Flying from Seattle to Reykjavik: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can start your trip from in Seattle. Explore your options leaving from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA) or Seattle Lake Union SPB Airport (LKE) when organising your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik.
Come in for landing at Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF), the chief entry point to Reykjavik.
Around 7 hours 30 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct Seattle to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik's timezone is UTC+0, making Reykjavik eight hours ahead of Seattle.
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF) is the busiest route. When booking your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik, you can select from 14 services a week between SEA and KEF.
To ensure you make your Seattle to Reykjavik flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seattle to Reykjavik
To score cheap Seattle to Reykjavik flights, book your trip five months ahead of your planned departure.
Plan your trip for October. That's the best month for scoring great bargains on plane tickets from Seattle to Reykjavik. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from Seattle to Reykjavik by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' Seattle to Reykjavik flights.
Flying from Seattle
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
You can get a direct flight from Seattle to Reykjavik jetting off from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Begin your trip at SEA and arrive at Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF).
Keep an eye out for promotions with Icelandair. This airline offers direct Seattle to Reykjavik plane tickets from SEA.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and maybe even explore another city. When browsing Seattle to Reykjavik flights departing from Seattle / Tacoma International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Minneapolis St Paul Airport (MSP)
Portland Airport (PDX)
Located around 19 kilometres from central Seattle, SEA can be reached in about 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 35 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Seattle to Reykjavik? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and enjoy a little extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to Seattle / Tacoma International Airport:
Seattle / Tacoma International Airport has a strong on-time performance, so you're unlikely to face delays. Departures from SEA land at their destination as scheduled 80% of the time.
Arriving in Reykjavik
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF)
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik takes about 45 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 40 kilometres away.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 55 minutes.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Seattle to Reykjavik. Check in to one of these accommodation options near KEF instead:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up a Reykjavik Keflavik Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar or Flizzr to explore Reykjavik and beyond.
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Reykjavik Keflavik Airport around four weeks in advance of your Seattle to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV)
After your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik has hit the runway, you can get to the city centre in about 10 minutes by car. Central Reykjavik is roughly 2 kilometres from Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV).
If you hop on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 20 minutes or so.
You'll find some comfortable places to lay your head close to RKV. Tuck yourself in after your Seattle to Reykjavik flight at one of these well-located options:
No time to waste? The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Reykjavik Domestic Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Europcar, RAS Car Rental or Hertz and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Get the lowest price by booking your ride from RKV three weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a bigger selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Reykjavik
August is the most popular month for flights from Seattle to Reykjavik. To skip the crowds, visit Reykjavik in March.
Before locking in your Seattle to Reykjavik tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in Reykjavik, with temperatures ranging from 8ºC to 15ºC.
December sees average temperatures of between -6ºC and 4ºC. Look for cheap flights from Seattle to Reykjavik around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Reykjavik
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Reykjavik right here. Browse these options after you've booked your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Aurora Reykjavík - The Northern Lights Centre, Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre and Sun Voyager are top attractions which should be on any good Reykjavik itinerary.
Explore more of Iceland
Kópavogur is just one of the many cities in Iceland waiting to be discovered after you've seen Reykjavik. Around 5 kilometres to the south, check out popular attractions including Heidmork Nature Reserve, Peningagja-Nikulasargja Gorge and Digraneskirkja.
If you're interested in discovering another major destination in Iceland, head for Hafnarfjörður, roughly 10 kilometres south of Reykjavik. Vidistadatun Sculpture Park, Ytri Tunga Beach and Helgafell are highlights.
