Flybus vs Taxi vs Rental Car: What’s the Best Option?

Arriving in a new country or city can be stressful. Particularly if you’ve had a long and tiring journey or are jet-lagged, the amount of new information you’re presented with can be overwhelming. You might encounter signage in another language – though fortunately Keflavik Airport is well signposted in English – decisions to make or simply unfamiliar branding. It’s all a bit much. But you can reduce the information overload by doing some preparation before you leave home.

One of the easiest things to sort out is how you’re going to get from the airport to your accommodation, in this case from Keflavik Airport to downtown Reykjavik. And that’s important: achieving a trouble-free start to your holiday sets the tone for the rest of your stay. In this article, we’ll compare Flybus, taxis and rental cars to see why so many travellers consider Flybus the best shuttle from Keflavík to Reykjavík based on budget, convenience, ease of use and travel style.

What Type of Transfers Are Best For Your Budget?

Flybus

Flybus is an affordable choice, which probably explains why so many travellers and locals use it to get from the airport into Reykjavik. Adults pay 3999 ISK per person, children up to the age of 15 pay 1999 ISK, and under-fives travel free. By Icelandic standards, that’s genuinely good value for money.

The journey from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik’s BSI terminal takes 40 to 45 minutes on average, and if you arrive in daylight you can enjoy the Reykjanes countryside along the way. Arrive late and it’s no problem either – the shuttles run until the last passenger is through. It’s a safe, reliable option, and that’s worth a fair bit in itself.

Taxi

Taxis typically work out the most expensive; one well-respected company offers a flat rate fare of 22500 ISK for up to four passengers plus an airport pickup fee of 490 ISK. If you can assemble a full car load and have minimal luggage then the cost per person can be reduced compared to if there’s just one or two of you. In practice, though, if you’re a couple or solo traveller, taxis are not a cost-effective option.

Rideshare apps such as Uber or Lyft, which have surged in popularity in some parts of the world by offering more competitive prices that undercut traditional taxis, don’t exist in Iceland. Instead, you need to use Hopp, which is primarily a scooter rental operator but also offers cars.

Rental car

Whether a hire car is good value depends on the size of your party, the comfort they expect and therefore the class of vehicle you book. Look beyond the headline price, because the add-ons mount up quickly.

Budget for fuel or charging, and for parking both within Reykjavik and beyond. Don’t overlook insurance: if you’re driving through the Icelandic countryside, comprehensive cover – including sand, gravel and ash damage – is wiser than basic coverage. High-season rentals also cost more than the same trip when demand is lower, in winter for instance.

Which Means of Transport Offers the Most Convenience?

Flybus

First-time travellers might worry that a shared shuttle to a city bus terminal, then a transfer onto a feeder service, is the very opposite of convenient. In practice it isn’t. Departures from Keflavik run round the clock, so a delayed flight or a late-night arrival is nothing to worry about.

Buses leave for the BSI terminal as soon as they fill, so there’s no anxious watch-checking to see whether your bag will appear before the next scheduled service. Picking the right ticket is simple too – choose one of our electric Flybus coaches if you need the wheelchair lift, and either book online or buy at the desk in the Keflavik arrivals hall.

A note about transferring to the hotel shuttles

Travellers are often curious about how our transfer system works, fearing that it will be time-consuming, confusing or difficult in some other way. Actually, in practice you’ll find that the process is designed to be straightforward. If you’re not staying within walking distance of the BSI bus terminal, this transfer can be as simple as stepping off the coach, walking a few steps across a car park and boarding the next.

If you’re booking your ticket online, have a read of our Flybus stops Reykjavik Guide where you can figure out on the map which stop is closest to where you are staying.

This handy how-to article gives you all the facts about making your booking including how the return ride works – which is slightly different but just as easy. Regardless, Flybus staff members will always be on hand at the BSI bus terminal to ensure you board the correct bus for your final destination so there’s no chance you’ll end up in the wrong part of the city.

Taxis

Short of having a friend waiting at the airport, nothing beats a taxi for convenience. But you can pay dearly for the privilege, and often you’re saving minutes rather than hours. It’s your trip budget: splurge on the taxi, or keep the money for something more fun.

