
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is the largest airport in Iceland, located in the town of Keflavík, approximately 3 km west of Reykjanesbær and 50 km southwest of the capital, Reykjavík. The airport is only used for international flights, with all domestic flights operating from Reykjavík Airport. It is the main hub for Icelandair and the second-largest Icelandic carrier, Play, with flights to over 90 cities and countries in Europe and North America.
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What You'll Learn
- Keflavik Airport is located in the town of Keflavik, 50km from Reykjavik
- It is Iceland's biggest airport, serving as the gateway for international travellers
- The airport is only used for international flights; all domestic flights use Reykjavík Airport
- It was originally built by the US military during World War II
- Keflavik Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the Nordic countries

Keflavik Airport is located in the town of Keflavik, 50km from Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is located in the town of Keflavik, 50km from Reykjavik. It is the biggest airport in Iceland, serving as the main gateway for international travellers to the country. The airport is only used for international flights, with all domestic flights using the smaller Reykjavik Airport (RKV) located within the city.
Keflavik Airport is situated 3km west of the town of Keflavik and 50km southwest of Reykjavik. It is linked to downtown Reykjavik via a 50km dual carriageway, with the journey taking around 45 minutes by taxi. The cheapest way to get to Reykjavik from the airport is by using the public bus system, Strætó, although this is not designed to provide major service to the airport, and travellers are recommended to book a Flybus transfer instead.
The airport has a single terminal, originally called Leifsstöð (named after Leif Erikson), which is divided into two buildings. The main building features the arrivals and departures hall, customs, currency exchange, car rentals, bus ticket terminal, and a selection of shops and restaurants. The south building houses border control facilities and additional stores. The terminal has been expanded several times over the years, with the latest expansion in 2007, and now carries over 9 million passengers annually.
Keflavik Airport is the only international passenger airport in Iceland, serving as a central hub of transportation for international travellers. It provides daily, weekly, and seasonal international flights to over 90 cities and countries in Europe and North America. The largest carrier operating out of the airport is Icelandair, with Play being the second-largest Icelandic carrier as of 2024.
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It is Iceland's biggest airport, serving as the gateway for international travellers
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is the largest airport in Iceland. It is located in the town of Keflavík, approximately 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of the capital, Reykjavík. The airport is only used for international flights, serving as the main gateway for international travellers to and from Iceland. All domestic flights use the smaller Reykjavík Airport, which is located just 3 kilometres (2 miles) from Reykjavík's city centre.
Keflavík International Airport is operated by Isavia, a government enterprise. It has a single terminal, originally called Leifsstöð (named after Leif Erikson), with two 3,000-metre-long (10,000 ft) runways. The terminal is divided into two buildings: the main building and the south building. The main building houses the arrivals and departures hall, customs, currency exchange, car rentals, bus ticket terminal, and a variety of shops and restaurants. The south building contains border control facilities and additional stores. The terminal is split into A, C, and D gates, with the A gates located closest to the main lounge along the main hallway. The C gates are on the upper level of the south building, while the D gates are non-Schengen gates on the lower level.
Keflavík Airport is the central hub for international travellers in Iceland, with scheduled flights to and from numerous locations across North America and Europe. It serves over 90 destinations and sees almost seven million passengers annually. The largest carrier operating out of the airport is Icelandair, with the airline Play as the second-largest Icelandic carrier. The airport is easily accessible from Reykjavík via a 50-kilometre (30-mile) journey on Route 41, and public buses are also available.
The airport was originally built by the United States military during World War II, consisting of two separate airfields built simultaneously just 4 km apart. The new terminal opened in 1987, and since then, it has played a significant role in the expansion of commercial flight in Iceland. The original Keflavík passenger terminal, built in 1949, was located within the military air base and was demolished in 2018 to make way for new development.
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The airport is only used for international flights; all domestic flights use Reykjavík Airport
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is located in the town of Keflavík, approximately 50km (30 miles) southwest of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. It is the largest airport in the country, serving as the main gateway for international travellers.
The airport is only used for international flights, with over 90 destinations across Europe and North America. It is the central hub for international travel in Iceland, with a single terminal that offers a range of facilities for passengers. The terminal is divided into two buildings: the main building, which houses the arrivals and departures hall, customs, currency exchange, car rentals, and various shops and restaurants; and the south building, which accommodates border control and additional stores. The airport also provides free and unlimited Wi-Fi, a dedicated play area for children, and a wide selection of duty-free shopping options.
