Using the Reykjavík City Bus: A Simple Guide for Ourhotels.is Guests
Exploring Reykjavík without a car is easy, affordable, and relaxing thanks to the city’s public bus system, Strætó. Whether you’re staying at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, Stykkishólmur Inn on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, or Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords, chances are you’ll pass through Reykjavík at some point on your journey. Knowing how to use the Reykjavík city bus will make your trip smoother and help you enjoy Iceland like a local.
The Reykjavík city buses are clean, safe, and well-organized, connecting the city center with surrounding neighborhoods, shopping areas, museums, swimming pools, and main bus terminals. If you’re arriving from Keflavík Airport, you’ll typically connect via a shuttle or coach service into Reykjavík, and from there, the city bus network can take you almost anywhere within the capital area.
To plan your route, use the official Strætó website or the Strætó app. Both allow you to enter your starting point and destination, then show you the best bus lines, departure times, and walking distances. The app is especially handy if you’re staying in Reykjavík for a night before heading out to one of Ourhotels.is locations like Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, or Ísafjörður Inn, as you can quickly check connections to the main bus terminals or long-distance buses.
Tickets can be purchased in several ways. The easiest option for most visitors is the Strætó app, where you can buy digital tickets and simply show your phone to the driver. You can also pay with cash on the bus, but drivers do not give change, so you’ll need the exact amount in Icelandic krónur. Some visitors choose a Reykjavík City Card, which includes unlimited bus travel within the city along with free or discounted entry to museums and pools. This can be a good choice if you plan to spend a full day or two exploring Reykjavík before heading to your next Ourhotels.is destination.
When boarding, enter through the front door and show your ticket or app to the driver. Buses do not announce every stop over loudspeaker, so keep an eye on the screens inside the bus or follow your journey on a map app. Press the stop button a little before your stop so the driver knows to pull over. Most buses run frequently during the day, with reduced service in the evenings and on weekends, so always check the timetable, especially if you have a long-distance connection to catch.
Using the Reykjavík city bus is a great way to experience the local rhythm of life before you venture into the quieter landscapes of West Iceland and the Westfjords. Many guests at Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður, for example, choose to spend a night in Reykjavík, using the bus to visit Hallgrímskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall, or one of the city’s famous geothermal swimming pools. After a day in the capital, they continue north and west to the peaceful countryside around Hvítá Inn, where rivers, hot springs, and hiking trails replace city streets.
If you’re staying at Stykkishólmur Inn, you might begin your journey in Reykjavík as well. The city bus can take you to the main bus terminal where regional buses depart toward the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. After enjoying Reykjavík’s cafés, museums, and waterfront, you can board a coach heading to Stykkishólmur, then settle into the charming harbor town and your room at Stykkishólmur Inn. From there, boat tours, island hopping, and coastal walks are all within easy reach.
For guests heading even farther northwest to Ísafjörður Inn in the Westfjords, Reykjavík is often the starting point. You can use the city bus to reach the domestic airport if you’re catching a short flight to Ísafjörður, or to connect with long-distance buses when available. Spending a day or two in Reykjavík first allows you to get oriented, stock up on any essentials, and enjoy the city’s culture before immersing yourself in the dramatic fjords, mountains, and fishing villages around Ísafjörður Inn.
Ourhotels.is is designed to make your Iceland journey feel connected, whether you’re in the capital or out in the wild West. By combining the convenience of the Reykjavík city bus with comfortable stays at Hvítá Inn, Stykkishólmur Inn, and Ísafjörður Inn, you can travel more sustainably, avoid the stress of city driving, and still see everything you came for. Public transport in Reykjavík is reliable enough to form the backbone of your trip: use it to reach bus terminals, airports, and key sights, then let Ourhotels.is be your home base as you explore the countryside.
If you’re planning your route, a simple approach is to think in stages: arrive in Reykjavík, use the city bus to explore and connect to your next leg, then travel onward to your chosen Ourhotels.is inn. For example, you might land at Keflavík, take an airport coach into Reykjavík, use the city bus to reach your hotel or guesthouse in town, then the next day take a bus from the main terminal toward Borgarnes and on to Hvítá Inn in Borgarfjörður. Or you might spend a day in Reykjavík, then head to Stykkishólmur Inn for a few nights on the peninsula, and finally continue to Ísafjörður Inn for a grand finale in the Westfjords.
Using the Reykjavík city bus is not just practical; it’s also a way to travel more like a local and reduce your environmental footprint. Combined with the welcoming atmosphere and strategic locations of Ourhotels.is properties, it helps you experience both the vibrant capital and the peaceful west of Iceland in a relaxed, well-connected way.
