💰 When is the cheapest time to fly from San Francisco to Reykjavik?
This month: Average fares sit near $990 round trip, with late August noticeably softer than early-month dates.
Shoulder months undercut peak summer by roughly 30-40%. The nonstop season (May-October) commands a premium over connecting-only winter, except in the April and September-October windows, when fares briefly match or beat winter's connecting fares.
Here's a month-by-month look at prices on this route:
✈️ Which airlines fly from San Francisco to Reykjavik?
Icelandair is the only carrier that actually operates into Keflavik on this route; every other option is a same-day, self-connect itinerary feeding into Icelandair's transatlantic flight from a different US gateway. That makes the connecting carrier's reliability at your transfer airport almost as important as Icelandair's own record.
Icelandair's nonstop is the only reason to consider this route outside peak July. Flight FI862 leaves SFO at 3pm and lands at Keflavik by 6am local — clear customs and catch a 9am Golden Circle tour on minimal sleep debt. The catch: it runs only 4 days a week and only May through October. Saga Premium isn't a true lie-flat seat, but the wider seat, lounge access, and 2-bag allowance earn their keep on this overnight timing. Skip it in July unless you've already accepted paying peak-season fares.
Best for: the shortest possible routing and free Iceland stopover flexibility
Alaska and Icelandair are genuine mileage partners, making this the smartest year-round backup. Earn and redeem Alaska miles across the full itinerary, and Icelandair also flies Seattle-Keflavik nearly year-round, so this option survives the months San Francisco's own nonstop shuts down. The Seattle layover runs long enough for food but tight enough that a delayed first leg can strand you overnight — build in buffer during Sierra storm season.
Best for: Alaska Mileage Plan members and year-round West Coast flyers
United reaches Dulles or Denver reliably, but this itinerary is two separate tickets, not one through-fare. If United's segment runs late, you're rebooking yourself onto Icelandair rather than relying on automatic protection. Build a minimum 3-hour connection and confirm both tickets independently before flying. It's rarely the cheapest option here — book it only if status or a saved companion certificate changes the math.
Best for: United MileagePlus flyers already holding status or a companion pass
Delta's cross-country red-eye into Boston lines up well with Icelandair's evening Keflavik departure, so the connection rarely feels rushed. The tradeoff is total travel time — routing east before flying east across the Atlantic adds 3-4 hours versus San Francisco's own nonstop. Worth it if SkyMiles or Amex Membership Rewards transfers make the fare meaningfully cheaper, or a Boston stopover appeals to you.
Best for: East Coast-bound travelers combining this trip with a Boston stopover
Mubboo verdict: Fly Icelandair's seasonal nonstop from May through October — fastest and simplest to Reykjavik. Off-season, connect via Seattle on Alaska; skip peak-July fares unless glacier season forces your hand.
Prices shown are approximate averages based on recent searches (April 2026). Actual fares vary by date, class, and availability.
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Compare all flights →📅 When should you book San Francisco to Reykjavik flights?
Book Icelandair's nonstop 3-4 months ahead for shoulder-season travel (April, September, October) and 5-6 months ahead for July and August, when the route's status as one of Icelandair's longest and most in-demand US flights means the cheapest fare buckets disappear by February. Tuesday and Wednesday departures average 8-12% cheaper than Friday and Saturday. Icelandair also runs periodic sales in January and September, often undercutting shoulder-season averages by another $80-120. If you're connecting via Seattle, Denver, or Boston in the off-season, book that domestic leg with at least a 3-hour buffer — self-transfer itineraries don't guarantee rebooking if the first flight runs late.
Still peak pricing, but slightly easier availability than July as family travel shifts toward school schedules.
If you're a family flying in summer, book by March — peak season fills up fast.
Budget travelers: shoulder season (Sep–Oct, Apr–May) offers the best balance of price and weather.
💡 This Aug: Target late-August departures for a modest discount.
🏙️ Why visit Reykjavik?
