Keflavík

Keflavík (pronounce it "kep-la-vik") is a town in Southwest Iceland that is home to the country's international airport. The population was approximately 16,000 in 2018, before further municipality mergers.

Get in

By plane

• 1 Keflavík International Airport (Keflavíkurflugvöllur KEF ^IATA). The most important point of entry to Iceland from abroad. The town of Keflavik is 5 km (3.1 mi) away, easily accessible from the airport. Simply follow signs indicating "Keflavik" or take the public bus (2400 kr as of Nov 2024); the bus stop is just outside the terminal (ask the information desk). Taxis from the airport to Keflavik centre are expensive and can range from 2,200 kr to 2,700 kr. It is possible to walk from the centre back to the airport via a trail that brings you along the perimeter fence of the airport.  

By bus

Bus 55 takes you to Keflavík from BSÍ in Reykjavík, and towns along the route like Kópavogur and Hafnarfjörður (costs 2400 kr as of Nov 2024). There are a few buses in the morning, afternoon and early evening. Buses in the late morning and late evening requires a transfer in Hafnarfjörður. See the route planner on the website of the Reykjavík area public bus service Strætó for exact schedules and route.

Get around

The town is small and easily explored on foot.

See

Keflavik from the harbour

Whale watching tours leave from the harbour. These tours generally last about 3 hours and see dolphins, orca, minke and humpback whales. There is also a festival of lights in late August. Numerous walking paths lead out from town, including a stone path along the water that meanders several miles past seabirds to the lighthouse on the point.

Do

• Football: Keflavík play soccer in 1. deild karla, the second tier. Their home ground Keflavíkurvöllur (capacity 5200) is central in town. The playing season is Apr–Nov.

Buy

• 1 Bónus, Fitjum, 260 Reykjanesbæ. M–Th 11:00–18:30, F 10:00–19:30, Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 12:00–18:00. Supermarket. (updated Mar 2019)

Eat

• 1 Rain, Hafnargata 19 (Central Keflavik), ☏ +354 421 4601. 11:00-01:00. Restaurant and bar by the seaside with beautiful view over the ocean. They profess to serve fine food and wine. 

Sleep

There is a selection of hotels.

• 1 Guesthouse 1x6, Vesturbraut 3 (in the old cultural part of Keflavík overlooking the ocean), ☏ +354 857 1589, booking@1×6.is. Check-in: 16:00, check-out: 11:00. Charming and unique guesthouse created by a local wood sculptor. Offers a giant hot tub in the garden and a breakfast with both homemade and organic products. Free Wi-Fi. Free pick-up from flights for air passengers, free drop off for departing air passengers. No pick-up from car rental. 20,000 kr. (updated Aug 2017)
• 2 Hotel Keflavik. Offers a full gym, Wi-Fi, a restaurant/bar, and free transfers to the airport. The hotel will pay for the taxi ride to the airport when you leave, but not from the airport on your day of arrival (costs approx 2500 kr). Rooms are clean and comfortable, and the staff are friendly and helpful. Cheaper rates can be obtained via internet booking on the hotel's web site. 12,480 kr (winter) and 16,640 kr (summer) when booked online. 

Go next

• Blue Lagoon
• Most people landing at KEF are headed towards Reykjavik