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Where you'll land
Almost all international flights land at Keflavík International Airport (KEF), about 45 minutes' drive southwest of Reykjavik. Reykjavik's smaller domestic airport (RVK), inside the city, mainly handles internal flights to places like Akureyri and the Westman Islands — you won't land there on an international flight.
Who flies there
Iceland's geographic position — roughly midway between North America and continental Europe — has made it a genuine long-haul stopover hub, not just a destination in its own right.
- Icelandair is the flag carrier and has by far the widest route network, including a "stopover" program that lets you break a US–Europe journey in Iceland for a few days at no extra airfare.
- Play, a newer low-cost carrier, connects Iceland with a growing list of European and North American cities.
- Major European carriers and a handful of US airlines run seasonal or year-round direct routes from hubs like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Boston, New York and Denver, with more routes added in summer.
Typical flight times
| From | Approx. flight time |
|---|---|
| London / Dublin | ~3 hours |
| Paris / Amsterdam / Frankfurt | ~3.5–4 hours |
| New York / Boston | ~5.5–6 hours |
| Denver | ~7.5 hours |
| West Coast USA | Usually via a connection |
When fares are cheapest
Fares generally track the seasons: winter (excluding the December holidays) tends to be cheapest, shoulder season (April–May, September–October) is moderate, and June–August carries the highest prices alongside the highest hotel and car rental rates. Booking 2–4 months ahead for shoulder season and 4–6 months ahead for summer is a reasonable rule of thumb, though fares to KEF fluctuate with fuel prices and route competition like any other market.
Getting from the airport into Reykjavik
Keflavík Airport doesn't have a train link, so your main options are:
- Airport transfer buses (the two main operators run frequent departures timed to flights) — the easiest and cheapest option for most visitors, usually with a hotel drop-off add-on.
- Rental car pickup directly at the airport, worth it if you're heading straight out on a road trip rather than staying in Reykjavik first.
- Taxis or private transfers, the most expensive option but the most direct.
Booking tip
If you're using Icelandair's free stopover, you can typically stay for up to seven nights at no extra flight cost when flying between North America and Europe — a genuinely good way to add Iceland to a longer trip rather than book it as a separate holiday.
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