I’m starting to see it more and more when I search for flights from North America to Europe. Connections through Reykjavík on Icelandair always seem to be the cheapest option, but it usually comes with a catch (tight connections). Is it really a catch though? How short is too short of a layover in Reykjavík?
In my experience, short layovers in Reykjavík (as little as 1 hour) are no big deal.
Even when traveling from North America to Europe (a situation in which you will need to pass through passport control upon arrival in Iceland), a one hour layover it’s perfectly OK. The lines move quick.
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The reason why short layovers are ok in Reykjavik
I was really nervous the first time that I flew to Reykjavík, since I had no idea what to expect. Thankfully, I quickly learned that it’s an amazing airport for making onward connections. I also learned that it’s very difficult to pronounce properly, but that’s a topic for another post…
The main advantage that the Reykjavík Airport has over others is its small size. It’s a tiny 1-terminal airport, and you won’t have to walk far to reach your connecting gate.
Also, the majority of the passengers who pass through Reykjavík are connecting to other flights. The Airport Authority understands this, and have designed the passenger experience to be as efficient as possible. I’ve been through it several times, and I can assure you that short layovers of at least an hour are no big deal at KEF.
What is the minimum amount of time for a layover in Reykjavik?
Although you could probably do it in less time, the shortest amount of time I recommend for a layover in KEF is one hour. Remember – this is a hub airport for Icelandair, and at peak times, the airport fills up fast with connecting passengers. It gets crazy at times.
If your inbound flight is timed to arrive at one of those peak hours, you’re going to need at least an hour to get through the connection process.
Note that some passengers will need to go through passport control and customs for their onward connections. It all depends on where you’re arriving from and departing to. For example:
If you are Connecting from North America to the UK or Ireland (or vise versa):
Passengers coming from the United States or Canada and connecting to flights headed for the UK or Ireland will not need to go through passport control and customs (because you are not entering the Schengen area). In this instance, a short layover of 45 minutes is all you really need.
If you are Connecting from North America to Europe (or vise versa):
Passengers coming from the United States or Canada and connecting to flights to Europe will need to go through passport control. This will add extra time to your KEF layover, and I would advise nothing less than one hour.
As a reminder though, the passport control lines usually move quick. If an hour is all you’ve got to make your onward connection, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Most of the time.
A brief overview of the Reykjavik Airport terminal layout
The Reykjavík Airport is a little different than other airports. Not only is it small and compact (it consists of only one terminal), it’s also a two-level facility.
Basically, some flights will arrive and depart from the upper level, and other flights will arrive and depart from the lower level. It’s a little confusing to describe, but it’ll make perfect sense when you’re there.
- All flights to and from North America and Europe arrive and depart from the A and C gates (level 2)
- All flights to and from North America and the UK or Ireland depart from the D gates (level 1).
Walking time between all terminals at KEF
Walking from one end of the Reykjavík Airport to the other can be done in less than 15 minutes. It’ll probably take 20 minutes with a more casual stride, but you could easily do it in 10 if you’re amped up on adrenaline in a mad rush to make your connecting flight.
Here’s how long it usually takes me at an average walking pace:
Terminal A (gates 11 to 16):
- Terminal C (gates 21-29): 10 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 31-36): 6 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 15-16): 6 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 31-36): 8 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 21-29): 12 minutes
Terminal C (gates 21 to 29):
- Terminal A (gates 11-16): 10 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 31-36): 4 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 15-16): 10 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 31-36): 8 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 21-29): 8 minutes
Terminal C (gates 31 to 36):
- Terminal A (gates 11-16): 6 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 21-29): 4 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 15-16): 6 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 31-36): 8 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 21-29): 10 minutes
Terminal D (gates 15 to 16):
- Terminal A (gates 11-16): 6 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 21-29): 10 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 31-36): 6 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 31-36): 6 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 21-29): 10 minutes
Terminal D (gates 31 to 36):
- Terminal A (gates 11-16): 8 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 21-29): 8 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 31-36): 8 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 15-16): 6 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 21-29): 8 minutes
Terminal D (gates 21 to 29):
- Terminal A (gates 11-16): 12 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 21-29): 8 minutes
- Terminal C (gates 31-36): 10 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 15-16): 10 minutes
- Terminal D (gates 31-36): 8 minutes
How long of a layover do you need in Reykjavik for a no-stress connection?
