Reykjavik City Buses | The Ultimate Guide

認証済みのスペシャリスト

Buses can navigate Iceland's nature.

Using public transport in an unfamiliar city can be tricky. What are the ways to pay? Can you get around late at night using public transport? How can you find out which bus gets you where you need to go? Read on to discover all this and more about public transport in Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik.


Photo from Denys Nevozhai



All buses in Reykjavik are operated by Straeto BS, a bus company run by Reykjavik City and neighboring municipalities. Straeto BS network consists of 27 bus routes in the capital city and 18 routes outside of the city. There are no other public transport networks in the city, making Straeti the only way to get around Reykjavik without a car or a bicycle.

Reykjavik is an easy city to navigate.

The name of the company ‘Straeto’ is short for ‘Strætisvagn’ which directly translates to ‘Street Car’. The word straeto is so embedded in the Icelandic language that Icelanders call public buses everywhere in the world stræto. The city buses in Reykjavik are easily recognizable due to their cheerful yellow color.

 

 

Below you can find all the practical information you need about how, when and where to catch the bus in Reykjavík.

When can I get the bus in Reykjavík?           

A bus stop in Reykjavik.Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Guðmundur D. Haraldsson No edits made.

The buses in Reykjavik start running around 6:30 on weekdays, 7:30 on Saturdays, and 9:30 on Sundays and public holidays. Most routes stop running shortly before or just after midnight, with the exception of the night bus routes which run on Fridays and Saturdays, more information on the night buses can be found later in this article.

To find out which bus you need to catch you can use the Straeto website’s handy route planner, which is also available in the app, or the timetables for each bus route.

Reykjavik's buses run at night on weekends.

To use the route planner you simply have to input the location you’ll be departing from, your destination and if you want, your preferred time of departure or arrival. The route planner will then show you several journeys to your destination.

The timetables show what time of day the buses stop at specific locations. Detailed information on individual schedules can be seen at each bus stop and searched on the website bus.is.

Most routes have buses running at least every half-hour. Journeys are more frequent during peak hours, which are between 7-9 AM and 3-6 PM on weekdays, with buses departing every 15 minutes.

A bus travelling in Reykjavik.Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by NAC. No edits made.

Routes 1 and 6 have more journeys than other routes, on a normal weekday those buses depart every 10 minutes during peak times, every 15 minutes the rest of the day and every half hour in the evening.

The following days of the year have unusual operating hours; On January 1st and December 25th the buses which drive from Reykjavík to other regions don’t run. On December 24th and December 31st the buses stop running at 3 PM. On other public holidays, the buses operate on a Sunday schedule.

 

 

Where can I get the bus in Reykjavík?                           

A bus pulls up on Saebraut in Iceland.Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Richard Eriksson No edits made

Straeto bus stops are easy to identify, they are all marked with the Straeto BS logo, a red and yellow S. Some bus stops are only a pole with the logo on top and timetables attached, others have a shelter for you to wait for the bus in.

To find out where the nearest bus stop is you can search on the website or check the live map in the Straeto app, which also allows you to track the location of all buses.

Harpa Concert Hall is connected to many bus routes.

It’s not guaranteed that one bus will get you where you need to go, you might have to transfer between buses. There are several bus stops in the capital region that are specifically designed to connect routes from across the bus network for easy transfer.

These stops are Fjordur, Asgardur, Hamraborg, Mjodd and Artun. The journeys are strategically planned so that buses arrive simultaneously to make switching buses easy for commuters.

The bus stops Hlemmur, Spongin and Haholt are also connection stops but waiting times might be longer there since their timetables aren’t specifically designed to make transfers smoother.

The stop which connects the city buses and the buses heading outside the capital region is Mjodd, in the Breidholt neighborhood in Reykjavik.


Visiting Iceland? Here's inspiration for What to do and Where to Go


How do I pay for the bus in Reykjavík?                      

Reykjavik City Buses are regular and reliable.Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Raf24

There are three ways to pay for the bus in Reykjavík: Cash, bus card, or on the KLAPP App.

Children under the age of 6 and legally blind people don’t have to pay to ride the bus.

You can pay the bus fare in cash, each bus has a fare collecting box next to the driver. At the time this is written (Fall 2022) the fare for an adult is 490 ISK. For pensioners, disabled people and children aged 6-17 the fare is 245 ISK. Please note that the drivers cannot give you change, you must either have the exact amount or overpay.

To check the current price of fares, go to the Straeto website.

Hallgrimskirkja is the tallest building in Iceland.

A paper card can be purchased online and picked up (and bought) at various vendors throughout the city such as swimming pools, 10-11 stores and Straeto information desks. The full list of locations where you can buy bus tickets is available here


See also: The Best Swimming Pools in Reykjavik


One bus ticket equals one fare within the city limits. You can pay the fare with a KLAPP ten card which is a bus pass with 10 tickets, perhaps the best choice for visitors to the city. They are available at some of the aforementioned designated retail locations, further information is found here.