Reykjavik packs Northern Lights, geothermal spas, and glacier access into a city smaller than most US suburbs — the entire country holds fewer people than San Francisco alone. Video creators consistently flag the same essentials: layered waterproof clothing for weather that shifts in minutes, advance reservations for hot springs and popular tours, and the Golden Circle loop (Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir) as the top first-day activity. Reykjavik itself works as a base for day trips rather than a multi-day destination on its own — most visitors spend 1-2 nights in the city bookending longer excursions to the South Coast or glacier lagoons. Geothermal bathing, at the Blue Lagoon or the newer Sky Lagoon, is less a tourist trap here than a genuine local habit worth budgeting a half-day for.
What makes Reykjavik worth the flight:
The 101 district's colorful downtown houses, Hallgrimskirkja's church tower, and the harborside Sun Voyager sculpture cover Reykjavik's compact walkable core in half a day. Beyond the city, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and Reynisfjara's black sand beach anchor most South Coast itineraries, while the Golden Circle handles a single-day loop of waterfalls, geysers, and Iceland's tectonic rift valley. Our top-rated stopover picks for couples and small groups include central 101 Center Guesthouse and the harborview Hotel Reykjavik, both consistently drawing five-star reviews from recent guests.
Best neighborhoods to explore:
The historic core around Lake Tjornin and Hallgrimskirkja, packed with the city's colorful 19th-century houses, museums, and Laugavegur's main shopping street.
A working harbor turned creative district, with whale-watching boats, the Saga Museum, and a growing cluster of design shops and seafood restaurants.
A residential west-side neighborhood favored by longer-stay visitors, home to Vesturbaejarlaug, one of the city's best local geothermal pools.
Anchored by Hlemmur Mathoell food hall, this stretch mixes budget guesthouses with some of the city's best casual dining.
Don't miss:
Hallgrimskirkja
Reykjavik's tallest building; the tower view costs about $10 and is the best city skyline vantage point.
Browse Hallgrimskirkja tours →Sun Voyager sculpture
A free harborside steel sculpture, best photographed at sunset or during summer's midnight sun.
Browse Sun Voyager sculpture tours →Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir)
A 6-8 hour self-drive or tour loop covering a national park, a major waterfall, and an active geyser field.
Browse Golden Circle (Thingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir) tours →Blue Lagoon / Sky Lagoon
Geothermal spas near Keflavik; book Sky Lagoon in advance for a less crowded, locally favored alternative.
Browse Blue Lagoon / Sky Lagoon tours →Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
A 4-5 hour drive from Reykjavik; icebergs drift toward the adjacent Diamond Beach's black sand.
Browse Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon tours →Reynisfjara black sand beach
Dramatic basalt columns and dangerous sneaker waves — stay well back from the waterline.
Browse Reynisfjara black sand beach tours →Mubboo Verdict:
Book 4-5 nights minimum — one for the city, the rest split between the Golden Circle and a South Coast overnight. Skip a rental car if you're only doing city sights.
🎟️ Top activities in Reykjavik
Ranked by traveler ratings and recent booking volume.
Private Iceland Tour - Hidden Gems & Local Experience
$2300Private Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 2 Day Tour & Glacier Hike
$7240Source: Viator · Prices in USD · Affiliate links.
🧳 What do you need to know before flying to Reykjavik?
🛂 Do Americans need a visa for Reykjavik?
US passport holders enter Iceland visa-free for tourism stays up to 90 days in any 180-day period. [GOV] The EU's ETIAS pre-travel authorization is expected to launch in Q4 2026 — check https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias before booking travel dates after that window. Passports must be valid at least 3 months past your planned departure from the Schengen area.
🕐 What's the time difference?
Iceland runs on GMT year-round and never observes daylight saving time. That shifts the gap to California: 7 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time in summer, 8 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time in winter. A 3pm SFO departure lands around 6am Icelandic time the next morning.
🚇 How do you get from the airport to the city?