All domestic flights, on the other hand, use Reykjavík Airport (RKV), a small domestic airport located within the city centre of Reykjavík. This airport is about 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the city centre and caters to domestic and private aviation, as well as flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. It was originally the base for airlines Icelandair and Loftleiðir Icelandic until the 1960s when they transitioned to Keflavík Airport due to the larger runway capable of accommodating bigger aircraft.
Travellers can easily transfer between Keflavík International Airport and Reykjavík. The cheapest option is the public bus system, Strætó, although it is not designed for major service to the airport. Alternatively, travellers can book a FlyBus transfer or take a taxi, which takes approximately 45 minutes to reach downtown Reykjavík.
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It was originally built by the US military during World War II
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is located in the town of Keflavík, about 3 km (1.9 mi) west of the town and 50 km (30 mi) southwest of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. It is the largest airport in Iceland, serving as the main gateway for international travellers to the country.
After the war, Meeks Field and the adjoining structures were returned to Iceland's control and were renamed Naval Air Station Keflavik. Patterson Field was closed down. The US military returned to the airport in 1951 after a defence agreement was signed between Iceland and the US. The civilian terminal opened in 1987 as a separate entity from the military base and has been subject to several expansions over the years.
Keflavík Airport is now operated by Isavia, a government enterprise for the Nordic country's aviation industry. The airport has a single terminal, originally called Leifsstöð (named after Leif Erikson), which is divided into two buildings. The main building features the arrivals and departures hall, customs, currency exchange, and a tax refund desk. The south building houses border control facilities. The airport has a total area of 10 square miles (25 square kilometres) and is open all year round to over 90 destinations.
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Keflavik Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in the Nordic countries
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is located in the town of Keflavík, around 50km (30 miles) from Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. The airport is the country's largest and busiest, serving as the main hub for international flights to and from Iceland. In 2018, over nine million passengers passed through the airport, making it the fifth-busiest airport in the Nordic countries.
Keflavík Airport is a relatively small and easy-to-navigate airport with a single terminal that opened in 1987. The terminal is divided into two buildings: the main building, which houses arrivals and departures, customs, currency exchange, car rentals, and a variety of shops and restaurants; and the south building, which handles border control and additional stores. The airport has a total area of 10 square miles (25 square kilometres) and features two 3,000-metre-long (10,000 ft) runways capable of accommodating large aircraft such as NASA's Space Shuttle.
The airport is operated by Isavia, a government enterprise, and serves as a central hub for international travellers to Iceland. It provides daily, weekly, and seasonal international flights to over 90 cities and countries in Europe and North America, with Copenhagen, London-Gatwick, Amsterdam, and Paris being the busiest routes. The largest carrier operating out of Keflavík is Icelandair, with other notable airlines including WOW Air and Play, the second-largest Icelandic carrier as of 2024.
Keflavík Airport is conveniently connected to Reykjavík and other parts of Iceland via various transportation options. The airport is linked to downtown Reykjavík by a 50-kilometre (30-mile) dual carriageway, and public buses operated by Strætó offer connections to the Mjódd bus station in Reykjavík's suburbs. Additionally, car rental services are available at the airport, making it an ideal starting point for self-drive tours of the country.
The airport also offers a range of amenities and services to enhance the travel experience. It provides free and unlimited Wi-Fi, a dedicated play area and strollers for families with children, and a wide selection of duty-free shopping options, including cosmetics, sweets, alcohol, and souvenirs.
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Frequently asked questions
Keflavík Airport is located in the town of Keflavík, which is about 50km from Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.
The airport covers an area of 10 square miles (25 square kilometres) and features a single terminal with two buildings.
The airport is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which offers scenic hikes and drives. The Blue Lagoon, a famous geothermal spa, is about a 30-minute drive from the airport.
The cheapest way to get to Reykjavík from the airport is by taking the public bus Strætó. However, travellers can also book a FlyBus transfer or take a taxi, which costs around ISK 20,000 ($142).
It is recommended to arrive at the airport 2-3 hours before your flight's departure. Check-in opens 2.5 hours before departure, and there are 50 self-check-in kiosks available 24 hours a day.






