City buses can be used to reach quite a distance from Reykjavik.

You can also use a bus smart card to ride the bus, this is the best option for those staying in Reykjavík for a longer stretch of time. These can also be purchased on the website. When it comes to the smart cards, you can either buy a card that lasts for one month or one that lasts for a whole year. These are plastic cards that can be scanned when you enter the bus. When you buy a ticket on the app, likewise your phone can be scanned when entering the bus to verify the ticket.

How do I use the Straeto app?                      

The Straeto app is available in the App Store for Apple devices and on Google Play for Android devices, the app does not work on Windows Phones. It can be set to either Icelandic or English.

The Straeto app is a heaven-send for anyone who’s trying to use public transport in Iceland. The app allows you to buy tickets, plan routes, view real-time updates of your bus’ location and even listen to podcasts.

To use the app you simply download it, register with your phone number and card details (the app does not accept American Express) and you can start riding the bus.

Buses can be tracked in Iceland via an app.Photo by Juan Encalada

When you buy a ticket it isn’t automatically activated so you can buy tickets and save them for later. They will continue to be available under the ‘My Tickets’ section of the app. Once activated, a single-fare ticket is valid for 75 minutes.

You need an internet connection to buy tickets from the app. Most buses in Reykjavík have free wifi, but it’s better to purchase tickets beforehand and not rely on the bus wifi.

The app also has the option of buying group tickets for up to 20 people.

The app offers a Live Map where you can track your bus in real-time, as well as service updates, which takes all the guesswork out of riding the bus. Information on where your bus is and when it will arrive and your ticket are all in one place, so you can relax and enjoy listening to one of the podcasts available in the app.  

Can I use public transport late at night in Reykjavik?           

Reykjavik's skylkine on New Years Eve cannot be missed.

Strarto runs a night bus service late at night on Fridays and Saturdays when Reykjavik’s vibrant nightlife is at its height.


See also: Nightlife in Reykjavik


There are six routes 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, and 107 each does three journeys a night between 01:20-03:50. They all depart from either Reykjavik City Hall or Hlemmur, in downtown Reykjavik, and drive away from the city center, no buses run towards the city center after midnight.

You can catch the night bus from other locations than where they depart from but there is no set time table for when the bus arrives at those stops. We recommend tracking their whereabouts through the app. You can check the night bus schedule on the website.

The fare for a night bus ride is the same when using the smart card, app or KLAPP ten card. However, the cost is 1000 ISK if using cash or credit card.

Reykjavik Bus Etiquette                                      

The inside of a Reykjavik City Bus.Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Otto Karikoski

You can only get on and off the bus at designated stops. The bus might not stop unless you clearly indicate your intention to board, for example by sticking your hand out to flag down the bus. If a bus displays the text 'Er ekki á leið' it means the bus is not in service.

Unless you have a bicycle, baby carriage or any other reason to enter at the middle of the bus, you should enter through the front doors. You should have your payment ready before boarding the bus.

You are not allowed to exit at the front of the bus, instead use one of the two rear doors. Iceland can be very slippery so take care when stepping off the bus.

You are allowed to bring bicycles and suitcases on the bus, however, wheelchairs and baby prams have priority in the designated area at the middle of the bus.

Iceland's buses can take you to less touristy areas.


See also: What to do With Young Kids in Reykjavik


There is space for one wheelchair on each bus. The wheelchair user must be able to get on and off the bus by themselves or have someone with them to assist.

Please note that although many do, drivers are not required to speak English and might not be able to provide you with information in any other language than Icelandic. Make sure you have all the information you need before your journey.

Scooters, rollerblades and skateboards must be carried if you bring them on the bus, they cannot be used during the ride.

Pets are allowed on city buses under the following conditions. Pets have to get on the bus through the back sets of doors and stay at the back while they ride the bus. The pet’s caretaker must be over 18 years of age to be allowed to bring the pet on the bus and each person is only allowed to bring one pet. Dogs must be on a lead, other pets must be secured in a cage.

Pets are allowed on the bus outside peak timesPhoto by Brandan Keller

Pets are not allowed on the bus at the busiest times of day, 7:00-9:00 AM and 3:00-6:00 PM on weekdays. Guide dogs are exempt from these rules.

Be mindful of other passengers, there are priority seats for those less-able to stand, if you sit in one of those, be ready to offer it to someone who needs it more. Please note that Icelanders are usually quiet on the bus (unless you happen to encounter a group of pre-school children on a field trip). Do not disturb the peace by playing music on the bus. If you're having a phone call on the bus, do not use the speakers on your phone.

You are not allowed to eat or smoke on the bus in Reykjavik.


Find more articles in our Reykjavik Guide series


We hope this article answered your questions about Reykjavík public transport. Enjoy whizzing around the city of Reykjavik in a beautiful yellow Straeto!

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