7 Reasons Why You Can And Should Visit Iceland In The Winter
The name Iceland is very deceptive and makes the geologically active island sound completely intolerable, especially in the middle of winter. There are plenty of good reasons to visit Iceland at anytime of the year since it’s a newer member on the list of best places to travel on a weak dollar but it also has plenty of other advantages in December, January, and February.
1. It’s Not That Cold
Iceland was named by Norwegian Floki Vilgeroarson after he encountered quite a bit of ice when he originally landed in the north. Yet due to the warm Gulf Stream current, the average temperatures in December stay around 0C (32F) and don’t hover more than about 2-3 degrees warmer or colder. In compassion, that’s close to low temperatures in New York or Amsterdam at the same time of year.
2. Fewer Crowds
The number of tourists visiting Iceland drops in half during the winter months. Famous sites like the Blue Lagoon only have a handful of visitors, hostels are quieter, and you can easily book almost any bus or tour at the very last minute since they don’t fill up this time of year. Reykjavik though is still full of locals (who are very friendly) and you’ll have enough hostel mates to not feel lonely.
3. Prices Drop
Many of the tour operators drop their prices in December, January, and February to try and earn the business of the fewer travelers who do happen to be in town. With the economy of Iceland recovering from their recent economic collapse and prices returning to levels not seen in a decade, you can still find good deals in the winter months.
4. Longer Nights Means More Nightlife
Icelanders like to party and having about 18 hours of darkness gives them plenty of opportunity do it. The nightlife is active at all times of the year, with peaks in late December as schools and university lets out for the semester. Walk down Laugavegur street in the capital city at 530am and you’ll see people littered in the streets when the bars begin to close. If that’s your sort of thing you’ll have lots of fun in Reykjavik.
5. The Northern Lights
You can easily take night trips from Reykjavik up north to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis, one of the best ways to catch extraterrestrial activity on Earth. It’s hit or miss so but you can increase your chances of seeing a spectacular night display by going on a completely clear evening. No matter what though, you’ll see one of the best starry skies imaginable.
6. Long Sunrises and Sunsets
The sun doesn’t really rise to far above the horizon in Iceland during this time of year but since it hovers in the sky it makes for great twilight lighting that lasts much longer than in lower latitudes. It makes for some excellent photo opportunities and is an ideal light to improve on your decent travel photos.
7. You Can Still Do Most Everything
People often imagine that Iceland grinds to a halt in the winter but for travelers most of the summer travel options are still available. You can’t go whale watching (on most days) for example, but you can climb glaciers, visit a volcano, go skiing, check out the holograms at Reykjavik City Museum (thanks for the tip J Travel Authority), and countless other things.
Iceland is quite a varied landscape and there is plenty to do as well as pick and chose from while you’re there. The winter doesn’t prevent you from missing much and even if the winter reduced your options in half, you’d have your hands full trying to decide what to do next. As for the longer nights, you’re likely to adapt more quickly than you think and can try shifting your body clock with peanuts to make it a smooth adjustment.
[photos by: Diego Cupolo, Stuck In Customs, James Cridland, passetti, Tom Olliver, Deivis, visiticeland@hotmail.com]
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My name is Anil, a traveler and travel enthusiast. I created foXnoMad to connect with other travelers, discover their world, and share what I’ve learned about mine.
I was up in Iceland a couple of times during the winter and I would really like to see it in summer!
You forgot to mention that you don’t need to go to Blue Lagoon for a hot dip. There are half a dozen pools that could boil a lobster.
However, it still was expensive compared to the U.S. dollar. Beer was $10 in 1995.
Good point, they put that geothermal activity to good use in Iceland. Also, it is cheaper than it has been in the past (as one of the most expensive countries in the world) – a beer is about $6 now.
I would LOVE to see the aurora borealis in Iceland! For some reason, Iceland is everywhere on the web today. Wondering if this is a sign I should book my tickets now …
The prices I suspect will begin to creep up as the economy is slowly recovering. You won’t be disappointed!
Fantastic reasons to visit Iceland. I didn’t realize that it didn’t get that cold. We are way colder in Toronto and we travel to Quebec all of the time in the winter where it is really cold. Last year there were great deals on packages to Iceland, we should have jumped on one. Oh well, there is always next year. Beautiful photos too!
I think that’s one of the biggest misconceptions – got to be the name “Iceland”. Icelandair usually has good deals with stopovers so sure you’ll be able to get one in the future
Thanks Anil, I now have to add a new “must be seen ” in my list;
I did not realized that Iceland is not so could and the northern light is just fabulous.
You’re welcome
Interesting. I visited Iceland in June when there was 24 hours of daylight, so pretty much the opposite of your trip. I loved it but one thing I was bummed about missing out on was the Northern lights.
I would only add that while you can see pretty much everything near Reykjavik in the summer, it can be much more challenging to get out to eastern or northern Iceland. I believe many of the roads close from October-April or something crazy like that.
That’s true, it’s harder to get around by car and to get much further north and other parts of Iceland you’re options are limited to small prop planes.
Seeing the Northern Lights is my #1 travel goal right now I signed up for an email alerting service that will (hopefully) give me a few days notice of auroral activity, so I can hop on a plane. I was debating about the best place to see it, but after reading your post, I am pretty focused on Iceland. Thanks for this!
You’re welcome Barbara
I’m hoping to catch another glimpse of the lights in Norway before the winter is up. Iceland really impressed me, I didn’t think it could possibly live up to the hype, especially after seeing other parts of Scandinavia.
Sorry – but I’m a winter sun girl – the thought of hardly any daylight just doesn’t appeal & I can do 0 degrees here in Bristol.
haha, ok then.. perhaps in the summer
Iceland seems to be a nice place to travel to. My next destination! Thank you.
