Reykjavík to Akureyri: Flight, Bus or Private Transfer?

Akureyri sits at the head of Eyjafjörður, a long fjord in North Iceland, and is the largest town outside the capital area. It is the natural base for Lake Mývatn, Goðafoss, Húsavík's whale watching and the ski slopes of Hlíðarfjall. It is also a long way from Reykjavík: roughly 390 km by road, which is about five hours of driving without stops.

There are four realistic ways to make that trip: a domestic flight, the long-distance bus, driving yourself in a rental car, or a private transfer. Each one makes sense for a different kind of traveller. This guide compares them honestly, including the cases where a private car is not the best choice.

One thing to know before you start: most international flights land at Keflavík Airport (KEF), not in Reykjavík. Domestic flights to Akureyri leave from Reykjavík Airport (RKV), the small airport in the city. So if you are flying in from abroad and want to continue north the same day, you have an extra leg to plan.

The options at a glance

• Domestic flight (Reykjavík Airport to Akureyri): the quickest in the air, under an hour. Add the trip to Reykjavík Airport, check-in time and the ride into Akureyri. Weather can cause delays and cancellations.
• Public bus (Strætó): the cheapest option, but slow because it stops in towns along the way, and with a limited number of departures each day.
• Rental car: flexible, with time for stops, but you drive about five hours yourself on roads that cross mountain passes. In winter that requires experience.
• Private transfer: door to door from Keflavík Airport or Reykjavík to your address in Akureyri, at a fixed price per car or van. Long, but someone else drives, and you can agree stops in advance.

Flying from Reykjavík to Akureyri

Scheduled domestic flights connect Reykjavík Airport and Akureyri Airport several times a day for most of the year. The flight itself is short, and on a clear day the view over the highlands and glaciers is a highlight in its own right. Akureyri Airport is right next to the town, so the last stretch is quick.

The connection from Keflavík

If you land at Keflavík from abroad, you first need to get to Reykjavík Airport, about 50 km away, usually around 45 minutes by car. The two airports are not connected airside, so you collect your bags at Keflavík, travel to Reykjavík and check in again. Leave a generous gap between your international arrival and your domestic flight: if the first flight is late, a tight connection fails, and the two tickets are usually separate.

We drive between the airports at a fixed price per car; see Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík Domestic Airport, and our guide to Reykjavík domestic airport transfers for more on how the two airports work together.

Weather and luggage

Akureyri lies in a fjord surrounded by mountains, and domestic flights in Iceland are sensitive to wind, low cloud and icing. Delays and cancellations happen, especially in winter. If you have something fixed in Akureyri, such as a tour or an onward connection, think about what you would do if your flight did not go.

Domestic flights are on smaller aircraft, and the baggage rules may differ from your international ticket. If you travel with skis, a bike or several large suitcases, check the allowance and fees with the airline before you book.

When flying makes sense

• You are already in Reykjavík and travelling light.
• You have limited time and want to spend it in the north, not on the road.
• You are travelling alone or as a couple, so a whole car for five hours is a large share of your budget.
• Your plans in Akureyri can survive a delay of a few hours or a day.

Taking the bus

Iceland's public bus company, Strætó, runs a long-distance route between Reykjavík and Akureyri along the Ring Road. It is the budget option and it works, but it is not fast. The bus stops in towns and at junctions along the way, and the trip takes a good part of the day. Departures are limited, so check the current timetable on Strætó's website well in advance, especially outside summer.

From Keflavík Airport, you would first need to get into Reykjavík and across to the departure point, which makes a same-day connection from an international flight awkward. With a lot of luggage, several changes and long waits add up.

The bus suits solo travellers with a backpack and a flexible schedule who want to keep costs low. It is less suitable for families, for people with large suitcases, or for anyone arriving on a late flight.

Driving yourself

With a rental car, the route north is simple to follow. From Reykjavík you take Route 1 through the Hvalfjörður tunnel to Borgarnes, then north over the Holtavörðuheiði mountain pass, along the valleys of Northwest Iceland past Blönduós and Varmahlíð, and finally over the Öxnadalsheiði pass down into Eyjafjörður.

In summer it is a long but easy drive. In winter, both passes can be hit by snow, strong wind and poor visibility, and roads are sometimes closed for hours or overnight during storms. If you are not used to winter driving, our guide to driving in Iceland in winter is worth reading first, and always check road conditions and the weather forecast on the day.

