Why there's no train option at all
Iceland has no passenger railway anywhere in the country — this isn't a gap specific to the airport route, but a reflection of the country's small population, dispersed settlement pattern, and a transport history that developed around roads and domestic flights rather than rail. Every ground transport option between Keflavík and Reykjavík is therefore road-based: bus, rental car, or taxi, with no rail alternative to compare them against.
This surprises some visitors coming from a country where a major international airport almost always has a rail link into the capital, and it's worth adjusting your expectations before you land rather than assuming a train option exists somewhere in the terminal that you simply haven't found yet.
The Flybus
The Flybus operates as a scheduled coach service between Keflavík Airport and Reykjavík, and per the operator's own site, buses depart shortly after every flight arrival, with the direct journey to the city taking about 45 minutes; a seat is guaranteed even if a flight is delayed. It serves the BSÍ terminal in Reykjavík with connecting transfers to a range of partner hotels around the city (hotel drop-off may carry an additional fee), which is a genuine convenience if your accommodation isn't within easy walking distance of the main drop-off point. This guide could not confirm a fixed current fare, since Flybus prices vary by booking and any promotion running at the time, so check the operator's own booking site directly before your trip.
Rental car
Renting a car directly at Keflavík Airport is a common choice, especially for travelers planning a Ring Road trip or day trips outside Reykjavík during their stay, since it avoids a separate in-city rental pickup later. Multiple international and local rental companies operate directly from or near the airport terminal. If you're only planning to stay within Reykjavík itself with no further driving, renting a car purely for the airport transfer is generally not worth the cost compared to the Flybus or a taxi, given Reykjavík's own compact, walkable center and functioning local bus network.
Driving straight from the airport after a long-haul overnight flight is also worth thinking through honestly rather than just logistically — Icelandic roads outside the immediate airport area can be unlit and narrow, and doing that drive tired, in an unfamiliar car, on the wrong side for some visitors, is a genuine fatigue and safety consideration rather than a minor inconvenience — worth checking against Icelandic road and weather conditions before you set out.
Taxi
A taxi covers the roughly 45 to 50 kilometer distance between Keflavík and central Reykjavík for a considerably higher fare than the Flybus, but with the advantage of a direct, door-to-door trip without a transfer or a fixed departure time. This guide could not confirm a current typical taxi fare from an official source, so ask for an estimate before the ride or confirm current rates with a licensed taxi operator directly, since the distance involved makes this one of the pricier taxi legs a visitor is likely to take in Iceland.
Compare by what matters to you
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Flybus | Budget-conscious travelers, no onward driving plans | Fixed departure/arrival points; may need a further hotel transfer |
| Rental car | Travelers planning to drive during their trip anyway | Not worth it for a Reykjavík-only stay; requires confidence driving in Iceland |
| Taxi | Late arrivals, groups, direct door-to-door | Highest cost given the distance involved |
Late or early arrivals
Confirm the Flybus's actual overnight or early-morning schedule directly with the operator if you're arriving outside normal daytime hours, since this guide could not verify current overnight frequency from an official source, and Icelandic flight schedules commonly include very early morning arrivals from long-haul routes. A taxi remains available regardless of arrival time as a fallback if your preferred bus departure doesn't align with your landing time.
Before you leave the arrivals hall
Decide between the Flybus, a rental car, or a taxi based on your plans for the rest of the trip — specifically whether you'll need a car again later — rather than treating the airport transfer as an isolated decision. This guide does not cover domestic flight connections from Keflavík to other parts of Iceland, or transport from Reykjavík's separate, smaller domestic airport near the city center.