Keflavik Airport Transfer: Flybus vs. Gray Line – My Surprising First-Hand Experience

June 13, 2025 Not Your Typical Tourist

Flybus and Grayline (Airport Direct)’s counters, Keflavik Airport

Landing in a new country often starts with that crucial airport transfer. Having navigated this many times across different nations, I always do my research. For transfers from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to Reykjavik downtown, two major players dominate the scene: Flybus (operate by Reykjavik Excursions) and Gray Line (also known as Airport Direct). My initial research heavily favored Flybus, seemingly the more established and popular option. However, my real-world experience offered some surprising, and useful, insights.

The Self-Service Snag (and a Win for Customer Service!)

After clearing immigration, we headed straight for the Flybus counter, opting for their convenient self-service machine. I believe we paid 5,199 ISK per person for a one-way ticket for Flybus+ (including shuttle drop-off). Unfortunately, immediately after purchasing our tickets, we saw a notice at the Flybus counter that the next bus wasn’t departing for what felt like an eternity – a frustrating wait that could have been over an hour, possibly even two. This was definitely not the quick start we’d hoped for after our flight.

Curiosity (and a strong desire to get moving!) led us to the Gray Line counter, conveniently located just next door. To our pleasant surprise, their next bus was departing in less than an hour! A quick walk back to Flybus, and the staff at their counter were incredibly understanding and kind, allowing us to cancel our transaction without any fuss. A big win for customer service and a sign of good faith from Flybus, despite the initial scheduling hiccup.

Gray Line’s Offer and Our Fortunate Forfeit

Back at Gray Line, the staff suggested we book a return fare for a discount (approximately 15% cheaper than two one-ways) – 4,490 ISK for a one-way ticket and 7,680 ISK for a return for Economy+ (including shuttle drop-off), and this is per person’s number. The only catch? We needed to provide our accommodation details for the return leg, which we hadn’t finalized due to our evolving itinerary. While they assured us it was possible to call in later with the details, we decided against the potential hassle and opted for a one-way ticket.

As it turned out, this decision was a complete stroke of luck! Towards the very end of our trip, after returning our Cozy Campers’ campervan and then our Blue rental car at the airport, we ended up staying at the Aurora Hotel, which was conveniently within walking distance of the airport terminal. We didn’t need that return transfer after all, saving us from a potentially wasted booking. Sometimes, flexibility pays off! Read more about how we planned an almost-stress free departure from Iceland here.

Familiar Faces and Unexplained Departures

When we boarded the Gray Line bus around noon (it was a short walk directly from the terminal exit), we had a pleasant surprise – the driver was one of the friendly staff members we’d just chatted with at the counter! It was nice to see a familiar face and exchange a few friendly words, making the start of our journey even more pleasant.

Interestingly, while we waited for our Gray Line bus to depart, we noticed a Flybus picking up passengers and leaving. It left us wondering what had happened with their earlier, seemingly long-delayed schedule, but at that point, we were just happy to be on our way.

The Transfer Process: More Than Just a Direct Ride

During my booking research, I’d noted that Gray Line operates from a different bus terminal than Flybus’s BSI terminal. However, I was assured this only amounted to about a five-minute difference in overall travel time. Our Gray Line bus made a stop at Bus Hostel, where passengers transferred to smaller connector shuttle buses (because larger buses are not allowed in the immediate downtown area) depending on their final accommodation destination. We did the same, continuing our journey to Kex Hostel. My husband, ever diligent, kept track of our route with Google Maps, ensuring we alighted at the correct stop close to Kex Hostel. So, be prepared for a two-part journey with these services.

Final Thoughts on Airport Transfers: Timing is Key

Now, reflecting on this experience, it’s clear both Flybus and Gray Line have their share of positive and negative reviews online. Ultimately, my takeaway is that it often comes down to a bit of luck and, more importantly, choosing the service with the closest immediate departure time. While Flybus aims to align departures with flight arrivals, our experience from Oslo via Icelandic Air clearly didn’t match up. Gray Line’s schedule, on the other hand, shows fairly consistent hourly bus departures from 7:15 AM until 5:15 PM, then 7:15 PM, 9:15 PM, 12:15 AM, and 1:15 AM. Both services typically take approximately 45 minutes to reach downtown Reykjavik.

Of course, unless your accommodation is near the BSI Bus Terminal (for Flybus) or at the Bus Hostel (for Gray Line), then it makes sense to go with the respective company – and that’ll also save you the shuttle bus fare by approximately 1,000 ISK one-way.

On forums, many suggest buying tickets online, but I think it’s best to buy it at the counter, especially during off-peak season (we were there in mid-October 2024, autumn entering winter season soon). This allows for greater flexibility. Imagine missing one bus, and you’ll be stuck waiting for an hour for the next!

I can’t speak to the airport-bound leg of the transfer, as our travel plans changed and we didn’t use it. However, many negative reviews online for both companies seem to stem from issues with the return journey – including long waits, buses not arriving or picking up at the expected time, missed stops from shuttle collection points, or drivers being unaware of waiting passengers. So, while these airport transfer services are definitely an affordable option, their overall reliability, especially for the return trip, might vary.

For those on a tighter budget with more time, a public bus option (Bus No. 55) run by Strætó is also available, albeit with a longer travel time, at a fare of ISK 2,400. For those considering a taxi, Hreyfill’s personal pick-up service costs ISK 22,500. Since this is presumably charged per car, it can be a viable option if you’re in a group of 3-4 people.