Also count the time: about five hours of driving, plus stops, often after a night flight. Many visitors who land early in the morning are tired, and a long drive on unfamiliar roads is not the best first day. A one-way rental from Reykjavík to Akureyri can also carry a drop-off fee, so compare the total with the other options.

Private transfer from Keflavík or Reykjavík

A private transfer is the most comfortable way to cover the distance on the ground. You are picked up at Keflavík Airport or at your address in Reykjavík, and dropped at your hotel, apartment or cabin in Akureyri, with your luggage in the car the whole way. Nobody in your group has to drive, read the map or watch the weather on the passes.

• Fixed price per car (Tesla or similar, 1 to 4 passengers, room for 3 large suitcases) or van (Mercedes Vito, 5 to 7 passengers and their luggage).
• The same price day and night, so a late arrival costs no more.
• At Keflavík your driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, checks your landing time from your flight number and waits up to 45 minutes free of charge.
• Stops on the way, for a meal or a sight, can be agreed in advance.
• Child seats free on request. For 8 to 16 people, ask for a minibus on WhatsApp at +354 777 3949.
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up. Book at least an hour ahead.

It is a long ride, and for one person it costs more than a bus ticket or a flight. It becomes much easier to justify for a family or a group sharing one vehicle, for travellers with a lot of luggage, or for anyone who wants to go straight north on arrival day without a connection in Reykjavík. You pay a fixed price for the vehicle, not per person, so four people pay the same as one.

Stops worth making on the way north

Going by road means you can turn a long journey into a day out. A few stops that fit the route without large detours:

• Borgarnes: a small town on a peninsula about an hour from Reykjavík, with the Settlement Centre and places for coffee. Our guide to Borgarnes and West Iceland has more.
• Grábrók: a small volcanic crater right beside Route 1 near Bifröst, with a staircase to the rim and views over the lava field.
• Kolugljúfur: a narrow canyon with waterfalls in Víðidalur, a short detour from the Ring Road.
• Hvítserkur: a striking sea stack on the Vatnsnes peninsula. It is a longer detour on gravel roads, so plan extra time.
• Glaumbær: a turf farmhouse museum near Varmahlíð in Skagafjörður, close to the route. Check opening hours.
• Blönduós and Varmahlíð: convenient places for a meal or a fuel stop.

With a private transfer, tell us which stops you would like when you book, so the driver can plan for them. Our Ring Road planning guide covers the rest of the loop if Akureyri is just one stop on a longer trip.

Which option should you choose?

There is no single right answer. Here is how we would decide:

• Solo traveller, light bag, flexible: the bus is the cheapest; the flight is the quickest if you are already in Reykjavík.
• Couple with a few days in the north: the flight saves time, but add the airport transfer and allow for weather. If you want to see the countryside, drive or take a transfer with stops.
• Family or group of four or more: a car or van at a fixed price per vehicle often compares well with several flight or bus tickets plus taxis at each end, and you keep all your luggage with you.
• Arriving at Keflavík and going straight north: a transfer avoids the change of airport in Reykjavík. If you prefer to fly, leave a long gap between the two flights.
• Winter travel: whichever you choose, keep a little slack in your plans. Flights can be grounded and passes can close; a buffer day before anything you cannot miss is sensible.

Once you are in Akureyri

Akureyri itself is compact and pleasant to walk, with its botanical garden, church steps and cafés along the main street. From there, day trips go to Goðafoss, Lake Mývatn, Húsavík and the towns of the Tröllaskagi peninsula such as Dalvík, Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður. Our Akureyri travel guide and Lake Mývatn guide cover the area in more detail.

We also drive from Keflavík Airport directly to other places in the north, including Mývatn, Húsavík and Siglufjörður. All routes and prices are on our transfers page.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Akureyri from Reykjavík?

Can I fly from Keflavík Airport to Akureyri?

How long is the flight from Reykjavík to Akureyri?

Is there a bus from Reykjavík to Akureyri?

Is the drive to Akureyri safe in winter?

Can you drive us from Keflavík Airport straight to Akureyri?

Can we stop on the way to Akureyri?

Is it cheaper to fly or take a private transfer to Akureyri?