Keflavík Airport VS Reykjavík Airport: The Traveller’s Guide

If you’re getting ready to book your flight to Iceland, you may be wondering if you should fly into Keflavík Airport, sometimes also called KEF airport, or Reykjavík Airport, also called RKV airport.

Your first instinct may just be to book a flight right into Reykjavík, because, after all, it’s Iceland’s capital city and many travellers end up in Reykjavík at some point during their trips anyway. However, even if you do plan on spending some time in Reykjavík during your visit, there are a lot of reasons why you might choose to fly into Keflavík instead.  

Here's what you need to know about both KEF airport and RKV airport, so you can ensure that you book the right flights for your trip itinerary, timeline and travel budget — as well as some tips regarding which of the two airports is best for renting a vehicle.

The Difference Between Keflavík and Reykjavík Airports

Keflavík International Airport (KEF): Iceland’s Global Gateway

Keflavík Airport is Iceland’s primary international airport. If you’re travelling into Iceland from another country, then you will have to fly into Keflavík. You won’t receive any other option when you’re booking your flights from your home country.

While Keflavík may be about 45 minutes and 50 kilometres southwest of Reykjavík, though, it does have a lot to offer travellers, being that it is an international travel hub.

The airport is very well maintained, modern and outfitted with everything you could need to make your journey easier. You’ll find on-site dining, duty-free shopping so you can pick up your Iceland souvenirs, and air service from a wealth of international and domestic airlines.

Plus, since so many travellers pass through Keflavík Airport, this is also where you’ll find some of the big car rental companies. As such, if you’re renting a car in Iceland, landing in Keflavík makes it easy for you to grab your luggage, grab your car rental, and then head out on your Iceland adventure.

_{Photo by MBL}

Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV): The Local Hub

In contrast, while the Reykjavík airport is located in Iceland’s capital, it’s not the country’s primary airport and it does not receive much international service, except for a few flights to and from nearby Greenland. As such, you won’t get this airport as an option to fly into, if you’re flying directly into Iceland from any other country.

However, on the small side and convenient, Reykjavík Airport is a great option if you want to take domestic flights throughout the rest of Iceland. If you want to quickly get to other popular cities around the island, like Akureyri in the north, without driving, then you can fly out of RKV airport.

So, in short, if you’re booking Iceland flights, if you’re coming from abroad, you’ll land at Keflavík Airport first. If you’re booking Iceland flights and flying within the country only, you can use the Reykjavík airport.

_{Photo by Paul Bogard}

Why You Should Rent a Car at Keflavík Airport

You’ll have to decide between Keflavík and Reykjavík in one other situation as well: when you decide where to pick up your rental car. Do you rent a car at Keflavík Airport, where you’ll land after your flight? Or do you go on to Reykjavík and pick up a rental car once you get into the city?

In this instance as well, it’s typically best to go with Keflavík. Renting your car at Keflavík Airport comes with numerous benefits, all of which can get your trip off on the right foot.

1. 24/7 Service — No Waiting Around

First and foremost, because of the steady stream of international travellers going through the Keflavík airport, car rental providers either are open 24/7 or they offer 24/7 self-service. As such, if you land in Keflavík and want to pick up your vehicle right away, no matter the time of day, you’ll be able to do so. There’s no waiting for the car rental office to open up, if you arrived late at night.

Additionally, since you can pick up your car immediately, you also cut out the waiting that you’d have to do, getting into Reykjavík via a transfer.  

2. A Much Bigger Car Selection

Along these same lines, because of the greater demand in Keflavík and the broader number of car rental providers, you’ll find that your options of car rentals, in terms of just vehicle type, are vastly more numerous than what you’d get in Reykjavík. 

Whether you want to book a compact car for a budget-friendly solo trip, you need an SUV that can fit the entire family, or you want a 4x4 vehicle to take on the Icelandic Highlands, you can find it.

3. Start Your Adventure Straight Away

You didn’t come to Iceland to wait around for a rental car, to take the transfer to Reykjavík, and to spend all this time waiting, waiting, waiting. You came to have an adventure — and when you pick up your rental car in Keflavík, you can get on the road right as soon as you arrive. In fact, there are tons of interesting things to do and see near Keflavík, without travelling very far at all.

With a rental car from KEF airport, you can be at some of Iceland’s top tourist sites in mere minutes. From the Blue Lagoon to the Reykjanes Peninsula to the Guunuhver Hot Springs, Iceland adventures are within easy reach.

4. Limited Transport Options to Reykjavík

Then, there’s just the issue that, if you want to go pick up your rental car from Reykjavík, you’re going to have a bit of a tough time getting from the Keflavík airport to the city. 

Iceland is notoriously short on public transportation. You won’t be able to take a train, tram, or subway or underground from Keflavík to Reykjavík. The only way to get to Reykjavík is driving, which means you’ll have to take either a taxi or the airport shuttle bus, if you don’t have your own rental car.

