How to Get from Reykjavik BSI Bus Terminal to Keflavik International Airport

If you are searching for a "train from Reykjavik BSÍ to Keflavik Airport", the honest answer is that it does not exist — and never has. Iceland is one of the few European countries with zero passenger railway infrastructure. The only rail ever laid in Iceland was a short industrial line near Reykjavík harbour used between roughly 1913 and 1928 to haul materials for the harbour breakwater; it was never a public service and was dismantled decades ago. No line connects the capital to Keflavík, and no rail project is under construction.

Nor can you fly the 50 km. Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV), a five-minute drive from BSÍ, handles domestic flights to Akureyri, Ísafjörður, Egilsstaðir and the Westman Islands. Keflavík (KEF) is the international gateway. There is no scheduled commercial flight between RKV and KEF — the two airports serve completely different markets, and a "flight" would take longer than the drive once you add check-in and security.

The two hard numbers that shape every decision

Factor	Detail	Why it matters
Distance	≈ 50 km / 31 miles	Short enough that a bus is genuinely comfortable
Route	Route 41 (Reykjanesbraut), a paved dual carriageway for most of its length	Rarely congested; the main delay risk is winter weather
Free-flow drive time	45–50 minutes	Every road option lands in the same window
Rail alternative	None	Road transport or taxi/transfer only
Air alternative	None	RKV and KEF are not connected by air

What this means for you

• Your realistic choices are four: airport coach (Flybus / Airport Direct), public bus (Strætó 55), taxi / private transfer, or a rental car.
• Time differences between them are small (45–75 minutes of driving), so the real differentiator is cost, frequency, and luggage handling — not speed.
• Weather is the wildcard. The Reykjanes peninsula is one of the windiest inhabited places in Europe. Gale-force gusts can slow coaches and close sections of Route 41 in winter. Always build a buffer before an international departure.
• Build in 2.5–3 hours at KEF before an international flight during the June–August peak, when the terminal is busiest.

Sources: Isavia – Keflavík Airport · Icelandic Road Administration (road.is) · SafeTravel Iceland

Two operators run non-stop coaches between BSÍ Bus Terminal and Keflavík Airport terminal, and together they carry the overwhelming majority of independent travellers. Both depart from the same address — BSÍ Bus Terminal, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavík — and both drop you at the door of the KEF arrivals/departures hall, roughly a one-minute walk from the check-in desks.

Flybus (Reykjavík Excursions)

• Operator: Reykjavík Excursions (RE), Iceland's largest coach company, running the airport route since 1973.
• Journey time: about 45 minutes from BSÍ to the KEF terminal.
• Frequency: roughly every 30–60 minutes, 24 hours a day, scheduled to meet arriving and departing flights. Peak-season departures can run every 15–30 minutes.
• One-way fare: approximately 3,990–4,500 ISK (≈ US$29–33); return tickets are discounted (roughly 7,500–8,000 ISK / ≈ US$54–58).
• Flybus Plus: adds hotel pick-up and drop-off in central Reykjavík via a small shuttle to the coach hub — about 4,700 ISK (≈ US$34) one way. Worth it if you are staying outside easy walking distance of BSÍ.
• Luggage: one large suitcase plus one carry-on per passenger, stored in the hold, free of charge. No strict weight limit on the airport route.
• On board: free Wi-Fi on most coaches, reclining seats, and a driver who handles the bags for you.
• Booking: online (e-ticket shown on your phone), at the BSÍ ticket desk, or on board if seats remain. Booking ahead is strongly advised for early-morning and summer departures.

Airport Direct (Gray Line Iceland)

• Operator: Gray Line Iceland — the main competitor on the same corridor.
• Journey time: about 45 minutes; comparable frequency and pricing to Flybus.
• Fare: typically 3,900–4,500 ISK (≈ US$28–33) one way, with return and hotel-pick-up variants.
• Difference: largely a matter of departure times, coach type and seat availability on your date. Some travellers prefer it simply because its schedule fits their flight better.

