Getting Around Iceland at Christmas and New Year: Airport Transfers, Roads and Day Trips

Keflavík Airport to Reykjavík: Your First Decision

Keflavík Airport sits on the Reykjanes peninsula, roughly 50 km southwest of central Reykjavík. The drive takes about 45 minutes in good conditions; in a December snow shower, allow an hour and a half. The Flybus airport coach meets most scheduled arrivals and runs to BSÍ terminal near Hlemmur, with onward connections to many hotels; it is the simplest choice if you land late or alone. A pre-booked private transfer costs more but takes you door to door, which matters with luggage in the dark — sunset in late December falls around 15:40.

If you plan day trips, a rental car seems tempting, but December and January weather on Route 41 and the Ring Road can close roads with little warning. Rental companies fit winter tyres, yet many travellers underestimate Reykjanes winds. My recommendation: book a Flybus or private transfer for arrival and departure, and rent a car only for the days you genuinely need one. Book transfers well before December — holiday seats on scheduled coaches fill up, and the days around 24, 25 and 31 December have reduced timetables.

Reykjavík at the Holidays: What Moves, What Stops

Central Reykjavík is compact and walkable: from Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur to Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa and the old harbour is a 20-minute stroll end to end. Strætó city buses run reduced schedules on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January, and some routes stop entirely for part of those days. Taxis are scarce and expensive on New Year's Eve, when the city fills with bonfires and fireworks. If your hotel is in the 101, 105 or 107 postcodes, you can walk to most of the action and skip transport worries.

Museums and shops keep shorter hours across the holiday week; many close on 25 December and reopen on 26 December. Grocery chains such as Bónus and Krónan also run restricted hours, so plan food shopping before the 24th. Between Christmas and New Year, Reykjavík is quieter than in summer but restaurants need reserving. If you are still deciding on a base, our guide to where to stay and what to book first for Christmas and New Year in Iceland covers neighbourhoods and room types, while our piece on the Keflavík to Reykjavík transfer in winter explains coach and taxi options in more detail.

Day Trips That Work in Winter — and Ones to Skip

The Golden Circle — Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss — is the most reliable winter day trip from Reykjavík, about eight to nine hours by coach. Organised tours handle the driving, and operators know which sections of Route 36 close in bad weather. The South Coast to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and the black sand at Reynisfjara is a longer day, roughly ten to twelve hours, with limited daylight; it suits confident travellers who do not mind a pre-dawn start. Book either well ahead for the holiday week, as seats go quickly.

Skip the highland interior and the Westfjords in late December; roads there close or become genuinely hazardous, and many services shut. A self-drive Snæfellsnes loop is possible in fine weather but needs a flexible schedule. Instead, use the short daylight for the Reykjanes peninsula — Gunnuhver, the bridge between continents and Kleifarvatn — which is close to the airport and easy to combine with a late arrival or early departure. Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon slots also sell out over the holidays, so reserve those before you fly.

What to Book Early, and When

The last week of December is the busiest winter window in Iceland. Book airport transfers, rental cars and any guided day trips as soon as your flights are confirmed — ideally by early autumn. New Year's Eve in Reykjavík draws visitors specifically for the bonfires and fireworks, so accommodation in the 101 postcode and tables at restaurants fill months ahead. If your dates straddle 31 December, secure the hotel first and build transport around it.

Weather is the variable no booking controls. Keep one flexible day in your plan for a tour that gets rescheduled, and check road conditions on the Icelandic road authority's site each morning. Pack for wind and rain rather than deep cold; Reykjavík in December hovers around freezing, and the wind chill does the rest. February and early March bring more daylight and easier driving, so if your trip is not tied to the holidays, consider shifting — but for Christmas itself, book early, keep plans simple and stay central.