How to Get Around Iceland: Transport Guide for Travelers

With no trains, transportation in Iceland depends on the road network. Renting a car lets you drive the Ring Road, the highway that circles the island, at your own pace. Strætó buses link Reykjavík with its suburbs and larger towns, and domestic flights save time on the long journeys to Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Ísafjörður, and Höfn.

For most visitors, the best way to get around Iceland is a rental car if you're comfortable driving, or guided tours if you're not. Buses are the cheapest but rarely stop near natural sights, and flights only save time on the longest routes.

Most trips start at Keflavík Airport, about 50 km (31 mi) from Reykjavík. How to get around in Iceland after that depends mostly on your route. A trip around the Ring Road usually means renting a car, while getting around in Iceland from a Reykjavík base works well with day tours and city buses.

These options also combine well. Take the Flybus into Reykjavík, join day tours from the city, then rent a car for the Ring Road if you have a week or more left.

Best options by travel style:

• Choose guided tours for short visits: Travelers with only a few days see more when a guide handles the driving and timing. Golden Circle tours and South Coast day trips reach the best-known sights from Reykjavík.
• Rent a car for Ring Road trips: Independent travelers with 5 to 10 days can make the most of having their own car. Stop at waterfalls and small towns buses skip, and adjust your Iceland Ring Road itinerary as the weather changes.
• Take buses to keep costs down: Backpackers and budget travelers save the most on Strætó, as long as they stick to main towns. Departures are limited in rural areas, so plan your whole route before you leave.
• Join guided tours for winter travel: Visitors who aren’t confident driving on icy roads, in strong winds, or with limited daylight are safer with a professional driver. Our winter tours take you into ice caves, onto glaciers, and out chasing the Northern Lights, with an experienced local handling the roads.

You can get around Iceland without a car by guided tours, Strætó buses, domestic flights, ferries, and hitchhiking. Getting around Iceland this way works best from a Reykjavík base. Transportation in Iceland for tourists without a car depends on how much time and money you have.

• Guided tours: Tours reach South Coast waterfalls, glacier hikes, and ice caves that public buses don't go to, with a guide giving you insights about the places you visit. Our guided multi-day tours cover several regions over 2 to 9 days, so you won’t need to coordinate connections.
• Buses: Strætó is usually the cheapest way to travel between towns, but you need to plan ahead. Long-distance bus routes may leave once a day or less, so missing a bus can cost you a full day.
• Domestic flights: Icelandair, which now runs the domestic routes once sold as Air Iceland Connect, links Reykjavík Domestic Airport with Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Ísafjörður, and Höfn. You can reach Akureyri, the capital of North Iceland, in 45 minutes by air, versus about 6.5 hours by bus. According to Einar Freyr Farestveit, operations manager and guide at Arctic Adventures, locals mostly fly for work, since flights are expensive and driving is usually more practical.
• Ferries: Ferries take you to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar) and over Breiðafjörður Bay to the Westfjords. Herjólfur ferry reaches the Westman Islands in 35 minutes from Landeyjahöfn harbor in summer. In winter and rough seas, it often sails from Þorlákshöfn instead, a crossing of about 3 hours. The Baldur ferry normally carries cars and passengers from Stykkishólmur on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to Brjánslækur in about 2 hours 10 minutes, but it’s out of service with no return date announced (as of October 2026). Until it’s back, drivers heading to the Westfjords need to go by road, and only a passenger boat serves Flatey island. Schedules change with the seasons, so check sailings before you plan your route.
• Hitchhiking: Hitchhiking is more common among tourists than locals, but many local drivers are happy to give you a lift. The country has topped the Global Peace Index since 2008. Einar’s grandfather always stops because he enjoys meeting people from other countries. Finding a ride can take hours on quiet rural roads, though, so bring warm, waterproof layers for the wait.

Rent a car in Iceland to explore the Ring Road, reach remote sights, or set your own schedule. Skip it for a Reykjavík-only stay, a tight budget, or a winter trip if you haven't driven on icy roads before.

When planning how to travel in Iceland, consider the season. Summer makes exploring by car easier. A standard car is suitable for Route 1, the Ring Road’s official number, and the Golden Circle. This sightseeing loop covers Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. 

Beyond these routes, mountain roads marked with an F lead into the Highlands, Iceland’s uninhabited interior. Rental companies allow only 4x4 (four-wheel-drive) vehicles on these F-roads. In winter, ice, storms, and limited daylight make driving experience essential.

