Route Briefing: Singapore to Reykjavik
Singapore to Reykjavik is one of those bucket-list routes that feels almost mythological — you're flying from one of the world's most tropical, equatorial cities to the world's northernmost capital, a place where geysers erupt on schedule and the sun refuses to set in summer. At around 20 hours and 30 minutes with two stops, it's a serious journey, but Iceland has a way of making every hour feel worth it the moment you land.
Finnair routing through Helsinki and KLM through Amsterdam tend to offer the most competitive fares and sensibly timed connections. Lufthansa is another solid option. If you can lock in a roundtrip under $1,200, you're doing well — standard fares typically run $1,600 to $2,200 or more, so the gap between a good deal and an average one is significant. Because Iceland has become enormously popular with Asian travellers, demand from Singapore spikes sharply for summer departures. Book four to six months ahead if you're targeting June through August, and don't assume prices will drop closer to departure — on this route, they rarely do.
Summer is the headline season for good reason. The midnight sun is a genuinely surreal experience, and the long days mean you can hike, drive the Golden Circle, and still have light at 11pm. The Golden Circle itself — connecting Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall — is one of Europe's great day trips and easily done without a guide. The Blue Lagoon, Iceland's famous geothermal spa, sits conveniently close to Keflavik International Airport, making it a brilliant first or last stop on your trip. Book ahead though; it sells out weeks in advance during peak season.
Keflavik Airport is about 50 kilometres from Reykjavik city centre. The Flybus coach service connects directly to the city and is a reliable, affordable option that most travellers use. Taxis and rental cars are available but considerably more expensive, and renting a car makes more sense once you're ready to explore beyond the capital.
Reykjavik itself is compact, walkable, and full of character — colourful corrugated-iron houses, excellent seafood, geothermal swimming pools that locals treat as social hubs, and a surprisingly vibrant café and music scene. The Hallgrímskirkja church is the city's most recognisable landmark and worth the climb for views across the rooftops.
One genuinely useful tip: if you're routing through Helsinki on Finnair, consider building in a longer layover and spending a night in the city. It adds almost no cost to your overall trip but gives you two Scandinavian capitals for the price of one long-haul flight.