Flybus vs. Airport Direct vs. Flybus Plus — side by side

Service	Pick-up point	Drop-off	Time	Approx. one-way fare	Best for
Flybus	BSÍ Bus Terminal	KEF terminal door	45 min	3,990 ISK (≈ US$29)	Most travellers; cheapest direct option
Flybus Plus	Your hotel / guesthouse	KEF terminal door	45–60 min	4,700 ISK (≈ US$34)	Hotel guests away from BSÍ
Airport Direct	BSÍ Bus Terminal (or hotel)	KEF terminal door	45 min	3,900–4,500 ISK (≈ US$28–33)	Alternative schedule / availability

Step-by-step: taking the Flybus from BSÍ

1. Arrive at BSÍ 10–15 minutes early. The terminal is at Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, about a 15–20 minute walk from Hallgrímskirkja or Laugavegur, or a short taxi ride.
2. Check the departure board inside the terminal or show your e-ticket to the driver at the coach bays outside.
3. Hand your large bag to the driver — it goes in the hold; keep your passport and valuables with you.
4. Ride 45 minutes along Route 41. There is no intermediate stop; you arrive directly at the airport.
5. Collect your bag at the KEF coach bays and walk about one minute into the terminal.

Watch out for

• Very early flights (before 05:00): coaches still run, but the first departures fill up fast — reserve online the day before.
• Late-night arrivals: services are less frequent after midnight; check the timetable rather than assuming a coach will be waiting.
• Hotel pick-up cut-off: Flybus Plus collects you 30–60 minutes before the coach leaves BSÍ, so your total journey is longer than 45 minutes.
• Return direction: from KEF, coaches leave from the same bays just outside arrivals and are timed to landed flights — you can usually buy a ticket on the spot.

Sources: Reykjavík Excursions – Flybus · Airport Direct (Gray Line Iceland) · BSÍ Bus Terminal

Strætó is Iceland's public bus operator, covering the capital region and regional routes. Its Route 55 is the only scheduled public bus linking the Reykjavík area with Keflavík and the airport, and at roughly 2,000 ISK (≈ US$14) it undercuts the Flybus by about half. The catch is that Route 55 does not start at BSÍ — you must first reach the Mjódd bus interchange, which adds a change, time, and the challenge of manoeuvring luggage on city buses.

How the route works

1. From BSÍ, take a city bus to Mjódd. Several capital-area routes serve BSÍ; ride to the Mjódd terminal (typically 15–25 minutes depending on route and traffic). Use the Klappið app or straeto.is journey planner to pick the fastest connection for your departure time.
2. Change at Mjódd to Route 55. The interchange is well signposted and has indoor waiting areas.
3. Ride Route 55 to Keflavík and the airport. The run takes roughly 50–60 minutes to the KEF stop.
4. Walk into the terminal — the bus stop is close to the airport building, though not right at the door in the way the coaches are.

Fares and payment

Item	Detail
Route 55 fare (Reykjavík area → KEF)	Approximately 2,000 ISK (≈ US$14) one way, adult
City bus from BSÍ to Mjódd	Covered by a capital-area ticket or a single fare (roughly 600 ISK / ≈ US$4.30), depending on the ticket you hold
Payment methods	Klappið mobile app, contactless bank card, or cash at ticket points. Drivers do not give change.
Discounts	Children, students and seniors typically pay reduced fares

Frequency — the real limitation

• Limited departures per day. Route 55 runs only a handful of times daily; the count drops further at weekends.
• Almost nothing late at night. If your flight leaves before dawn or lands after midnight, this is not a realistic option.
• No luggage hold. You carry your own bags onto a standard city/regional bus with limited rack space.
• Total door-to-door time: plan on 1.5–2 hours including the change at Mjódd and any waiting.

Who should take Route 55?

• Budget travellers with light luggage and a mid-day departure who do not mind a change.
• Backpackers and students already holding a Strætó travel card.
• Not recommended for families with multiple suitcases, travellers with mobility issues, or anyone catching a flight with a tight connection.

Sources: Strætó – official timetable and fares · Isavia – Keflavík Airport

A taxi from BSÍ to Keflavík Airport is the most convenient but by far the most expensive way to make the trip. For a solo traveller, the fare is roughly ten times the Flybus price; for a group of four splitting the bill, it becomes competitive. Reykjavík taxis are metered, well maintained, and accept cards for every fare — you will almost never need cash.

Taxi basics

• Main operators: Hreyfill (+354 588 5522) and BSÍ Taxi (+354 561 0000), plus a handful of smaller firms.
• Pick-up: a taxi rank sits directly outside BSÍ Bus Terminal; you can also pre-book by phone or app.
• Journey time: 45–50 minutes in normal conditions — essentially the same as the coach.
• Typical fare to KEF: 16,000–20,000 ISK (≈ US$115–145). Some operators quote a fixed airport price; ask before you get in.
• Capacity: a standard car takes up to four passengers, but four people plus four large suitcases usually requires a larger vehicle — request one when booking.
• Night surcharges: expect a higher rate between roughly 23:00 and 07:00 and on public holidays.

