How Long Does It Take to Get From KEF to Reykjavík?

One of the most important things a traveller needs to get their head around when planning a trip to Iceland is how Keflavík Airport and Reykjavik city centre are located relative to each other. Though KEF is the major airport serving the Icelandic capital and serves the majority of international flights, it’s actually situated around 50 km away. Take Flybus, the long-established Reykjavik airport bus, and the typical journey time from KEF to the BSÍ bus terminal is around 45 minutes. In this article we’ll discuss how long the airport transfer takes in total, whether you are an arriving passenger bound for a Reykjavik hotel or departing from the city centre to return home.

How Long Does It Take to Get From KEF to Reykjavík?

Journeys aren’t just about getting from A to B. Often, and especially where airports are concerned, there are other processes and procedures which take time and need to be factored in. The 45 minute figure we quote as how long it takes to get from KEF to Reykjavik is the driving time from KEF to BSÍ, not KEF to your hotel. Be sure to allow additional time if you’re connecting to a shuttle to continue your journey from Keflavík Airport to your Reykjavik hotel.

Occasionally weather and issues such as roadworks can add time onto your airport transfer to Reykjavik, although traffic in Iceland tends not to be as high as in other parts of the world – one of the benefits of visiting a country with a relatively small population. Bumper-to-bumper congestion really isn’t a thing, though of course at rush hour, traffic queues can build up in the city centre and at certain junctions. In winter, strong winds coupled with ice and snow can slow the traffic. However, it’s uncommon for the airport road to close completely – when that happens flights would be grounded anyway.

From Landing at KEF to Reaching Reykjavík

After your plane touches down at Keflavík, you’ll need to complete immigration formalities. If you’re arriving from outside the Schengen zone and you aren’t a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland – for example, if you hold a UK or US passport – you’ll need to complete EES checks before being permitted to enter the country. This entry and exit system has been fully in place since April 2026, applies whether or not you need a visa, and requires travellers to submit fingerprints and a facial photograph before being admitted to Iceland.

After you’ve been cleared to enter Iceland, you’ll collect hold luggage from the baggage carousel. Many travellers also choose to do some duty free shopping; in Iceland, the purchase of alcoholic beverages is strictly regulated and such drinks are expensive, so should it matter to you, this is the cheapest way of buying wine or spirits to consume during your trip.

Now you might be a little concerned at how you plan for this part of your journey when the time it takes can vary considerably. Fortunately, for the Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik transfer, Flybus operates on a walk-up basis. Unlike in other parts of the world where you might need to purchase a timed ticket for a specific service, you simply book your Flybus transfer (online or in the arrivals hall) and take the first available bus once you step out of the arrivals hall. The Flybus service to Reykjavik runs frequently; you can arrive on any flight at any time of day or night and catch one to the city.

KEF to BSÍ vs KEF to Your Hotel

Things get a tiny bit more complicated depending on where in Reykjavik you are staying – sometimes the 45 minute journey time isn’t the full timeline. Let’s explain: the city centre of the Icelandic capital is quite densely packed and some of the streets have been designated a no-go zone for big coaches including but not limited to Flybus. This keeps pedestrians safe and prevents large vehicles from blocking small roads while offloading passengers.

Instead, feeder minibuses shuttle from the BSÍ bus terminal where the coach drops off to Flybus bus stops in Reykjavik. It’s a genius idea, when you think about it: there’s no need to endlessly tour neighbourhoods and back streets dropping off a full coachload of tourists. When booking your Flybus transfer, simply choose from two options – direct to the BSÍ or with a hotel shuttle add-on. The friendly driver who greets you at Keflavík Airport will ensure you know which hotel shuttle is the right one and there are also staff members on hand at the BSÍ to direct you, should you need assistance.

If you’re staying within walking distance of the BSÍ then aside from a short stroll, your journey time will be 45 minutes or thereabouts. For travellers who choose to be transferred closer to their hotel using the shuttles, the journey time will be a little longer, depending on where your hotel is located. But Reykjavik isn’t a huge place and its streets aren’t usually congested, so no airport-to-hotel journey will be excessively long. Also it’s worth noting that the process of switching vehicles at the BSÍ is efficient and streamlined so you’ll be checking in before you know it.

Flybus Schedules and Delayed Flights

The process for inbound and outbound Flybus ticketing works differently. When you arrive at Keflavík Airport, estimating up front the precise time you’d step out of the terminal building is impossible. Delayed flights, variable immigration queues and baggage carousel wait times can all impact the journey times. It makes sense, therefore, not to have specific times for Flybus journeys into the city; instead, as soon as you emerge from the arrivals hall you’ll be ushered onto the coach which is leaving next.

How Long Should You Allow From Reykjavík Back to KEF?

Going the other way and pinpointing when to leave Reykjavik for KEF works a little differently; your flight time is (hopefully) fixed and you’ll have a rough time in mind that you want to reach the airport either to check hold bags or progress straight to security screening. Most airlines suggest that departing passengers should arrive at the airport for an international flight around three hours before. Add 45 minutes onto that and you’ve got the latest time you can afford to board Flybus at the BSÍ to travel from Reykjavik to Keflavík Airport, so aim for a bus that leaves the BSÍ three hours 45 minutes to four hours before your flight.

