By Liam Isola Iceland is a bucket-list destination for many American travelers and for good reason. This small Nordic island nation is known for its natural wonders and scenic drives. It’s also under a six-hour flight away from New York City. That makes it an ideal location for a stopover before traveling to mainland Europe. Thankfully, Icelandair offers free stopovers in Iceland of up to seven days on Economy fares and above.
This is a massive benefit, as one-way flights from EWR and JFK to Paris, London, and Barcelona start at just $224, with stopovers in Iceland included.
Free Stopovers in Iceland: Sample
Here’s a sample fare that originates in Newark and ends in London. Before landing at Heathrow, you’d have two days to experience Iceland. The total flight price is $372.70.
The best part is that these fares are significantly cheaper than booking a one-way flight to Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik, and booking another flight to a European destination.
Here’s proof of that. The Icelandair one-way flight to Reykjavik on August 18th is $407. That’s almost $35 more than taking a stopover and flying on to London. If you wanted to book another one-way flight from Reykjavik to London, it would run you another $359 for a non-stop, for $766 total.
So, taking free stopovers in Iceland can actually save you nearly $400, at least on airfare. Accommodations in Iceland are not at all cheap. Still, basic ones shouldn’t cost you more than the difference in fares for a two-night stay.
How to Book
To take advantage of this perk, make sure you initiate your booking on Icelandair’s website.
Begin booking an itinerary and select the “Stopover in Iceland” option. Your destination city should be where you’d like to end up after your stopover in Reykjavik. You can choose any option between one and seven days for your stopover.
Note that the price of your flight may change, depending on which day you end up leaving Reykjavik and continuing your travels. I’ve seen the best prices in the middle of the week (Tuesday, Wednesday) or on a Saturday, and when leaving one week later.
Things to Do During Free Stopovers in Iceland
Iceland was on our list of countries to see the Northern Lights in, and on last Summer’s list of international destinations with cheap flights. The peak viewing season in Iceland for the Northern Lights is from late August to mid-April. So, you may be able to see them during a late Summer trip.
With just a couple of days in Iceland, you can rent a car and complete the famous Golden Circle route. This 186-mile loop could even be done in a single day and is the country’s most famous attraction.
The route includes iconic stops like the Thingvellir National Park, the Geysir Geothermal Area, and Gullfoss Falls. Thingvellir is just a 40-minute drive from Reykjavik. It has dark enough skies to get a Northern Lights sighting in.
From there, drive another 40 minutes to Geysir Geothermal Area and specifically the Strokkur geyser, which erupts as frequently as every five minutes.
Gullfoss Falls, another must-see on the route, is only 10 minutes away from Geysir and one of the most stunning places in all of Iceland. There are plenty of other worthwhile stops along the route, which could take as little as a half-day to complete.
If you take a week to explore Iceland, you could camp and do a longer route like the Ring Road. Seven days is the minimum recommended time to complete it, but it’s best done at a more relaxed pace, which could take up to two weeks. Still, you could drive on sections of it.
Icelandair’s North American Cities
In any case, free stopovers in Iceland on Icelandair are a great money-saving tool for travelers who are continuing to Europe. This is available from plenty of North American cities, not just New York.
Icelandair has flights from Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Halifax, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington D.C.
Take advantage of free stopovers in Iceland this Summer and have an unforgettable experience.