Private transfers

Option	Approx. price (one way)	What you get
Standard taxi from the rank	16,000–20,000 ISK (≈ US$115–145)	Immediate departure, meter or fixed price
Pre-booked private car	22,000–26,000 ISK (≈ US$160–190)	Driver waiting with a name sign, flight tracking, fixed price
Private minivan / SUV (up to 6–7 pax)	26,000–30,000 ISK (≈ US$190–215)	Space for large groups and extra luggage

When a taxi or transfer is genuinely worth it

• Four people sharing. 18,000 ISK ÷ 4 ≈ 4,500 ISK each (≈ US$33) — about the same as a Flybus Plus ticket, but door-to-door.
• Flights landing after midnight. When coach frequency drops, a pre-booked car removes all uncertainty.
• Travellers with reduced mobility, small children, or a lot of luggage. No steps, no transfers, no waiting in the wind.
• Business travellers on a schedule where a missed flight costs more than the fare.
• Groups of 5–7 for whom a minivan is cheaper per head than several coach tickets plus taxis to BSÍ.

When it is not worth it

• Solo travellers and couples on a normal daytime schedule — the Flybus does the same job for a fraction of the price.
• Anyone with a mid-day flight and a flexible budget. You are paying a large premium to save maybe 10 minutes.

Sources: Hreyfill Taxi · BSÍ Bus Terminal · Isavia – Keflavík Airport

Driving yourself is the right answer for one specific type of traveller: someone who is heading onwards to the Golden Circle, the South Coast or the Ring Road and simply needs to reposition from the city to the airport. As a pure BSÍ-to-KEF transfer, a rental car is usually the most expensive and most complicated choice.

The route

1. Leave BSÍ onto Vatnsmýrarvegur and follow signs for Miklabraut (Route 49).
2. Join Route 41 (Reykjanesbraut) heading south-west toward Keflavík.
3. Stay on Route 41 for roughly 40 km — it bypasses Hafnarfjörður and passes the turn-off for Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon.
4. Follow airport signs into the KEF rental car return area, which sits close to the terminal with a shuttle or short walk to departures.

Costs to weigh up

Cost item	Typical figure
Compact car rental (per day, summer)	8,000–15,000 ISK (≈ US$60–110)
Fuel (petrol/diesel)	Roughly 290–310 ISK per litre (≈ US$2.10–2.25); the 50 km trip uses about 3–4 litres
Tolls on Route 41	None
Airport parking / drop-off	Short-term drop-off is free or low-cost; longer parking is charged
Insurance (gravel, sand & ash)	Extra — strongly recommended in Iceland, adds 2,000–4,000 ISK per day

Practical notes

• One-way rentals are common: pick up in central Reykjavík, drop at KEF (or vice versa). A drop-off fee may apply.
• Fuel stations along Route 41 are plentiful; most are automated and require a chip-and-PIN card.
• Winter driving on the Reykjanes peninsula means sudden crosswinds and black ice. Check road.is and vedur.is before setting off.
• Do not plan to park at KEF for a multi-day trip unless you have checked long-stay parking rates in advance — they can exceed the cost of a coach ticket many times over.
• Verdict: rent a car if you are continuing your trip by road. Do not rent one purely for the BSÍ–KEF transfer.

Sources: Icelandic Road & Coastal Administration · SafeTravel Iceland · Isavia – Keflavík Airport

Everything you need to make the final call is in the table below. All prices are one-way, adult, from BSÍ Bus Terminal to Keflavík Airport, converted at roughly 1 USD ≈ 138 ISK.

