Getting around Iceland: A practical guide for first-time visitors

Working out how to get around is one of the first challenges people face when planning a trip to Iceland. The country is roughly the size of the US state of Kentucky, or a bit larger than Ireland (including Northern Ireland), but home to around only 400,000 people, most of whom live in and around the capital Reykjavík. Distances between places can be long, and public transport, while handy in the capital, thins out pretty quickly in the countryside. 

But don’t worry. The good news is that getting around Iceland is simpler than it first looks. In this guide, we’ll take you through every stage of your journey, from the moment you touch down at Keflavík to the day you fly home: airport transfers, buses, car rental, guided tours, and domestic flights, plus how to choose the right mix.

The quickest and easiest way to travel from Keflavík to Reykjavík is by airport bus, which takes around 45 minutes. You can also take a taxi or pre-booked private transfer, or pick up a rental car at the airport and drive yourself.

When you fly to Iceland with Icelandair, you’ll land at Keflavík International Airport (KEF), on the Reykjanes peninsula about 30 miles (50km) southwest of the capital. Here’s how to get from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík.

By airport bus

The main Iceland airport transfer option is the Flybus. Rather than running to a fixed timetable, Flybus departs in connection with every arriving flight, so there’s a bus waiting for you whether you land at lunchtime or in the middle of the night, or if your flight is delayed. You can book your Flybus ticket online before you travel, buy one at the airport, or pick one up on board your Icelandair flight.

There are two ticket options for the Flybus from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík. The standard ticket takes you to the BSÍ bus terminal close to downtown Reykjavík, where you’ll find taxis and local bus stops. If you’d rather be dropped closer to your accommodation, choose the ticket with hotel drop-off: you’ll change at BSÍ onto a smaller shuttle bus that stops at or near hotels and guesthouses around town.

There’s also a public bus (route 55) between the airport and the capital. It has pros and cons: it’s cheaper, but it’s slower, it runs less often, and it isn’t timed around flight arrivals, so most visitors find Flybus the simpler choice.

By taxi or private transfer 

Taxis wait outside the arrivals hall, and you can also pre-book a taxi transfer to meet you when you land. A taxi is the most expensive way to make the journey, but if you’re traveling as a group of four, it can work out at a similar cost to buying everyone a bus ticket, with the bonus of door-to-door service. 

By rental car 

If you’re planning to drive, you can collect your rental car at or near the airport and head straight off on your adventure. The drive into Reykjavík takes around 45 minutes. 

It makes sense to book your rental car in advance, as in the busy season they can be booked out.

Yes, but it’s most useful in and around Reykjavík. The capital has a reliable city bus network, and long-distance and seasonal buses connect Reykjavík with towns and a handful of popular trailheads in other regions. Outside the main routes, though, services are limited, and they’re reduced in winter.

Getting around Reykjavík

The Reykjavík bus system is run by Strætó, whose bright yellow buses cover the city and the wider capital area. One option for payment is with the Klappið app, though you can also tap a contactless bank card or smartphone when you board.

If you’ve read advice about buying a Reykjavík bus day pass, it’s worth knowing that 24-hour and 72-hour passes have been replaced by fare capping: as long as you pay the same way each time, your fares are capped automatically, so frequent riders won’t pay more than they would have for a pass. You’ll find routes and timetables on the Strætó website and app.

Downtown Reykjavík is compact and easy to explore on foot. For slightly longer hops, e-scooters are available to rent by app, and bike rental is a great option, especially in the summer months. There are taxis in the city, but no ride-share apps like Uber or Lyft. The closest equivalent is Hopp, which lets you book licensed taxis through its app with the fare shown upfront. 

For a low-effort way to see the sights, the Reykjavík hop-on hop-off bus (run by City Sightseeing) loops around landmarks like Harpa, Perlan, and Höfði House, and you can get on and off as often as you like while your ticket is valid. It runs on a seasonal schedule, so check before you go.

For more ideas on exploring the capital, take a look at our guide to Reykjavík. 

Traveling beyond Reykjavík 

There’s no train service in Iceland. Long-distance public buses connect the capital with several towns around Iceland, including routes along the south coast and north to Akureyri. Most of these depart from the Mjódd bus terminal in southeast Reykjavík, so double-check your departure point before you set off. Timetables are online on the Strætó website: a map shows coverage of the countryside routes.

The BSÍ bus terminal in Reykjavík is the city’s main hub for Flybus and many day tours, as well as the seasonal highland buses that head into Iceland’s interior. These run in summer only (roughly mid-June to September) to popular hiking areas like Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk, and they’re a great option for hikers who’d rather not tackle the highlands by car. Keep in mind that long-distance services run less often in winter and can be disrupted by weather. 

In the countryside, carpooling is popular. The well-used Samferða website lets you offer or find a ride and share the costs, and it’s a favorite with solo travelers in particular. 

Keep in mind, though, that public transport doesn’t reach many of Iceland’s natural attractions. Waterfalls, glaciers, and black sand beaches are best reached by car or on a guided tour, which brings us to your next big decision.

