Keflavík

Reykjanes fishing town beside Iceland’s international airport, often paired with Blue Lagoon stopovers

Keflavík is the town most visitors to Iceland see first — Keflavík International Airport, which handles most of the country's international flights, is on the Reykjanes Peninsula just outside town. Keflavík itself is a fishing and service town of about 15,000 people, unpretentious and functional.

The peninsula's main draw for short-stay visitors is the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, about 20 km from the airport. The milky-blue silica-rich water is warm year-round and has become one of Iceland's signature tourist experiences — book well in advance as it gets crowded. The spa is conveniently located between the airport and Reykjavik, making it easy to stop on the way in or out.

Keflavík is connected to Reykjavik by the Flybus and regular buses (about 45 minutes). Most visitors push on to the capital, but those who pause will find more than they expect. The Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll is a genuine surprise — a serious, well-produced museum about Iceland's outsized pop music legacy, from the 1960s US military base days through Bjork and Sigur Rós, and admission is free. The Viking World Museum houses a full-scale replica Viking longship that actually crossed the Atlantic in 2000. Out at the tip of the peninsula, the Garðskagi Lighthouses offer dramatic coastal views and excellent birdwatching just 15 minutes from the airport.

Guide

Getting There

Keflavik International Airport (KEF) handles virtually all international flights to Iceland and is one of the most important transit hubs in the North Atlantic. The airport is technically in the municipality of Reykjanesbær, immediately adjacent to Keflavik.

The Flybus (operated by Reykjavik Excursions) and Airport Direct run regular coach services to Reykjavik's BSÍ bus terminal, with journey times of about 45 minutes. Book in advance, though walk-up seats are usually available. Taxis to Reykjavik cost around 15,000–18,000 ISK (roughly €100) and make sense if you are a group. Local buses also connect the airport to Keflavik town centre.

The Blue Lagoon is 20 km from the airport via direct bus service — a convenient option on arrival or departure. Many visitors book a Blue Lagoon session timed to their flight.

Guide

Things to Do

Keflavik is more a gateway than a destination, but the Reykjanes Peninsula around it has genuine attractions worth stopping for. The Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll is the most surprising — a serious, well-produced museum about Iceland's outsized contribution to popular music, from the 1960s US military base era through Bjork and Sigur Rós. The Viking World Museum covers the Norse settlement of Iceland with a full-scale replica longship as its centrepiece.

Out on the peninsula tip, the Garðskagi Lighthouses at Garður are among the most atmospheric in Iceland — two towers, one from 1897, the other from 1944, standing at the edge of the land where the sea stretches unbroken to Greenland. The birdwatching around the lighthouse in spring and autumn is excellent: eiders, puffins, and a stream of migrant waders working the shoreline.

The Blue Lagoon is well covered under the Reykjanes Peninsula page. It is 20 km from Keflavik and bookable directly; most visitors pass through it on the way to or from the airport.