Overview
Few destinations reward a short flight as generously as Iceland. In about three hours from the UK you swap city life for glaciers, volcanic plains, geysers and waterfalls, with the Northern Lights in winter and the midnight sun in summer. Reykjavík makes a compact, walkable base, and this hub covers every Icelandic gateway we fly to, so you can compare routes and live fares in one place.
Best time to fly to Iceland
Iceland works year-round, and timing depends on what you want to see. June to August brings the mildest weather, long daylight and full highland access, but it is the busiest and priciest period. September to March is Northern Lights season, with October, February and March balancing dark skies and manageable conditions. May and September are quieter, lower-fare shoulder months — see the When to book chart above for how prices shift through the year.
Main gateway cities & airports
Almost all UK arrivals land at Keflavík International Airport (KEF), about 50 minutes by coach from central Reykjavík. Keflavík handles international flights; the small Reykjavík Airport (RKV) in the city itself is used for domestic routes to Akureyri, the Westman Islands and Ísafjörður, plus services to Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Airlines and routes
Icelandair flies year-round from London Heathrow and Gatwick, Manchester and Glasgow. Budget carrier Play operates from London Stansted, and easyJet links Iceland with Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh; Jet2 and British Airways add seasonal and regional services. Most routes are direct, with a typical flight time of around 3 hours from London and about 2 hours 45 minutes from Manchester. Connecting fares via Amsterdam or Dublin rarely beat the nonstop — check the price charts on this page.
Popular places to visit in Iceland
- Reykjavík: the world's northernmost capital, with the landmark Hallgrímskirkja church, the Harpa concert hall and a lively café scene.
- Golden Circle: the classic day loop of Þingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and the Gullfoss waterfall.
- Blue Lagoon: a geothermal spa of milky-blue water in a lava field, set between Keflavík Airport and the capital.
- South Coast: black-sand beaches at Reynisfjara, the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon further east.
- Akureyri and Lake Mývatn: the northern capital and a volcanic lake district of craters and hot springs, quieter than the south.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Iceland
- Travel in the May or September shoulder season and fly midweek where you can — weekend departures carry a premium.
- Compare Play and easyJet against Icelandair, which often includes a bag and seat that budget fares charge extra for.
- Check more than one UK airport; a regional Jet2 or easyJet flight can undercut London.
- Use the price charts on this page to find the cheapest weeks, and set a fare alert rather than booking the first quote.
Travel essentials
Iceland is in the Schengen Area, so UK passport holders can visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; your passport should be valid for the length of your stay. The currency is the Icelandic króna (ISK), but cards are accepted almost everywhere, even for small purchases, so you will rarely need cash. Book two to three months ahead for summer and Christmas travel, and check the When to book chart above before you confirm.
