ARRIVAL TRANSPORT · KEF → REYKJAVÍK
Arrival transport only answers how you reach the city. If you have not yet decided how much time to spend in the capital, return to the Reykjavík city hub, then choose according to the number of nights, your accommodation area and whether you will be driving. If you are still mixing up the airport, the town of Keflavík and the Blue Lagoon, start with the Keflavík and Reykjanes destination guide. If this is a connection rather than a full arrival day, use the Blue Lagoon layover guide instead; arrival and transit timings should not be treated as the same calculation. KEF is about 50 kilometres from central Reykjavík. The drive is not especially long, yet it is where travellers most often underestimate the last mile: collecting bags, finding the stop, getting off, waiting for a transfer and then dragging two suitcases to the hotel can make it clear that the arrival day is not over when the flight lands.
The drive is only half the arrival
For a daytime arrival and a hotel near BSÍ or a convenient transfer stop, the airport bus is usually the easiest option. For two or three travellers, children, older passengers or hotels without a straightforward drop-off, compare the full taxi or pre-booked transfer price with the effort it removes. Rent a car in the city only if you were already planning to drive. Route 55 costs less, but it does not coordinate with flights and involves more waiting and connections; it suits daytime arrivals with generous time.
ICENAVI ARRIVAL FIT · KEF → REYKJAVÍK
Decide who handles the last mile before buying a ticket
The scores consider flight arrival, luggage, walking after the drop-off, timetable flexibility, accessibility and the first-night route. Recheck timetables, stops, fares and hotel transfers for your dates.
Flybus and private transfers can be arranged around arrivals, but check the day's service, waiting time and hotel drop-off. The ride is not automatically door to door.
The walk from BSÍ, street-access restrictions and the weight of your bags change the real cost of a budget bus.
Route 55 has lower fares but more timetable and connection limits. A taxi is flexible, while its value depends on the number of passengers and bags.
KEF sets different requirements for Route 55, Flybus lifts and accessible taxis. Contact the operator in advance rather than assuming availability.
Reykjavík works well as a city base and meeting point without a car. If you are driving the South Coast the next day or catching an early flight, Reykjanes or KEF may avoid a return journey.
There is no single cheapest answer. Your destination, travelling companions and direction for the following night determine which option actually saves effort.
The arrivals hall is not the end of the journey; the hotel entrance is
When booking a central hotel, many people look only at how many minutes it is from the sights. On your first arrival from KEF, enlarge the map and check the bus terminus, transfer stop and hotel entrance instead. Flybus's main city terminus is BSÍ. If your room is deep along Laugavegur, in the Old Harbour or on a street accessible only to smaller vehicles, the journey from BSÍ is what determines whether “nearby” feels nearby.
That does not mean everyone should stay beside BSÍ. If you are keeping your first night in central Reykjavík, use the comparison of Reykjavík's city centre and harbour locations to see the distinction clearly: some hotels suit walking and evening exploration, while others work better when you need to park a car. Those are different answers to the phrase “central Reykjavík”.
| Your actual arrival situation | First option to check | What the timing really includes | Most likely failure point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime, 1–2 people, hotel near BSÍ or a designated stop | Flybus to BSÍ / add city transfer | Border exit + waiting + about 45 minutes to BSÍ + the final stretch | Buying a BSÍ ticket while assuming it includes the hotel entrance |
| Late flight, children or older passengers, bulky luggage, or a hard-to-find hotel entrance | Taxi or pre-booked transfer | Board directly after leaving the terminal; traffic and weather still matter | Failing to confirm the full vehicle price, luggage capacity and night-time terms |
| You were already planning to drive | Rental car | Desk / shuttle + vehicle inspection + navigation setup + parking at the hotel | Being committed to a non-refundable hotel after a delayed flight and then driving tired at night |
| Daytime, tight budget, flexible schedule | Strætó Route 55 | Walk to the stop + wait for a fixed service + about 1 hour 20 minutes to BSÍ | A delay leaves no suitable later departure |
This table does not declare one option permanently “cheapest” or “fastest”, because the four timings begin at different points. Flybus's 45 minutes is the driving baseline between KEF and BSÍ; Route 55's 1 hour 20 minutes does not include waiting for the next service; and a rental car cannot treat vehicle inspection and parking as zero minutes. Compare every option from the moment you leave the arrivals hall to the moment you reach the hotel entrance so the price is measured against the same journey.
Flybus is best suited to a situation, not to every non-driver
KEF's current arrangements indicate that Flybus services to the capital generally depart about 40 minutes after each flight lands, with more frequent departures during busy periods. The driving baseline to BSÍ is about 45 minutes. This reduces the risk that the bus schedule is completely disconnected from your flight, but it does not mean you will have collected your bags within 40 minutes, nor does it mean the bus reaches your hotel door. Flybus, Flybus+ / hotel transfer and other operators may use different destinations; the wording on the payment page and booking confirmation is the contract.
I treat Flybus as a dependable arrival-day baseline, not as an automatically cheapest answer. With only a backpack and a hotel near BSÍ or within an easy walk, the arrangement is simple. Add rain, strong wind, a hard-shell suitcase and an unfamiliar street number, and even an eight-minute walk acquires real weight. If you still need dinner, water or an eSIM after arrival, make sure you have a working connection first; the practical trade-offs of Iceland eSIM activation and coverage cover this part of the arrival rather than leaving you to gamble on airport Wi-Fi.
What makes Route 55 cheap is also what needs separate planning
The official airport guide lists Strætó Route 55 between the capital area and KEF. The trip from KEF to BSÍ takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, and the service does not adjust for flight delays. Arriving passengers need to reach the public bus stop around Kjóavellir; the airport's 2025 guide described it as about 150 metres away, but KEF's bus facilities have been undergoing changes. Follow the operator's information and signs on the day rather than treating that distance as fixed.
