Car hire Keflavík

Introduction

Keflavik is a small town in Iceland, which is known above all because it has the country's only international airport. It used to be an important NATO base, but since the break-up of the Soviet Union, it has become less important. In recent years, the Americans have removed most of their troops from Iceland.

Population

The town has a little over 10,000 inhabitants. In the 1960's and 1970's, Keflavik had a reputation as a town of musicians. It was called the 'Beatle city of Iceland'.

Location

The town is located in the south-west of Iceland, on the Reykjanes peninsula. The capital Reykjavik is situated at 40 kilometres to the north-east. On a clear day the capital is visible on the other side of the bay.

Economy

Keflavik was founded in the 16th century. Until the airport was built during the Second World War, fishery was its main source of income. Even today many of the inhabitants depend on fishery and fish processing. The airport also provides jobs, as does the adjacent NATO base.

Airports

The international airport of Keflavik processes some 2 million passengers each year. There are regular connections to six cities in the United States and to over 20 cities in Europe, including Amsterdam. The airport processes exclusively international flights; domestic flights depart from Reykjavik Airport, near the centre of the capital.

Public transport

Iceland is a country of cars. Virtually all Icelanders have cars, and public transport is not very popular. From the airport there is a shuttle bus connection (FlyBus) to Reykjavik, which does have a city bus.

Traffic and parking

Car lights have to be switched on throughout the day and all passengers are obliged to wear seat belts.
If you go into the interior, keep in mind that many roads are made of gravel. Driving on gravel roads is different from driving on asphalt: if you drive to fast you may lose control of your car. So drive carefully! When an asphalt road switches to gravel, this is indicated with the sign 'malbik endar'. Approach slowly! A sign reading 'einbreið brú' indicates that you are approaching a narrow bridge with only one lane. Ask what the road condition is before departing, especially outside of the summer.

Some other traffic terms in Icelandic: parking - bilastaedi, detour - krokaleid, petrol station - bensinstod, toll road - toll vegur, motorway - hradbraut.

Hotels

Both at the airport and in the town centre there are some hotels. Ideal if you wish to stay the night close to the airport or if you want to experience life in a fishing town. Generally speaking, the hotels are a bit cheaper than they are in the capital of Iceland, but here too the cost of living is high and you will not find really cheap hotels.
Generally speaking, you can book your hotel room on arrival. If you have a specific hotel in mind, we recommend booking in advance.

External Sources

For more information about Keflavik, we recommend Google, and the following sources:

• Wikipedia, Keflavik
• US Naval Air Station, Keflavik, Iceland (English)