Iceland: Transportation
Flights to Iceland
Some airlines offer flights to Iceland year round and others are only seasonal. For a complete list go to Visit Iceland.
Three popular airlines flying to Iceland are Icelandair, WOW air, and EasyJet :
Bus
Some airlines offer flights to Iceland year round and others are only seasonal. For a complete list go to Visit Iceland.
Three popular airlines flying to Iceland are Icelandair, WOW air, and EasyJet :
- Icelandair: major Icelandic airline offering direct flights to Iceland from 20 European countries and the USA. Known for vacation deals and stopover flights at no additional airfare.
- WOW air: Iceland's budget airline offering direct flights to Iceland from 20 European countries and the USA. Be aware of strict limits on luggage weight and the inability to check in online or print boarding passes. The line for carry on luggage only is much shorter than checked luggage.
- EasyJet: budget airline offering flights to Iceland from within Europe
Bus
- FlyBus: offers transportation between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik. Bus tickets can be purchased near the exit of the airport. The final destination is the main BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik. For an additional cost, passengers may transfer to a shuttle van for hotel drop off. There is a discount for purchasing round trip tickets. The bus also offers free Wi-Fi.
- Strætó: Operates buses in Reykjavík and around the country. Tickets can be bought on board the bus, but drivers will not give back change.
- Reykjavik Excursions: Offer guided tours and transportation to many of Iceland's main attractions. During the summer bus routes operate all over the country making it easy to plan your own self guided trip. They also offer a bus passport, which eliminates the need to buy individual tickets for each bus.
- BSI Bus Terminal: the main bus terminal in Reykjavik is open 24 hours.
- Rental cars: can be expensive due to all the extra types of insurance you will need to buy, be sure to document all prior damages, automatic transmission cars are rare so request them early.
- Winter driving: If you are an experienced and confident driver in high winds, poor visibility and on very icy roads, then winter driving may not be a problem. Otherwise it is advisable to take guided tours. Always check the weather and road conditions before going out.
- The Ring Road: a nicely paved road open year round that generally does not require a 4x4. Most of the bridges along the Ring Road (Route 1) are one lane bridges, whoever gets there first goes first.
- Road signs that say "Malbik Endar", means "Asphalt Ends". The road will turn abruptly into a gravel road. Be prepare to slow down. This is the most common cause of vehicle accidents involving tourists.
- Keep an eye out for reindeer and sheep in the road. This is the second most common cause of tourist vehicle accidents.
- Gas stations: Whenever you see a gas station, stop and fill up the tank. You never know when the next station will be.
- GPS Coordinates: Some GPS units only recognize the Icelandic spelling of the locations or several choices may appear. It may be best to use GPS coordinates instead.
