Guide to Taxis in Iceland

 

If you’re visiting Iceland and wondering about transportation options, you’re probably curious about taxis in the country. Getting around Iceland without a rental car is possible, though it does limit your options when it comes to choice and price. Organized tours are available, but these aren’t strictly taxis. There are normal taxi services too, but these mainly operate in Reykjavík. 

Without a doubt, the best ways to see Iceland are to hire your own car and explore at your own pace, or research different tour companies so you can simply go along for the ride and enjoy the sights. But if you want to make sure you can rely on taxis in some form whilst in Iceland, read on. 

Is Uber or Similar Available in Iceland?

Iceland currently doesn’t have either Uber or Lyft services, but they do have Hopp, which is very similar. Upon arrival in Iceland, you can download the Hopp app from your app store so that you can use it throughout your stay. It’s worth noting that Hopp Taxis aren’t available all over the country, and can only be used at Keflavík airport and in Reykjavík. The app works the same as other taxi apps you might be familiar with, such as Uber. 

Normal taxis operate as in any big city, however, it’s more common to wait for a taxi at a designated taxi stand. You can hail a cab from the street if you’re in a busy area, but this is less common than waiting for one at a designated stand. You can also call a taxi company and book it ahead of your journey. Both of these services run 24 hours anywhere in the city. If you’re within Reykjavík you can just call and wait a short while for the taxi, but if you’re outside the main city it is advisable to pre-book.

For a general short journey, often only within the city, there are two major companies: Hreyfill Bæjarleiðir and BSR. Both their taxis can be booked online or by phoning:

Hreyfill - +354-588-5522

BSR - +354-561-0000

If you prefer to book online, they both have websites and Hreyfill has an entirely English version. They both also have apps that are available in both the App Store and Google Play. Hreyfill’s is called the Hreyfill Taxi App and BSR’s is simply called the BSR app.

Icelandic taxis also don’t have a particular style, such as a yellow cab or black taxi, but they come in a range that suits your needs. The thing that makes them uniform is the yellow taxi signs on the roof, unless it's October when the signs go pink for breast cancer awareness month.

 

Cost of Taxis in Iceland

All taxis within Iceland run off similar prices, though they tend to be more expensive than other countries. What they don’t require is a tip at the end of the journey, which is a cultural aspect that extends throughout services offered in Iceland.

Taxis run by the meter and accept all major credit cards, and they tend to be able to speak decent English, so you won’t get lost. They are also friendly and most will engage you in conversation.

If you are traveling from the airport into the city, most companies offer a set price, though it is much more expensive than taking the bus.

Using Taxis Outside of Reykjavík

If you don’t want to stay within Reykjavík there are also plenty of taxi tours available to you. Hreyfill and BSR both offer them, but there are many other small companies that will offer good services. Both tend to offer private day tours to individuals or family groups, but most are willing to customize or adapt their journeys and may offer entirely customized tours.

This way you can still travel the Golden Circle or reach the Blue Lagoon, and the drivers will often share interesting facts and history from the areas that you drive through.

If you’d prefer not to rely on taxis and tours, renting a car is always an option we can help you with!