Basically, there are only two ways to get to Iceland - by your own car combined with a ferry or by plane.
By air to Iceland
The plane journey almost always goes via Keflavík KEF International Airport. Occasional seasonal summer flights also fly to Akureyri AEY airport on the north coast.
There are direct flights to Iceland from many cities across Europe, Canada and the USA.
Ticket prices are traditionally highest during the summer season, but can be really cheap in the winter.
The following airlines fly mainly to Keflavik airport:
- Icelandair - a wide network of routes to all major cities in Europe, the USA and Canada.
- PLAY - Icelandic low-cost carrier offers cheap tickets to destinations in Europe and several cities in the USA and Canada
- Wizz Air - cheap flights to cities in Central and Eastern Europe
- easyJet - cheap flights to the UK or Italy
- Jet2.com - frequent flyers connected to many UK cities
Direct flights to Iceland are also offered by Delta, British Airways, Air Baltic, Lufthansa, Transavia, Air Greenland and many others.
Ferry to Iceland
If you choose to travel by your own car, you'll have the advantage of saving on transport around Iceland. Prepare for a long journey.
The ferry ride from Denmark to the east coast of Iceland takes 45 hours and departs once a week. You'll go via the Faroe Islands, where you can make a stop. It is worth buying a ferry ticket well in advance.
The only regular ferry to Iceland from Europe is the Smyril Line. The connection is usually made by a boat called the MS Norröna. It sails from the Danish port of Hirtshals to the Icelandic port of Seyðisfjörður in the east of the island.
Prices vary considerably according to the season and, for example, in January they are more than twice cheaper than in July or August.
With some shipping companies you only pay per car regardless of the number of passengers. However, Smyril Line charges car and passenger separately.
- Sailing time: 45 hours
- Frequency: once a week (up to twice a week during summer holidays)
- Price with car and 2 passengers one way: 200 eur to 480 eur (varies by season)
Return tickets are not sold at a discount and are simply double the price of a one-way ticket.
Online booking and further information can be found at smyril-line.com.
Please note that there is no public transport from the port of Seyðisfjörður and the nearest car rental is in Egilsstadir, 30 km away. The ferry ride is particularly suitable if you want to travel around Iceland by car.