Whenever I’m toying with the idea of booking a flight with a connection in Reykjavík, I don’t look at any option that has a layover of 2 1/2 hours or less – even though I’ve already mentioned several times that 1 hour layovers are perfectly OK.
Air travel is stressful enough without having to worry about a tight layover, so I like to make things as casual as possible.
The Reykjavík Airport is a great place to hang out. There are lots of great restaurants, and depending on the time of day, it should be pretty easy to find an out-of-the-way corner to sit in quiet solitude.
Tips for making really short layovers at KEF
If you’re traveling between North America and Europe, and you’re looking to save money, you will inevitably be faced with the possibility of a really short layover in Iceland. It doesn’t have to be that stressful though. Here are a few tips to help get you through it:
- Find out ahead of time whether or not you’re going to have to pass through passport control upon arrival at Reykjavík. Being mentally prepared for what you need to do will make things a lot less stressful once you arrive! And you’ll probably enjoy the flight into KEF a lot more.
- Another thing you should do before your flight to Reykjavík is to check out the handy guide for connecting passengers on the Icelandair website. The visual diagrams they put together showing the process are extremely helpful. They saved my life before my Icelandair 767-300 flight to SFO a while back.
- Although it may sound cheesy and cliché, staying positive and will do wonders for getting you through a stressful layover. KEF is a very efficient connecting airport. They know how to move passengers through it quickly, so trust the process and know that everything is going to be OK.
Mark Havens
I also noticed that the Iceland Air app will show your connecting gate well before they post it to the flight boards in the airport.
Scott (SANspotter)
Good to know – and it’s yet another reason why connecting in Reykjavik is so convenient.
Justin
We have a three hour layover in KEF when returning from Dublin to Washington, D.C. We’d love to see a bit of Keflavik, such as taking a peek at the Viking Ship Islendingur (8 min drive from airport) but maybe this isn’t enough time to leave the airport. Thoughts?
The arrival time is 2:00pm and departure is 4:50pm on a Friday.
Scott (SANspotter)
Hey Justin – 3 hours will be really tight, but it should be possible to hop in a taxi for a quick “out-and-back” sightseeing trip. The airport is kind of far from the city, so you’re not going to see much. It is a really beautiful landscape though!
Justin
Awesome, thanks for that, Scott! We’ll play it by ear.
Gwen
So based on this article I should be okay to book Chicago to Dublin with a 55 minute stop in KEF assuming my flight takes off on time from ORD? Also looks like I would not have to go through any additional security or customs while in the stopover in KEF during this trek correct? Greatly needed information, THANKS
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Gwen – yes, you’ll be good with 55 minutes! Since Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area and Iceland is, you will not have to go through passport control and customs. Just follow the sings for international connections. Have a good trip!
Sheri Ayoub
What about a 55 minute layover in KEF coming from Paris and going to Dulles, Washington DC? Is that enough time for a layover? Thanks!
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Sheri – yeah, 55 minutes will be a little tight (since you’ll have to go through a quick passport verification checkpoint), but you’re not likely to have any issues unless your inbound flight is really late. FWIW, I wouldn’t have any concerns booking a connection like that.
Pa
Hello Scott, thanks for this detailed post! I will have my 5 yr old son with me flying in from Toronto- Paris. Wondering if the 1 hour 15 mins transit would be enough lol, and this post is helpful. Wondering if you have any experience about the luggage? Is this enough time to ensure your checked in luggage also makes it onwards to the next flight? Thanks!!
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Pa – assuming that your connecting flight is part of the same ticket/itinerary, it’ll be a piece of cake. Your luggage will transfer automatically. Whether or not you will have to go trough passport control or not will depend on your destination:
If your destination is in the EU, then you’ll go through passport control at Reykjavik and customs at your destination. And yes – you can get though passport control with enough time to spare for your 1:15 layover.
If your destination is anywhere else other than the EU, you won’t have to do anything at Reykjavik. Just follow the signs for international connections.