Both of these options are costly, and both take about an hour to travel between Keflavík Airport and downtown Reykjavík.

• Airport shuttle bus: Approximately €30/$32 per person.
• Taxi: Approximately €150/$160 one-way

In comparison, you could just rent your car directly at Keflavík Airport, starting at a fee of €60/$65 per day, and get on your way as soon as you arrive.

Price Comparison: Transport between Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport

Transportation Type	Price for 2 People (One Way)
Airport shuttle bus (Flybus or similar)	€60/$64
Taxi (regular car)	€150/$160
Rental Car (regular car)	€60/$65 for the entire day

5. Better for Families

When you travel to Iceland with the family, you want to ensure that every part of the travel experience is as convenient and stress-free as possible, while also ensuring that the kiddos are safe at every step along the way. 

Unfortunately, if you choose to take the airport shuttle into Reykjavík to pick up your rental car, you’ll have to deal with a big safety hazard: The airport shuttles aren’t equipped with child car seats. So, if you didn’t bring your own — which can be a real pain, if you’ve ever tried flying with a car seat in tow — you’re out of luck.

In contrast, when you book a rental car and plan to pick it up in Keflavík, you can request that it come equipped with a children’s car seat, so everyone’s safe and comfortable, from the start.

6. It’s Usually Cheaper Overall

Lastly, renting a car at the KEF airport is just cheaper overall.

Yes, in your travel experiences, you may have noticed that renting a car at the airport, in many destinations, is often more expensive than if you were to rent a car elsewhere in the city. That’s not the case in Iceland. This is because Iceland charges no airport tax on car rentals.

So, when you look at the cost of the rental itself, as well as the money you’ll pay a shuttle or taxi to get into Reykjavík, it’s just more affordable and budget-friendly to rent your car in Keflavík.

When It Makes Sense to Rent a Car in Reykjavík Instead

For all the good reasons to rent a car at KEF airport, though, there are some times when renting a car at RKV airport does still make the most sense.

For example, say that you’re planning to spend the first few days of your trip in Reykjavík, and you won’t actually need a rental car until later on in your trip. In that case, it would make sense to take the shuttle or a taxi from Keflavík to your Reykjavík hotel. Then, you can explore the city on foot for a few days, without worrying about paying for parking for your rental car. When you’re ready to explore further afield, that would be the time to go to the RKV airport and get a car there.

Or, maybe you’re planning on doing some guided tours leaving from Reykjavík initially, while doing some self-driving days later. Again, in that case, you’d enjoy your guided tours, as they would provide all the transportation you’d need. Then, when you’re ready to drive yourself around, you can go to RKV airport and pick up your rental.

Or, maybe even you plan on flying from the RKV airport to some other part of Iceland. In that case, wait to get a rental car until you’re actually in the other destination.

Whatever your reason for waiting to rent a car at the Reykjavík airport, just keep in mind that this airport does have more limited inventory, as well as hours, so you’ll need to plan accordingly, booking in advance and ensuring you can pick up your rental car when the offices are open.

Facilities and Amenities: KEF vs RKV

When comparing the Keflavík airport to the Reykjavík airport, it can help to take a broader look at the two airports’ unique facilities and amenities.

Keflavík Airport provides international flights, public transportation via taxis and shuttles in addition to a wide selection of rental cars available 24/7, and on-site amenities like duty-free shopping and dining.

Meanwhile, Reykjavík Airport, while offering a very convenient location right in the city centre, only offers domestic flights and flights to Greenland, as well as a limited fleet of rental cars, only available during normal business hours. Additionally, you won’t find much in the way of amenities here, just a small café and other basic services.

Keflavík vs Reykjavík Airport: Key Differences Explained

Feature	Keflavík Airport (KEF)	Reykjavík Airport (RKV)
Flight Type	International	Domestic & Greenland
Location	45 min driving from Reykjavík	In Reykjavík city centre
Transport Links	Shuttle, taxi, rental car	City buses, taxi
Car Rental Availability	Wide selection, 24/7 service	Limited fleet, daytime only
Facilities	Duty-free, restaurants and lounges	Small café, basic services

Common Mistakes Travellers Make About Reykjavík Airports

You’ve probably already caught on to some of the most common mistakes that travellers are likely to make when booking travel through either one of Iceland’s two main airports. Here are the most common mistakes that we see, so you can be sure to avoid them:

1. Confusing KEF and RKV: Remember, these are two airports and they’re vastly different, and located 45 minutes away from one another. You need to ensure you know exactly which airport you’re flying into, as well as exactly which airport you’ve booked your rental car at.
2. Assuming you can fly internationally from Reykjavík: As mentioned, the only international flights offered from RKV airport are limited flights to and from Greenland.
3. Underestimating transport costs: If you want to take a transport service, like a taxi service or shuttle, from Keflavík to Reykjavík, keep in mind that it will cost you a minimum of €30/$32 per person.
4. Forgetting to pre-book child seats or insurance: At the time of booking, if you know you’ll need a children’s car seat, be sure to note that on your booking confirmation, as well as take a look at what insurance comes with your rental, and what additional insurance you might want to purchase on top of the included coverage.
5. Not checking opening hours: If you’re planning on picking up your rental car in Reykjavík, note that the offices there have limited hours. If you want the flexibility of 24/7 self-service pick-up for your rental car, you need to pick up your car rental in Keflavík.