A car pays off on multi-day routes with many stops, such as the full Ring Road loop or the Westfjords. For a single Golden Circle day, a tour visits the same three stops without the rental bill or parking fees. 

Budget for more than the daily rental price. A small car costs from about 9,700 ISK ($80 / €71) a day, with higher prices in summer and for larger cars and 4x4s. Since January 2026, every car also pays a distance-based road charge of 6.95 ISK ($0.06 / €0.05) per 1 km (0.62 mi) (as of October 2026). Rental companies pass it on as a daily fee or per kilometer driven. 

Tolls and parking add to the bill too. The Ring Road has two tolls: one at the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel near Akureyri and one on the new Hornafjörður section near Höfn, which costs 1,500 ISK ($12 / €11) per single trip by car (as of October 2026). Neither has you stop to pay, since the bill goes to the car’s registered owner, so ask your rental company how tolls are billed before driving in Iceland.

Many popular sights charge for parking, sometimes only through an app. Vatnajökull National Park collects its regional fee at the Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón parking lots, payable in the Parka app, and Reykjavík street parking accepts EasyPark, Parka, or SíminnPay.

Renting a car in Iceland is best if you want:

• Flexibility: Choose your stops and spend longer where you like, including when driving the Golden Circle in Iceland.
• Ring Road travel: Plan a journey around the country with an Iceland Ring Road Map.
• Access to remote waterfalls: Reach places without bus stops nearby.

• Transport and lodging in one: A campervan rental in Iceland sleeps 2 to 5 people and comes with a kitchen and heating. Only the 4x4 models are allowed on F-roads.

Other options may suit you better if:

• You stay only in Reykjavík: The main sights fit into a self-guided walking tour of Reykjavík, so you won’t need a car until you leave the city.
• You travel in winter without driving experience: Ice and wind make unfamiliar conditions harder to handle safely.
• You’re on a tight budget: Fuel, road charges, and tolls add up.

All our self-drive tours include a vehicle, insurance, a day-by-day itinerary, and a guided glacier hike on Sólheimajökull glacier. Hotel-based trips from April to October add rooms and breakfast, while campervan trips from October to April come with a 4x4 camper and several guided activities. Before renting a car in Iceland, decide which car class, insurance, and 4x4 requirements suit your route.

Yes, public transportation in Iceland splits into two networks: Strætó's city buses in the capital area and countryside buses connecting towns around the island.

Outside the capital, Vegagerðin, the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration, manages Iceland's public transportation, including the ferries from Dalvík town to Grímsey island and from Árskógssandur village to Hrísey island. Strætó publishes timetables for both networks.

Buses in Iceland run frequently in the capital area, but some long-distance bus routes have only one departure a day. Check timetables for your travel dates before arranging connections or booking accommodation.

Flybus, Strætó bus 55, taxis, and rental cars link Keflavík Airport with Reykjavík. The drive takes about 45 minutes. 

Keflavík Airport is on the Reykjanes Peninsula, close to Keflavík town. Your transfer choice also depends on how you plan to travel around Iceland afterward. The same four options work in reverse when getting to Keflavík Airport for your flight home.

• Flybus: Timed to every arriving flight. Buses leave 30 to 40 minutes after landing and stop at BSÍ, with Flybus Plus continuing to selected hotels, guesthouses, and designated bus stops.
• Strætó bus 55: The cheapest way into town, but slower and less frequent. Since October 1, 2026, it leaves from new terminal stops, reached by a covered walkway from arrivals. You can pay on board by card or cash. Only five weekday departures continue to BSÍ. Weekend trips and other weekday trips end at Fjörður shopping center in Hafnarfjörður, where you change to city bus 1 for downtown Reykjavík.
• Taxi: Private airport transportation in Iceland takes you straight to your door, but is the most expensive. Book online in advance to get the fixed fare. It can be worth the cost when you have heavy luggage or a few people to split the fare with.
• Rental car: Allows you to start driving as soon as you land. Head into Reykjavík, or skip the city and go straight to the South Coast.

How to get around Reykjavík depends on where you’re heading. The compact center is easy to explore on foot, and with no metro or tram in the capital, Strætó’s city buses cover trips to the suburbs and neighboring towns.

Hopp and Bolt e-scooters are another option for getting around Reykjavík on short trips. They're limited to 25 km/h (15.5 mph), and locals mostly use them for quick errands.

Strætó operates the Reykjavík bus system, serving the capital and five neighboring towns: Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Mosfellsbær, and Seltjarnarnes. City buses 1, 3, 5, 6, and 12 depart every 10 minutes during peak times. Most other Reykjavík bus routes arrive every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes outside them.

