Akureyri Airport transfer: bus, shuttle or private

Short answer: take the shared airport bus. Akureyri Airport is on the edge of town, the drive to most hotels is a few minutes, and a seat costs €11 to €18. Book a private car only if you are five people with a lot of luggage, or you land at an hour when no bus is running. And if you are coming from Reykjavík, fly rather than hire a driver for the day.

Why this is easier than Keflavík

At Keflavík you are 45 minutes from Reykjavík and the transfer is a real decision. Our Keflavík transfer guide covers that. Akureyri is different. The runway sits on the fjord just south of town, and from the terminal to the centre is a short drive. Taxis wait outside when flights come in, and on a dry day with light bags some people walk.

So the question isn’t really how to get into town. It’s whether you want a fixed, cheap seat booked in advance, or someone waiting for you.

The shared airport bus

Imagine Iceland Travel’s Akureyri Airport to Hotel Transfer Bus is from €11 a seat. It is timed to arriving flights, with start times in the calendar from 00:25 to 20:50, and shows about nine to twelve dates a month across the winter. That matches the international flight days, not every day. Read the cancellation terms before you book: 10% of the price is kept from the moment you book, and half within two days of the transfer.

Star Travel’s Airport Akureyri to Hotels shuttle is from €18 a seat and is built around easyJet’s flights. It shows dates from October to February and nothing in May or July, which follows easyJet’s winter season. Children up to twelve are cheaper. Cancellation is free until 24 hours before.

If you are on an easyJet winter flight, either works. Take the cheaper one if it lines up with your landing time. If neither shows your date, a taxi from the rank does the same job.

A private car

Icelimo Luxury Travel’s Private Transfer Akureyri Airport to Akureyri is from €240. That is for the vehicle, a sedan for one or two people, with a larger SUV for up to five costing more. Your driver meets you on arrival, any hour of the day.

For two people that is a lot of money for a few minutes in a car. It starts to make sense for a family of five with ski bags in February, or a late landing when you don’t want to wait at a taxi rank in the snow. Cancellation costs 10% from booking and half within 30 days, so only book it once your flights are fixed.

Mývatn and further

If you are going straight to Lake Mývatn, the drive is about 100 km and a little over an hour. Geo Travel runs a shared transfer from the airport to Mývatn hotels timed to flight arrivals, but it shows no dates in our calendar at the moment. Ask us before you rely on it. Otherwise, hire a car at the airport. You will want one at Mývatn anyway. Our Mývatn day tour guide covers the tour option if you stay in Akureyri instead.

From Reykjavík by road

Your Transfer’s private transfer between Reykjavík and Akureyri is from €1,420 for the vehicle. It takes about five hours on the Ring Road, longer with stops or winter weather on Holtavörðuheiði and Öxnadalsheiði. The domestic flight from Reykjavík City Airport takes about 45 minutes. Unless you are a group who wants to stop at Borgarnes and Hvítserkur on the way, fly.

Our honest take

Book the shared bus for a few euros and spend the difference on a tour. If no bus lines up with your landing, take a taxi from the rank. A private car is for families with big bags in winter, or for anyone landing late who wants to walk straight out into a warm car. For the trip north from Reykjavík, the plane wins on time, and for two people on cost as well.