Flying from Chicago to Reykjavik: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can fly out of in Chicago. Explore your options departing from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) when reserving your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik.
Come in for landing at Reykjavik's chief entry point, Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Hop on a direct Chicago to Reykjavik flight and you'll be in the air for an average of 6 hours 15 minutes.
The timezone in Reykjavik is UTC+0, which is five hours ahead of Chicago.
With 12 weekly flights between the two airports, O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is the busiest route. Board the earliest flight from Chicago to Reykjavik with Icelandair at 18:30. If you prefer to make the most of your day before taking off, the last departure from ORD to KEF is with Icelandair at 22:15.
To ensure you board your Chicago to Reykjavik flight, allow plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
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 Chicago to Reykjavik
To snag cheap Chicago to Reykjavik flights, reserve your trip four months ahead of your planned departure.
The best month for landing cheap plane tickets from Chicago to Reykjavik is July. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare prices, then select the dates with the lowest fares.
There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you when a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Chicago to Reykjavik.
Pick your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Chicago to Reykjavik flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Chicago
O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Take off from O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on a nonstop flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. From ORD, you can travel directly to Keflavik International Airport (KEF).
Lock in your Chicago to Reykjavik plane tickets with Icelandair. This carrier is a top choice for direct flights from ORD.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and maybe even visit a new city. When browsing Chicago to Reykjavik flights leaving from O'Hare International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
The journey from central Chicago to ORD takes about 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 35 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Need a handy hotel near O'Hare International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, these stays will have you sleeping nice and close to your departure gate:
74.85% of flights taking off from O'Hare International Airport reach their destination on schedule.
ORD is located at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your Chicago to Reykjavik flight. Visit friends or family or tick another city off your list. Whatever you want to do, here's where you can stop between Chicago Midway International Airport and Reykjavik:
Logan International Airport (BOS)
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Chicago to MDW in around 45 minutes. The airport is roughly 14 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 20 minutes.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik? Unwind in a hotel near Chicago Midway International Airport before your adventure officially begins. Consider one of these stays:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 78%.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
The distance from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik is approximately 40 kilometres. It takes around 50 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 15 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these accommodation options near KEF:
Explore without limits with a Keflavik International Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar or Flizzr and see more of Reykjavik and beyond.
For the best deal, book your vehicle from Keflavik International Airport about four weeks in advance of your Chicago to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik International Airport (RKV)
The centre of Reykjavik is located around 2 kilometres from Reykjavik International Airport (RKV). As soon as your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik has landed and you've made your way out of the airport, expect a drive of about 5 minutes.
If you travel by public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 25 minutes or so.
No need to worry about public transport schedules or waiting in a long cab line. Grab a Reykjavik International Airport rental car and blaze your own trail. Compare rates and availability from Europcar, RAS Car Hire and Hertz.
Call dibs on the best options. Reserving your ride from RKV three weeks in advance often means better prices and a wider choice of vehicles.
Best time to go to Reykjavik
It's time to plan your trip dates for your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. July is the busiest month to visit Reykjavik. If you like a quieter vibe, go in January.
The warmest month in Reykjavik is July, with temperatures ranging between 8ºC (46ºF) and 15ºC (59ºF). Lock in your Chicago to Reykjavik ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from Chicago to Reykjavik in December when temperatures average between -6ºC (21ºF) and 4ºC (39ºF).
More about Reykjavik
Start your Reykjavik trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, browse our selection of accommodation options including:
All great holidays should include some sightseeing. Hallgrimskirkja silhouette, Perlan and National Museum of Iceland are attractions you won't want to skip in Reykjavik.
Explore more of Iceland
Reykjavik is always a good idea, but there are so many other corners of Iceland just waiting to be discovered. Around 5 kilometres south of Reykjavik, a trip to Kópavogur will keep you on the go. Start with attractions like Yndisgarðurinn, Fífu parkið and Elliðavatns-stífla.
Hafnarfjörður is another essential stop in Iceland and is around 10 kilometres south of Reykjavik. No journey is complete without seeing Höfðaskógur forest, Dog relief area in Hafnarfjordur and Víðistaðatún.
