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I’ve been lucky enough to visit Iceland in both the fall (with amazing weather) and the winter and was in love with both. But I’m fully a winter person at heart and feel like a winter trip to Iceland is pure magic! The colors and the vibrant landscapes of Iceland are so extreme and stunning in the winter and I could not get enough!
Below I’ve compiled my list of the 10 best things to do in Iceland in the winter + 4 & 5 day winter itinerary options!
Planning and Iceland Adventure? See my full Iceland Travel Guide here to plan the perfect trip!
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
10 Best Things to do in the Winter in Iceland
Ice Cave Tour & Glacier Hike
This was one of my absolute favorite parts of my most recent trip to Iceland. We did this at Jökulsárlón Glacier (this is also where Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach are, see below!)
You need a guided tour for this one, you’ll meet at the Glacier Lagoon parking lot where you’ll join a group, ours was about 20 people. They’ll drive you out onto the Glacier in massive 4 wheel truck. Once on the glacier you’ll be given crampons (spikes) for your boots and you’ll head out onto the glacier to hike and visit a variety of ice caves.
The ice caves change rapidly (daily) in some cases, so each experience can vary, but you’ll be brought to a variety of ice caves of varying colors & sizes. We visited black ice caves, dark blue caves, and crystal blue ones.
The color varies based on how much volcanic ash is trapped in the ice. The caves are such a unique part of Iceland’s fascinating landcape!
A few notes on this option, you’ll need to be physically fit enough to spend an hour or so hiking across the glacier, it’s not super strenuous, but it can be slippery even with the crampons. Also, if you’re claustrophobic, note that the ice caves can be super narrow! I had to turn around in the last one because it got way too narrow and the guy I wasn’t sure where it ended!
Getting There
Jökulsárlón Glacier is the far southeastern tip of Iceland (about a 5 hour drive from Reykjavik) to visit the glacier (where you’ll find the ice caves, glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach) you’ll want to spend at least one night of your trip on the South Coast – see itineraries and where to stay below!
Glacier Lagoon
This stunning lagoon is the deepest lake in Iceland and is the best place to see Icelandic seals that flock to the area. The lagoon is created (and keeps growing) due the the melting of Iceland’s many glaciers.
Tickets/Cost:
Parking is free, as is viewing the lagoon. You’ll need to pay for an ice cave tour!
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is a stunning black sand beach that is famous for the iceberg fragments that drift onto the shore. It’s directly across from Glacier Lagoon, so worth a visit to do both in one trip.
On a sunny day at Breiðamerkursandur (or Diamond Beach) the iceberg fragments glisten and sparkle with the stunning backdrop of the Icelandic coastline. If you’re lucky you might see an Orca whale looking for seal!
Tickets/Cost:
Entrance & parking is free
Northern Lights Hunting
Northern Lights Hunting in the winter is an absolute must! If you’re staying on the remote South Coast for a night or two you should be able to just go outside and look, if you’re staying in Reykjavik for your whole trip you’ll want to escape the city lights to look for Northern Lights.
If you have your own car you can venture on your own (although I do recommend being careful on the dark windy roads and make sure you’re not stopped in an unsafe spot!
You can also take an organized tour from Reykjavik. There are several options from small group tours to large coach bus tours. I opted for the second just to save money, and I have to say it wasn’t the most pleasant experience driving around for hours on a coach bus with 50 other people for hours searching for the Northern lights.
People were tired, grumpy and a bit rude if I’m being honest and I wish I opted for a smaller group tour. We also never saw the Northern Lights unfortunately! You can see tour options here.
Tips for Chasing the Northern Lights
To see the Northern Lights you need two things 1. active solar activity & 2. a clear sky. There are 2 apps that were super helpful for Northern Lights Chasing:
- Hello Aurora – this will give you a % chance of seeing the aurora, cloud covet details, aurora strength (you want low clouds, high strength!) plus more technical details. BUT the best part is others nearby can share photos of the aurora with their general location on a map! You may be able to drive only a few miles and see the lights!
- Aurora – this app is similar it will give you a chance of seeing the lights by time frame (I found this app easier to understand than Hello Aurora) but recommend having both for the others sharing photos in the Hello Aurora app!
Sky Lagoon
Visiting the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik is a must in any season, but the warm lagoons in the winter cold are so, so magical! The oceanside geothermal lagoon offers stunning panoramic ocean views as you soak in the relaxing water. In the winter it’s a great place to see the sunset & sitck around after dark to catch a glimpse of the northern lights!
They also offer a 7 step “experience” that involves soaking in the lagoon, a cold plunge, a sauna (with the most stunning views) a cold fog mist shower, cleansing body scrub, a steam & a shower. This was a super cool, refreshing experience before heading back to soak in the lagoon and grab a drink from the swim up bar.
