Getting Around Reykjavík
Reykjavík is a compact, walkable city with a clean and reliable bus network, and it is easy to reach from the main international airport. What it does not have is any form of rail-based transit, so visitors should plan around buses, walking, taxis, and — for trips outside the city — a car.
No Trains, Trams or Metro
Reykjavík has no subway, metro, tram or train system. Buses fill that role entirely, and the city's public transport is built around them. If you are used to navigating European cities by rail, plan instead to learn the bus routes or simply walk, since the downtown area is small.
Walking
Walking is highly recommended in Reykjavík. The downtown is very compact, and many attractions sit within walking distance of most hotels. The city is beautiful, and the sidewalk and pathway system is first-rate. Drivers are generally friendly and will sometimes stop for you even where there is no crossing facility.
Many visitors never discover that a long, scenic pathway for walking and cycling circles almost the whole city. A good starting point is anywhere the city touches the sea; the path leads past an outdoor swimming pool, a sandy beach, a golf course, and a salmon river.
Buses: Strætó
The public bus system is called Strætó, and it is the only public transport operator in Reykjavík. Its buses are bright yellow-orange and serve all major towns and attractions in the city with regular services. Stops are marked with the Strætó logo and a red-and-yellow "S". You must signal to board — buses do not stop unless someone is getting on.
Strætó also runs buses beyond the capital area, including to the Reykjanes peninsula and the town of Keflavík, and long-distance services stretching to other parts of the country. Onward local transport at those countryside destinations is limited, so plan accordingly.
Operating hours and frequency
- Weekdays: service starts around 06:30–07:00; Saturdays around 07:30–08:00; Sundays and public holidays around 09:30–10:00.
- Most routes run until roughly midnight, though some finish earlier in the evening.
- Night buses run only on Friday and Saturday nights, with limited service.
- Public holidays use a reduced Sunday schedule. On 1 January and 25 December, countryside routes from Reykjavík do not run; on 24 and 31 December, buses stop at 15:00.
- Most routes run at least every 30 minutes, and main routes every 15 minutes. Peak hours on weekdays are 07:00–09:00 and 15:00–18:00.
Tickets and passes
- A single fare is valid for 75 minutes once activated, so you can change buses to reach your destination without paying again. If you pay in cash, ask the driver for an exchange ticket (skiptimiði).
- You can pay in cash, through the Klappið app linked to your credit card, or by contactless Mastercard, Visa or similar debit/credit card. Contactless fare-capping means adults never pay more than three rides per day or nine per week on the same card or device.
- Sets of tickets are available only through the app and carry no discount.
- The Klapp app (iOS and Android, in Icelandic or English) handles tickets, payment, route maps and a trip planner. Tickets bought in the app are not activated automatically — scan the QR code at the reader when boarding. The app needs an internet connection and does not accept American Express.
- Long-term passes are available for residents and longer stays, with discounts for children, seniors, students and disabled passengers.
- Most buses have free Wi-Fi.
- Fare inspections take place, and a penalty fee applies if you cannot show a valid ticket.
The Reykjavík City Card
If you are staying outside the city centre, the Reykjavík City Card may be the best option: it gives unlimited city bus travel plus admission to major attractions and discounts at shops and restaurants. Cards come in 24-, 48- and 72-hour versions and are sold at the Tourist Information Centre by Ingólfstorg, at some hotels and convenience stores, and online.
Interchanges and transfers
Hlemmur and Lækjartorg are the main bus interchanges in central Reykjavík, with buses that can take you to any part of the city. Mjódd, in the Breiðholt district, is the interchange between city buses and buses leaving the capital region, and it is also the main terminal for Strætó's long-distance buses. Some stops are designated timed-transfer points where buses arrive simultaneously so you can change quickly; others involve potentially longer waits.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Uber and Lyft are not available in Iceland, but the local app Hopp works in Reykjavík and at Keflavík Airport. The main taxi companies are Hreyfill-Bæjarleiðir and Borgarleiðir. All taxis are metered, and most are very clean and comfortable — but be warned that taxis are one of the most expensive ways of getting around Reykjavík, with a start fee plus a per-kilometre charge.
Taking a taxi is, however, the best way to get home after a night on the town. Paying by card is not a problem, nor is splitting the bill. You can order a taxi by phone or find one at a taxi rank; there are several ranks in the city, including one by Lækjargata and another by Hallgrímskirkja.