Of course, if you plan to use the hotel pick up and drop off to connect from the bus stop closest to where you have been staying, then you’ll need to add time for that too. Cautious travellers should build in a buffer in case of traffic delays, especially when departing close to rush hour. Check the latest Flybus timetable to identify which departures work best for your particular needs.

Does Traffic Affect the Journey?

Let’s talk a little more about that Reykjavik rush hour traffic. If you’re familiar with other European capitals such as London, Paris or Rome, the thought of arriving in the middle of rush hour might fill you with dread. Luckily, Reykjavik’s a whole different kettle of fish. The route from Keflavík Airport takes you along the 41, which moves well in normal conditions. Approaching the city, this highway connects with other major roads such as the 40 and 49, meaning the traffic usually flows reasonably well even once you’re off the Reykjanes peninsula and into the built-up area.

The BSÍ is located to the south of the downtown area, close to Reykjavik Airport. This means you don’t get caught up in a lot of the city traffic even if you arrive in rush hour – you could be looking at as little as five minutes on top of an off-peak journey time estimate. Of course nothing is guaranteed, and seasonally traffic can vary. In wintry weather, all traffic slows and whether you’re using Flybus or travelling in a taxi, the Keflavík to Reykjavik travel time is going to be longer if it’s very icy or snowy than on a fine summer day. Flybus drivers are used to such conditions, however, so there’s no need to be concerned.

Flybus vs Taxi vs Rental Car

So, it’s logical to pause for a moment and consider whether you should take a taxi or rent your own set of wheels to get from KEF to Reykjavik. As with anywhere, taxis tend to be expensive and Iceland is no exception. There are reputable companies but charges can be high – remember it’s 50km between the two places – so unless your party constitutes a full car load it may work out dearer to arrange a taxi from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik than hopping on Flybus.

How about if you drive from Keflavík Airport to Reykjavik? Hiring a car might seem like a great idea and if you’re planning a ring road trip to see a lot of the country then that may well be a smart choice. If you plan to base yourself solely in Reykjavik, then by the time you build in the time it takes to pick up the rental car – including wait times, paperwork and vehicle inspections – then using Flybus for your airport transfer has its advantages. In Reykjavik, there’s an extensive city bus network, tours pick up centrally and nowhere in the city centre is very far from anywhere. Having a rental car can actually be an inconvenience, particularly as regards affordable parking. You can always pick up a hire car later on from a city centre office.

Driving Back to KEF

Self-drivers will need to allow time for refuelling as they make their way back to the airport. While this isn’t exceptionally time-consuming, it does require a small detour off the 41 and adds a few minutes to your transfer time. Similarly, the rental car return process is something that Flybus customers won’t need to do, and so to compare the two, you’ll also need to add on the time it takes to present the car for inspection and hand over the keys, as well as walk across from the car park to the terminal building. Rush hour traffic, and peak time drop offs where there are other car rental customers in front of you, may also impact your overall journey time.

To sum up, hopping on Flybus to Reykjavik is a time-efficient method of getting between the city and Keflavík Airport – or vice versa. The drive usually takes around 45 minutes, but you should plan for the full door-to-door journey, both to and from your hotel.

Flybus FAQs

How long is KEF to Reykjavík?

Average journey times are between 45 and 50 minutes to the city centre, plus a short but variable amount of time needed to continue on to your hotel.

How long is KEF to BSÍ?

The BSÍ is located on the southern edge of Reykjavik city centre so it’s accessible on good roads; allow around 45 minutes to complete your journey.

Does Flybus wait for delayed flights?

Kind of: during the day, if your flight is delayed, you’ll simply take the first available bus when you walk out of the terminal building. If yours is the last arrival of the night, then yes, Flybus will wait.

How early should I leave Reykjavík for KEF?

In general, it makes sense to allow around three hours at the airport before your departing flight. Booking onto a bus that leaves the BSÍ three hours 45 minutes to four hours before your flight is a safe bet; don’t forget to add on the transfer time from your local bus stop to the BSÍ to get the full journey time.

Is Flybus faster than a taxi or rental car?

In normal traffic, there’s really little difference between the time the Flybus service takes from the BSÍ and covering the same route in a taxi. You might shave off a few minutes. However, if you are booking a feeder service, then a direct journey in a cab will be a little faster. If you have to drop off a rental car before you can enter the airport, it will take more time than simply stepping off a coach.

Got another question? Find more answers in our Flybus FAQs.

TL;DR

Getting between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík normally takes around 45 minutes by road, but your total journey can be longer if you are continuing from BSÍ to a hotel or travelling during busy traffic or difficult weather. When heading back to KEF, work backwards from the time you need to be at the airport and allow extra time for hotel pickup, Reykjavík rush hour or rental-car return.