Method	Operator	Journey time	Changes	One-way cost	In USD	Verdict
Flybus	Reykjavík Excursions	45 min	0	≈ 3,990 ISK	≈ $29	Best overall
Flybus Plus	Reykjavík Excursions	45–60 min	0 (hotel pick-up)	≈ 4,700 ISK	≈ $34	Best for hotel guests
Airport Direct	Gray Line Iceland	45 min	0	≈ 3,900–4,500 ISK	≈ $28–33	Solid alternative
Strætó 55	Strætó (public)	1 h 30 – 2 h total	1–2	≈ 2,000 ISK + city fare	≈ $14–18	Cheapest
Taxi	Hreyfill / BSÍ Taxi	45–50 min	0	16,000–20,000 ISK	≈ $115–145	Groups / late night
Private transfer	Various	45–50 min	0	22,000–30,000 ISK	≈ $160–215	Families / business
Rental car	Various	45–50 min	0	8,000–15,000 ISK per day + fuel	≈ $60–110/day	Only if continuing by road

Where to buy tickets

• Flybus: online at re.is, at the ticket desk inside BSÍ, or from the driver if seats remain.
• Airport Direct: online at airportdirect.is or at the BSÍ desk.
• Strætó 55: via the Klappið app, contactless card, or ticket points — not a tourist desk, so plan ahead.
• Taxi: pay the driver by card; ask for the fixed airport price before departure.
• Rental car: book ahead in summer; KEF has rental desks in the arrivals hall.

The three-line summary

• Best all-round: Flybus, ~3,990 ISK (≈ US$29), 45 minutes, no changes.
• Cheapest: Strætó 55, ~2,000 ISK (≈ US$14), but 1.5–2 hours and a change at Mjódd.
• Most expensive but most flexible: taxi or private transfer, 16,000–30,000 ISK (≈ US$115–215).

Sources: Reykjavík Excursions · Airport Direct · Strætó · Hreyfill

The practical details below are the ones that catch people out — the things that are not on any timetable but that experienced Iceland travellers learn the hard way.

Booking and timing

• Book your airport coach the day before, not on the day. In June–August and around Christmas/New Year, early-morning departures from BSÍ routinely sell out.
• Leave 2.5–3 hours before an international departure once you factor in the 45-minute drive, the 30–45 minutes you should allow at BSÍ, and check-in/security at KEF.
• Flybus schedules are built around flight times — check the timetable for the departure that matches your flight rather than simply arriving at BSÍ and waiting.
• If your flight is delayed inbound, the coach operators monitor arrivals, but a pre-booked private transfer with flight tracking removes the risk entirely.

Luggage

• Coaches include luggage in the hold for free — one large case plus a carry-on per person. No need to pre-pay.
• BSÍ has storage lockers if you want to spend a final afternoon in the city before heading to the airport.
• Strætó 55 has no luggage hold. This is the single biggest reason budget travellers regret choosing it with heavy bags.
• Reykjavík luggage transfer services can move bags between hotels and Keflavík ahead of you if you are travelling light for a day or two — useful for multi-stop itineraries.

Getting to BSÍ in the first place

• BSÍ is not in the very centre. From Laugavegur or Hallgrímskirkja it is a 15–20 minute walk, or a short city bus ride.
• Several Strætó city routes stop at or beside BSÍ, making it an easy connection from most downtown accommodation.
• A taxi from central Reykjavík to BSÍ costs roughly 2,500–3,500 ISK (≈ US$18–25) — worth it with luggage in bad weather.

Weather and road conditions

• Wind is the real hazard, not snow. Gusts on the Reykjanes peninsula regularly exceed 20 m/s (45 mph) and can buffet coaches and high-sided vehicles.
• Check road.is and vedur.is before any self-drive transfer, especially between October and April.
• Always carry a windproof and waterproof outer layer in your hand luggage — you may be standing outside the terminal in driving rain.
• Build a buffer in winter. A 45-minute drive can become 70 minutes in a storm, and Route 41 can close temporarily.

Money and payments

• Iceland is effectively cashless. Cards are accepted on coaches, in taxis, at the BSÍ ticket desk and on Strætó (contactless).
• Prices are quoted in Icelandic króna (ISK). Using the USD figures in this guide as a mental shortcut is fine, but your card will be charged in ISK.
• Choose to be charged in ISK, not your home currency, if a terminal offers "dynamic currency conversion" — it is almost always worse value.

At Keflavík Airport

• KEF has a single terminal for both arrivals and departures, so there is no risk of going to the wrong building.
• Coach drop-off is right outside the terminal; the walk to check-in is about one minute.
• Duty-free and food outlets are before security in some areas — do not rush straight through if you want to shop.
• Return coaches leave from the same bays outside arrivals, timed to landed flights. Tickets can usually be bought on board.

Sources: SafeTravel Iceland · road.is · Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) · BSÍ Bus Terminal