Tips for a Smooth Car Rental Experience at Keflavík Airport

So you’ve decided you’ll definitely pick up your rental car at Keflavík Airport? Great! Make sure that you follow these final tips for the smoothest rental experience possible.

• Book early: While you’ll find a broad selection of inventory available at Keflavík Airport, it’s still important to book your rental car as soon as you know your travel dates. Demand for certain vehicles can be high at certain times of the year. Demand is overall high in the summer, when lots of travellers are coming to Iceland, and demand for 4x4 vehicles is particularly high in the winter, when 4x4s are necessary for Iceland winter travel.
• Use a self-service option: If you’re landing late at night, or if there’s even the slight chance your flight could be delayed due to, say, winter weather, make sure your rental car provider offers a self-service option, so you can pick up your rental car regardless of the hour.
• Choose the right insurance: Consider purchasing extra insurance, such as coverage for gravel, sand or wind damage. All of these natural elements can damage your rental car during an Iceland road trip — but they don’t need to damage your wallet.
• Inspect and photograph: Always inspect and photograph your rental car yourself, at the time of car pickup, just so you have a record of the condition it was in, at the time.
• Plan your itinerary: Make sure you know where you’re going, right after you pick up your rental car. Plan your Iceland itinerary well in advance of your arrival. We have some great recommended road trip itineraries for trips of various lengths, including for five day Iceland road trips, seven day Iceland road trips and 10 day Iceland road trips.

Renting a Car from Lava Car Rental at Keflavík Airport

Choose Lava Car Rental at Keflavík Airport for your Iceland rental car. Locally owned and operated, with a free airport shuttle to our office, just five minutes away, and 24/7 self-service pick up, we make sure that you can get on the road, fast.

Plus, with Lava Car Rental…

• Essential insurance is included in every rental, for no extra fee.
• Debit cards are accepted, so you don’t need to provide a credit card.
• There are no young driver fees, so you won’t pay extra just because you’re younger.
• Our friendly, local team is here to help you, every step of the way.
• Great reviews on Trustpilot and Google assure you that we’re a team you can trust.

Rent Your Car at Keflavík Airport with Lava Car Rental

Pick the Correct Airport to Begin Your Iceland Trip

Recap: When to Rent a Car: Keflavík vs Reykjavík Airport

Situation	Keflavík Airport (KEF)	Reykjavík Airport (RKV)
Arriving from abroad	✅ Only option for international flights — rent your car right after landing.	❌ No international flights (except to Greenland).
Starting your road trip immediately	✅ Pick up your car as soon as you arrive and hit the road without delay.	❌ Requires transfer from KEF and extra waiting time.
Rental availability	✅ Large fleet, 24/7 service and self-service options	❌ Smaller selection, limited office hours.
Budget-friendly choice	✅ Large fleet, 24/7 service and self-service options.	❌ Added costs for shuttles (€60) or taxis (€150).
Travelling with family	✅ No airport tax on rentals and no need to pay for transfers.	❌ Airport shuttles have no child seats; less convenient.
Vehicle options	✅ Child seats available on request — safe and easy from the start.	❌ Limited choice, fewer vehicle types.
Convenience and flexibility	✅ 24/7 pick-up, easy access, located close to major attractions like the Blue Lagoon.	❌ Daytime-only service, better for short local trips.
Staying in Reykjavík first	❌ Not ideal if you’re spending several days in the city before driving.	✅ Good choice if you’ll explore Reykjavík on foot first.
Domestic flights within Iceland	❌ Not suitable — serves only international routes.	✅ Perfect if you’re flying domestically to Akureyri or Egilsstaðir.
Overall best for	✅ Most travellers — easy, affordable and adventure-ready from the moment you land.	❌ Limited use — best only for domestic travellers or later car pick-up.

At the end of the day, the choice of whether to fly into Keflavík or Reykjavík will all be determined by where you’re coming from. If you’re flying into Iceland on an international flight, you’ll automatically go to Keflavík.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t pick up your rental car at the Reykjavík Airport, though. However, this is only the best choice in certain circumstances, as picking up a rental right when you arrive in Keflavík is convenient, budget-friendly and fast.