Changed route system in the countryside

The changed route network marks an important step towards better and more accessible public transport services in the countryside.

The goals are to better accommodate employment and school attendance, strengthen connections between regions, and improve links between the rural and urban route networks.

The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration (Vegagerðin) own and operates the provincial buses and has been working on these changes in recent months. Strætó is responsible for providing passenger information and related services.

The new network also supports the government’s policy to transition rural public transport to zero-emission vehicles. The foundation of this change is to align the route structure with the availability and distribution of charging infrastructure across the country. For example, all buses in South Iceland will be electric, except the one driving Höfn – Vík – Höfn.

Improved service

• Two new route numbers
• More reliable timetables
• Increased service frequency in the southwest
• Better connections to airports

The route planner has been updated, allowing users to find the best travel route for their journey by Route Planner by selecting 1 January 2026 or later as their travel date — when the changed route network takes effect.

Routes 51 and 52 will be divided into three separate routes:

• Route 51: Selfoss – Reykjavík
• Route 52: Reykjavík – Höfn
• Route 53: Selfoss  – Landeyjahöfn – Hvolsvöllur

This change increases service frequency between Reykjavík and Selfoss, and between Hvolsvöllur and Selfoss, as these routes will now operate independently of the service to Höfn.

All provincial buses in South Iceland — except the one driving Höfn – Vík – Höfn  — will be electric.

Route 51: Selfoss – Reykjavík

• Operates only between Selfoss and Reykjavík
• Increased frequency on weekdays
• Fewer stops in Norðlingaholt (four reduced to one) – stop at Helluvað
• Revised route within Selfoss – stops at N1 Selfoss, FSU, and the Town Hall (Ráðhúsið)

Route 52: Reykjavík – Höfn

• Operates between Reykjavík and Höfn in Hornafjörður
• Four trips per week: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays
• Fewer stops in Norðlingaholt (four reduced to one) – stop at Helluvað
• Revised route within Selfoss – stops at N1 Selfoss, FSU, and the Town Hall (Ráðhúsið)

Route 53: Selfoss – Landeyjahöfn – Hvolsvöllur

• Operates between Selfoss, Hvolsvöllur, and Landeyjahöfn
• Connects with Herjólfur ferry according to the sailing schedule on two trips
• Passengers traveling between Reykjavík and Landeyjahöfn must transfer: Route 51 between Reykjavík and Selfoss, and Route 53 between Selfoss and Landeyjahöfn
• Increased service frequency between Hvolsvöllur and Selfoss
• Revised route within Selfoss – stops at N1 Selfoss, FSU, and the Town Hall (Ráðhúsið)

Route 71: Þorlákshöfn – Hveragerði

• Number of trips increased from three to five on weekdays
• Improved connections to Route 51, both to Selfoss and Reykjavík

Route 72: Selfoss – Flúðir

• Revised route within Selfoss – stops at N1 Selfoss, FSU, and the Town Hall (Ráðhúsið)
• Stops at Þrastarlundur, Þóroddsstaðir, and Þjórsárdalsvegur removed

Route 73: Selfoss – Grímsnes

• Revised route within Selfoss – stops at N1 Selfoss, FSU, and the Town Hall (Ráðhúsið)
• Stops at Þrastarlundur, Þóroddsstaðir, and Þjórsárdalsvegur removed

Route 55: KEF – Airport – Reykjavík

• Revised route within Reykjanesbær
• Timetables coordinated with Reykjanesbær’s local buses at the main terminal (Miðstöð)
• No longer serves Ásbrú; now stops only at Miðstöð and Tjarnarhverfi
• Five daily trips to and from BSÍ on weekdays; at other times, buses run to and from Fjörður in Hafnarfjörður
• Bicycles accepted on designated trips as listed in the timetable

Route 87: Vogar – Reykjanesbær Miðstöð

• Fewer trips to Reykjanesbær
• All trips to Reykjanesbær, will stop at the FS bus stop, which will be named Holtaskóli – FS, and at Miðstöð
• Connects with Route 55 at the Vogar junction for transfers to and from the capital area during morning and afternoon trips

