Travel to Reykjavik

Flying to Reykjavik

Airlines offering direct flights to Reykjavik from the UK include British Airways, easyJet, Icelandair and WOW Air. Icelandair also operates direct flights from the USA. Cheap flights to Reykjavik are available during the winter and off-peak months, when demand is much lower. Summer is the most expensive time to travel.

Flight times

From London - 3 hours 15 minutes; New York - 5 hours 45 minutes; Los Angeles - 9 hours; Toronto - 5 hours 35 minutes; Sydney - 27 hours (including stopovers).

City Airports: 
Telephone:+354 425 6000
Website:www.kefairport.is
Location:

Keflavík International Airport is located about 50km (31mi) southwest of Reykjavík. The drive between the two places is about 45 minutes.


Money:

Arion Bank has two foreign exchanges services in Arrivals and Departures, respectively. In addition, there are 14 ATMs located throughout the terminal, including six in Arrivals where Icelandic krónur can be withdrawn.


Luggage:

Items lost within the airport and on Icelandair and PLAY Airlines are managed by Securitas. You can contact them by sending an email (lostproperty@securitas.is) or filling the form on this webpage. There is also a Lost & Found counter in the Arrivals Hall, open from 08:00-16:00 every day.

If you have travelled with other airlines, contact them directly.

Travel by road

Summary:

Traffic in Reykjavik drives on the right and the legal driving age in Iceland is 17 years with supervision, 18 years without.

The use of headlights at all times of the day and night and fastening seat belts are obligatory legal requirements. Streets in towns are generally asphalt and have excellent surfaces. However, outside towns, the roads are often gravelled, so care must be taken. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph) in urban areas, 80kph (50mph) on unpaved roads and 90kph (56mph) on paved roads.

Drivers must carry the vehicle's registration plus a valid driving licence (foreign licences are valid for visitors to Iceland). If driving your own car, you must carry a Green Card or other proof of third-party insurance, unless you come from the EU/EEA.

Information on road conditions is available from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (tel: +354 522 1100 or 1777, in Iceland only; www.road.is). The Icelandic Automobile Association (FÍB) (tel: +354 414 9999; www.fib.is) provides more information.

Emergency breakdown service:

FÍB (tel: +354 511 2112); Krókur (tel: +354 522 4600). 

Routes:

A 1,351km (840-mile) ring road (Highway 1) traces Iceland's entire coastline (the interior is largely inaccessible). The main routes to Reykjavik are along this road from the east or the west.

Driving times:

From Akureyri - 5 hours; Höfn - 6 hours; Isafjördur - 6 hours.

Coaches:

The central bus station in Reykjavik, at Vatnsmýrarvegi 10, near Reykjavik City Airport, is run by BSÍ Travel (tel: +354 580 5400; www.bsi.is), which offers an extensive bus service to most parts of the country, as well as a large number of organised bus tours. Reservations are not usually necessary and tickets are available at the bus station or from the driver.

Travel by rail

Services:

There is no rail system in Iceland.

Travel over water

Summary:

Gamla Höfnin (Old Harbour) and Sundahöfn are the two main harbours. They are known collectively as the Reykjavik Harbour and governed by the Port of Reykjavik. There are no passenger facilities available, as the harbour caters exclusively for cargo ships.

Ferry services:

Direct sea journeys to Reykjavik can be made with the ferry company Smyril Line (tel: +298 345 900; www.smyrilline.com). Ships sail weekly between the harbour in Reykjavik and Hirtshals in Denmark, stopping at the Faroe Islands.

Transport to the city:

Reykjavik Harbour is situated in northeast Reykjavik, within walking distance of the city centre.




Visa and passport information is updated regularly and is correct at the time of publishing. You should verify critical travel information independently with the relevant embassy before you travel.