Iceland has no railways and no public passenger train service. The main road is Route 1, known as the Ring Road (Hringvegur), which loops around the island along the coast except for the Westfjords. Most travel around Iceland is by road, with domestic flights and ferries covering longer or more remote connections.

How Iceland's roads, flights, and ferries fit together

The Ring Road (Route 1) is about 1309 kilometres long. Iceland's road network totals about 12900 kilometres, of which about 7300 kilometres are paved. Use the Driving Distance Calculator to help plan your trip. If the roads are how you intend to travel, car rental partners are listed separately.

Getting between Keflavik Airport and Reykjavik

Keflavik Airport (KEF) is Iceland's main international airport and lies about 50 kilometres (31 miles) from Reykjavik. Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV) is a separate airport close to the city centre and handles scheduled domestic flights. The Flybus connects Keflavik Airport with the BSI bus terminal in Reykjavik in about 45 minutes, with departures scheduled in connection with flight arrivals.

Flying domestic to skip the longest drives

Scheduled domestic flights from Reykjavik Domestic Airport serve Akureyri, Egilsstadir, Isafjordur, and Vestmannaeyjar. Icelandair operates the main scheduled domestic routes from Reykjavik, while Norlandair serves smaller and more remote destinations. The flight from Reykjavik to Vestmannaeyjar takes about 20 minutes. Flying to Isafjordur takes about 45 minutes, compared with a drive of around 6 hours. Flying to Egilsstadir takes about 1 hour, compared with a drive of 9 to 10 hours.

Taking long-distance and highland buses

Straeto runs long-distance buses that operate from the Mjodd terminal in Reykjavik and serve most towns around the country. Highland bus routes reach interior destinations in summer.

Crossing to the islands by ferry

The Herjolfur ferry connects Landeyjahofn on the south coast with Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) in about 35 minutes. The Baldur ferry crosses Breidafjordur between Stykkisholmur and Brjanslaekur in about 2.5 hours, sometimes stopping at Flatey Island. Ferries also connect the north coast to the islands of Grimsey and Hrisey, departing from Dalvik and Arskogssandur.

Comparing car-free day tours from Reykjavik

You can compare Reykjavik tours to see the current options.