Icelandair has good fares and I must say the best coach class I’ve flown (throw Cathay Pacific up there too). Very comfortable, lots of legs room for the price, and with good service. I think you’d love it
Seeing the aurora borealis in Iceland is a definite goal of mine. Those photos are beautiful.
It’s got to be one of the easier places in the world to see the lights. Warmer too…
Very convincing! So, were you able to see the Northern Lights? Also – I have to know, did you take that sunrise/sunset pic…that’s enough to make me hop on a plane now and go!
I caught the lights although they were mostly at at the horizon, it wasn’t the best viewing night. That’s not much sunset photo, I’ll have to credit Tom Olliver for that one.
I was going to post my pictures from Iceland but ever since I switched to a Mac I can’t find a good way to upload pictures to my gallery :/
Re the switch to Mac – totally understand – I’ve been struggling with how to re-work my blogging workflow for the last 6 weeks! But it’s worth it! Still – you’ve peaked my interest in going there and taking photos!
I’d love to see the Northern Lights during winter, especially in Iceland.
While I’ve yet to compare them with other places, seems the drive out of Reykjavik is the easiest major city to see them from.
‘Cold’ is relative. Being a warm weather girl, I found Paris cold in November. Iceland would be freezing for me in winter. I’d love to see the northern lights but not sure I could withstand the cold…
haha, yes that’s absolutely true. It’s still cold in Iceland but not much more than -1, -2, -3C on most days. Compared to the summer when average temperatures are about 14C.
I’m not a big fan of the cold weather either but Iceland was such an amazing place I’d endure the temperatures many times over again.
OK, since you’ve (partly) convinced me
allow me to do a little convincing of my own. Here’s what you’d expect if you were to spend Christmas in Sydney instead of Iceland. I thought of you after I posted it 
Iceland in December may not be for everyone but I’d go there now if only I have the time. Their economy is slowly picking up which means goobye cheap deals in summer time!
There economy is recovering and their government is hoping at some point to switch over to the Euro. I can see prices only going up and up from this point on.
I’ve been wanting to do an Iceland trip for years now! Actually, you left out one more important feature of an Iceland excursion– the geothermal pools to warm your achy cold muscles and bones!
Ah yes, how could I forget. I think one of my favorite things about Iceland…
Those are some epic photos. I’ve heard good things about Iceland. I plan on visiting in the summer though. Only reason? I’m from Canada and part of the reason I’m traveling is to beat the cold.
All the best in 2010!
It’s not too warm then either though!
I’ve been to Iceland in summer and it was one of the best trips I’ve ever done – a truly naturally stunning and enchanting country. It would be so different to visit in winter but as so many of the sights are natural (waterfalls, glaciers, lakes etc) then they’d be still visible in winter. I loved the colour of Reykjavik, the character of their people and their practicla adaption to living in such a remote and chilly volcanic island. To those who’ve never been, try to go – it is a special place.
I felt the same way when I visited Mark. Truly a remarkable place and such a collection of unique natural sites in such a small geographic area it really is a special place.
I like the “longer nights mean more nightlife”! You are hilarious!!
Great post on one of my favorite places in the world! I’ve traveled around Iceland in the winter and it was unbelievably cold that particular year. The next trip was in June and I experienced much better weather. It’s a wild wonderful destination any time of the year!
I’m hoping to make the comparison this summer as well when I circle back from the Americas to Europe and the Middle East. I’m with you though, even if the weather were especially harsh, I’d still love Iceland. It carved out a special little place in my heart.
The northern lights are convincing me, but 32F is not. My wee body can’t take cold. Yes, I see the irony because I’m from Canada.
haha, ok then. Granted summer is a *bit* warmer – around 50F.
I’d love to go to Iceland. Watched ‘Man vs. Wild’ a few days ago where he was dropped off somewhere in Iceland. So amazing that they have glacier rivers right next to bubbling hot pools!!
It’s a really varied landscape. Almost like an artist put it together with a Scandinavian touch.
Yes it does.. There is almost something mysterious about the place isn’t it? It’s like all the world’s mysteries are squashed on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere: northern lights,thermal pools, vikings and Bjork! ;p
Stunning, thanks for the views!
Iceland was the first place we visited when we started our travels. I happened to find a cheap ticket to Paris with a one week layover in Reykjavik, and I totally fell in love with the place.
I’d love to go back in winter. It’s amazing!
Since being there I can’t believe how many times I flew right over it. Great place (and prices) for a stopover.
Anil, this is incredible.
Thanks!
Just wanted to correct the statement that you could easily take night trips from Reykjavík up north to see the aurora borealis, while in fact you don’t have to leave the capital. I’m a native, have lived in Reykjavík all my life; and one of the things I love about living here is when I look up and see them dancing in the sky, especially when they are very bright.
Another thing I love is the temperature in the winter; and I’m actually quite surprised at the comments, as I’m willing to bet that none have been in Denmark in the wintertime, where you will get chills to the bone and have to drink hot drinks for a very long time to get warm. Here in Iceland, due to the damp, we never get that kind of a cold. Just put on a winter coat and gloves and you’ll be fine, especially around the mornings and late nights. When the sun is shining during the day, you can walk around in your shirt for quite a long time before you feel any cold (and not the danish cold where you can get frostbites if your not careful)
Thanks Jon, absolutely true and I did also catch a glimpse from the outskirts of town while I was there – thanks for pointing that out.
As for the comments on the temperature, I think it’s the name of the country which gives it a terrible reputation for cold! Imagine if Denmark was called “Icemark” and Iceland “Denland”. I think that would do wonders for the mis-perceptions