Service starts around 6:30 AM on weekdays, 7:30 AM on Saturdays, and 9:30 AM on Sundays and public holidays. Depending on the route, buses finish between 11:30 PM and 1:00 AM, with about half stopping around midnight. Night buses leave downtown late on Fridays and Saturdays. Klappið, Strætó’s ticket app, shows real-time arrivals. On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the city network follows Sunday schedules.

The three Reykjavík bus stops most visitors need are BSÍ Bus Terminal for airport buses, Skúlagata for some downtown city buses while Hlemmur is closed, and Mjódd for long-distance buses.

BSÍ Bus Terminal, on Vatnsmýrarvegur street, is the bus terminal in Reykjavík where the Flybus and some Strætó route 55 trips from the airport arrive. Some tours from Reykjavík also pick up passengers here, while others use hotels or numbered stops around the center.

Skúlagata has replaced Hlemmur as the last stop for routes 1, 4, 16, 17, and 18 (as of October 2026). You’ll find it opposite the Klapparstígur junction. Other routes that used to pass Hlemmur now take detours, with new stops on Snorrabraut and Borgartún. Hlemmur, near Laugavegur shopping street, is closed to buses while it’s being rebuilt, with work scheduled until late 2027. Once buses return, they’ll pass through Hlemmur, but no route will end there.

Mjódd, in the Breiðholt district, is the departure point for long-distance routes 51 to Selfoss, 52 to Höfn, and 57 to Akureyri. Take a city bus there from downtown, and use Strætó’s route planner to find the Reykjavík bus stops you need.

You can pay for Reykjavík city buses with a contactless card or phone, the Klappið app, or a 10-ride paper ticket. The first rule of how to use Icelandic public transportation is that on Reykjavík city buses, drivers don’t take cash. A single adult ride costs 690 ISK ($6 / €5). Teens 12 to 17 and seniors 67 and older pay 345 ISK ($3 / €3), and children 11 and under travel free (as of October 2026).

Ways to pay:

• Contactless card: Tap your Visa or Mastercard, or your phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay, on the reader at the bus entrance. You’re always charged the adult fare, valid for 75 minutes, so changing buses won’t cost extra. Teens and seniors need a discounted ticket from the app instead. If you use the same card or phone all day, you pay for three rides at most, and any extra rides that day are free.
• Strætó app: Download Klappið, Strætó's ticket app, and buy a ticket. Activate it just before you get on, then hold the code on your screen up to the reader. On Android, turn off NFC first, so your phone doesn't pay by card instead.
• Bus tickets from stores: Klapp ten, a paper ticket with 10 rides, costs 6,900 ISK ($57 / €50) (as of October 2026). Buy it at 10-11 convenience stores or Strætó's office at Hafnarstræti 7, and scan it each time you board.
• Reykjavík City Card: Made for sightseeing, the card includes free city bus rides plus entry to many museums and thermal pools. Choose 24, 48, or 72 hours.

Traveling around Iceland by bus works best for getting between towns. Countryside buses leave from Mjódd in Reykjavík for towns such as Selfoss, Akureyri, and Höfn.

Fares on the Iceland bus system depend on how many zones you cross, so longer journeys cost more. An adult one-way ticket from Reykjavík costs 2,400 ISK ($20 / €18) to Selfoss and 17,400 ISK ($143 / €127) to Höfn (as of October 2026). For a countryside journey on an Iceland bus, pay the driver by card or cash. These tickets aren’t available in the Klappið app.

Regular public transport in Iceland doesn't extend into the Highlands. Private Highland buses provide summer access once the F-roads open.

• Reykjavík to Akureyri: Strætó bus 57 departs Mjódd daily at around 3:00 PM and takes about 6.5 hours. Most passengers on this route are tourists or children traveling between the two towns.
• Reykjavík to Selfoss: Strætó bus 51 reaches Selfoss, South Iceland's largest town, in just under an hour. With 13 to 14 weekday departures and 7 on each weekend day, it suits day visitors and commuters.
• Reykjavík to Höfn: Strætó bus 52 departs at 2:18 PM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and reaches Höfn approximately 7 hours later. The route stops at Vík, Skaftafell, and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, so you can reach all three without a car.

No, there are no trains in Iceland today, although rail played a brief role in building Reykjavík. Between 1913 and 1917, a construction railway carried materials for the city's harbor. One of its locomotives, Minør, is still on display there.