Pre-booked rides carry a separate risk. Read the small print, because some operators set a maximum wait time – 90 minutes, for example. If your flight lands late, or airport formalities take longer than you expected, your driver may be gone by the time you reach the arrivals hall, and depending on the terms you could lose what you’ve paid.

Rental car

Once you’ve collected your hire car, it’s as convenient as having your own vehicle right here in Iceland. The downside is that you have to complete paperwork and other formalities – like letting staff check you have a valid licence – to prove that you are legally entitled to drive one.

This takes time, as does standing in line in the arrivals hall to get to the desk or doing the same but after you transfer to a remote office on the edge of the airport. Wait times will vary and depend heavily on how many other people are using your chosen provider at the time you arrive in Keflavik, which is by definition hard to predict.

How Do Transfers Compare With Regards to Ease of Use?

Flybus

The Flybus stops just across from the airport terminal, easy to spot from the arrivals door. Pre-book online and there’s nothing to arrange once you leave baggage reclaim: wheel your bag to the coach, show the driver your confirmation, stow your large luggage and find a seat. Then settle back and log on to the WiFi.

As soon as the Flybus is full you’ll set off from Keflavik International Airport towards the city centre and the BSI bus terminal. From there – unlike on public transport – you can board a smaller bus to the stop nearest your hotel, guesthouse or apartment. The whole process runs seamlessly, so you’ll be unpacking in no time.

Taxi

Arranging a private taxi offers much the same as the Flybus, though it’s a door-to-door service with no need to change at the BSI bus terminal. You’ll need to make sure that the vehicle you choose has sufficient room for your luggage, but otherwise it’s probably the easiest way to get between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik so long as you’re happy to pay handsomely for the ride.

It’s advisable to pre-book your taxi to avoid having to wait in line once you exit the arrivals hall, so you’ll also need to be confident you’ve found a trusted company.

Rental car

Hiring a car purely to cover the transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik rarely makes sense. You’ll spend time on paperwork, navigate an unfamiliar route into the city, then hunt for a parking space and pay for it.

Most people who book a rental car are heading for the Icelandic countryside after their Reykjavik stay. If that stay is a few nights or more, collect the vehicle from a Reykjavik office when you’re ready to set off instead – no city traffic, no parking to find on arrival. Most Reykjavik attractions are walkable from downtown, and with tours covering the surrounding area you may find you don’t need a car at all.

Which Airport Shuttle Service Best Matches Your Travel Style?

Flybus

If you’re the kind of traveller that likes to maximise value for money, then you’re likely to look at the Flybus as a good way of stretching your holiday budget. It balances cost, comfort and convenience, making it an attractive option.

Of course, it’s cheaper to take the public bus, but the route is more circuitous and the journey takes considerably longer – it’s designed for local needs. In contrast, a taxi would usually be quicker door-to-door, but you’ll shell out more for it and that’s money you could hold back to spend on something else.

Taxi

Some travellers habitually take a taxi when they arrive at a destination as they believe it takes the faff out of transferring to their accommodation. But it’s a considerable way from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik city and so in a country like Iceland where costs are high this won’t come cheap. But if taking an airport shuttle really isn’t your style and you’re happy to pay the extra, then pulling up outside your hotel in a taxi might be worth the additional cost.

Rental car

Independent travellers will see their transfers between Keflavik and the Icelandic capital as part of their Iceland adventure. Getting behind the wheel as soon as they can creates flexibility and opens up the possibility of interesting detours across the Reykjanes peninsula instead of heading straight to Reykjavik.

But often, after a tiring journey, you’re better off checking in and taking a restorative nap, leaving you more refreshed and ready to start your Iceland holiday in the right frame of mind. If you instinctively hire a car, why not think about taking a shuttle and tours this time so you don’t need one? You might be pleasantly surprised with the experience.

When you’re figuring out how to get between the airport and Reykjavik, doing the whole Flybus versus taxi versus rental car comparison can be time-consuming. Decide what’s most important to you, whether it’s cost, speed, comfort – or a mix of all three. We’re confident that the Flybus will be a strong contender and hope to welcome you on board soon.