There is also a practical fare-version difference. KEF's 2025 transport article still listed 2,280 ISK, while Strætó's 2026 Southern Peninsula fare table lists a one-way adult fare of 2,400 ISK between KEF and Reykjavík. This page uses the newer operator figure, but does not treat it as permanent; check the Route 55 timetable and fare before payment. Weekday, Saturday and Sunday services differ, so “approximately 06:30 to 23:00” cannot replace the actual departure available on your date.
If you plan to take Route 55, do not also book a Blue Lagoon slot on arrival day that cannot be missed. The lower fare may be worthwhile, provided a half-hour flight delay still leaves a later service, your hotel still accepts late check-in and you can manage the route after BSÍ. When any part of the first evening cannot move, return to where to stay on your first night in Iceland and choose the base again. Transport can change the accommodation answer.
A taxi or transfer is not simply “more expensive”
For one traveller, the airport bus usually keeps the cost lower. With two or more people, substantial luggage, a sleeping child or a hotel without a simple transfer, do not divide the fare by the number of passengers and stop there. Going directly to the hotel can remove a piece of luggage handling, a wrong turn and uncertainty around check-in. When you land after dinner time, saving forty minutes of effort may not produce the prettiest price tag, but it can be worth more than expected.
KEF states that airport taxis are available 24 hours a day and recommends asking about the price before setting off. It sounds routine, but it is useful arrival-day advice: confirm the full vehicle quote, night surcharge, luggage capacity and destination address before deciding. Travellers using wheelchairs or mobility aids should arrange transport earlier still. KEF's accessibility guidance notes that taxis with ramps or lifts are limited and need to be booked, while Flybus accessibility arrangements should also be made with the operator in advance.
The accessibility threshold here cannot be reduced to a vague claim of convenience. KEF's current accessibility page explicitly says that Route 55 buses to and from the capital are unsuitable for passengers with reduced mobility. Flybus can arrange lift equipment, but you must contact the operator to secure the vehicle; taxis with ramps or lifts are also limited and require advance booking. If someone in your party uses a wheelchair or mobility aid, this is a matter of excluding unsuitable options before ranking preferences.
Picking up a rental car does not mean you should drive straight to Reykjavík tonight
The moment when a rental car offers the most freedom is often when the first evening gets overfilled. At KEF, the desk, shuttle, vehicle inspection, photographs, fuel type, child seat and navigation setup all take time. If you have chosen a rental car, the KEF collection timeline and ten-question checklist can help you separate those tasks. The airport's 2025 guide placed the main company desks in the arrivals hall and the collection point around a five-minute walk away in Kjóavellir; around the same period, the airport also announced changes to the arrivals area that would rearrange rental-car and bus services. In 2026, follow the rental company's confirmation and the signs in the arrivals hall rather than treating an old floor plan as a promise. With a late flight, winter conditions or your first Icelandic drive, staying overnight in KEF / Reykjanes is not wasteful caution; it protects your ability to make good decisions the next morning.
On the other hand, a morning arrival with good weather, enough energy and a following day focused on Reykjavík or the Golden Circle can make driving straight into the city perfectly reasonable. The hotel still needs suitable parking and a late-arrival arrangement. At that point, city centre or harbour is not only a question of walking distance; it also determines how many bags you will move after parking for the night.
Choose your transport, then compare bookable Reykjavík accommodation
These are verified hotel searches for the Reykjavík area. Use the same dates to check parking, late check-in, the walk from the bus terminus, breakfast and cancellation terms. If your arrival is very late, do not force yourself into the city simply because the centre looks lively; first check whether an overnight stay near KEF makes the whole evening easier.
Confirm these five things before departure
First, when will you actually walk out of the arrivals hall after landing? Second, is the hotel near BSÍ, a designated transfer stop, within walking distance of a terminal, or realistically suited to a taxi drop-off? Third, how difficult will the last mile be with your companions and luggage? Fourth, is there any activity tonight that cannot be missed? Fifth, if weather, a flight delay or car collection takes longer than expected, which part of the evening can move?
Once those questions are answered, the transport choice usually becomes clear. Transport is not an exam on your first day in Iceland; it is the part of the plan that gets people and luggage safely to the first night. Before leaving, recheck the official KEF transport page, Reykjavik Excursions airport transfers and the Strætó timetable, since services, fares and stops may change. This page was checked on 20 August 2026.
Related reading
Once transport is chosen, make the first night work
Where to stay on your first night · Reykjavík city centre or harbour · Hotels near Keflavík Airport
More reading
After the first night, decide the direction of the full trip
Keflavík and Reykjanes destination guide · Three days in Reykjavík without a car · Choosing between a 2WD and 4WD
References
- Keflavík Airport: Getting to and from KEF (four transport options, 50 kilometres, Flybus departing about 40 minutes after landing)
- Keflavík Airport: Transportation that suits your needs (14 July 2025; journey times, Route 55 stop, taxi and rental-car information)
- Strætó: Southern Peninsula Route 55 2026 fares (adult KEF–Reykjavík fare: 2,400 ISK)
- Strætó: Route 55 timetable from 1 February 2026 (check the current version before departure)
- Keflavík Airport: Taxi (24-hour availability, checking fares or estimates, receipts and payment)
- Keflavík Airport: Passengers with reduced mobility (Flybus, taxi and Route 55 limitations)
- Keflavík Airport: Changes to the Arrivals Area (reconfigured rental-car and bus services)
- OpenStreetMap contributors (geographic base map for the KEF, Reykjavík and Vík locations shown here).
References
Road conditions, transport, activity times and opening arrangements can change. Check each item against the sources listed above before departure.