Foreign companies suggested building railways in Iceland in the late 19th century, but none were built. A rail connection to Keflavík Airport has been studied several times since 2002, and the first study found the line wasn't economically justified. In 2024, a government working group proposed ways to improve airport buses. The capital area’s next major transport project, Borgarlína, is a bus rapid transit line, with its first phase due by 2031.

Iceland doesn't have Uber, and Lyft isn't available either. The closest alternative to Uber in Iceland is Hopp, an app for booking licensed taxis. It covers the capital area, Reykjanesbær town, Keflavík Airport, and Akureyri, and it shows the full price before you confirm.

Bolt operates in Iceland too, but only as an e-scooter rental service. Hopp also rents shared cars by the minute, though our guide Einar says they aren't most locals' first choice. Locals tend to own cars, especially outside Reykjavík, so shared cars are more popular with students, tourists, and city residents without a car.

For a ride without driving yourself, taxis are the main option, and you can usually find one in the capital.

Are there taxis in Iceland? Yes, and Hreyfill and BSR (Taxi Reykjavík) are among the main companies. Rides are expensive. Hreyfill's metered weekday rides from 8 AM to 4 PM start at 880 ISK ($7 / €6). The first 4 km (2.5 mi) then cost 477 ISK ($4 / €3) per 1 km (0.62 mi). Nights and weekends cost more, and other companies may charge differently (as of October 2026).

Taxis charging by distance or time must use a licensed meter, but you can also agree on a fixed fare before setting off. They're useful for short city trips, getting home after the last bus, or sharing the fare with a group. For longer journeys, renting a car or joining a tour usually costs less.

Iceland transportation changes with the seasons, as winter snow, ice, and storms can close roads and reduce services.

In summer, F-roads into the Highlands open once snow cover allows, usually between late May and mid-July. According to SafeTravel, closures generally begin in mid-September. Highland buses follow this short season, making July and August the best months for most trips into Iceland’s interior.

Icelandic public transportation in winter maintains its main bus routes, but departures become less frequent on others. Winter timetables introduced on August 24, 2026, reduced services on some regional bus routes, including Strætó bus 51 to Selfoss. Passenger and staff safety comes first in bad weather, so Strætó may delay or cancel departures. According to our guide Einar, a complete shutdown is rare. In his experience, Strætó works hardest to keep city bus 1 going, since it links several towns in the capital area.

A closed road means no entry, regardless of what vehicle you’re driving. Before setting off, look up the latest conditions:

• Roads: Umferðin, or call the 1777 traffic service from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM daily
• Weather: Icelandic Met Office

Only for longer stays. A 30-day pass costs 12,000 ISK ($98 / €88) in the Klappið app and pays for itself once you’d otherwise pay 18 single fares of 690 ISK each. For shorter trips, tapping the same card or phone every time usually works out cheaper, since Strætó charges at most 9 adult fares over any 7-day period, or 6,210 ISK ($51 / €46), as of October 2026.

Yes, in the capital area, less so for long trips, where buses aren't always the cheapest option. Two Reykjavík to Akureyri bus tickets cost 26,400 ISK ($216 / €193), while return flights start at 23,475 ISK ($192 / €171) (as of October 2026). Flight fares change by date, so compare both before booking.

Yes. Day tours, domestic flights, and Strætó buses can replace a car, and you can even take island trips without one. To reach the Westman Islands, take Strætó bus 51 from Reykjavík to Selfoss, then bus 53 to Landeyjahöfn harbor, where the Herjólfur ferry departs.

Driving the Ring Road nonstop takes about 17 to 20 hours in perfect conditions. Most travelers take 7 to 10 days, and a 7-day trip means about 4 to 6 hours of driving a day, plus stops. A new section near Höfn, opened in June 2026, shortened the route by 12 km (7.5 mi).

Summer driving is manageable for most confident drivers, while winter calls for experience on snow and ice. Headlights must be on day and night. The Ring Road still has 26 single-lane bridges, where the car that reaches the bridge first has the right of way.

No, not for the Ring Road, which is fully paved, but we recommend a 4x4 from October to April, when snow and ice are more likely. From November 1 to April 14, Icelandic law requires at least 3 mm (0.12 in) of tire tread.

Yes, between towns, as long as you pack what you can carry. You load your own luggage onto the bus or into the luggage bay, and pets aren't allowed. Main countryside bus routes have racks for three or four bikes, though some buses can't take bicycles at all.