Flying from Chicago to Reykjavik: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can take off from in Chicago. Explore your options leaving from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) or Chicago Midway Airport (MDW) when reserving your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik.
Hop off the plane at Reykjavik's chief entry point, Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF).
Around 6 hours 10 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct Chicago to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik's timezone is UTC+0, making Reykjavik six hours ahead of Chicago.
The busiest route for flights from Chicago to Reykjavik is from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF). Choose from 12 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to maximise your time on arrival, the earliest flight from ORD to KEF is the 18:30 Icelandair service. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the final scheduled service is at 22:15 with Icelandair.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. That way, you can comfortably catch your Chicago to Reykjavik flight.
During popular months like July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for an international flight when you travel during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Reykjavik
Book two months before your departure date. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Chicago to Reykjavik flights.
Plan your trip for July. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on plane tickets from Chicago to Reykjavik. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Locking in a cheap flight from Chicago to Reykjavik couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you as soon as there's a better deal.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Chicago to Reykjavik flights.
Flying from Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
You can book a direct flight from Chicago to Reykjavik jetting off from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Start your journey at ORD and touch down at Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF).
Look out for promotions with Icelandair. This carrier offers direct Chicago to Reykjavik plane tickets out of ORD.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially save on your Chicago to Reykjavik flight. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Take a break (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
New York Newark Airport (EWR)
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Travelling from central Chicago to ORD takes around 45 minutes on public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a taxi, you'll cover the 26 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Looking for a handy hotel near Chicago O'Hare International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, these stays will have you nice and close to your departure gate:
Of all flights leaving Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 70% land on schedule at their destination.
You'll find ORD at 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway Airport (MDW)
Get more out of your holiday with a stopover on your Chicago to Reykjavik flight. Visit friends or family or cross another city off your list. Whatever your plans, here's where you can stop between Chicago Midway Airport and Reykjavik:
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Minneapolis St Paul Airport (MSP)
Raleigh / Durham Airport (RDU)
You can reach MDW from central Chicago in about 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The ride by public transport will take roughly 30 minutes to cover the 14 kilometres or so.
You're going on holiday, so why not spend an additional night away? Think about kicking back in one of these accommodation options near Chicago Midway Airport the day before your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Chicago Midway Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 76%.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Arriving in Reykjavik
Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF)
The distance from Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF) to central Reykjavik is roughly 40 kilometres. It takes around 45 minutes to get to the centre driving.
When travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of about 55 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near KEF if you have a late flight from Chicago to Reykjavik. Check in to one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up a Reykjavik Keflavik Airport rental car and explore Reykjavik and beyond with your own set of wheels. Ice Rental 4x4, FairCar and Flizzr are top providers to choose from here.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Reykjavik Keflavik Airport about four weeks ahead of your Chicago to Reykjavik flight.
Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV)
After your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik has touched down, you can reach the city centre in about 10 minutes by car. Central Reykjavik is approximately 2 kilometres from Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV).
You can expect the trip to take roughly 20 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, unwind at a hotel close to RKV. These are some comfortable options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or long taxi queues. Pick up a Reykjavik Domestic Airport rental car and take your trip in whatever direction you choose. Compare offers from Europcar, RAS Car Rental and Hertz.
Snap up a deal by securing your ride from RKV three weeks ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Reykjavik
August is the busiest month for flights from Chicago to Reykjavik. To skip the crowds, go to Reykjavik in March.
Lock in a Chicago to Reykjavik ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Reykjavik to range from 8ºC (46ºF) to 15ºC (59ºF).
If you'd rather 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 right by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Chicago to Reykjavik, explore our selection of accommodation options including:
Aurora Reykjavík - The Northern Lights Centre and Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre are just the start of the popular attractions to put on your Reykjavik travel itinerary. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Sun Voyager.
Explore more of Iceland
Kópavogur is just one of the many places in Iceland waiting to be explored after you've experienced Reykjavik. Around 5 kilometres to the south, top sights here include Heidmork Nature Reserve, Peningagja-Nikulasargja Gorge and Digraneskirkja.
If you're looking to explore another well-known destination in Iceland, head for Hafnarfjörður, about 10 kilometres south of Reykjavik. Vidistadatun Sculpture Park, Ytri Tunga Beach and Helgafell are key reasons to visit.
