Reykjavik City Buses: Your Complete Travel Guide

Getting around Reykjavik by bus is easier than most visitors expect. The Straeto network is reliable, well-mapped, and genuinely useful — and this guide covers everything you need to ride it without stress.

Straeto runs 27 routes across the Capital Region, connecting the city’s main landmarks, neighbourhoods, and accommodation areas. It’s the backbone of public transport here.

Straeto also reaches towns and popular attractions outside the city, which keeps costs down — though once you’re out in the countryside, your options for getting around independently become quite limited.

If you’d rather not think about connections and timetables, day tours, multi-day packages, and airport transfers are worth considering. They cover Iceland’s highlights at reasonable prices and don’t require a rental car.

Whether you’re spending a week in Reykjavik or just a night before heading south, the bus system is a practical and low-emission way to get around. Below you’ll find everything from buying tickets to plotting routes on the Straeto website.

Photo above from Flickr, by 7beachbum. No edits made.

Key Takeaways

• Straeto buses cover the city’s major attractions and neighbourhoods on a reliable schedule.

• Fares can be paid through the Straeto app, bus cards, or contactless credit cards.

• Taxis and rental cars are more flexible but considerably more expensive than public transport or guided tours.

• Guided tours are a straightforward way to see Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland without having to piece together public transit connections yourself.

When Can I Get the Bus in Reykjavik?

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Gary J. Wood. The bus stop by Laekjartorg Square in downtown Reykjavik.

On weekdays, the first buses pull out at around 6:30 AM. On Saturdays services begin at 7:30 AM, and on Sundays and public holidays you’re looking at a 9:30 AM start.

Most routes wrap up around midnight. On Friday and Saturday nights a limited night bus service takes over from there.

The route planner on the Straeto website and the “Klappid” app both give you real-time bus positions and up-to-date timetables. They’re the quickest way to work out your journey before you leave.

The Reykjavik bus route planner on the Straeto website.

Enter your starting point, destination, and preferred travel time and the planner returns several route options. Timetables show the exact times at each stop, so you can check what’s running at any point on the network.

Most routes run at least every 30 minutes. On the main routes, during peak hours — 7–9 AM and 3–6 PM on weekdays — buses come every 15 minutes.

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by NAC. No edits made.

Routes 1 and 6 are the most frequent. On a typical weekday, they run every 10 minutes during peak hours, every 15 minutes through the rest of the day, and every 30 minutes in the evenings.

On public holidays, buses follow a Sunday schedule — fewer trips overall. A handful of specific dates each year may shift regular operating hours, so it’s always worth double-checking before you travel.

How Do I Use the Klappid App?

Photo from Straeto. The Hamraborg bus stop by the Library of Kopavogur, where you can purchase physical Klappid cards.

The Klappid app is on the App Store for Apple devices and Google Play for Android. You can set it to either Icelandic or English.

You do need an internet connection to buy and use tickets inside the app. Many Reykjavik buses offer free Wi-Fi, but it’s smarter to load up your tickets before you board rather than scrambling for a signal at the stop.

The app lets you buy tickets, plan routes, and see where every active bus currently is — all in one place.

Getting started is simple: download the app, register with your phone number and card details (American Express is not accepted), buy a ticket or card, and you’re good to go.

Tickets aren’t activated automatically, so you can buy in advance and store them under “My Tickets” for later. Once you activate a single-fare ticket, it’s valid for 75 minutes.

When you board, hold your ticket or card up to the scanning device on the right. Scan the QR code and wait for the screen to turn green before finding your seat.

Where Can I Get the Bus in Reykjavik?

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Richard Eriksson. No edits made.

Straeto stops are easy to recognise — look for a red circle with a yellow “S” logo. Some stops are just a pole with timetables attached; others have a proper shelter.

To find your nearest stop, check the Straeto website or pull up the live bus map in the app. The app also shows you exactly where every active bus is at any given moment.