Cycling and E-Scooters
It is easy to get around Reykjavík by bicycle if you can deal with sometimes strong headwinds and a few hills. There are not many dedicated bicycle paths, so most cycling happens on the street or on the sidewalk — both are legal. On the street you must obey the same traffic rules as cars; on the sidewalk, be considerate of people walking, who have the right of way. Where specially marked cycle paths exist, they are frequently shared with pedestrians, divided by a painted white line.
Rental bikes are available from docking stations around the capital, paid for at the station, and are a cheap and accessible option. Personal bikes can be brought by air (boxed) and assembled outside the airports, and can be carried on ferries.
Driving and Parking
Driving is the preferred method for most residents, but as a tourist you should be able to manage without a car if you are only staying in the city. Driving is recommended for travel outside Reykjavík and its suburbs. Note that many streets in central Reykjavík are one-way only, and some are closed to cars in good weather.
Compared with most other European cities, Reykjavík has a reasonable number of parking spaces. If you cannot find a place in the centre, there are large parking lots by the harbour and in front of Kolaportið, the flea market. Central parking meters charge by the hour, and the newer meters accept card payment if you have no coins. Fines apply for not paying.
Rental cars are widely available, and the local app Hopp also rents electric cars. Several companies in Reykjavík rent campervans or RVs, with prices much lower in low season than high season. If you plan to leave Reykjavík and explore the countryside, renting a car is the best way to experience Iceland.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Two airports serve the Reykjavík area, and they are far apart: Keflavík International Airport handles Iceland's main international flights and sits well southwest of the city on the Reykjanesbraut road, while Reykjavík Airport sits next to the city centre and is used mainly for domestic traffic and flights from Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
From Keflavík International Airport
- Dedicated airport shuttles. Flybus, Gray Line and Airport Direct all run coach services between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík, taking roughly 45 minutes from the terminal. Flybus offers a general service to the BSÍ bus terminal plus a "Flybus+" option that goes directly to hotels; Gray Line connects directly to your destination and requires advance booking; Airport Direct drops off at Reykjavík Old Harbor and applies a luggage limit. Shuttles generally offer free Wi-Fi and charging points, though amenities vary by company.
- Strætó bus 55. The public bus also runs between Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport. It is cheaper than the dedicated airport transfers but slower, making multiple stops and taking roughly 20–30 minutes longer. Board at the BSÍ bus terminal or at the Fjörður stop in Hafnarfjörður; the airport stop is a short but poorly signposted walk from the terminal. Card payment requires a PIN, and cash requires exact change because drivers give none. Bus 55 does not always stop automatically at smaller stops, so track its schedule in the Klapp app.
- Taxi or Hopp. Taxis and the Hopp app both serve the airport, but this is the most expensive option.
From Reykjavík Airport
Reykjavík Airport is next to the city centre and is used mainly for domestic air traffic and flights from Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Icelandair operates domestic flights to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir and Ísafjörður, plus international flights to the Faroe Islands and several airports in Greenland, leaving from a terminal on the west side of the airport. Eagle Air operates domestic flights to Bíldudalur, Gjögur, Sauðárkrókur, Höfn and Vestmannaeyjar, leaving from a terminal on the east side.
Arriving by Bus, Car or Boat
Strætó operates long-distance buses from North, West and South Iceland, with the main terminal at Mjódd. By car, three main roads serve as entry points: the Reykjanesbraut from the west, linking to Southwest Iceland and Keflavík International Airport, and the Ring Road from both east and north. If you drive into the city from South or West Iceland, beware of heavy traffic jams on Sundays when people head home after a weekend away — this mainly applies in summer and gets worse on Mondays after three-day weekends, especially in good weather.
Several cruise liners stop in Reykjavík each summer, mostly arriving at Sundahöfn, a few kilometres east of the city centre. Reykjavík itself is not served by any ferries, though it is possible to take a Smyril Line cruise from Hirtshals in Denmark to Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland via Tórshavn — an expensive option that puts you on the other side of the country, but one that allows you to bring a car.
Practical Tips
- Plan around the bus rather than expecting rail: there is no metro, tram or train.
- Remember the 75-minute validity window on single fares — useful if your journey needs a change of bus.
- Watch the clock in the evening: most buses stop around midnight, and Sunday service starts late.
- Signal the bus to board, and keep the Klapp app handy for schedules and live bus locations.
- If you are staying outside the centre, weigh the Reykjavík City Card against single fares, since it bundles bus travel with museum admission and discounts.
- For the Blue Lagoon there is no direct Strætó route; access is via tour and transfer operators running between Reykjavík, Keflavík Airport and the lagoon, timed to flight arrivals and departures.