Flying from Reykjavik to Ottawa: what you need to know
Planning your trip begins with figuring out where you'll fly out of in Reykjavik. Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is the city's main airport, so explore your options for reserving a flight from Reykjavik to Ottawa departing from here.
Touch down at Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW), the major arrival point in Ottawa.
The timezone in Ottawa is UTC-4, which is four hours behind Reykjavik.
Leave plenty of time to make your Reykjavik to Ottawa flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
How to find the cheapest flights from Reykjavik to Ottawa
Don't wait until the last minute. You're more likely to get cheap Reykjavik to Ottawa flights if you book in advance. Airlines often have some excellent early bird rates.
Getting cheap plane tickets from Reykjavik to Ottawa is more likely if you're flexible with your travel plans. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest fares across the month and score a fantastic deal.
Finding a cheap flight from Reykjavik to Ottawa is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when there's a better deal.
Tailor your trip using filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' Reykjavik to Ottawa flights.
Flying from Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Reykjavik to Ottawa flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Keflavik International Airport. Take a pause at one of these popular options:
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Pearson International Airport (YYZ)
Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)
KEF is around 40 kilometres from central Reykjavik. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take you 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 15 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Reykjavik to Ottawa? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays close to Keflavik International Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Keflavik International Airport, 66.96% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
Arriving in Ottawa
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND)
Ottawa Gatineau Airport (YND) is approximately 14 kilometres from central Ottawa. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 20 minutes.
It typically takes 1 hour 40 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Reykjavik to Ottawa. Check in to one of these accommodation options near YND instead:
Grab an Ottawa Gatineau Airport rental car and discover corners of Ottawa that aren't on a typical itinerary. Find your perfect set of wheels with Hertz.
Reserve your vehicle from Ottawa Gatineau Airport several weeks ahead to get the best deal. If you're going away during a busy period, it's wise to book your Reykjavik to Ottawa flight even earlier.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW)
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) is roughly 11 kilometres from the centre of Ottawa. Following your flight from Reykjavik to Ottawa, it takes approximately 20 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
You can expect the trip to take approximately 45 minutes on public transport.
Routes Car Rentals, Alamo and Budget make picking up an Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport rental car simple. These providers are located around or in the terminal and will get you on your way in no time.
Snap up a deal by securing your ride from YOW two weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a wider range of vehicles.
Ottawa/Macdonald-Cartier International Airport is located at 50 Airport Road.
Best time to go to Ottawa
Before securing your flights from Reykjavik to Reykjavik, consider which time of year works best for you. Peak season in Reykjavik offers a lively atmosphere and plenty of things to do, while the off-season brings better hotel deals and smaller crowds.
The warmest month in Ottawa is July, with temperatures ranging between 13ºC (55ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Book your Reykjavik to Ottawa ticket then if you enjoy this type of weather.
Search for cheap flights from Reykjavik to Ottawa in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -19ºC (-2ºF) and -2ºC (28ºF) on average.
More about Ottawa
Once you've booked your flight from Reykjavik to Ottawa, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Ottawa:
Every great journey has to include some sightseeing. Parliament Hill, Rideau Canal and National Gallery of Canada are essential stops on your Ottawa itinerary.
Explore more of Canada
Ottawa is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of Canada just waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometres south-west of Ottawa, a visit to Toronto will keep you busy. Start with leading sights like CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum and Go Tours Canada - Distillery District.
If there's time to check out another major destination in Canada, consider Montreal, roughly 153 kilometres east of Ottawa. Mount Royal Park, Montreal Botanical Garden and Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal are key reasons to visit.
