What is the best way to get to Keflavik Airport by bus? And how much does it cost to rent a car?

Personally, we recommend a car to get around Iceland. Public transport is only really usable in Reykjavik, which we cover in detail in our guide to Iceland.

However, if you're only having a short stopover in Iceland, buses work well for a trip to the capital Reykjavik or the famous Blue Lagoon. Read our detailed experiences below.

Rent a car

Most travellers heading to Iceland rent a car simply because you won't be able to see Iceland without one. The vast majority of the natural sights are missed by regular buses, and if they do, they only run a few times a week. Tourist buses, on the other hand, are 3-4 times more expensive than renting a car with petrol.

If you're travelling with more than one person, rent a car directly at the airport, where most Icelandic rental companies are based.

Book your car rental at Keflavík Airport

A week's rental in the summer season costs around 480 eur, in winter also under 250 eur.

If you're travelling alone, it may be worth hiring a car as far away as Reykjavik, where prices tend to be better, but the cost of a bus ticket is so high (see below) that it usually wipes out the difference.

• Book a car in Reykjavik

For full information on travelling by car around the island, read our article Car hire in Iceland.

Car rental counters are located in the arrivals hall right in the terminal. The car rental car parks are located approximately 450 metres from the terminal and are accessed by a free shuttle bus every 15 minutes, or simply walk along a signposted walkway.

Public transport - buses

The bus journey to Reykjavik city centre takes about 45-60 minutes and there are 3 bus companies on the route.

However, ticket prices are so high that it's almost always worth hiring a car, even for a day trip during a layover, if you're travelling with more than one person.

Gray Line Airport Express

Gray Line buses run once an hour and stop to the right of the terminal, along with Flybus stops. In Reykjavík, they stop at the main bus terminal in the southern part of the city centre (see location on map).

A ticket costs 26 eur, a return ticket is sold for 46 eur. Total journey time is about 45 minutes. Book tickets on the terravision.eu website.

Flybus

Flybus buses run once an hour and have a stop to the right of the terminal along with Airport Direct / Gray Line stops.

They stop at three locations in Reykjavik:

• BSÍ Bus Terminal (see location on map)
• Fjörukráin Hotel Viking (see location on map)
• Aktu taktu (see location on map)

A ticket costs 28,10 eur, a return ticket is sold for 51,30 eur. Total journey time is about 45 minutes. Book tickets on the re.is/flybus website or at the ticket counter in the terminal.

Line number 55

The Straetó Transport Company's regular public transport line 55 runs to the airport. The stop is located to the left of the terminal towards the car rental car parks.

In contrast to the above mentioned carriers, it also stops at villages along the way and therefore the journey takes 70 minutes.

This bus is the cheapest way to get to Reykjavik, the ticket costs 2 400 isk. The timetable and other information can be found on the transport company's website straeto.is/route-55, the ticket can be bought from the driver and can be paid with a card.

The bus runs once an hour on weekdays, but only once every 2 hours on weekends.

To the Blue Lagoon

In case you are just changing planes at Keflavík Airport but have a lot of time, you can go to the famous geothermal spa Blue Lagoon. If you're travelling with more people, it's worth renting a car. Car rental prices will be lower than the price of a bus ticket.

The lagoon is served by buses run by Airport Direct at prices around 8 790 isk / return ticket, see information at airportdirect.is/blue-lagoon-transfer.