In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Reykjavik is easy without a car. Strætó runs the yellow city buses to the suburbs, museums and pools. A single adult ride costs 690 ISK, whether you tap a contactless card or phone on the validator or buy the ticket in the Klappið app; an app ticket is valid for 75 minutes. Fares cap at three rides a day (2,070 ISK) or nine a week. Children aged 11 and under ride free. The Reykjavik City Card includes unlimited bus travel. Or book a tour: explore sights across the capital at your own pace with multilingual audio commentary by booking GetYourGuide’s Reykjavik City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tourad.
The historic downtown (Miðborg, postal district 101) fits inside a 15 to 20-minute walk. You need a bus for Árbær Open Air Museum, Laugardalslaug and the other pools outside the centre.
A Strætó bus on Vonarstræti. Photo: Raf24~commonswiki, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Strætó bus fares and ticketing systems
Strætó runs the buses across the capital area, which takes in Reykjavik, Kópavogur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Mosfellsbær and Seltjarnarnes. Fares are the same across the area.
| Ticket | Price | Where to buy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult single | 690 ISK | Contactless card or phone on the validator, or the Klappið app | App tickets are valid for 75 minutes |
| Ages 12–17 and 67+ | 345 ISK | Klappið app or Klapp card | Half price |
| Children aged 11 and under | Free | No ticket needed | |
| Night bus single | 690 ISK | As above | |
| Fare cap | 3 rides a day or 9 a week at the adult fare | Applied automatically | 2,070 ISK a day at most |
| Klapp ten (10 rides) | 6,900 ISK | Paper card | Cannot be topped up |
| 30-day adult pass | 12,000 ISK | Klappið app | |
| Klapp card | 1,000 ISK | Top up online | Reusable |
| Reykjavik City Card | Included | Collect the physical card | Unlimited city bus travel; not route 55 |
Paying by contactless card
You do not need an app or a transit card. Tap a Visa or Mastercard, or a phone wallet, on the validator as you board. Strætó’s fare cap means you never pay more than three adult fares a day or nine a week: a day of buses tops out at 2,070 ISK.
The inside of a Strætó bus. Photo: Otto Karikoski, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Klapp mobile app
If you are travelling with a 12 to 17-year-old or qualify for the senior fare, use the Klappið app (iOS and Android). It sells single tickets and 30-day passes, plans routes and shows live bus positions. Activate the ticket and hold the code on your screen to the scanner as you board.
Essential city bus routes for travellers
Strætó routes converge at major central transit hubs, notably Lækjartorg (central square), Hlemmur (eastern shopping district), and BSÍ Bus Terminal (regional transport terminal).
- Route 1: Operates from central Reykjavik (Hlemmur and Lækjartorg) south through Kópavogur and Garðabær to the historic coastal town of Hafnarfjörður (roughly 25 minutes).
- Route 3: Connects the Grandi creative harbour quarter with City Hall, Lake Tjörnin, and eastern residential districts.
- Route 4: The essential route for visiting Sky Lagoon: departs central Lækjartorg and Hlemmur to Hamraborg station in Kópavogur, where passengers transfer to local route 35 or 36 to Bakkabraut.
- Route 14: Connects the Old Harbour and Grandi with downtown, continuing east directly to the recreational valley of Laugardalur (home to Laugardalslaug pool and the Botanic Garden).
- Route 55 (Airport Regional Bus): Runs between Keflavík Airport and BSÍ Bus Terminal at a regional fare, not the city fare. It is not covered by the City Card; see Keflavik airport to Reykjavik.
Weekend night buses (Næturstrætó)
On Friday night / Saturday morning and Saturday night / Sunday morning, Strætó operates five dedicated night bus routes (numbered 101, 103, 104, 105, and 106) departing from downtown Lækjartorg between 01:20 and 03:45. A night bus single costs 690 ISK. Note that night buses run one-way only outward from downtown into surrounding suburban districts to transport revellers home; they do not carry passengers back toward the city centre.
Tour options and sightseeing buses
Combining public transit with guided sightseeing buses provides structured audio commentary while navigating between spread-out attractions.
Reykjavík City Cardad
From 6,000 ISK · 4.4 stars from 1,248 reviews · 24–72 hours · Mobile voucher
Unlimited Strætó city buses, entry to 17 museums, all eight municipal pools and the Viðey ferry.
