Flying from Seattle to Reykjavik: what you need to know
Begin planning your holiday by considering where you'll board your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE) are the main airports in Seattle.
Hop off the plane at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), the chief entry point to Reykjavik.
Around 7 hours 30 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct Seattle to Reykjavik flight.
The timezone in Reykjavik is UTC+0, which is seven hours ahead of Seattle.
With 13 flights a week between the two airports, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is the most popular route. Board the earliest flight from Seattle to Reykjavik with Icelandair at 14:35. If you'd like to make the most of your day before taking off, the latest flight from SEA to KEF is with Icelandair at 23:30.
Leave plenty of time to make your Seattle to Reykjavik flight. As a general rule, turn up two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're travelling during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seattle to Reykjavik
Score cheap Seattle to Reykjavik flights by booking seven months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
Schedule your trip for October. That's the best month for scoring great bargains on plane tickets from Seattle to Reykjavik. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from Seattle to Reykjavik by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Find an affordable Seattle to Reykjavik flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
If you're searching for a direct flight from Seattle to Reykjavik, you can leave from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Fly from SEA to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) in one seamless journey.
Icelandair is a popular airline that offers direct Seattle to Reykjavik plane tickets from SEA.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your Seattle to Reykjavik flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Break up the journey at one of these popular airports:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Portland International Airport (PDX)
The journey from central Seattle to SEA takes about 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or get a cab, you'll cover the 18 kms (11 miles) in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Catching an early flight from Seattle to Reykjavik? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays close to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport:
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport earns top marks for its on-time performance. 81.27% of flights that take off from SEA arrive at their destination without delay.
Arriving in Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
The distance from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik is roughly 40 kms (25 miles). It takes around 50 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 15 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Seattle to Reykjavik, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near KEF:
Pick up a Keflavik International Airport rental car and discover Reykjavik and beyond with your own set of wheels. Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar and Flizzr are popular outlets you can book with here.
Booking your ride from Keflavik International Airport around four weeks ahead can help you secure the lowest rate.
Reykjavik International Airport (RKV)
Reykjavik International Airport (RKV) is about 2 kms (1.00 mile) from the centre of Reykjavik. After your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik, it'll take you approximately 5 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
The trip will take about 25 minutes on public transport.
Europcar, RAS Car Hire and Hertz make collecting a Reykjavik International Airport rental car simple. These trusted companies are located in or around the terminal and will have you ready to go in a flash.
Avoid paying extra. Booking your ride three weeks before your arrival at RKV will help you stay within budget.
Best time to go to Reykjavik
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik. July is the busiest month to travel to Reykjavik. If you want a more relaxed vibe, go in January.
Lock in a Seattle to Reykjavik ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Reykjavik to range from 8ºC (46ºF) to 15ºC (59ºF).
Look for cheap flights from Seattle to Reykjavik in December if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -6ºC (21ºF) and 4ºC (39ºF) on average.
More about Reykjavik
Start your Reykjavik trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Seattle to Reykjavik, explore our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to know where to start. Hallgrimskirkja silhouette, Perlan and National Museum of Iceland are leading attractions which should be on any well-planned Reykjavik itinerary.
Explore more of Iceland
Reykjavik has plenty to offer, but there are so many other corners of Iceland you'll want to see. About 3 miles south of Reykjavik, a visit to Kópavogur will keep your itinerary busy. Start with leading sights like Yndisgarðurinn, Fífu parkið and Elliðavatns-stífla.
Around 6 miles south of Reykjavik, Hafnarfjörður is another essential stop in Iceland. No visit is complete without checking out Höfðaskógur forest, Dog relief area in Hafnarfjordur and Víðistaðatún.