Rachael
What if your connecting itinerary is not on the same ticket? I’m eying a possible ticket from London to KEF that would get in at 3:30pm… and then looking at a departing flight on a separate ticket for the US at 5:10pm that same day. Do you think this would be doable? Both would be on Icelandic Air (I’d be saving close to $1k on airfare, if this is doable.)
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Rachael! It’s definitely possible if you don’t have any checked luggage. KEF is a relatively small airport, and you’re not going to have to walk very far to get where you need to go. Download your boarding pass from the app before you go so you can go directly to your connecting gate once you arrive.
Checked luggage will make this more complicated. Since it won’t be transferred automatically, you’ll be required to retrieve it, which will require you to go through customs and immigration. You will then have to re-check it at the Icelandair baggage drop area. You might be able to pull it off in an hour and 40 minutes, but it’s going to be tight!
Scott
Hi Scott – Really helpful information. Similar Question – we have 2hr 45 min layover in KEF from Dublin to Boston next month. Would we have enough time to do something nearby and go back through customs? My kids want to see something in Iceland, and we do not count airports as “visiting” a country – so something close and simple to see in a short time would be great!! Any recommendations? Thank you
Scott (SANspotter)
Hey Scott! Personally, I wouldn’t go far with just a 2 hour and 45 minute connection. KEF is located relatively far from Reykjavik, so there’s no chance of getting to see any of the city IMHO. That said, the terrain and landscape around the airport is really beautiful – so you could very easily go for a quick walk if customs and immigration doesn’t take very long. It’ll definitely count as visiting Iceland!
Christine
thoughts on a 1 hr 25 min layover from Baltimore, USA to Hamburg, Germany?
Scott (SANspotter)
Easy! The only thing you’re going to have to do is go through passport control. Customs will happen when you arrive in Germany. Go for it – and have a great trip!
Teresa
First time nervous traveler – I am going from US to UK and I see a 1hr 10 min layover between flights. I am still worried whether this is enough time to make the connection.
Thanks, in advance!
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Teresa – that’ll be easy! Just follow the signs for international connections. You might have to go through a quick passport checkpoint, but an hour and 10 minutes will be plenty of time. Have a great trip!
Sarah
Hi Scott, I am traveling mid July with my family of 5 from Seattle. We have a layover from 9:30 – 4…I would really like to visit the Blue Lagoon, but not sure if that is enough time to get back and go through security for our connecting flight to Heathrow. Thoughts on that?
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Sarah – the main airport in Iceland is in Keflavík, which isn’t far from the Blue Lagoon. You’ll have plenty of time to get to there and back! That said, it would be wise to keep your visit relatively short (just to be safe). Have fun!
Emily Hendricks
Thanks so much for this information! So helpful. While if been to KEF it was not on a changeover but instead a trip to Iceland in 2018. On way back to BWI, we had issues. When we checked in at KEF there were NO personnel around and the kiosks weren’t working. Tho we flew Icelandair, we found a WOW rep (back when WOW existed) who helped us. If it wasn’t for him, we would have totally missed our flight because on top of that, my husband was detained by airport security and questioned in a room outside my presence (they were doing random stops. Happened to another woman’s husband and we were both worried since we couldn’t reach them by phone). We had some trouble connecting back in the airport after that and all I remember is RUNNING to the gate as it was closing. If it wasn’t for that WOW rep, we’d have definitely missed our flight.
It worries me more doing a changeover since we are flying Icelandair saga premium the whole way to FCO/Rome via KEF on our honeymoon in September. Like you I prefer stress free travel and unfortunately we only have a 2 hour layover. Your article gave me piece of mind about that so thank you so much!!
Now if I could only calm my fear of lost baggage down.
Scott (SANspotter)
You’re very welcome Emily! Sounds like you had a miserable experience. The good news is that those kinds of experiences are rare, and it’ll be extremely unlikely that you’re going to run into that sort of trouble again. Stuff happens sometimes. But usually not every time.
Two hours will be plenty! Especially since you’ll be flying Saga class.
I highly recommend putting AirTags in your luggage. That way, even if they do lose it, you’ll know exactly where it is (and you’ll be able to rub that info in their face lol). Have a great trip!
