Car Hire at Keflavik Airport

Airport travel guide

Keflavik Airport is the main international airport in, and gateway to, the island nation of Iceland. It is located roughly 50 kilometers west of the capital of the country, Reykjavik.

Let's face it, most don't travel to Iceland to spend a week in the city. Instead, they travel for the out-of-this-world nature of the island. Thus, is no surprise that most travelers choose to hire a car for their trip. And as Keflavik Airport is the most popular entry point, there is a huge selection of hire companies from which to choose. 

While you could take some form of public transportation to get to Reykjavik and hire a car there after visiting the city for some time, it is probably better to just hire a car at the airport. Transportation to the city is likely expensive and the intense competition amongst companies serving the airport means prices for hire cars are very reasonable. 

So hire a car and set out towards the island's famous ring road for the adventure of a lifetime! Here are some of the most interesting things to see and do in the area:

• Whale watching. Iceland is one of the planet’s prime spots for watching these magnificent mammals, and many tours take off from Keflavik Port which is just a short ride from the airport. In addition to blue whales, humpbacks, and orcas, you might also be lucky to spot several types of dolphins. Different species have different migration patterns, but generally the summer months — June, July, and August — are the best time of the year to go whale watching in Keflavik.
• Blue Lagoon. One of the most popular attractions of Iceland, the Blue Lagoon is just a 20-minute drive from Keflavik Airport — if you plan to visit, it makes more sense to do it right away than traveling to Reykjavik and then back south. Unlike some hot springs in Iceland, this attraction is man-made, but that doesn’t take anything away neither from the lagoon’s health properties nor the overall enjoyment of the experience.
• A bridge between continents. Iceland is located on two tectonic plates — this fact is the source of the considerable volcanic activity it frequently experiences and is also responsible for many of the island’s otherworldly landscapes. So if you cross this pedestrian overpass which is a 20-minute drive south of Keflavik, you’ll technically be walking between Europe and North America. To find the bridge, follow Highway 425 until you’ll see a sign on your left. 

Top international routes

• Copenhagen
• Paris
• Boston
• Amsterdam
• New York City
• Dublin
• Oslo
• Washington
• Seattle
• Chicago

Main airlines

British Airways flies to the airport from London Heathrow Airport and easyjet flies from London Luton, East Midlands, and Manchester Airports.

Terminals

The airport has just one terminal. The check-in and arrivals areas are on the first floor and the post-security section with all gates on the second floor.

Location

Keflavik Airport is located roughly 50 kilometres west of Reykjavik on the western tip of the island. It's possible to head south to a scenic road along the southern coast that will lead you to the ring road skipping Reykjavik altogether.

Most popular types of hire car

• Small cars - starting at £23 per day
• Station wagons - starting at £31 per day
• SUVs - starting at £28 per day
• Large cars - starting at £64 per day
• Medium cars - starting at £46 per day
• People Carriers - starting at £46 per day
• Premium cars - starting at £78 per day

Car hire desks

Only a few car hire companies have desks in the terminal — specifically, in the arrivals hall. These are Avis, Europcar, and Firefly. All other companies are located outside the airport and either have a company employee meet arriving customers or provide a shuttle bus to their locations.

Services and facilities

There are a number of restaurants, bars, stores duty-free shops, a bank with a cashpoint, and a children’s play area. Keflavík Airport offers special assistance to disabled passengers. A luggage storage service is located next to the airport bus station and can be reached by foot in about three minutes. Its opening hours depend on the season. You can find more information on the airport's official website.

Nearest petrol station

There is an Orkan petrol station in the car rental area of the airport which is just like any other Orkan station and doesn't charge exorbitant prices as other stations located at airports do.

If returning a car to one of the companies located outside the airport, there are multiple stations along the way at which you can fill up. Which one is the most convenient will depend on which company you use.