Keflavík is a town of about 15,930 people (2018, counting Njarðvík) in the Reykjanes region of southwest Iceland, part of the municipality of Reykjanesbær and next to Keflavík International Airport, the country's largest. It is about 45 minutes by car from Reykjavik and about 20 minutes from the Blue Lagoon, which makes it a practical first or last night rather than a destination of its own. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no cost to you.
Highlights
The town by the sea
low houses along the Reykjanes coast, a few minutes from the airport.
Viking World
a museum where a ticket lets you see Íslendingur, a full-scale replica of a ninth-century Viking ship.
Duus Museum
the town museum, listed about 2 km out.
The Giantess in the Cave and the Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll
two local stops listed about 3 km out.
Stekkjarkot
a turf house listed about 4.7 km out.
The Bridge Between Continents
on the Reykjanes peninsula, where a footbridge crosses the gap between the North American and Eurasian plates.
Practical info
Tips
- Keflavík is useful when your flight lands late or leaves early. Staying here saves the drive to Reykjavik before a dawn departure, and the Blue Lagoon is a short drive away; read Blue Lagoon tickets and Keflavik airport to the Blue Lagoon before you book, since the lagoon sells timed slots. Between the airport and the capital, the bus is covered in Keflavik airport to Reykjavik and the Flybus. If you have a car, the surrounding landscape of lava fields and geothermal areas is part of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark; see Reykjanes peninsula for the main stops. For a car, see Keflavik airport car rental. Plan a few hours for the museums, and treat the town as a base rather than a full day out. The Booking.com page for Keflavík is linked in the box above.
How to get there
The town is next to Keflavík International Airport, so most visitors arrive on landing. The Blue Lagoon is about 20 km (13 miles) from the airport, and Reykjavik about 45 minutes by road.
Opening hours
Nearby
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