So, do you need a car in Iceland? Not necessarily, but self-driving is the most popular way to explore independently and offers the most flexibility. 

With your own wheels, you can pull over whenever a view demands it and travel the full Ring Road at your own speed. In summer, a standard two-wheel-drive car is perfectly suited to the Ring Road, the Golden Circle and the south coast. You’ll need a 4x4 for Iceland’s mountain F-roads, which open only in summer, and many visitors choose one in winter for extra peace of mind.

Campervans are another popular Iceland car rental choice, combining transport and accommodation in one, while our electric self-drive packages make it easy to explore in an EV. 

Is driving in Iceland easy for first-time visitors?

For most people, yes, especially in summer. You’ll drive on the right, main roads are paved, and traffic is light once you leave the capital. A few things to get used to include gravel stretches, single-lane bridges, sheep on the road, and fast-changing weather; driving off-road is illegal.

Check road conditions at road.is and safety alerts at safetravel.is each day before you set off, and read our complete guide to driving in Iceland before your trip. 

Winter is a different story. Snow, ice, wind, and short daylight hours can make driving challenging, so if you don’t feel confident in those conditions, a guided tour is a great alternative.

Ready to plan your route? Our Iceland road trip guide is full of itinerary ideas, or let us take care of the details with a fly and drive package. 

Yes. It’s entirely possible to see much of Iceland without driving, by combining airport transfers and city buses with organized tours. It’s often more relaxing, too: someone else handles the driving and the weather while you enjoy the view. 

Iceland day tours leave Reykjavík every day for highlights like the Golden Circle, the south coast, and the Blue Lagoon, and many include hotel pickup. Small-group day tours in Iceland offer a more personal experience, with fewer people and more time at each stop, while super-jeep tours can take you over rough terrain that standard vehicles can’t reach. From northern lights hunts to glacier adventures, there are plenty of Iceland guided tours to choose from. 

Using Reykjavík as your base and taking day trips is a popular way to visit, especially for a long weekend or in winter, when tours take the stress out of driving in snow and darkness. It also works perfectly with an Icelandair Stopover: when you fly across the Atlantic with us, you can add a stay of between one and seven nights in Iceland with no additional airfare. 

You don’t have to stay in the capital, either. Akureyri, Iceland’s second-largest town, makes an excellent base for exploring North Iceland. From there, you can join tours to lake Mývatn, Goðafoss waterfall, and the whale-watching town of Húsavík, all highlights of the Diamond Circle. And with our domestic flights, you can be there in under an hour. 

Yes. We fly from Reykjavík’s domestic airport to four towns around the country: Akureyri in the north, Ísafjörður in the Westfjords, Egilsstaðir in the east, and Höfn in the southeast. All flights within Iceland on our network take under an hour. 

One important thing to know: domestic flights within Iceland depart from Reykjavík Airport (RKV) in the city, not from Keflavík International Airport. If you’re connecting from an international flight, you’ll need to transfer from Keflavík into Reykjavík first, so leave plenty of time between flights. 

Iceland domestic flights are quick, simple, and popular with locals, and they’re a great way to make the most of limited time. If you’re keen to explore a region in-depth but aren’t especially interested in Reykjavík, you can fly straight there and pick up a car with one of our fly and drive packages to Akureyri, Ísafjörður, or Egilsstaðir. Prefer not to drive? Fly to Akureyri and take tours around the north from there. You could even fly into one town and out of another, arriving in Egilsstaðir and leaving from Höfn, for example, and exploring the dramatic Eastfjords in between.

The best way to get around Iceland depends on how long you have, when you’re traveling, and what you most want to see. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide. 

• Self-drive: Best for flexibility, remote regions, and longer trips, especially in summer when roads are at their easiest.
• Guided tours: Best for shorter, city-based trips, winter visits, or anyone who’d rather leave the driving to someone else.
• Public transport: Best for exploring Reykjavík, and for hikers using summer highland buses to reach the trailheads.
• Domestic flights: Best for saving time and reaching the north, east, southeast or Westfjords quickly, especially when paired with a fly and drive package.

Many travelers mix and match, perhaps taking tours from Reykjavík before picking up a car for a road trip. Whatever you choose, match it to your itinerary and the time of year you’re visiting. 

You can also see the country in a few other ways. Our multi-day guided bus tours take you around Iceland with an expert guide, and local companies can create bespoke tours with a driver-guide for small groups and families. You can even see Iceland by sea, on cruises that circle the country and call at a handful of ports along the way. 

Whether you take the wheel, let a guide drive, or hop between regions by air, getting around is part of the adventure. Plan ahead, especially in peak season, and you’ll spend less time on logistics and more time taking in the views. 

Ready to experience the beauty of Iceland? Book your flights to Iceland or explore our vacation packages to get started. Still planning? Our road trip guide and travel tips for Iceland will help you fill in the details.