As interest in cold weather destinations continues to soar, Iceland, with its fiery volcanoes, icy lagoons and vast landscapes, has found itself in the spotlight over the last several years. It’s clear this chilly locale is hot, hot, hot, but don’t take our word for it, according to Icelandair, Iceland’s leading air carrier, U.S. searches for “flights to Iceland” were up over 70% at the end of 2024 into the beginning of 2025. That’s a lot of daydreaming about puffins, vikings and epic outdoor adventures.
While Iceland isn’t exactly known as a budget-friendly travel spot, there are a few savvy choices visitors can make to save a little extra dough while visiting this bucket list destination, one of the easiest of which is visiting the country during a stopover.
Book An Icelandair Stopover In Three Easy Steps:
Search for a Flight
From Icelandair’s website, find a roundtrip flight from your U.S. departure city to your European destination. According to Icelandair, booking directly on its website is the easiest way to add a stopover, and the company notes it's also a convenient place to browse vacation packages that bundle flights with accommodations for added value.
Add Your Stopover
While booking a flight via Icelandair, select the “Stopover in Iceland” option, customize your stopover length and confirm your flights. Icelandair notes that stopovers in Iceland can take place either on the way from North America to Europe or during a return journey. Stopovers last a maximum of seven days and return leg stopovers are often more cost-effective.
Plan Your Adventure
With your flights, and stopover, booked, it’s time to start planning your epic Icelandic adventure. Must-see destinations like Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon and the Golden Circle are always a hoot, while fan-favorite stops on the South Coast like Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss make for easy day trips from the airport. Alternatively, those planning for a longer stopover will find their time allows for far-off journeys to places like the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Diamond Beach and even the country’s northernmost city Akureyri — assuming the weather cooperates.
Popular Icelandic Itineraries
A City Stay in Reykjavik
Situated just 30 miles from Keflavik International Airport, visitors can take in the magic of the world’s northernmost capital city when they visit Reykjavik, the beating heart of Iceland. Home to 60% of the country’s population, travelers will find Reykjavik makes for the perfect place to spend a night or two thanks to its delicious cuisine, intriguing sights and colorful storefronts. While in the city, visitors won’t want to miss stops at Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrímskirkja, Laugavegur (the city’s main hub for shopping), Sun Voyager and more.
Daytrip To the Golden Circle
Perhaps the country’s most traveled stretch of road, Iceland’s Golden Circle is a favorite driving route among visitors thanks to its massive waterfalls, captivating geysers and access to the intriguing Thingvellir National Park. As convenient as it is iconic, this quintessential tour takes around three to four hours to complete on average, and at less than one hour outside of Reykjavik, it’s certainly a realistic option for those hoping to soak in as much Icelandic goodness as possible during a short stopover.
Hot Springs Galore
From the famed Blue Lagoon to the up-and-coming Sky Lagoon and beyond, saying hot springs are a popular Icelandic itinerary item would be an understatement. Almost everyone who visits The Land of Fire and Ice wants to scope out at least one of the island’s many natural hot springs, and stopovers make it easy to do so. Those with little time to waste might consider the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon for their close proximity to the airport, while those who have more time on their hands might opt for a stop at Secret Lagoon along the Golden Circle, Hvammsvik Hot Springs north of Reykjavik or Myvatn Hot Spring which is located six hours outside the city.
Wonders of the South Coast
A worthy choice for those with a little more time to spare, Iceland’s South Coast is home to many of those picture-perfect landmarks vacationers might remember seeing on social media and across the internet. From ancient glaciers and waterfalls to the dangerous yet undeniably beautiful Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, visitors will find them all along the country’s coveted southern shoreline. A tour of the South Coast is an all-day activity for those basing themselves in Reykjavik, while it doubles as a scenic pitstop for those ambitious enough to attempt to conquer the Ring Road.
The Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Just under two hours north of Reykjavik, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula makes for an ideal daytrip for those looking to see more of Iceland aside from the country’s capital city. Here, visitors can get a taste of The Land of Fire and Ice’s famous natural landscapes as they visit places like Kirkjufell Mountain and Kirkjufellsfossar, Arnarstapi Cliffs, the Svörtuloft and Öndverðarnes Lighthouses, Vatnshellir Cave, Búðakirkja and much, much more. To get there, visitors can rent a car or hop aboard one of the many guided tours for a more laid-back experience.
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