🚌 Southbound Ring Road Express

Strætó Route 57: Akureyri Reykjavík

The essential southbound Ring Road bus service. Travel from Akureyri, the Capital of North Iceland, back to Reykjavík (Mjódd E), crossing scenic fjords, glacial rivers, and mountain passes.

57

Live Map — Akureyri to Reykjavík (Line 57 Southbound)

Real-time coach locations, stop markers & full route alignment

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Distance & Duration
~388 km (6h 36m)
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Origin Departure
Akureyri (Airport / Hof)
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Arrival Terminus
Mjódd E (Reykjavík)
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Single Adult Fare
13,200 ISK (22 Zones)

📍 Route Overview & Key Hubs

Traverse Northern and Western Iceland back to the Capital Area

Strætó Line 57 in the southbound direction departs from Akureyri Airport (13:41) and the central Hof Cultural Center (13:49), covering ~388 km along Route 1 (Ring Road) to arrive at Mjódd E in Reykjavík at 20:25 (total travel time: 6 hours 36 minutes).

Key Stops & Service Stations Along the Route

  • Akureyri Airport & Hof: Primary departure hubs in North Iceland, linking air travelers and city center passengers to long-distance coaches.
  • Varmahlíð: Skagafjörður service junction near historic horse breeding valleys.
  • Blönduós (N1): Historic coastal town on the mouth of the glacial river Blanda.
  • Staðarskáli (Hrútafjörður): The primary strategic staging and layover hub for Vegagerðin coaches, offering dining, facilities, and driver shifts at the nexus of major mountain passes.
  • Borgarnes (Hyrnan): Scenic coastal hub in West Iceland overlooking Borgarfjörður.
  • Ártún A & Mjódd E: Capital region entry points providing immediate transfers to local city buses across Reykjavík.

⏱️ Frequency & Southbound Timetable

Daily departure at 13:41 from Akureyri Airport / 13:49 from Hof

Route 57 operates 1 scheduled departure daily in each direction seven days a week. Auxiliary Sunday evening runs also operate during the academic school year for secondary school and university students (MA/VMA).

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Mountain Pass Alert: Öxnadalsheiði & Winter Conditions

Line 57 must cross high mountain passes including Öxnadalsheiði (540m elevation), Vatnsskarð, and Holtavörðuheiði. During winter (October to May), heavy blizzards can cause pass closures. If a pass closes, coaches hold at Staðarskáli or terminate safely. Always check road conditions on Umferdin.is and weather alerts on Vedur.is prior to departure.

🎫 Fares, Zone Tariff & Payment Protocols

Vegagerðin distance-based zonal pricing schedule

Country coach routes in Iceland are governed by Vegagerðin zonal tariffs. The trip from Akureyri to Reykjavík on Line 57 crosses 22 fare zones:

Passenger Category Discount Level Single Ticket Price
Adults (18–66 years) Full Fare (22 × 600 ISK) 13,200 ISK
Youth (12–17 years) 50% Discount (22 × 300 ISK) 6,600 ISK
Seniors (67+) & Disabled 50% Discount (22 × 300 ISK) 6,600 ISK
Children (0–11 years) 100% Free 0 ISK

Onboard Payment Guidelines

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Credit / Debit Card Contactless & chip card payments are accepted onboard directly with the driver
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Cash (Exact Change) ISK banknotes accepted onboard. Drivers carry no change, so exact amount is required
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Klapp App Digital Single Tickets Klapp app single city tickets cannot be validated onboard provincial country lines