Arriving at Keflavík International Airport – What to Expect

Everyone told us Keflavík would be smooth and efficient, and on our first visit, that turned out to be almost entirely true; it’s always an unknown, and worth documenting. Arriving at Keflavík Airport is calmer than most international hubs we’ve landed at, but there’s a rhythm to it that isn’t obvious until you’ve done it at least once. Our flight landed just after 18:30, which meant we were competing with four other flights for a line at immigration, but still had a huge number of hours of daylight left in the day. Here’s my guide to arriving at Keflavik Airport, from the moment you land to the moment you walk out the doors.

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I’ll walk you through everything in the order you’ll actually experience it after arriving in Iceland: the walk off the plane, immigration, duty-free, baggage claim, customs, and then the arrivals hall itself, cash, a SIM card, and whether to head straight for your rental car or get a bus or transfer to Reykjavik. Iceland airport arrival is usually painless, but a little heads-up on timing and layout goes a long way, especially if you’ve landed on an early-morning transatlantic flight and your body clock hasn’t caught up yet. By the end of this, you’ll know exactly what to do and in what order.

Arriving at Keflavik Airport

Regardless of where you’ve arrived from, the route through the airport is the same:

• Deplaning
• Passport Control
• Duty Free
• Baggage Claim
• Customs
• Arrivals Hall

I’ll detail what happens at each stage of the route through the airport.

Getting Off the Plane at Keflavík Airport

The walk from the plane to the terminal is longer than most people expect, so pace yourself and don’t panic if it takes a while to reach the main hall. We were at the front of the plane on our first flight and made it to the immigration hall around six minutes after leaving the plane. We walk fast in these situations, and were lucky to have an air bridge and no shuttle bus transfer.

Whether you have an air bridge or a shuttle, the signage is clear and entirely bilingual (Icelandic/English), so getting lost isn’t really a risk. It’s more about the sheer number of people moving through a fairly compact space at the same time, especially if you’ve landed during one of the early-morning eastbound flights from North America, or the afternoon wave of European arrivals.

There is just a single terminal here at Keflavik Airport, and it operates 24/7. It’s a two-level building, with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first floor. There is free WiFi available throughout the airport.

Immigration / Passport Control at Keflavík Airport

This is where things potentially slow down. If you’re arriving with a passport from a Schengen Zone country (EU and EEA countries, usually), you’ll go into one line. All other passports go into the “all other passports” line.

The length of the line depends on how many flights landed ahead of you, and how full they were. Families with small children (usually under the age of 10) are pulled out of line.

Have your passport out and ready. If you’re a non-EU citizen with an EU residency card, you’ll need to join the non-Schengen line, but do hand over your residency card to the immigration staff.

There’s no requirement to have details of your accommodation here, but it’s always a good idea to know, or have written down, where you’re spending your first night in Iceland.

Once you’ve gone through passport control, you’ll need to follow the signs to Baggage Claim. You’ll be in the terminal with everyone departing flights too, so there are lounges, toilets, places to get something to eat, and, on your way, duty-free.

This is where you’ll see the famous “Exit to Iceland” sign; just follow it and head on down to Duty Free and Baggage Claim.

Duty Free at Keflavik Airport Arrivals

Once you pass through Iceland’s duty-free arrivals, even if you don’t want to buy anything, this is just the route to baggage claim; you’ll want to read my guide to alcohol in Iceland, since if you plan to try even a bit of the beer or spirits available, it’s a lot more cost-effective to buy it here.

It’s more like a superstore than a traditional duty-free, with large shopping trolleys available. It’s not just alcohol and tobacco, but the usual cosmetics, sunglasses, and the like.

Duty-free limits for arrivals into Iceland: all adult passengers are allowed to bring in the following:

• Alcohol: 1 liter of spirits (above 22% ABV), or 3 liters of wine, or 6 liters of beer, or a combination within the total limit
• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, or 250 grams of other tobacco products

Baggage Claim at Keflavik

Bags typically start arriving within 20–30 minutes of your flight landing, though again, it depends on how many other flights arrive at the same time. We made it to the belt just as our bags came out. Mine was first on the belt!!!

If your bag doesn’t arrive, head to the baggage information desk; there are signs for it in the baggage hall. Your bag will usually be sent to your accommodation within 24 hours if all that’s happened is a missed connection.

There are free luggage trolleys here if you need them.

Customs at Keflavik International Airport

Once you’ve collected your bags, you’ll head through customs: pick green for nothing to declare (i.e. you have the allowed amount or less), or red to declare goods if you’re over the allowed limits. Once you’re through customs, you’ll be in the arrivals hall.

Keflavik Airport Arrivals Hall

The arrivals hall is where you’ll find currency exchanges, ATMs, and a SIM card machine. There’s also tourist information, and if you’re being met, a meeting point too. If you’re heading for the Flybus into Reykjavik, a coach, or to meet your rental car shuttle, the exits for these are clearly marked. There’s no taxi desk inside the terminal; you’ll find taxis waiting outside.

Keflavik Airport Arrivals Hall Information

Normally, this is where we’d run around finding the currency exchange, using ATMs, and buying ourselves a SIM card. We didn’t do that in Iceland; read on for why.

Getting Cash and Using ATMs at Keflavik Airport

You’ll see currency exchange counters as soon as you’re through customs, but you likely won’t need them; you’re extremely unlikely to need cash in Iceland. Iceland is about as card-friendly as it gets. Nearly everywhere accepts contactless payment, including buses, parking meters, and small cafes (read my guide to currency and payments in Iceland here). ATMs are available in the terminal if you want a small amount of Icelandic krona for cash-only situations, but we went through our entire trip on card alone. If you do exchange money, the airport rate is rarely the best one; a card with no foreign transaction fees will save you more over the course of a trip.

