Flights from Barcelona to Iceland

Flights to Iceland from Barcelona

Vueling flies direct from Barcelona to Reykjavík in about 4 and a half hours. It is the only way into the country and it opens up everything else: the Golden Circle, the South Coast and the Snæfellsnes peninsula are all a day’s drive from the capital.

Iceland is not a city break. You land in Reykjavík, but the trip happens on the road, and it is worth being clear about that before you book.

What documents you need to travel to Iceland

Iceland is not in the European Union, but it is part of the Schengen Area, so Spanish and other EU citizens need only a valid national ID card, such as the Spanish ID card (DNI), or a passport. No visa is required.

On Schengen flights the physical Spanish ID card (DNI) is required: the digital version is only valid on flights within Spain. If you are travelling with children, each of them needs their own document. If you hold another nationality, check your situation on the travel documents page before booking.

What to know when you land in Iceland

From the airport to the city. You land at Keflavík, about 50 km from Reykjavík, and the bus takes around 45 minutes. The Blue Lagoon sits halfway along the road, so plenty of people book it for their arrival or departure day and save themselves a whole extra trip.

Driving. A car is the practical way to get around, and the Highlands or any route with river crossings call for a 4x4. Buses do run to the main sights, but timetables are limited outside peak season. Check road conditions before every departure. They change from one day to the next, and this is not a box-ticking exercise.

The weather is in charge. It is unpredictable at any time of year. In summer temperatures sit between 10 and 15°C, with almost round-the-clock daylight. In winter they hover around 0°C and snowstorms roll in. Pack layers and waterproofs all year round, no exceptions.

Money and time zone. The currency is the Icelandic króna, though cards are accepted everywhere, remote petrol stations included. Iceland runs on UTC+0 all year with no clock change: 2 hours behind Barcelona in summer and 1 hour behind in winter.

Plug sockets in Iceland are types C and F, and English is spoken fluently across the whole country.

What to do in Iceland

Reykjavík and the Reykjanes Peninsula

The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavík, has a surprisingly lively food scene for its size and Viking history museums you can get round in a morning. Around the city, lava fields and geothermal waters lie a short hop from the airport. If most of the trip will be spent on the road, 1 or 2 nights here is enough.

The Golden Circle

The classic route, and the only one you can comfortably do in a single day. It takes in Þingvellir National Park, where the Eurasian and North American plates pull apart, the Haukadalur geothermal area with the Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall on the Hvítá river. It works just as well in your own car as on an organised tour.

The South Coast and the glaciers

From Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss all the way to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. No other stretch packs in so many of the country’s best-known views, and landscape photographers love it. Allow at least 2 days unless you want to spend the whole time behind the wheel.

The north and the Highlands

For travellers who have already done the main routes. The interior has volcanic deserts, emerald rivers and waterfalls with nobody around. Up near Akureyri you have Lake Mývatn and Dettifoss waterfall, while the Snæfellsnes peninsula adds its glacier to the list. The Highlands can only be reached in summer, and only with a suitable vehicle.

Luggage for your flight to Iceland

What you can take depends on the fare you choose when booking. The simplest fare includes a personal item that fits under the seat in front, and from there you can add cabin or checked luggage.

Iceland calls for layers, technical clothing and waterproof footwear, which take up far more room than a city-break wardrobe. Sorting out your luggage when you book avoids surprises at the check-in desk. Check the current conditions in Vueling’s luggage policy.