INFORMATION ABOUT COVID-19 TRAVEL REGULATIONS FOR VISITORS TO ICELAND
By ferry from Denmark:
Smyril Line operates a weekly car ferry between Hirtshals (Denmark) and Seyðisfjörður. Booking information can be found on their website: http://www.smyrilline.com This is probably the most beautiful way to arrive in Iceland, and you’ll set foot on land right at Skaftfell’s doorstep. Bring seasickness tablets. Skaftfell can negotiate a 10% discount on the ferry ticket for residency artists during the low season.
By plane:
When arriving in Iceland at Keflavik International Airport, Seyðisfjörður is still a small journey away. You will first have to make the transit from Keflavik Airport to the Reykjavík Domestic Airport: There are several companies providing an airport bus service, for example Flybus (https://www.re.is/flybus/) which will take you to the BSÍ central bus station. From BSÍ it is a 20 min walk or short taxi ride to the Reykjavík Domestic Airport (for Air Iceland Connect). Some airport bus companies offer a drop-off at the domestic airport for an additional fee. You should calculate at least 2,5 hours for the transfer between airports.
From Reykjavik Domestic Airport you fly to Egilsstaðir. Air Iceland Connect operates this flight several times a day and it takes one hour. https://www.airicelandconnect.com Please make sure to coordinate your arrival time in Egilsstaðir with the local minibus from Egilsstaðir to Seyðisfjörður – it operates only two times a day and not on Sundays or public holidays. Taking the morning flight from Reykjavík is usually the best option. The minibus timetable Egilsstaðir – Seyðisfjörður can be found here: http://www.visitseydisfjordur.com/project/local-bus-schedule/
The minibus will take you over the mountain pass Fjarðarheiði into Seyðisfjörður in approximately 25 min. We are sorry to say that we don’t have enough staff capacity to pick you up from the airport. But if linking the flight to the bus schedule is absolutely impossible, or if you miss the bus, you could hitchhike, or take a taxi, which will cost around 12.000 ISK (70 Euros).
Taxi contacts: Guttormur 00354-6594828; Jón 00354-8982625.
By car/bus:
It is also possible to travel to East Iceland by rental car (there are plenty of car rental companies at Keflavík Airport to choose from). The car journey takes 8-10 hours depending on weather/road conditions. In the winter months (November to April) traveling by road can be problematic due to bad weather and icy roads, so please consider if you feel confident and experienced enough to drive in these conditions. We usually recommend taking the plane during winter.
Traveling by scheduled bus from Reykjavík takes around 14 hours and/or requires a one-night stopover in Akureyri or Höfn. It is a beautiful way to get to know the country and it’s landscape a little bit on the way. https://www.re.is/iceland-on-your-own/; www.straeto.is
Return travel:
Please note that travel might be difficult during the winter (and sometimes during the rest of the year too) due to bad weather conditions. Occasionally Seyðisfjörður gets snowed in and the mountain road to the airport is closed, so we cannot reach the airport for a day or two. Especially in the winter it is therefore advisable to book changeable flights in order to remain flexible, and to allow two days between your inland flight (from Egilsstaðir to Reykjavik) and your international flight (from Keflavik).
If you have any questions please contact residency@archive.skaftfell.is
Happy travels!