The currency exchange desk here is also where you can get tax refunds when you leave Iceland, if you’re traveling to a non-EU destination. You’ll need your receipts.

Sorting Out a SIM Card at Keflavik Airport

If you want to be connected the second you land, this is the moment to sort it out. There are SIM and eSIM kiosks in the arrivals hall, and free WiFi throughout the terminal if you just need to send a quick message. See my full comparison of the best SIM and eSIM options for Iceland if you want to know which provider actually makes sense for your trip, if indeed you need one. We have a global eSIM and SIM card each; you can read about them here, which we use for moments like this, until we’ve got to the point where we have a local SIM.

What’s Actually Inside the Terminal at Keflavik Airport

Even with a short layover or an early flight, there’s more to do inside than you’d think; this is an airport that operates 24 hours a day.

Keflavík has a handful of cafes and restaurants, a pharmacy, a bookstore, and a few shops selling Icelandic wool sweaters and outdoor gear, useful if you’ve forgotten a layer. There isn’t a large lounge network compared to bigger hubs like Heathrow or JFK, but a couple of paid lounge options exist if you want a quiet spot before an early departure.

There’s also an Elko store, Iceland’s electronics store, so if you’ve forgotten any charging cables or power converters (read my guide to power adapters for Iceland here), this is the best place to get one so you don’t waste time on the road.

When you head home, there’s a fabulous 66° North outdoor clothing store, as well as a Blue Lagoon Skincare store, and duty-free, so you can pick up a souvenir bottle of Iceland’s signature distilled beverage, Brennivín. You can read more about this in my guide to alcohol in Iceland.

Where is Keflavik Airport (KEF)?

Keflavik is one of two international airports in Iceland (the other is Akureyri, AEY), about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of the capital city of Reykjavik. While you might have seen it noted as Reykjavik Airport, it isn’t; there’s a separate domestic airport called Reykjavik (RKV) that services the capital city.

It takes about 45–50 minutes to travel from Keflavik to Reykjavik.

Getting From Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik

Once you’re through and have your bags, you’ve got a few ways to get into Reykjavik: the FlyBus and other shared shuttles, a private transfer, taxis, or picking up a rental car right at the airport. We’d pre-booked a rental car, so we headed straight to our car rental shuttle.

Our route to the shuttle took us straight past the Flybus stop and waiting taxis. My full guide to getting from Keflavík to Reykjavik breaks down all the other options and what they cost.

Booking a rental car early is one of the best ways to save money when traveling to Iceland.

You can check rates for rental cars in Iceland here.

Or read my guides:

• Budgeting for Iceland
• Guaranteed Ways to Save Money When Traveling Iceland

FAQs for Arriving at Keflavík Airport

A few quick answers to the questions you’ll have about arriving in Iceland.

How early should I arrive for my flight home from Iceland?

Aim for at least two and a half to three hours before an international departure, more during peak summer travel. Once you’ve dropped bags, you’ll want to head through passport control, as this is where there will be a line.

Is there WiFi at Keflavík Airport?

Yes, free WiFi is available throughout the terminal.

Can I get cash at Keflavik airport?

Yes, ATMs are available after you clear customs, though most people don’t need cash at all in Iceland.

Is Keflavik Airport the same as Reykjavik Airport?

While it may be referred to as Reykjavik Keflavik Airport, it is NOT the same as Reykjavik Airport. Check the airport codes when you’re booking; Keflavik International Airport is KEF, Reykjavik Domestic Airport is RKV.

What can you NOT take into Iceland at the airport?

There are some strict rules about what you can and can’t bring into Iceland if you’re traveling from outside the European Union.

Here’s what you cannot bring into Iceland:

• Uncooked meat and meat products
• Unpasteurized milk
• Raw eggs
• Used riding gear (saddles, bridles, etc., read why in my guide to the Icelandic horse here)
• Narcotics, weapons (including knives over 12 centimeters, approximately 4.7 inches)
• Finely powdered snuff
• CBD-infused foods

The following items have limits and rules on what you can bring into Iceland:

• Food: You can bring in 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of food. The total value must not exceed 25,000 ISK (approximately US$199, £148, or €174). Items must be factory-sealed.
• Medications: You can bring in a 100-day supply of prescription medication for personal use.
• Used outdoor/fishing gear: Only allowed in if thoroughly disinfected to protect Iceland’s wildlife. If you can’t prove they’ve been disinfected, you’ll need to get them disinfected at the airport.

How long does immigration usually take at Keflavik Airport?

It varies, sometimes just a few minutes, sometimes longer during the busiest summer arrival waves.

Is Keflavík Airport far from Reykjavik?

It’s about 45 minutes by car or shuttle, roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles).

Where are the car rental shuttles at Keflavik Airport?

Most rental companies have desks or shuttle pickup points just outside the terminal doors. Signage will direct you once you’re through baggage claim. You can check where rental car collection is by vendor here.

Final Words on Arriving at Keflavík Airport

This is a fairly painless arrivals process. The airport is welcoming, as are the Icelanders you’ll meet. It’s an easy walk off the plane, an easy immigration process, and then an interesting walk through duty-free before grabbing bags and heading off to your first Iceland stops.

It’s a gentler introduction than plenty of other airports we’ve landed at, and once you’ve done it once, the whole sequence just works. And yes, I have to admit, taking the photo of the “Exit to Iceland” sign and walking down the stairs really is quite magical.

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