjavík. The Reykjanes Peninsula is flat with good road surfaces year-round. No tolls. Well-lit on the Reykjavík end. In winter conditions (ice and snow from October–April), the route can be slower — drive carefully and check road conditions at road.is.

Reykjanes Peninsula en route: If you have time on arrival or before departure, the peninsula has several worthwhile stops accessible from the airport: Gunnuhver mud pools (20 minutes from KEF), the Bridge Between Continents (15 minutes), and Krýsuvík geothermal area (35 minutes). The Blue Lagoon (Bláa Lónið) is 20 minutes from the airport — a popular pre-flight stop but must be pre-booked (prices from approximately ISK 9,990 as of 2026); do not show up without a reservation as entry is timed-slot only.