Reykjavik: City Sightseeing Hop-on/Hop-off Bus Tourad
From 6,400 ISK · 4.0 stars from 1,537 reviews · 24 hours · Audio guide in 8 languages
A hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus with recorded commentary and unlimited boardings for 24 hours.
Reykjavik: Hop-on/hop-off bus and Perlan Museum entry ticketad
From 10,900 ISK · 4.4 stars from 831 reviews · 24 hours · Hop-on bus + Wonders of Iceland
A 24-hour hop-on hop-off pass with admission to Perlan’s ice cave, planetarium show and observation deck.
Taxis, ride-hailing and e-scooters
Licensed taxi fleets
Because multinational ride-hailing apps such as Uber, Lyft, and Bolt do not operate in Iceland, all taxi services are provided by regulated, licensed taxi companies:
- Hreyfill: The capital’s largest fleet (+354 588 5522). Order by phone or via the Hreyfill smartphone app.
- BSR (Taxi Reykjavik): +354 561 0000. Operating since 1921.
Taxis run on meters, with higher rates in the evening, at night and at weekends. Ask the driver for an estimate for longer rides. All taxis accept contactless cards.
Shared electric scooters (Hopp & Zolo)
Dockless electric scooters (rafskútur) are common in the centre. Hopp is the main operator: unlock a scooter in the app, which charges an unlocking fee plus a rate per minute. Do not ride on pavements where there is a cycle path. The Hopp app can also book licensed taxis.
The terminal at Reykjavik domestic airport. Photo: CS, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.
Domestic air travel: Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV)
Travellers should not confuse Keflavík International Airport (KEF), situated 50 kilometres away on the Reykjanes peninsula, with Reykjavik Domestic Airport (Reykjavíkurflugvöllur, RKV).
Located in the Vatnsmýri district just two kilometres south of downtown (a 20-minute walk from Hallgrímskirkja or 5 minutes by taxi), RKV handles domestic passenger flights operated by Icelandair to regional destinations including Akureyri in the north, Egilsstaðir in the east, and Ísafjörður in the Westfjords, as well as seasonal flights to Greenland.
Downtown parking zones and payment apps
Paid parking applies in the central streets, split into colour-coded zones. The most central zone costs the most and has a time limit. Check the sign on your street for the current rate and hours.
How to pay for parking
- Payment Apps: Download the Parka app (widely used across Iceland for city streets and national park car parks) or EasyPark. Enter your vehicle registration plate and credit card details, then start and stop parking sessions via GPS.
- Pay-and-Display Terminals: On-street automated solar kiosks accept credit cards and chip-and-PIN cards. Enter your licence plate number at the keypad; there is no need to display a paper ticket inside your windscreen.
- Parking Garages (Bílahús): Secure underground multi-storey parking garages operate downtown beneath Harpa, City Hall (Ráðhús), Hafnartorg, and Traðarkot, charged by the hour.
For accommodation advice near major transport hubs, review our neighbourhood guide on where to stay in Reykjavik and explore the Reykjavik travel guide.
Common questions
How do you pay for bus fares in Reykjavik?
You can pay directly on board by tapping a contactless Visa or Mastercard or smartphone wallet (Apple Pay, Google Pay) against the validator at the front door (690 ISK adult single). You can also buy the same 690 ISK ticket in the Klappið app, use a reloadable Klapp card (1,000 ISK), or show a Reykjavik City Card.
Does Reykjavik have an underground metro, tram, or train network?
No. Reykjavik has no passenger trains, trams, or subways. Urban public transit relies exclusively on the fleet of bright yellow municipal Strætó buses, shared e-scooters (Hopp), and licensed taxis.
Is the bus system covered by the Reykjavik City Card?
Yes. A Reykjavik City Card covers unlimited Strætó city bus travel in the capital area. Route 55 to Keflavík Airport is not covered.
How do parking zones and payments work in central Reykjavik?
Downtown parking is divided into colour-coded paid zones, with the most central streets costing the most and carrying a time limit. Pay at the on-street machines or in a parking app such as Parka or EasyPark, and read the zone sign on your street for the current rate.
