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Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik

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Reykjavik Local time

Weather in Reykjavik
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Iceland

Travel to Reykjavik

Flying to Reykjavik

Airlines offering flights to Reykjavik include Iceland Express, Icelandair. Flights from the UK take around three hours. Cheap flights to Reykjavik are available during the winter and off peak months, when demand is much lower.

Flight times: 

From London - 3 hours; New York - 5 hours 30 minutes; Los Angeles -11 hours 30 minutes; Toronto - 7 hours 30 minutes.

Travel by road

Summary:

Traffic in Reykjavik drives on the right and the legal driving age in Iceland is 18 years. The use of headlights at all times of the day and night and fastening seat belts are obligatory legal requirements. Streets in towns are generally asphalt and have excellent surfaces. However, outside towns, the roads are often gravelled, so care must be taken. The speed limit is 50kph (31mph) in urban areas, 80kph (50mph) on unpaved roads and 90kph (56mph) on paved roads.

Drivers must carry the vehicle's registration, proof of international insurance (i.e. a Green Card), plus a valid driving licence (foreign licences are valid for visitors to Iceland).

Information on road conditions is available from the Public Roads Administration (tel: 522 1000 or 1777; www.vegagerdin.is). The Icelandic Automobile Association (FÍB) (tel: 414 9999; www.fib.is) provides more information.

Emergency breakdown service:

FÍB (tel: 511 2112).

Routes:

A 1,351km (840 mile) ring road (Highway 1) traces Iceland's entire coastline (the interior is largely inaccessible). The main routes to Reykjavik are along this road from the east or the west.

Driving times:

From Akureyri - 6 hours; Höfn - 9 hours; Isafjördur - 10 hours.

Coaches:

The central bus station in Reykjavik, at Vatnsmýrarvegi 10, near Reykjavik City Airport, is run by BSÍ Travel (tel: 562 1011; www.bsi.is), which offers an extensive bus service to most parts of the country, as well as a large number of organised bus tours. Reservations are not usually necessary and tickets can be purchased at the bus station or from the driver.

Travel by rail

Services:

There is no rail system in Iceland.

Travel over water

Summary:

Gamla Höfnin (Old Harbour) and Sundahöfn are the two main harbours. They are known collectively as the Reykjavik Harbour and governed by the Port of Reykjavik. There are no passenger facilities available, as the harbour caters exclusively for cargo ships.

Ferry services:

Direct sea journeys to Reykjavik can be made with the ferry company Smyril Line (tel: +298 345 900; www.smyril-line.com). Ships sail weekly between the harbour in Reykjavik and Hanstholm and Esbjerg in Denmark.

Nearest port:

Reykjavik.

Transport to the city:

Reykjavik Harbour is situated in northeast Reykjavik, within walking distance of the city centre.

Transfer distance:

2.8km (1.7 miles).

Transfer time:

10 minutes.

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