Part of our Iceland guide.
4 places and guides from our Iceland coverage, gathered into one page.
Related travel guides: What Does The Icelandair Stopover Include?, Reykjavik Travel Guide, Hiking And The Outdoors In Iceland, EWR To JFK To LGA: Best Ways To Transfer Between NYC Airports, and A Trip To The Penis Museum In Iceland We Cannot Unsee.
How To Get From Reykjavik Airport To Loft HI Hostel
Keflavik Airport (KEF) is Iceland's main international gateway, located approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Reykjavik. The Airport Direct shuttle takes about 45 minutes and drops you at the BSÍ bus terminal, a 10-minute walk from the hostel. Public bus route 55 runs from the airport to Mjódd, where you transfer to bus 1 or 3 toward Hlemmur Square; a single ticket costs around 2,380 ISK (as of 2023). Taxis cost roughly 18,000–22,000 ISK and take 40–50 minutes. Rental cars are available at the airport; the drive is via Route 41, then follow signs to the city center.
Lakagigar Craters: A Mysterious Drive
The Lakagigar Craters, also known as the Laki Craters, were formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. The drive from Reykjavik takes about 3.5 hours along the Ring Road, then a turn onto F-road 206. The road is rough and requires a 4x4 vehicle, especially after rain. Along the way you will cross small rivers and pass lava fields dotted with moss. The craters themselves stretch for 25 kilometers along a fissure; the main parking area is at the base of the trail. Allow at least two hours to walk the marked path to the top of the largest crater. This area is part of Vatnajökull National Park.
How To Get From KEF To Hlemmur Square Hostel
The Airport Direct shuttle stops at Hlemmur Square directly; the journey takes 45 minutes and costs 3,299 ISK one way (2024 price). The public bus option uses route 55 to Mjódd, then bus 1 to Hlemmur; total fare is 2,380 ISK. A taxi from KEF to Hlemmur Square costs approximately 18,000–20,000 ISK and takes 40 minutes. Renting a car gives you flexibility for exploring beyond Reykjavik; all major agencies have desks at the airport. Hlemmur Square is a central hub for city buses.
Thjorsardalur Valley Drive
Thjorsardalur Valley, located in southern Iceland, is a scenic drive with ancient ruins. The drive from Reykjavik takes about 1.5 hours on Route 1, then 30 minutes on a gravel road. Along the way you will see the ruins of Stöng, a Viking-age farm buried by ash from the Hekla eruption in 1104. The valley also contains the 30-meter-high Þjófafoss waterfall and the Hjálparfoss double waterfall. The road is passable in a regular car during summer, but check road.is for conditions. The valley has marked trails leading to the base of the waterfalls and around the archaeological site.