Cost & Tickets:
Tickets start at about $80 and can be found here.
Getting There:
busses run from downtown Reykjavik (it’s about 10 minutes from downtown) or you can get a taxi easily!
See Iceland’s Infamous Waterfalls in the Winter
Iceland’s waterfalls are epic in all seasons, but they are so stunning in the winter covered by snow & ice. My top recommendations to visit on a winter trip to Iceland:
Gullfoss
A highlight of the Golden Circle – Gullfoss (or Golden Waterfall) is arguably the most famous of Iceland’s many waterfalls! The massive waterfall drops 105 feet into a deep canyon. Pictures can’t capture the sheer size of this waterfall!
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss was hands down one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in my entire life! We got there about 10 minutes before sunset and watching the sun set from here was absolutely unreal.
While you’re there, check out the “secret waterfall” Gljufrabui. It’s a short walk from Seljalandsfoss and is almost entirely hidden. You can find it by following the river flowing from the base of the falls out to the valley. You’ll have to walk across the rocks of the river into a small cavern where once it opens up you’ll see the tall stunning water fall, entirely impossible to see from outside the cavern.
Brúarfoss
Another stunning waterfall on the Golden Circle loop is Brúarfoss (the blue waterfall) You’ll see where it gets it’s name from when you see the stunning blue water that needs to no editing! This is a quick 5-10 min walk from the parking lot!
Öxarárfoss
Another beautiful waterfall that’s especially stunning in the winter. Öxarárfoss is located near the bottom parking lot of Thingvellir National Park
Hvammsvik Hot Springs
Spend some time at one of the most stunning places 45 minutes from Reykjavik, Hvammsvik Hot Springs, and get a chance to explore a bit of western Iceland’s landscape on your way there! Hvammsvik is nice in the warmer weather, but in the winter the surrounding mountains are covered with snow and absolutely stunning!
I visisted Hvammsvik Hot Springs on my most recent trip to Iceland and absolutely fell in love! I cannot believe this place isn’t more popular. It’s a series of natural hot springs located about 45 minutes from Reykjavik. The stunning series of pools are right on the ocean with views of the mountains. You can take a cold plunge in the ocean when you need a break from the hot springs.
The series of pools range in temperature, and the main pool has a swim up bar, similar to the Blue or Sky Lagoon. I absolutely loved this place, and spent several hours popping between the different pools and saunas.
Getting There & Tickets
You can get there via rental car, or they offer transfers from Reykjavik similar to the Blue Lagoon. I had a car so I drove myself, tickets cost $78. I bought them day of and the transfer options were already all sold out, so book in advance!
Scuba Dive Between the Tectonic Plates at Thingvellir
Thingvellir National Park is one of the most important places in Icelandic History, it is known for being the birthplace of Icelandic democracy. Thingvellir sits in a rift caused by the separation of two tectonic plates. The park features coastal views & epic gorges. You can wander and explore the views & the history.
The coolest thing you can do at Thingvellir is scuba or snorkel at Sifra, which is the place where the two tectonic plates have slowly begun splitting apart (about 2cm a year) Book this option here! It’s an exceptionally cool experience in the winter!
Blue Lagoon
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is on any Iceland itinerary, no matter the season. The neon blue water is filled with natural minerals touted as being great for skin and overall health. The water actually is run off from a local geothermal power plant, but don’t worry the it’s clean and natural water. The blue color comes from the silica and the it reflects light when suspended in water.
The Blue Lagoon is a really unique experience! The massive open-aired lagoon is impressive & depending on your ticket level you’ll be offered a variety of face masks from the face mask bar, which was one of my favorite parts!
There is also a bar serving alcoholic drinks, waters, juices etc. Most tickets come with at least one complimentary beverage! A wine with a view in the Blue Lagoon is a 10/10 Iceland experience!
Tickets:
Tickets start at about $60, include a face mask and a free drink. They can be purchased here. You can also upgrade to buy tickets that include more face masks, massages, etc! You can also check Viator if tickets are sold out on the Blue Lagoon website or to see if Viator is cheaper!
Getting There:
From the Airport
Blue Lagoon is only about 20 minutes from the airport vs. 50 minutes from Reykjavik, so my recommnedatio is to head to the Lagoon straight from the airport. They even offer luggage storage in their parking lot! It costs roughly $6 a bag.
If you haven’t rented a car, you can take a bus from the Airport. Transportation can be purchased while you’re booking your ticket (which I did) or separately here.
From Downtown Reykjavik
Blue lagoon from Downtown Reykjavik is about a 50 minute drive. There is a large parking area that is free for guests.
If you haven’t rented a car, you can take a bus from downtown. Transportation can be purchased while you’re booking your ticket (which I did) or separately here. During booking they’ll have you meet the bus at the local bus stop nearest to your hotel. It was super easy.