Photo from Mjodd website. No edits made. The Mjodd service center connects various Reykjavik bus lines.

Depending on where you’re headed, you may need to change buses. The Capital Region has several designated interchange stops built for smooth connections. Key stops include Fjordur, Asgardur, Hamraborg, Mjodd, and Artun — timetables at these stops are coordinated so transfers are quick.

Other connection points — Hlemmur, Spongin, and Haholt — work fine but aren’t synchronised in the same way, so you may end up waiting a little longer.

Mjodd is probably the most important interchange in the network. It sits in the Breidholt neighbourhood and connects city routes with buses heading out of the Capital Region.

How Much Does a Reykjavik Bus Ticket Cost?

The standard adult fare is approximately 690 ISK. Passengers aged 12 to 17 and seniors aged 67 and older pay around 345 ISK.

Passengers with disabilities can access a fare of about 207 ISK through the Klappid app. Children aged 11 and younger ride free.

If you pay by contactless card, Straeto operates a fare-capping system called Kapp. Adult passengers will never be charged more than the equivalent of three rides per day or nine per week. To benefit, use the same card or device every time you ride.

For the most current pricing, check the Straeto price list on their official website.

How Do I Pay for the Bus in Reykjavik?

Photo from Straeto. The Klappid bus card.

There are four ways to pay: a reusable plastic Klappid bus card, a paper Klappid card, the Klappid App, or a contactless bank card.

Physical Klappid cards are sold at various vendors around the city.

The plastic card can be topped up via the Klappid app. The paper card comes in two versions: valid for either 24 hours or 72 hours, with up to 10 rides. If you go for the 10-trip card, you can check your remaining balance online.

Klappid payment methods.

Staying in Reykjavik for a while? A digital card in the Klappid app is your best bet. You can buy one valid for 24 hours, 72 hours, 30 days, or a full year, then just present your phone for scanning as you board.

Contactless payments — including Apple Pay and Google Pay — are also accepted on board.

How To Take the Bus From and To Keflavik Airport

Bus 55, operated by Straeto, runs between Reykjavik and Keflavik International Airport. It’s the budget option, though the journey takes longer than a direct shuttle because it makes multiple stops along the way.

It suits travellers with light luggage best. You can board from the BSI bus terminal or the Fjordur bus stop in Hafnarfjordur. Card payments requiring a PIN are accepted, but cash is awkward — drivers don’t carry change.

If Bus 55 is your plan, keep the Klappid app open and watch the schedule. The bus won’t automatically stop at smaller terminal locations unless you signal for it.

The bus stop at Keflavik Airport is a short walk from the terminal and isn’t especially well signed, but it’s easy enough to find on Google Maps.

The trip runs roughly 20–30 minutes longer than a direct airport transfer, so factor that in and give yourself plenty of time before your flight.

How To Use the Bus To Get to the Blue Lagoon?

There’s no public bus route that goes directly to the Blue Lagoon, so the bus alone won’t get you there. The practical solution is to book a tour that includes transport — it takes all the guesswork out of the trip.

These services typically run between Reykjavik, Keflavik International Airport, and the Blue Lagoon, with tickets available to buy online. Many departure times line up with popular flight schedules, which is handy if you’re arriving or leaving Iceland on the same day.

Popular options include entry to the Blue Lagoon with transfers from Reykjavik, or connections from Keflavik — useful if you want to stop at the lagoon straight off the plane.

If you just need a simple transfer, one-way services between Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon are available and keep things straightforward.

Can I Use Public Transport at Night in Reykjavik?

Straeto runs a limited night bus service on the nights leading into weekends — useful if you’re out late and staying outside the city centre.

There are five routes: 101, 103, 104, 105, and 106. Each has three departures between 1:20 AM and 3:45 AM, with exact times varying by route.

The night buses depart from either Laekjatorg Square or Laugavegur Street and serve different parts of the Capital Region. They don’t head back toward the city centre after midnight.

