Travelling from Chicago to Reykjavik: what you need to know
Start your travel planning by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) are the main airports in Chicago.
Disembark at Reykjavik's chief entry point, Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Hop on a direct Chicago to Reykjavik flight and you'll be travelling for an average of 6 hours 15 minutes.
Reykjavik is five hours ahead of Chicago and observes the UTC+0 timezone.
With 12 weekly flights between the two airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is the busiest route. Hop on the first flight from Chicago to Reykjavik with Icelandair at 18:30. If you prefer to get more out of your day before leaving, the last flight from ORD to KEF is with Icelandair at 22:15.
To ensure you make it on your Chicago to Reykjavik flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Getting on a plane during a peak month like August? Busy periods (like Thanksgiving, Christmas/New Year and spring break) can add an hour at security. Be extra safe and arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Reykjavik
To snag cheap Chicago to Reykjavik flights, reserve your trip four months ahead of your planned departure.
The best month for landing cheap plane tickets from Chicago to Reykjavik is July. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates with the lowest fares.
There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you when a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Chicago to Reykjavik.
Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Chicago to Reykjavik flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Depart from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. From ORD, you can fly directly to Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Lock in your Chicago to Reykjavik plane tickets with Icelandair. This carrier is a popular option for direct flights from ORD.
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Chicago to Reykjavik flight. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from O'Hare International Airport. Break up the journey at one of these airports:
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Located around 16 miles from the centre of Chicago, ORD can be reached in about 35 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport is roughly 55 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Chicago to Reykjavik? Avoid rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels close to O'Hare International Airport:
74.85% of flights that take off from O'Hare International Airport touch down at their destination on schedule.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Visit friends or family or just take a moment to stretch your legs with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your Chicago to Reykjavik flight, browse these options when leaving from Chicago Midway International Airport:
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
MDW is about 9 miles from central Chicago. It'll take 20 minutes or so to get to the airport driving from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before catching your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik? Unwind in a hotel near Chicago Midway International Airport before your adventure officially starts. Consider one of these stays:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 77.88%.
You'll find MDW at 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
The distance from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik is approximately 25 miles. It'll take you about 50 minutes to get to the centre driving.
Travelling to the centre by public transport typically takes 1 hour 15 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. Reserve one of these accommodation options near KEF instead:
Grab a Keflavik International Airport rental car and discover Reykjavik and beyond with your own wheels. Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar and Flizzr are popular outlets you can book with here.
For the best deal, book your ride from Keflavik International Airport around four weeks in advance of your Chicago to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik International Airport (RKV)
Reykjavik International Airport (RKV) is around 1 mile from the centre of Reykjavik. Once you've hopped off your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, it takes approximately 5 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
The trip will take roughly 25 minutes on public transport.
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Reykjavik International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Europcar, RAS Car Hire or Hertz and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Call dibs on the best options. Booking your ride from RKV three weeks ahead of time often means better prices and a greater range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Reykjavik
It's time to plan your trip dates for your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. July is the busiest month to visit Reykjavik. If you like a quieter vibe, go in January.
The warmest month in Reykjavik is July, with temperatures ranging between 8ºC (46ºF) and 15ºC (59ºF). Lock in your Chicago to Reykjavik ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Chicago to Reykjavik in December when temperatures average between -6ºC (21ºF) and 4ºC (39ºF).
More about Reykjavik
Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Reykjavik:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. Hallgrimskirkja silhouette, Perlan and National Museum of Iceland are must-do's during your Reykjavik adventure.
Explore more of Iceland
Reykjavik is always a good idea, but there are so many other corners of Iceland just waiting to be discovered. Around 3 miles south of Reykjavik, a trip to Kópavogur will keep you on the go. Start with attractions like Yndisgarðurinn, Fífu parkið and Elliðavatns-stífla.
Hafnarfjörður is another essential stop in Iceland and is around 6 miles south of Reykjavik. No journey is complete without seeing Höfðaskógur forest, Dog relief area in Hafnarfjordur and Víðistaðatún.