Pay close attention to your ticket departure – if your departure time is 10:30, that means departure from the main bus station, there will be a note indicating your hotel pickup is 30 minutes earlier, I totally missed that and missed my first bus!
Explore Reykjavik
Spend some time exploring Iceland’s cozy capital city. The winter is the perfect time to visit Reykjavik’s amazing coffee shops, lively bars & pubs, and delicious restaurants!
You can see my full Reykjavik travel guide here, but some of the top things to see are:
- Hallgrímskirkja – a large church that dominates the Reykjavik skyline. You are able to pay to take the elevator to the top for epic 360 views of Reykjavik and beyond. It costs about $7 to go up
- Rainbow Street
- The Sun Voyager
- Main streets of: Laugavegur, Austurstræti & Hafnarstræti – try one of Reykjavik’s infamous coffee shops, like Reykjavik Roasters or one of the fun bars like Lebowski’s or Hús Máls og Menningar (a bookstore that also is a bar with live music!)
Iceland Winter Itineraries
5 Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
- Day 1: Blue Lagoon & Explore Reykavik
- Day 2: Golden Circle Winter Highlights – Gullfoss, Thingvellir, Brúarfoss & Geysir + Sky Lagoon at night
- Day 3: Ice Cave Tour, Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
- Day 4: Vik, Black Sand Beach, Skogafoss & Seljalandsfoss
- Day 5: Hvammsvik Hot Springs
Spend nights 1, 2 & 4 in Reykjavik and night 3 on the South Coast. See where to stay in Iceland below!
4 Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
- Day 1: Blue Lagoon & Explore Reykavik
- Day 2: Golden Circle Winter Highlights – Gullfoss, Thingvellir, Brúarfoss & Geysir + Sky Lagoon at night
- Day 3: Ice Cave Tour, Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
- Day 4: Vik, Black Sand Beach, Skogafoss & Seljalandsfoss
Spend nights 1, & in Reykjavik and night 3 on the South Coast. See where to stay in Iceland below!
If the drive to Glaicer Lagoon is too much for such a short trip replace do day 4 as 3 and spend day 4 at Hvammsvik Hot Springs!
Where to Stay in Iceland
Reykjavik
Iceland’s capital city has tons of options for hotels all within the main downtown area. My two favorites are:
Hotel Reykjavik Saga
I stayed at the Hotel Reykjavik Saga on my most recent trip to Iceland and loved it! The hotel is super new, located in a super convenient location downtown, the rooms were so cozy & the bed was so comfortable. The breakfast was 10/10 heck Availability
Apótek Hotel
Another great option in the perfect location in Reykjavik is Apótek Hotel. This hotel is stunning, right on one of Reykjavik’s main streets and offers parking (for an additional cost)
Vik
Vik has the most hotel and accommodation options on the South Coast. It’s about 2 and half hours from Reykjavik and then another 2 and a half hours from Glacier Lagoon. My top two recommendations for hotels would be:
Hótel Kría
This spot offers stunning mountain views, and on-site bar and restaurant and is only 5 minutes from the Black Sand Beach
Hotel Vík í Mýrdal
Another great option in Vik with an on-site bar & restaurants and Black Sand beach views
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
There’s a tiny town about an hour farther South than Vik (3 and a half hours from Reykjavik) that’s only about 90 minutes from Glacier Lagoon that has a few nice hotels. This is also a great place to see the Northern Lights because it’s super in the middle of nowhere and dark enough!
Magma Hotel
–A stunning Nordic designed hotel with an on-site restaurant and amazing views
Hotel Klaustur
I stayed here on my most recent trip, the hotel was clean, with a good restaurant/bar on site. My favorite perk was the Northern Lights wake up calls you could set! The lights unfortunately never came out when I was there!
Driving in Iceland in the Winter
Driving in Iceland can be a bit of an adventure given the crazy weather, and winter only adds to that. I rented a car on my most recent trip and drove around Reykjavik, the Golden Circle and up the western coast to Hvammsvik Hot Springs, and I had no issues.
There was snow on the road, but they were well maintained. I also live in Boston and am used to driving in icy/snowy conditions, so it’s not new for me.
The biggest thing to be aware of in Iceland is the wind! I took a guided tour down the south coast and was glad I did, the weather and wind got really crazy as we got towards Glacier Lagoon, and even in a large van we were impacted by the wind, so I was glad to not be in a compact rental car.
SafeTravel.is is a weather app that has real time updates on alerts and will let you know if roads are going to be closed in any area due to weather conditions!
Iceland has tons of guided tour options that go everywhere, so it’s easy to not drive if you don’t want to, and if you’re nervous driving in extreme weather I’d definitely opt for a guided tour!
