Getting to Iceland from Ireland

Getting to Iceland from Ireland is a lot simpler than it was when I first wrote this page. Back then there was no nonstop flight from Dublin, and the usual advice was to hop over to Britain first. Now there's a direct flight from Dublin. If you're in Northern Ireland, Dublin is your nearest nonstop, and Britain is still a short hop away if the fares work out better from there.

Flying from Dublin

Icelandair flies nonstop all year from Dublin to Keflavik, Iceland's international airport, about 50 km from Reykjavik. In mid-September 2026, Icelandair's own fare finder was showing Dublin to Reykjavik returns from EUR 160 for some November and February dates. Treat that as a floor, not a promise; summer and Christmas dates cost more.

Dublin is also on Icelandair's transatlantic network, so a flight from Dublin can continue through Keflavik to North America. That opens up the Icelandair Stopover, where you spend a few nights in Iceland on the way at no extra airfare.

Flying from Belfast

There's no nonstop flight from Belfast right now. Belfast isn't on the Keflavik Airport destinations page, and it isn't one of the seven UK airports in Jet2's Iceland programme for winter 2026/27.

So most people in the north drive to Dublin for the Icelandair flight, or fly via Britain.

Flying via Britain

If the Dublin fares don't suit, look at a short flight to a British airport and connect there. Icelandair flies to Keflavik from London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. easyJet flies from Edinburgh, London Luton and Manchester all year, with more routes in winter, and Jet2 has winter flights from several English airports. British Airways flies from Heathrow. See getting to Iceland from the UK for the full list.

Book the two flights on one ticket if you can. If you book them separately and the first one is late, the second airline doesn't have to wait for you, so leave plenty of time between flights.

The low-cost airlines are gone

When I first wrote this page, the cheap way to Iceland was Iceland Express. WOW air bought it in 2012, and its successors didn't last either: WOW air collapsed in 2019, and PLAY shut down on 29 September 2025, cancelling all its flights. If you see an old blog post recommending any of them, it's out of date.

By ferry

You can't drive to Iceland, but you can take your car on the ferry. Smyril Line's Norröna sails from Hirtshals in the north of Denmark to Seydisfjordur in east Iceland, stopping at Torshavn in the Faroe Islands on the way.

From Ireland, that means first getting yourself and your car to Hirtshals, which is a long drive across Britain and the continent. Most people fly.

If you do want to sail, note that the ship only reaches Iceland for part of the year. On Smyril Line's 2026 sailing schedule, there are no sailings to Iceland from early January to early March, or from 22 November to the end of December. In summer, the ship leaves Hirtshals on Tuesday at 11:30 and arrives in Seydisfjordur on Thursday at 08:30, about 45 hours. The spring and autumn crossings take longer, because the ship waits in Torshavn. Fares change with season, cabin and vehicle, so check the booking page for current prices. More in ferries to Iceland.

When to go

Flying in the off-season (roughly September to May, outside Christmas) usually costs less than summer. Book early for July and August. If you're flexible, check a few dates either side of the one you want.

For what to expect once you're there, see when to go to Iceland and Iceland's weather.

FAQ

How do I get from Keflavik airport into Reykjavik?

Take the Flybus or Straeto bus 55, or a taxi. Straeto's fare from the airport to Reykjavik is 2,400 ISK for adults as of 2026. More in getting between Reykjavik and Keflavik.

Do Irish citizens need a visa for Iceland?

No. Iceland is in the Schengen area and the European Economic Area, and Irish citizens can travel there on a valid passport.

Is there a ferry from Ireland to Iceland?

No. The only scheduled passenger and car ferry to Iceland is Smyril Line's Norröna from Denmark.

>> more on flights to Iceland

Photo by taivasalla