Getting around · Reykjavík · Iceland
Getting around Reykjavík
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Downtown Reykjavík is small and best explored on foot. Yellow Strætó buses cover the wider capital area, and most visitors join tours or hire a car for trips beyond the city. There is no metro or tram. Not for the city itself, but a car is the most flexible way to see the Golden Circle, the south coast and Snæfellsnes.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- KEF, RKV
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- Reykjavík City Card
Ways to get around
Walking
Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, the Old Harbour and Tjörnin are all within about 15–20 minutes' walk of each other.
In winter, wear shoes with good grip or slip-on spikes; pavements in the centre are partly heated but side streets can be icy.
Bus
Strætó buses connect the centre with Laugardalur, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður and other suburbs, with Hlemmur and Lækjartorg as the main downtown stops.
Buy tickets in the Klappið app or pay contactless where available; drivers do not give change.
Car
A hire car gives the freedom to explore the Golden Circle, south coast and Snæfellsnes at your own pace. Roads are good in summer, but winter driving brings ice, strong winds and short days.
Check road conditions on road.is and weather warnings from the Met Office every morning before driving.
Scooter
Rental e-scooters from operators such as Hopp are widely used for short hops around the centre and along the shoreline paths in good weather.
Taxi
Taxis are metered and reliable but expensive; ride-hailing options are limited compared with other European capitals.
Tickets and passes
Reykjavík City Card
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour card covering Strætó buses in the capital area, the city's geothermal pools, the Viðey ferry and many museums, including the Reykjavík Art Museum and the National Museum.
From the airport
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is about 50 km southwest of the city, roughly 45–50 minutes by road. Airport coaches such as Flybus run to the BSÍ bus terminal with optional hotel drop-offs, and Strætó route 55 offers a slower public bus. Reykjavík Airport (RKV) in the city handles domestic flights.
Do you need a car?
Not for the city itself, but a car is the most flexible way to see the Golden Circle, the south coast and Snæfellsnes. In winter, inexperienced drivers may prefer guided tours, as storms and ice make driving demanding.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Circle | A 6–8 hour loop by car or tour | Hire car or guided tour |
| South coast waterfalls and Vík | About 2.5 hours each way by car | Hire car or guided tour |
| Blue Lagoon | About 45 minutes by car or coach | Car or scheduled coach |
| Snæfellsnes Peninsula | About 2.5 hours each way by car | Hire car or guided tour |
| Hveragerði and Reykjadalur hot river | About 40 minutes by car | Car or bus to Hveragerði |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Reykjavík?
Not for the city itself, but a car is the most flexible way to see the Golden Circle, the south coast and Snæfellsnes. In winter, inexperienced drivers may prefer guided tours, as storms and ice make driving demanding.
+How do you get from the airport to Reykjavík?
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is about 50 km southwest of the city, roughly 45–50 minutes by road. Airport coaches such as Flybus run to the BSÍ bus terminal with optional hotel drop-offs, and Strætó route 55 offers a slower public bus. Reykjavík Airport (RKV) in the city handles domestic flights.
+What is the best way to get around Reykjavík?
Walking: Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur, the Old Harbour and Tjörnin are all within about 15–20 minutes' walk of each other.