Route 89: Garður – Sandgerði – Reykjanesbær Miðstöð

• Travel direction reversed: now runs Garður – Sandgerði – KEF Airport – Reykjanesbær
• Selected trips will continue to Keflavík Airport; the first trip from Garður departs at 05:12 and arrives at the airport at 05:30
• Weekday trips reduced from eleven to eight per day
• Revised route within Suðurnesjabær – stops at Garðvangur and Pósthúsið in Garður, and at Varðan and the Sports Centre (Íþróttamiðstöð) in Sandgerði
• All trips to Reykjanesbær, will stop at the FS bus stop, which will be named Holtaskóli – FS, and at Miðstöð

Route 57, which currently operates between Reykjavík and Akureyri, will be divided into two separate routes:

• Route 50: Reykjavík – Akranes – Borgarnes
• Route 57: Reykjavík – Akureyri

This means that the service between Reykjavík, Akranes, and Borgarnes will operate independently of the Reykjavík–Akureyri route, resulting in a more reliable timetable.

Route 50: Reykjavík – Akranes / Borgarnes

• Operates between Reykjavík, Akranes, and Borgarnes
• Increased frequency between Akranes and Borgarnes
• Revised route within Akranes – stops at Þjóðbraut, Bæjarskrifstofan, and Innnesvegur

Route 57: Akureyri – Reykjavík

• Operates between Reykjavík and Akureyri without stopping in Akranes
• Passengers from Akranes traveling further north than Borgarnes can take Route 50 to Borgarnes and transfer there to Route 57
• One trip per day, every day – timetable adjusted to align with the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration’s winter service schedule
• Drives to MA and VMA dormitories on Sunday evenings
• Drives from Akureyri Airport on the Akureyri-Reykjavík route

Route 58: Stykkishólmur – Borgarnes

• Same frequency as before
• New timetable – connects with Route 50 in Borgarnes for travel to and from the capital area
• Continues to connect with Route 82 at the Vatnaleið stop
• Now stops at the Stykkishólmur Swimming Pool (Sundlaugin Stykkishólmi) instead of Olís

Route 59: Borgarnes – Hólmavík

• Same frequency as before
• New timetable – connects with Route 50 in Borgarnes for travel to and from the capital area

Route 81: Borgarnes – Reykholt

• Operating days reduced from five to three – runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays

Route 82: Hellissandur – Stykkishólmur

• Same frequency as before
• New timetable – continues to connect with Route 58 at the Vatnaleið stop
• Now stops at the Stykkishólmur Swimming Pool (Sundlaugin Stykkishólmi) instead of Olís

Route 84: Skagaströnd – Blönduós

• Same frequency as before
• Continues to connects with Route 57 in Blönduós

Route 56: Egilsstaðir – Akureyri

• Route direction reversed; will now operate Egilsstaðir – Akureyri – Egilsstaðir
• Always drives to and from Akureyri Airport, and timetables are coordinated with scheduled flights to and from Reykjavík

Route 78: Siglufjörður – Akureyri

• Drives to and from Akureyri Airport; except for the morning trip, timetables are aligned with scheduled flights to and from Reykjavík
• Revised route within Akureyri on weekday mornings – continues to stop at University of Akureyri (HA), VMA, and MA, but the Kaupvangsstræti stop will be removed
• The Borgarbraut/Háskóli stop (University of Akureyri) will be removed and replaced by Dalsbraut/Norðurslóð

Route 79: Húsavík – Akureyri

• Timetable adjusted in line with the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration’s winter service schedule
• Always drives to and from Akureyri Airport; except for the morning trip, timetables are aligned with scheduled flights to and from Reykjavík
• Revised route within Akureyri on weekday mornings – continues to stop at University of Akureyri (HA), VMA, and MA
• The Borgarbraut/Háskóli stop (University of Akureyri) will be removed and replaced by Dalsbraut/Klettaborg