These buses don’t stop on a fixed timetable, so track them in the Klappid app and wave the driver down as the bus approaches your stop.

For full night bus schedules, check the Straeto website. Fares sit at around 690 ISK (approximately 4.90 USD). You can pay in cash, buy a dedicated night bus ticket through the Klappid app, or use a 30-day or one-year pass.

Reykjavik Bus Etiquette

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Otto Karikoski.

You must board and exit at designated stops. Stand close to the stop and make it clear you want to board as the bus pulls in — signal the driver if you need to. If you look distracted or uncertain, the driver may assume you’re not getting on and keep moving.

If the destination display reads “Er ekki á leið,” the bus is out of service.

Unless you’re travelling with a bicycle, baby carriage, or have accessibility needs, always use the front doors and have your payment ready before you step on.

Exit through the rear doors only. Watch your footing — Iceland’s weather can leave steps and pavements slippery.

Bicycles and luggage are allowed on board, but wheelchairs and baby strollers always take priority in the designated space.

Each bus has space for one wheelchair and a foldable ramp near the mid-exit. The driver operates the ramp, but securing the wheelchair is the responsibility of the passenger or their companion.

Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Smiley.toerist.

Many drivers speak English, but it’s still worth using the route planner and checking online resources before you travel rather than relying on asking on the bus.

Scooters, rollerblades, and skateboards must be carried — not ridden — on board.

Pets are welcome on city buses as long as they board through the rear doors and stay at the back. Handlers must be at least 18 years old and may bring one pet per person. Dogs must be on a leash; other animals should be in a carrier. Pets aren’t allowed during weekday peak hours — 7 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM — though trained guide dogs are always permitted at any time.

Photo from Straeto/visir.is.

Priority seats are there for passengers who need them — if you’re sitting in one, be ready to give it up. Icelanders tend to keep things quiet on public transport, so skip the speakerphone calls and don’t play music out loud.

Eating and smoking on the bus are not permitted.

Photo from Flickr, by BeyondDC.

The bus is one of the most practical and eco-friendly ways to see Reykjavik. Enjoy the ride on those distinctive yellow Straeto buses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about getting around Reykjavik.

What is the best way to get around Reykjavik?

For most visitors, Straeto buses do the job well. If you’re planning to head outside the city, a rental car gives you more freedom. Guided tours are another solid option, while taxis and rideshare services exist but cost considerably more.

Does Reykjavik have a hop-on hop-off bus?

Yes — Reykjavik has a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that stops at the city’s main attractions. It’s a convenient choice if you want to cover a lot of ground without planning individual routes.

How do I pay for Bus 55 in Iceland?

Bus 55 accepts cash (ISK), contactless credit cards, and digital tickets purchased through the Straeto app. As the airport route, fares may be higher than on standard city services.

Is it easy to find parking in Reykjavik?

Parking in the city centre can be tricky. Paid parking zones are marked throughout, and some areas beyond the downtown core have free parking available — but spaces fill up quickly.

What is the best way to get from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik?

The most popular options are airport shuttles — Flybus and Airport Direct being the main ones — along with taxis, private transfers, and car rentals. Public buses are available but less practical if you’re travelling with bags.

Explore Reykjavik and Beyond With Guided Tours

Reykjavik’s buses are great for the city, but guided tours are the easier route to Iceland’s bigger landscapes. The Golden Circle, the northern lights, the South Coast — joining a tour means you see it all without worrying about connections or timetables.

For those who want to know the city itself better, walking tours, food walks, and sightseeing bus tours are excellent ways to get under Reykjavik’s skin.

If you want to cover more of the country, a week-long guided winter circle tour gives you Iceland’s most spectacular scenery with knowledgeable guides doing the logistics. Whatever your pace or itinerary, there’s something out there that fits.

Will you embrace public transport in Iceland? Have you previously visited this stunning island? Is there anything we might have overlooked in this guide? We welcome your thoughts in the comments section below!