Flying from Istanbul to Reykjavik: what you need to know
Istanbul has a couple of airports that could be the jumping-off point for your adventure. Explore your options for booking a flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Touch down at Reykjavik's primary gateway, Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Around 5 hours 55 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Istanbul to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik's timezone is UTC+0, making Reykjavik three hours behind Istanbul.
With two weekly flights between the two airports, Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is the busiest route. Board the earliest flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik with Icelandair at 07:05. If you prefer to get more out of your day before taking off, the latest departure from IST to KEF is with Icelandair at 08:05.
Leave enough time to make your Istanbul to Reykjavik flight. As a general rule, turn up at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Reykjavik
Book 11 months before you travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Istanbul to Reykjavik flights.
The best month for landing cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to Reykjavik is February. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then choose the dates with the lowest fares.
Snapping up a cheap flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when there's a better deal.
Tailor your travel plans using filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' Istanbul to Reykjavik flights.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Set out from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) on a nonstop flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik. From IST, you can land directly at Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Keep an eye out for promotions with Icelandair. This carrier offers direct Istanbul to Reykjavik plane tickets from IST.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your Istanbul to Reykjavik flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these airports:
Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP)
Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW)
Located around 32 kilometres from central Istanbul, IST can be reached in about 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik? Avoid rushing to the airport (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays close to Istanbul Ataturk Airport:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Visit family or friends or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your Istanbul to Reykjavik flight, here's where you can stop when departing from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN)
Hamburg Airport (HAM)
With public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in around 1 hour 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 31 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 55 minutes.
It's your holiday, so why not enjoy an extra night away from home? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 77%.
Arriving in Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik takes around 50 minutes by car. The centre is roughly 40 kilometres away.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 15 minutes.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik. Stay at one of these accommodation options near KEF instead:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Keflavik International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar or Flizzr and experience more of Reykjavik and beyond.
Booking your ride from Keflavik International Airport about four weeks in advance gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.
Reykjavik International Airport (RKV)
As soon as your flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik has hit the tarmac, you can make your way to the city centre in about 5 minutes by car. Central Reykjavik is approximately 2 kilometres from Reykjavik International Airport (RKV).
You can expect the journey to take roughly 25 minutes on public transport.
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting forever for a cab. Pick up a Reykjavik International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Compare offers from Europcar, RAS Car Hire and Hertz.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride from RKV three weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a bigger selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Reykjavik
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik. July is the busiest month for a trip to Reykjavik. If you want a quieter atmosphere, go in January.
When booking your Istanbul to Reykjavik tickets, think about what kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Reykjavik, with temperatures ranging from 8ºC to 15ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik in December when temperatures average between -6ºC and 4ºC.
More about Reykjavik
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Reykjavik right here. Check out these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from Istanbul to Reykjavik:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be tricky to know where to begin. Hallgrimskirkja silhouette, Perlan and National Museum of Iceland are major attractions which should feature on any well-planned Reykjavik itinerary.
Explore more of Iceland
Reykjavik has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Iceland you should also see. About 5 kilometres south of Reykjavik, a trip to Kópavogur will keep you on the go. Start with leading sights like Yndisgarðurinn, Fífu parkið and Elliðavatns-stífla.
Hafnarfjörður is another favourite destination in Iceland and is around 10 kilometres south of Reykjavik. No trip is complete without a visit to Höfðaskógur forest, Dog relief area in Hafnarfjordur and Víðistaðatún.