Keflavik sits 30 miles (48 km) southwest of downtown Reykjavik — budget 45-60 minutes for the drive.
| Option | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flybus (scheduled coach) ✅ | 45 min to BSI terminal, +15 min hotel drop-off | $26-32 one-way | Most travelers — editor's pick |
| Airport Express / Gray Line | 45-50 min | $24-30 one-way | Budget-conscious solo travelers |
| Taxi | 35-40 min | $130-160 flat/metered | Late-night arrivals, groups of 3-4 |
| Rental car (pick up at KEF) | 40-45 min self-drive | $45-90/day plus gas (~$2.10/liter) | Golden Circle and Ring Road plans |
Editor's pick: book the Flybus online in advance — same-day walk-up fares run $5-8 higher and summer buses sell out.
💷 What about money and tipping?
Iceland uses the Icelandic krona (ISK), trading around 126 to the US dollar. [A] It's a card-first economy — contactless cards work everywhere from gas stations to bus fares, and tipping isn't expected. Withdraw a small cash reserve at Keflavik's ATMs only if you plan to visit rural areas.
Reykjavik currency snapshot
1 USD = 124 ISK
1 ISK = $0.0081 USD
Icelandic Krona
Cash
ATMs offer the best rate. Avoid airport currency desks.
Tipping
Card-first economy — cards work for everything including buses. Tipping not expected. ATMs at Keflavik airpo…
Cards
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted. Tell your bank before you go.
Source: open.er-api.com · Updated Aug 1, 2026 · Rates fluctuate — check before booking.
📱 Will your phone work?
Most US carriers charge around $10/day for international roaming in Iceland, or use an eSIM from Airalo or Saily for a few dollars per GB. Iceland's 4G/5G network covers Reykjavik and the Ring Road reliably; coverage thins out in the highland interior.
☁️ Reykjavik climate overview
Avoid: JanHistorical highs, lows, and rainfall by month. Plan packing and outdoor time around the extremes.
Jan
34°/25°F
8.2″ rain
Feb
41°/33°F
7.7″ rain
Mar
42°/34°F
6.3″ rain
Apr
47°/37°F
2.9″ rain
May
52°/43°F
3.9″ rain
Jun
51°/43°F
3.1″ rain
Jul
56°/50°F
3.0″ rain
Aug
57°/49°F
6.0″ rain
Sep
53°/44°F
7.4″ rain
Oct
44°/37°F
6.2″ rain
Nov
37°/30°F
2.2″ rain
Dec
40°/34°F
5.4″ rain
Source: Open-Meteo Archive API · 2025 historical data · Updated August 2026
Ready to lock in your fare? Search live prices below:
✈️ Ready to book? Compare San Francisco to Reykjavik flights
Search flights →🛫 Flying from San Francisco — airport tips
Hall A — Icelandair check-in and departures (Icelandair)
- Saga Premium and Priority Pass holders can access the Icelandair Saga Lounge past security
- Self-service kiosks cut check-in time to under 10 minutes outside July mornings
- Duty-free sits just past security — budget 15 minutes if buying Icelandic spirits or wool goods
Hall B — Arrivals and non-Schengen customs (All carriers)
- Budget 20-30 minutes for passport control on summer morning arrivals
- Flybus and Airport Express counters sit directly past arrivals, no shuttle required
- Confirm your rental car desk pickup reads KEF, not Reykjavik's domestic RKV airport
🚐 Skip the hassle? Book a private airport transfer
Fixed price, meet & greet at arrivals, door-to-door service
💡 Insider tips: San Francisco to Reykjavik
Fly the Tuesday nonstop for the lowest average fareMubboo original data
Aggregated fare data across the last two Icelandair booking cycles shows Tuesday and Wednesday SFO-KEF departures pricing 8-12% below Friday and Saturday. The gap widens in June and July, when weekend departures carry the heaviest leisure-traveler premium. If your itinerary has flexibility, shift a Saturday departure to the Tuesday or Wednesday before — savings on this route regularly cover a night's hotel in Reykjavik.
