Cheapest Time to Fly to Iceland (and the Most Expensive)
The cheapest time to fly to Iceland is usually the off-season (November to early March) and shoulder months—while summer and late December are the priciest.
Flights to Iceland can jump around a lot by season. The biggest price driver is simple—summer is peak demand, and winter (outside the holidays) is where deals show up more often.
Quick Take
- Cheapest time to fly to Iceland: November–early March, plus shoulder-season weeks in spring and fall
- Most expensive time to fly to Iceland: June–August, late December–early January, and certain event weeks in Reykjavík
Cheapest Time to Fly to Iceland
The best deals usually show up in the off-season—plus shoulder-season weeks that sit outside major travel rushes.
November to Early March (Off-Season Deals)
This is the most consistent “deal window” for Iceland airfare. Fewer travelers are booking long-haul trips, so airlines have more incentive to cut prices.
Money-saving tip: Aim for Tuesday–Thursday departures when you can—midweek flights often price better than weekend-heavy trips.
Heads-up: Late December and early January are the big exception—holiday demand can erase the winter deal advantage.
April to May (Spring Shoulder Season)
Spring can be a strong compromise—better daylight than deep winter, with pricing that’s often still cheaper than summer. Icelandair also calls out spring as a shoulder-season option for avoiding summer crowds. (Going)
Money-saving tip: Price-check a couple nearby US departure airports—one small change can swing the fare a lot.
September to October (Fall Shoulder Season)
Fall is another solid window where demand can cool off after summer. It’s also a popular “quieter” season in Iceland travel planning, which often lines up with better airfare odds than peak summer.
Money-saving tip: If you can avoid weekend returns, you’ll often see cheaper options.
Most Expensive Time to Fly to Iceland
High fares usually come from two things—peak summer travel and holiday-week travel.
June to August (Summer Peak)
Summer is the peak season in Iceland, and it’s when flights are commonly most expensive.
Peak within peak: Late June through early August is often the toughest stretch for deals.
Late December to Early January (Holiday Rush)
Even though it’s winter, year-end travel demand can push prices up fast—especially if you’re trying to fly on the most popular departure/return dates.
Peak within peak: Late-December departures and early-January returns usually cost the most.
Early November (Iceland Airwaves Week)
If your trip lines up with Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavík, expect more competition for flights and hotels around those dates.
Heads-up: This doesn’t mean all of November is expensive—just that this specific week can behave differently than the rest of the off-season.
On a Budget But Want Good Weather in Iceland?
If you want a nicer weather setup without paying summer prices, these are often your best “value-weather” windows:
- Late April to May: Longer days, spring shoulder pricing
- September: Still a shoulder month, usually less expensive than peak summer
Best Booking Window for Cheap Flights to Iceland
A good rule is to start watching early and book when a real drop shows up—especially if you’re traveling in summer.
- Low/shoulder seasons: start tracking 2–4 months ahead
- Popular seasons (summer/holidays): start tracking 4–6+ months ahead
Extra tip: Going recommends a “Goldilocks Window” of 2–8 months for international flights, which fits Iceland well since prices can move quickly when a deal hits.
Seasonal Flight Demand Chart for Iceland
Use this chart as a quick guide to the cheapest vs. priciest months to fly.
| Month | Demand Level | Price Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Low → Medium | Low → Medium | Off-season deal window (outside holiday returns) |
| Feb | Low | Low | Often one of the better months for airfare |
| Mar | Low → Medium | Low → Medium | Off-season continues into early March |
| Apr | Medium | Medium | Shoulder season—often cheaper than summer |
| May | Medium | Medium | Shoulder month—popular, but usually below summer peak |
| Jun | High | High | Summer peak begins |
| Jul | High | High | Peak summer pricing |
| Aug | High | High | Peak season continues |
| Sep | Medium | Medium | Shoulder month—often better than summer |
| Oct | Medium | Medium | Fall shoulder season trends |
| Nov | Low | Low | Off-season deal window (watch Airwaves week) |
| Dec | Medium → Very High | Medium → Very High | Early month can be reasonable; late month spikes |
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Sara Miller