Keflavik

Suburban Coastal Beaches

Population: 23k

Cost of Living: High

Train Access: No

Bus Access: Yes (Strætó public bus service; regional bus connections to Reykjavík and surrounding areas)

Weather: Keflavík has a cool oceanic climate, with windy, changeable weather, cool summers, and relatively mild winters for its latitude. Fog, rain, and strong Atlantic winds are common, and conditions can shift quickly from calm to harsh.

A runway, a harbor, and a town of roughly 20,000 people give Keflavík an outsized role on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula. Most visitors first meet it through Keflavík International Airport, but the town itself has its own pace: low-rise streets, a working waterfront, and a practical, no-frills feel shaped by fishing, transport, and the constant movement of people arriving and leaving. It sits close to the edge of the North Atlantic, where weather can change quickly and the sea is never far from view. The town is part of the municipality of Reykjanesbær, and that connection matters in daily life, with schools, shops, sports facilities, and services spread across a compact urban area rather than a single historic center. Keflavík’s identity is tied to the coast and to Iceland’s role as a crossroads between continents, so it feels more like a gateway than a destination that tries to perform for tourists. Even so, there are reasons to linger: the harbor, the open horizon, and the sense that the town is built for real life rather than postcard effect. It is also a place where the landscape stays close at hand. Lava fields, black rock, and the raw Atlantic edge are part of the setting, and the wider Reykjanes area is known for geothermal activity and stark volcanic scenery. Keflavík does not rely on grand monuments or a dense old quarter; its appeal comes from its location, its working-town character, and the way it connects everyday Icelandic life with international travel. For people passing through, it can seem like an arrival point. For people who live there, it is a practical coastal town with strong links to the rest of the country and a front-row seat to the weather, the sea, and the airport traffic overhead.

BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions
Get Quote

BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions (BCBS) offers global health plans for international assignments or trips lasting 6 months or longer. With access to over 1.7M medical providers in 190 countries around the world, BCBS provides members with solutions and industry-leading digital services - ensuring top-quality coverage to people who live, work, study and travel internationally.

BlueCross BlueShield Global Solutions

Keep reading. It is free.