Iceland guide
A Stopover in Iceland, on the Way to Europe
Flying between North America and Europe with Icelandair, you change planes at Keflavík. You can turn that connection into a stopover of up to a week in Iceland at no extra airfare, or use a long layover to see something of the country before your next flight. Here is how the stopover works and what fits into one day, three days or a week.
At a glance
- What
- A stay in Iceland between transatlantic flights
- Length
- One night up to a week
- Airfare
- No additional airfare, per Icelandair
- Booking
- Added when you book on icelandair.com
- Airport
- Keflavík, about 45 minutes from Reykjavík
What is the Icelandair Stopover?
Icelandair flies between North America and Europe through its hub at Keflavík. When you book a transatlantic trip with them, you can add a stopover in Iceland, from one night up to a week, without paying more for the flights. You pay for where you stay and what you do on the ground.
You add it while booking on Icelandair’s Stopover page: pick your destination, then choose the number of nights in Iceland. Which options you get can depend on the fare, so check the details there when you book.
Stopover or layover?
A layover is the time between two connecting flights on the same ticket, usually a few hours at Keflavík. A stopover is a planned stay of one night or more, built into the ticket.
Many flights from North America land early in the morning, and onward flights to Europe leave later that morning or in the afternoon. With a long enough wait, you can leave the airport, see the Reykjanes peninsula right next to it, bathe in the Blue Lagoon and be back for your flight. That is exactly what our Stopover tour is built for: it starts at the airport around 07:30, stops for breakfast, takes in lava fields, geothermal areas and the drying racks for stockfish, and ends with about two hours at the Blue Lagoon before you go back to the terminal.
Iceland is in the Schengen area, so leaving the airport means entering Schengen. Check the entry rules for your passport, including any pre-travel authorisation, before you fly.
One day in Iceland
With a single day, do the classic: the Golden Circle, with Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, all within two hours of Reykjavík. The alternative is the South Coast, a longer day to the waterfalls and the black sand beach at Reynisfjara.
If you land in the morning and only have that day, the Reykjanes peninsula between the airport and the city gives you lava fields, hot springs and the coast without the long drive.
Two or three days
Two days fit the Golden Circle and the South Coast. A third can go to the Snæfellsnes peninsula, quieter and more varied, or to a slower day around Reykjavík and the Reykjanes peninsula.
Between September and April, keep the evenings free: a clear night is a chance to see the northern lights, and each extra night raises the odds.
Four days to a week
With four days or more there is room for the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach in the south-east. It is the longest day trip from Reykjavík, about 14 hours, so it fits better when it is not one of only two days.
In winter a longer stopover also makes room for a northern lights trip into the countryside. We run those for three to five days, staying where the sky looks clearest each night.
Getting from Keflavík airport
Keflavík is about 50 km from Reykjavík, around 45 minutes by road. Airport buses and taxis run into the city, and the Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes from the terminal.
With a private tour the guide meets you in the arrivals hall with a sign, and the day is planned around your flight times, not a bus timetable. Our Arrival tour takes you from the airport around the Reykjanes peninsula and to the Blue Lagoon, then on to your hotel.
Volcanic activity near Grindavík has closed the Blue Lagoon at times since 2023. Check that it is open before you plan a day around it.
What guests said about airport days with Thor
TripAdvisor
Based on 149 reviews
Thor is the Best
I toured Iceland twice with Thor ! Every time he was considerate, on time. He is a great driver on snow and ice. We trusted him with our lives! He knows Iceland history and regaled us with stories. He cares about the people and his country. Those blue eyes and that smile welcomed us. He even woke upon at 4 am to take me to the airport! That is genuine kindness and commitment! Best tours with lots of places to discover. Thanks a million! You are the best!!
Wonderful tour and airport transfer service
We arranged by email for our group a private full day minibus tour of Golden Circle plus Fontana spa. We cannot be more satisfied with the service provided to us. Thor was a great tour guide and it was a real pleasure to work with him. He took us first off the beaten path to avoid the big crowds. He also arranged for us the transfer to KEF airport at the end of our Iceland cruise. We had a morning flight to catch so it was comforting to see the driver waiting for us when we got off the ship. The cost was much lower than going by taxi.
A US group of family and friends (7 of us) did tours with Thor, the owner of Salty Tours. It was overwhelming. He is the best. We did full day excursions to the Golden Circle and South Coast sites. We also drove to view the Nothern Lights, and were driven to and from the Blue Lagoon and The Sky Lagoon. Thor also got us to and from the airport. He was recommended to us by a friend. He knows much about the country and its history. He tailored the tour to the weather conditions and our preferences. He was an excellent companion to our group. A private tour is the best way for a group to see Iceland, and we would highly recommend Thor as your guide. Its easy to communicate with him while planning the trip, and his costs are very competitive with other tour guides.
FAQ
Questions about the Icelandair Stopover
Is the Icelandair Stopover free?
There is no additional airfare for adding a stopover in Iceland to a transatlantic Icelandair ticket. You pay for your accommodation, food and anything you do while you are there.
How long can an Icelandair Stopover be?
From one night up to a week, according to Icelandair. The options can depend on your fare, so check when you book.
Can I leave the airport on a layover in Iceland?
Yes, if your passport lets you enter the Schengen area and you have the time. Allow for passport control on the way out and security on the way back. Our Stopover tour starts at the airport around 07:30 and gets you back for your flight.
What can I do on a layover in Iceland?
The Reykjanes peninsula is right next to the airport: lava fields, geothermal areas, the coast and the Blue Lagoon, all within a few hours of the terminal.
How far is Reykjavík from Keflavík airport?
About 50 km, around 45 minutes by road.
Is a stopover in Iceland worth it?
Yes. One extra day is enough for the Golden Circle, and a few days add the South Coast, Snæfellsnes or, in winter, the northern lights, on a ticket you were buying anyway.
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