Iceland
Land of extremes. Waterfalls that shake the ground, glaciers you can walk on, and the best airport lounge you'll ever visit.
Iceland is one of those places that looks impossible in photographs and somehow even more impossible in person. I first visited in 2018 on a whim - an Icelandair sale fare from Heathrow - and have been back three times since. Each trip has revealed something new, and each has cost more than I expected. That's just Iceland.
If you are short on time: rent a car, bring layers, do not skip the Saga Lounge, and budget more than you think you will need.
The Best Time to Visit Iceland
The real answer is that there's no bad time, but there are trade-offs. June through August gives you the best weather and near-24-hour daylight - perfect for driving the Ring Road and hiking. But it's also peak season: prices spike, car rentals sell out months in advance, and popular spots like the Golden Circle can feel crowded.
September is my favourite window. The crowds thin out, autumn colours appear, and you get a genuine shot at Northern Lights while still having enough daylight to explore. I saw the aurora three times in ten days on my September trip. The weather can turn quickly though - I was stranded in Hofn for two days when a storm closed the eastern Ring Road. Build buffer days into any autumn itinerary.
Winter (November to March) is for Northern Lights chasers and those who like their landscapes dramatic. Days are short - sometimes just four hours of usable light - and driving conditions can be genuinely dangerous. I wouldn't recommend a winter trip unless you're comfortable on icy roads or you're sticking to Reykjavik and organised tours.
Monthly temperature
June to August for midnight sun and hiking. November to March for Northern Lights. Iceland is cold year-round by most standards - even July averages just 13°C.
Getting there
Select your origin to see the best routing options.
Short and direct - under three hours from the UK and Ireland. Icelandair is the backbone (and the Saga Lounge at KEF is genuinely worth it); Play is the budget option.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icelandair | DUB/LHR/MAN - KEF | Direct | ~3h | Widest network. The stopover programme breaks a transatlantic trip here at no extra airfare. |
| Play | STN - KEF | Direct | ~3h | Budget from Stansted. Basic seat, less reliable schedule. |
| easyJet / Jet2 | LGW/MAN - KEF | Direct | ~3h | Seasonal leisure routes from several UK airports. |
Iceland's whole model is the transatlantic stopover - direct from the East Coast, and you can break the journey here for up to a week at no extra airfare.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icelandair | JFK/BOS/EWR/IAD - KEF | Direct | ~5-6h | Direct from multiple East Coast hubs; the stopover programme is one of aviation's better deals. |
| Play | BOS/BWI - KEF | Direct | ~5-6h | Low-cost transatlantic from the East Coast. |
Direct service is seasonal from a few western cities; otherwise connect via the East Coast.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icelandair | SEA/SFO/DEN - KEF | Direct | ~7-8h | Seasonal nonstops from the West Coast. |
| Icelandair | LAX - JFK - KEF | 1 stop | 13-15h | Year-round via an East Coast hub. |
No direct option - route via a European or North American hub.
| Carrier | Route | Type | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas + Icelandair | SYD - LHR - KEF | 1 stop | 26h+ | Connect in London onto Icelandair. |
| via US East | SYD - JFK/BOS - KEF | 2 stops | 28h+ | Connect through the US East Coast. |
Where to go
Almost everything sits on or near the Ring Road. Guides below; fuller hubs to come.
Getting around Iceland
Outside Reykjavik, a rental car is not optional - it is the only way to see the country properly. There are no trains, and the bus network is thin and mostly summer-only. The Ring Road (Route 1) loops the island in about 1,300km and links almost everything worth seeing; F-roads into the highlands need a 4WD. From KEF, it is a 45-minute drive or bus to Reykjavik.
Tested routes
2025Icelandair Saga Premium: worth the upgrade?Very good→2023Icelandair Economy: Dublin to KeflavikGood→Planning the logistics?
The facts above are the short version. The full libraries - every carrier, lounge and port - live one level down under Getting There.