Taxi in Reykjavík at Night: Late Arrivals, Nightlife and Dawn Flights

Quick facts

• Taxis in Reykjavík run day and night, ordered by phone, app or at a rank, and are metered. Night and weekend rates may be higher.
• Busy hours: Friday and Saturday nights when bars close, and late flight arrivals, can mean waiting for a car.
• Airport: Keflavík is about 45 to 50 minutes from Reykjavík. A private transfer costs 20,500 kr per car (1–4) or 28,000 kr per van (5–7), the same price at any hour.
• Early flights: a hotel pick-up around 4:00 to 5:00 is normal for morning departures to Europe.
• Booking with us: at least 1 hour before pick-up, 24/7.

How taxis work at night

Reykjavík taxis are not hailed on the street the way they are in big cities. At night you normally call a taxi company, use a local taxi app, or walk to a taxi rank in the centre. Hotels and many bars will call one for you. Fares are metered, and the rate can be higher in the evening, at night, at weekends and on public holidays, so the same ride can cost noticeably more at 3 am than at 3 pm. Read the full picture in taxis in Iceland: prices and tips, and if you were hoping to use a ride app, see Uber in Iceland.

After a night out

Reykjavík's nightlife is concentrated in a few streets in the old centre, and on Friday and Saturday nights the bars stay open late. When they close, many people want a car at the same moment, so queues at the ranks and waiting times on the phone can get long, especially in bad weather.

• Walk if you can: most central hotels are within 10 to 20 minutes on foot of the bar streets. In winter, wear proper shoes: pavements can be icy.
• Leave a little earlier or later than the main closing rush.
• Agree a pick-up in advance if you are staying outside the centre, for example in Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður or near the harbour. Short rides inside the capital area are priced on request with us; message us on WhatsApp with the time and the number of people.
• Groups: if you are six or seven, a van booked ahead saves you from splitting into two taxis.

Landing late at Keflavík

Many flights from North America and some from Europe land late in the evening or around midnight. At that hour the airport buses may be the last departures of the day, and the taxi queue can be long when several flights land together.

A pre-booked private transfer removes the uncertainty: your driver checks your flight, waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign, and includes 45 minutes of free waiting if passport control or baggage is slow. The price is the same as in the daytime. More in our Keflavík arrivals guide.

Dawn flights: the 4 am pick-up

Morning departures from Keflavík to Europe often leave between 7:00 and 8:00, which means being at the airport around 5:00 and leaving Reykjavík around 4:00. At that hour there is almost no traffic, but you do not want to depend on finding a car.

1. Book your pick-up the day before at the latest; with us, at least 1 hour before is the minimum, but earlier is calmer.
2. Count back: be at the terminal 2.5 to 3 hours before an international flight, and allow about 50 minutes for the drive, more in winter.
3. Tell your hotel you are leaving early and settle the bill the evening before.
4. Pack the night before and put your passport in your hand luggage.
5. If it is stormy, check your messages: your driver watches the road conditions and may suggest leaving a little earlier.

Detailed tips in early-morning flights from Keflavík and the departures guide.

Winter darkness and weather

From November to January, Reykjavík has long nights: in December the sun rises around 11:00 and sets around 15:30. That means many ordinary rides, including mid-morning airport trips, happen in the dark. Roads in the capital area are cleared quickly, but the open road to Keflavík can be windy, and occasionally it is closed for a few hours in a storm. Professional drivers who drive it every day, with winter tyres, make a real difference. See Keflavík transfers in winter.

Is Reykjavík safe at night?

Iceland is generally considered one of the safest countries in the world, and Reykjavík at night feels relaxed. The normal city advice still applies: keep an eye on your belongings in busy bars, use licensed taxis or pre-booked cars, and dress for the weather when walking back. The biggest night-time risk for visitors is usually ice on the pavement, not crime.

Travelling with Drive Reykjavik

• Fixed price per car, not per person, agreed before you travel
• Economy (Tesla) for 1 to 4 passengers, Van (Mercedes Vito) for 5 to 7, minibus for 8 to 16 on request
• Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign and checks your flight before leaving
• 45 minutes of free waiting at the airport
• Pay 20% to book and the rest in the car by card or cash, or pay everything online
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up

We have been driving travellers around Iceland for ten years, and we go everywhere in the country, not only to Reykjavík. Our price is the same day and night, so a 04:00 pick-up costs the same as one at noon.

Can I get a taxi in Reykjavík at night?

Are taxis more expensive at night in Reykjavík?

How do I get from Reykjavík to Keflavík Airport at 4 am?

Is there transport from Keflavík Airport after midnight?

How late can I book a ride with Drive Reykjavik?

Is it safe to walk in Reykjavík at night?