Barb
Hi – Do you need Icelandic Krona to be able to spend money in the airport terminal during a transit (eg food and drink, gifts ???) or can everything be managed on a credit or debit card from your “home” country – in my case – the UK ? Thanks for your advice ..
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Barb! Yes, you will be able to use any major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, etc) for any purchase inside the airport. No need to exchange currency the old fashioned way.
It’s probably a good idea to let your credit card company know that you will be traveling though (to avoid declined transactions due to them assuming suspicious activity in the country other than your own).
Ty Easley
Thanks for the great info! We are looking into a flight from FCO to KEF to ORD…layover at KEF is only 45 minutes…but the price is great…on Iceland Air…thoughts? Thanks in advance…
Scott (SANspotter)
You’re very welcome Ty! Call me a wimp, but I wouldn’t do it. Yes, it’s a perfectly valid connection time (and you’ll most likely make it without any issues as long as your inbound flight is on time), but that’s a little too tight for me.
I’d rather pay more to avoid the stress!
thomas talbot
Hi
We are flying from Wash IAD on Play Airlines with a connection at Keflavik on Play Airlines to Berlin. The layover is 50 minutes. The arrival time in Keflavik is 4;55 AM with connection to Berlin leaving at 5;45 AM.
Is this sufficient time? Will Play hold the connecting flight for incoming Play passengers?
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Thomas! 50 minutes isn’t a lot of time considering that you’re going to have to go through passport control before reaching your connecting flight. That said, it’s a perfectly valid/legal connection that thousands of people do at Reykjavík every day.
They might hold your flight for a few minutes if they know they have a lot of people coming from connecting flights. They won’t wait forever though, which isn’t a big deal IMHO. They are obligated to get you to Berlin, and will do it any way they can (even if it involves putting you on a different airline).
Kari
Hi,
We are thinking about booking a stop over flight, meaning we’d need to get our luggage, go through customs, re-check our bags to get on 2nd flight. We are looking at booking 2 separate flights in and out of KEF. Flying in from US to KEF on Delta and then flying from KEF to AMS (Amsterdam) via Iceland Air. Will 3-1/2 hours be enough time to make the 2nd flight? Arriving at 7AM on a Sunday in June and wanting to catch a 10:30AM flight out.
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Kari – yes, 3 1/2 hours will be extremely easy. KEF is a relatively small (and simple) airport, so you’re not likely to run into any issues.
Holly
We are considering traveling from Rome to Seattle with Icelandic Air. The connection in KEF would be only 55 minutes. Is this enough of a connection? I’m assuming in KEF we will have to go through security/immigration?
Thanks
Holly
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Holly! 55 minutes will be plenty of time, as the Reykjavík airport isn’t all that large (and it’s very easy to move through quickly). The only thing you’re going to have to do is go through passport control – customs will happen upon arrival in Seattle. Have a great trip!
Eleanor
Hi Scott,
We are looking at flights from the UK to Canada. There is a flight with a 1h45 stopover in Reykjavik. However, the flight to Reykjavik is EasyJet and then from there to Canada is WestJet, so how would that work with collecting our bags and checking back into another flight? Would that be enough time?
Thanks,
Eleanor
Scott (SANspotter)
Hi Eleanor! Assuming these are completely separate tickets (booked separately) you’re likely going to be using every bit of that 1 hour and 45 minutes. It’s not an impossible connection though. As long as your EasyJet flight arrives into Reykjavík relatively close to on time, you won’t have any issues.
Having checked luggage means that you’re going to have to go through the full customs and immigration process in Reykjavik. This is what you’ll need to do:
1). Go through passport control (to officially enter Iceland)
2). Retrieve your checked luggage from the baggage carousel
3). Go through customs
4). Take your luggage to the WestJet check-in / baggage drop area
5). Go through security to re-enter the terminal
Have a great trip!
Eleanor
Thank you, that’s really helpful!
Eleanor
Hi Scott,
We are looking at booking two different flights, so would need to collect our luggage, check it back in etc. We would be travelling to KEF from London on EasyJet, then out of KEF to Calgary on WestJet. The stopover time is 1h40, do you think this is doable?
Thanks!