Flights to Iceland

Last updated: 2026-09-01 · Totally Iceland Team

Start with the right airport

For almost every international visitor, Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is the airport that matters. It sits on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavík, and is Iceland's main international hub.

Do not confuse it with Reykjavík Airport (RKV) near the city centre. RKV is primarily used for domestic services and a small number of regional international flights. If your hotel, rental car or transfer is in Reykjavík, check the airport code on every booking before paying.

Iceland's flight network changes by season

Iceland is well connected to both Europe and North America, but the exact list of nonstop routes changes through the year. Summer usually brings the broadest network, while some secondary-city services are seasonal or operate only a few times a week.

Icelandair remains the main Icelandic network carrier at KEF and uses the airport as a connecting hub between Europe and North America. Its network continues to change: for example, Icelandair launched Venice service in May 2026 and has announced Gdańsk for the 2026/27 winter season.

Do not rely on older travel articles that still list PLAY as an operating airline. PLAY ceased operations on 29 September 2025, and all of its flights were cancelled.

Direct flight or connection?

A nonstop flight is usually worth paying a little more for when the alternative creates a fragile self-transfer or a very short connection. Icelandic weather can disrupt operations, and separate tickets can leave you responsible for rebooking if the first flight runs late.

A connecting itinerary can still be good value when:

• the whole journey is on one protected ticket;
• the connection airport has enough time for immigration, security or terminal changes;
• checked baggage is transferred through automatically; and
• your first Iceland night is not tied to a high-risk late arrival.

If you are building your own connection from separate tickets, treat it as two independent journeys and leave a much larger buffer.

How long does it take to fly to Iceland?

Actual times vary with winds and routing, but Iceland is closer to many major cities than its map position suggests.

Typical nonstop flying time is roughly:

Treat these as planning ranges, not promises. Your ticketed schedule is the figure that matters.

When should you book?

There is no universally cheapest month or magic number of days in advance. Fares move with school holidays, route capacity, major events, fuel costs and competition.

For June to August, Christmas/New Year and popular northern-lights weekends, start comparing earlier because flights, accommodation and rental cars all compete for the same peak demand. Shoulder months can offer better value, but a bargain airfare is not useful if the arrival time forces an expensive private transfer or an extra hotel night.

Compare the total trip cost, including:

• baggage and seat fees;
• airport transport;
• an extra connection hotel if needed;
• rental-car pickup timing;
• cancellation/change conditions; and
• the cost of a missed independently booked connection.

Keflavík to Reykjavík

There is no passenger train between KEF and Reykjavík. Road transport is the normal connection, and the drive is roughly 45 minutes in normal conditions.

The main choices are:

Airport coach

Scheduled airport buses are straightforward for most city stays. Check whether your ticket ends at a central terminal or includes a smaller hotel/stop transfer.

Rental car

Picking up at KEF makes sense when you are leaving Reykjavík immediately for a road trip. In winter, avoid turning a late-night arrival into your first long drive if you are tired or unfamiliar with Icelandic conditions.

Taxi or private transfer

This is the most direct choice but usually the most expensive. It can make sense for families, groups, travellers with lots of luggage or awkward arrival times.

Build a realistic arrival day

The scheduled landing time is not the time you will reach Reykjavík. Allow for taxiing, immigration where applicable, baggage claim, collecting a rental car or waiting for your transfer.

If you land late, keep the first evening simple. If you are heading straight to the South Coast or another region, check road and weather conditions before leaving KEF rather than assuming a summer-style drive time.

What about an Icelandair stopover?

Icelandair markets stopovers in Iceland on eligible transatlantic itineraries between Europe and North America. The airline currently allows stopovers of up to seven nights on qualifying bookings without an additional airfare specifically for the stopover, although taxes, fare availability and conditions still apply.

This can be useful when Iceland is part of a larger trip, but compare the full fare against booking Iceland as a separate destination. A stopover is valuable only when the dates and baggage/fare rules suit your actual journey.

Weather and disruption planning

Iceland's aviation system is designed for a windy North Atlantic climate, but disruption still happens. Strong winds, snow, poor visibility and knock-on delays elsewhere in the network can affect flights.

For a high-stakes connection — a cruise departure, international long-haul ticket, wedding, tour with no refund or a domestic flight on a separate ticket — build in more margin than you would for a normal city break.

Before you leave for the airport

On travel day:

1. check your airline app and KEF flight status;
2. confirm which airport and terminal information applies;
3. check baggage allowances again;
4. allow extra time if weather warnings or road disruption are active; and
5. keep your first Iceland transfer details offline as well as on your phone.

The best flight to Iceland is the one that gets you there at a sensible time, on a protected itinerary, with enough flexibility for the conditions you may actually meet.