Landed in Iceland at 6 am? How to Spend the Hours Before Hotel Check-in

A lot of flights from North America cross the Atlantic overnight and land at Keflavík Airport around six or seven in the morning. It is a great way to arrive with a full day ahead of you, but there is a catch: most hotels in Reykjavík only guarantee rooms from around three in the afternoon.

So what do you do for eight hours, tired, with all your luggage? Quite a lot, as it turns out, if you plan it before you fly.

Early arrival at a glance

• Typical early landings: about 6:00 to 7:30, mostly from North America.
• Hotel check-in: usually from 14:00 or 15:00; early check-in is possible only if a room is free.
• Luggage: almost all hotels store bags for free before check-in.
• Best warm-up: a geothermal lagoon, a long breakfast or an easy walk around the old town.
• On the way from the airport: the Blue Lagoon is about 20 minutes from Keflavík, so you can stop there before Reykjavík.

Option 1: go straight to your hotel and leave your bags

The simplest plan is to go directly to your hotel. Even if the room is not ready, reception will store your luggage, and you can freshen up, have breakfast nearby and come back later. If you ask when you book, some hotels will let you check in early when a room is free, or offer a paid early check-in so the room is guaranteed.

Option 2: the Blue Lagoon on the way

The Blue Lagoon lies between the airport and Reykjavík and opens early, which makes it a natural first stop after an overnight flight. Warm water, a shower and a few hours of rest do wonders for jet lag. You need to book your entry time in advance, and lockers are available.

We offer a private package for exactly this: we meet you at the airport, take you to the Blue Lagoon, wait while you bathe and then drive you to your hotel in Reykjavík. See the Keflavík – Blue Lagoon – Reykjavík transfer for prices and times, and our guide to Keflavík Airport to the Blue Lagoon.

4–5 hours · private

KEF → Blue Lagoon → Reykjavík

Keflavík Airport → Blue Lagoon (3–4 h) → Reykjavík hotel

Car

1–4 people

31,500 kr

Van

5–7 people

41,000 kr

Book this tour

Option 3: an easy morning in Reykjavík

• Breakfast: bakeries and cafés in the centre open early. A long, slow breakfast is the best cure for a night flight.
• Hallgrímskirkja: the tower gives a view over the whole city once it opens in the morning.
• The old harbour and Harpa: a flat walk along the waterfront with views across the bay.
• A swimming pool: Reykjavík's public geothermal pools open very early and cost far less than a spa. Locals swim before work.
• A nap: if your hotel has a lounge, there is no shame in sleeping for an hour in a chair.

Beating jet lag on the first day

Arriving from North America usually means losing four to five hours of sleep. Get outside into daylight as early as you can, drink plenty of water, keep any nap short and stay up until a normal bedtime. A warm geothermal pool in the morning and a walk in fresh air are the most Icelandic cure there is. In winter, when daylight is short, plan your walk around midday.

What not to do on your first morning

• Do not plan a long self-drive on the first day. Fatigue after a night flight is a real risk on unfamiliar roads.
• Do not book a full-day tour that starts at 8:00. Keep the first day light.
• Do not forget a warm layer in your hand luggage. Even in summer the first walk from the terminal can be cold.

A relaxed sample plan

• 6:30: land, collect your bags and meet your driver in the arrivals hall.
• 7:30: arrive at the Blue Lagoon, or go straight to your hotel and leave your luggage.
• 10:30: breakfast in the centre of Reykjavík.
• 12:00: walk up to Hallgrímskirkja and down to the harbour.
• 15:00: check in, shower and sleep for an hour.
• Evening: an early dinner and a good night's sleep, ready for your first tour tomorrow.

Meeting your driver at 6 am

We have been driving travellers around Iceland for ten years, and we go everywhere in the country, not only to Reykjavík. Early mornings are a normal working day for us. Your driver checks your flight, waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign and has 45 minutes of free waiting for you after landing, so you do not need to rush through baggage claim.

• Fixed price per car, not per person, agreed before you travel
• Economy (Tesla) for 1 to 4 passengers, Van (Mercedes Vito) for 5 to 7, minibus for 8 to 16 on request
• Your driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign and checks your flight before leaving
• 45 minutes of free waiting at the airport
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up

FAQ

What time do flights from North America land in Iceland?

Can I check in to my Reykjavík hotel early?

Where can I leave my luggage before check-in?

Can I go to the Blue Lagoon straight from the airport?

Do you wait while we are at the Blue Lagoon?

What is open in Reykjavík early in the morning?

Should I rent a car on the first day?

Will my driver be there if my flight lands early?

How much is the transfer from Keflavík to Reykjavík?