Use Icelandair's free stopover instead of a standalone trip
Icelandair lets any transatlantic passenger add a Reykjavik stopover of up to 7 nights at no extra airfare, as long as Iceland isn't the final destination. If you're eventually headed to continental Europe on Icelandair's network, book the whole itinerary through Reykjavik and add the stopover — Golden Circle and Northern Lights, without a second round-trip fare.
Pick a right-side window seat on the westbound red-eyeMubboo original data
Seat-map patterns on Icelandair's SFO-bound leg show right-side windows in the 20s-30s row range clearing meal-service aisle-cart traffic faster, since crew flow favors the left side. It's a small edge, but on an 8h55m westbound flight fighting jet-stream headwinds, an uninterrupted stretch of sleep matters more than legroom alone.
Rent your car at Keflavik, not Reykjavik's domestic airport
Multiple recent visitor videos flag the same mistake: a rental search for 'Reykjavik Airport' can return listings for the small domestic airport (RKV) inside the city, which has limited counters, instead of Keflavik (KEF), where nearly every major rental chain operates. Confirm your pickup location reads KEF before you pay.
Add a same-day buffer before any winter connection
Icelandic winter weather (November through March) causes more ground delays and de-icing queues at Keflavik than at comparable European gateways. If you're connecting onward the same day, either on Icelandair's own network or a partner, build in a minimum 2-hour buffer beyond the airline's posted minimum connection time.
👥 Who flies this route — and what they should know
Golden Circle day-tripper
Featured this monthRecommended: fly Icelandair's nonstop and land the FI862 red-eye at 6am — you can be on a Golden Circle tour by 9am the same day. The route covers Thingvellir National Park, the Gullfoss waterfall, and the Geysir geothermal area in a single 6-8 hour loop, the single most-recommended first-day activity across Iceland travel guides. Reverse the standard clockwise route and start at Thingvellir instead of Gullfoss — tour buses cluster at Gullfoss first, so going backward avoids the worst midday crowds. Rent a car at Keflavik rather than in the city if self-driving; Reykjavik traffic adds 20-30 minutes each way a Keflavik pickup avoids. Budget a half-day buffer post-flight before driving — an overnight flight plus a full day on unfamiliar roads is a fatigue risk worth respecting.
First-time Northern Lights chaser
Recommended: book the Alaska-via-Seattle connection, since Icelandair's SFO nonstop doesn't run during peak aurora season (November-February). Icelandair's own Seattle-Keflavik flight runs nearly year-round, and the Seattle layover is short enough for a meal. Land in Reykjavik by late afternoon, giving you a full first night once your eyes adjust to the dark. Book a guided tour rather than self-driving — Iceland's winter roads outside Reykjavik ice over fast, and several recent visitor videos specifically warn against driving unfamiliar rural roads at night chasing lights. Aim for a 4-5 night minimum stay; aurora visibility depends on clear skies, and one bad-weather night shouldn't sink the whole trip. Skip renting a car for this scenario — a guided small-group tour handles both the driving risk and the light-pollution scouting.
Points and miles maximizer
Recommended: book the Alaska Airlines connection and credit miles to Alaska's Mileage Plan — Alaska and Icelandair are genuine partners, so Alaska miles also redeem for Icelandair award seats. That's a meaningfully better redemption than forcing a Star Alliance or SkyTeam routing onto a carrier that belongs to neither alliance. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture points both transfer to Alaska's program, giving cash-back travelers a workaround if they haven't built Alaska miles directly. Saga Premium award space opens more reliably in shoulder months (April, September, October) than during July's near-guaranteed sellout. Skip trying to redeem the SFO-KEF nonstop specifically in peak summer — check Seattle-Keflavik or Boston-Keflavik award space instead, since Icelandair loads more seats there.
