How to Get Around Reykjavik

How transport works in Reykjavik

Reykjavik centre walkable. Strætó buses SC-covered whole country (SC pass ISK1,700 24h city) — infrequent for tourists. Rental car essential for Ring Road + Golden Circle + South Coast (ISK8,000–15,000/day; 4x4 for F-roads). BSÍ + FlyBus transfers Blue Lagoon + KEF airport. Domestic flights (Icelandair Connect) reach Akureyri + Egilsstaðir + Ísafjörður 45 min from ISK15,000.

Your options compared

• Rental car

  Essential for Golden Circle + Ring Road + South Coast — ISK8,000–15,000/day; 4x4 for F-roads (summer only); gravel + ash + windscreen insurance strongly recommended.

• Strætó bus

  SC-covered whole country — city 90-min ISK550, 24h ISK1,700; infrequent for tourists.

• FlyBus + Airport Direct

  KEF airport + Blue Lagoon transfer ISK3,999+.

• Domestic flights (Icelandair Connect)

  Akureyri + Egilsstaðir + Ísafjörður 45 min from ISK15,000 — faster than 6h Ring Road drive.

Passes and tickets

No transit pass useful for most tourists — car-rental first, add day-tours for Golden Circle / South Coast / ice-cave / whale watching.

Local transport tips

ALWAYS check safetravel.is + road.is + vedur.is before every drive — Icelandic weather changes hourly + can kill inexperienced drivers. F-roads (highland) 4x4 only + closed Oct–Jun.

Arriving from the airport

• Keflavík International (KEF)

  FlyBus by Reykjavik Excursions ISK3,999 (45 min BSÍ + free hotel shuttle). Airport Direct ISK4,500 door-to-door. Taxi ISK18,000–22,000 (€120–150). Rental-car pickup at KEF makes sense for Ring Road.

• Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV)

  Domestic flights only (Icelandair Connect to Akureyri + Egilsstaðir + Ísafjörður + Vestmannaeyjar).

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Reykjavik a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.