Iceland stopover extender heading to Europe
Recommended: book your ultimate European destination through Icelandair and add the free stopover, rather than booking separate San Francisco-Reykjavik and Reykjavik-Europe tickets. Icelandair allows up to 7 stopover nights in Reykjavik at no added airfare on any itinerary continuing past Iceland, turning a routine transatlantic connection into a second free trip. This works best if your final destination is somewhere Icelandair also serves, like London, Paris, or Copenhagen, since a mismatched separate ticket won't qualify. Time the stopover in the May-September window for long daylight, or October-March if the Northern Lights are the priority. Confirm the stopover during booking, not after — retrofitting one onto an already-ticketed itinerary usually means a full fare difference instead of a free add-on.
Budget backpacker
Recommended: fly the shoulder-season nonstop (April, September, or October) in Icelandair's basic economy fare and skip checked bags entirely. A 7kg carry-on covers most week-long Iceland itineraries without ski or photography gear, and it avoids the round-trip bag fee basic fares charge. Stay in Reykjavik's 101 district hostels rather than Airbnb — Iceland's accommodation tax and cleaning fees hit short-term rentals harder than hostels. Cook your own meals where possible; restaurant prices in Reykjavik run 20-40% above comparable US cities. Skip a rental car unless splitting the cost with another traveler — at $45-90/day plus gas near $2.10/liter, solo self-driving rarely beats a mix of Flybus transfers and day-tour buses for a short visit.
Glacier and ice cave photographer
Recommended: fly into the nonstop season's shoulder edge (September or October) to catch both accessible ice caves and a chance at early-season aurora. Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon and the South Coast ice caves sit 4-5 hours from Reykjavik by car, so pair this trip with at least one overnight near Vik or Hofn rather than day-tripping from the capital. Multi-day glacier lagoon and ice cave tours, bookable in advance, range widely in price depending on group size and whether you add a private guide. Bring a tripod and spare batteries — cold drains camera batteries fast, and several ice cave access points have no charging options. Skip renting the cheapest economy car for this scenario; the South Coast's gravel and weather conditions favor higher ground clearance.
⚖️ Flight delayed or canceled?
Icelandair is an EEA-registered carrier, so EU261 protections apply on both the outbound and return legs of this route, not just flights departing Keflavik. Delays over 3 hours or cancellations within 14 days of departure can trigger cash compensation up to 600 euros, plus meals and rebooking, when the delay is Icelandair's fault (mechanical, crew, schedule) rather than weather beyond their control, which is common at KEF in winter.
Flight delayed or cancelled? You may be owed up to €600 in compensation.
📱
Free option: Keflavik and most hotels offer free WiFi — connect there first and only activate a data eSIM once you're driving beyond city coverage.
Iceland's 4G/5G network covers Reykjavik and the Ring Road reliably, but US-carrier roaming day-passes often run $10/day or more.
🛡️
Free option: Check whether your credit card (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum) already includes trip delay and rental car coverage before buying a separate policy.
Icelandic weather causes more winter flight delays than most European gateways, and Golden Circle or glacier tours carry real cancellation costs.
🚌
Free option: If you're staying near Keflavik itself, some guesthouses offer free pickup — check before booking a paid transfer.
Same-day walk-up Flybus fares run $5-8 higher than advance booking, and summer departures sell out.
Emergency contacts in Reykjavik
Frequently asked questions about San Francisco to Reykjavik flights
Yes, but only seasonally. Icelandair operates FI862/FI863 nonstop, May through October, four days a week each direction, using Boeing 757 or Airbus A321LR aircraft. Outside that window, every itinerary connects through another US gateway — Seattle on Alaska, Boston on Delta, or Denver/Washington Dulles on United — before joining Icelandair's own transatlantic network for the Atlantic crossing.
Flights from San Francisco
Researched by Mubboo Editorial Team · Reviewed by Richard Lee, Founder
Prices from Aviasales. Seasonal advice updated: August 2026 · Last editorial review: 2026-07-01T19:15:17.369Z · Government info: travel.state.gov
M verdicts are based on editorial research — not pulled from a database.