Best Things to See in the Winter

Winter is a fabulous time to visit Iceland.

Blanketed by snow and decorated by the dancing Northern Lights, winter transforms Iceland into a magical wonderland packed with stunning natural landscapes as far as the eye can see.

Frozen waterfalls, snow-capped mountains, steaming geothermal spas, and glittering glaciers offer amazing views and unforgettable experiences for you to enjoy.

Winter days in Iceland are short, sometimes with as few as five hours of daylight, so you’ll want to make the most of your day before it gets dark.

There’s so much to see and do in Iceland in the winter.

As well as chasing the Aurora Borealis or relaxing in a glorious geothermal spa like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, you can take spectacular sightseeing trips from the capital to the Golden Circle, the South Coast, or the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can add exhilarating glacier hikes, thrilling snowmobile rides, or an exciting ice cave expedition, where you can enjoy the Land of Fire and Ice at its most untouched and pristine.

Few other countries offer such a variety of must-see landscapes and experiences so close to their capital city, easily reached on a day trip.

Here’s our guide to the 10 best things to see and do in Iceland in the winter!

1. Chase the Northern Lights

With its high latitudes close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland is one of the best places in the world to hunt for the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), drawing countless stargazers to witness this fabulous cosmic spectacle.

When charged solar particles shoot out from the Sun and collide with the magnetic fields around Earth’s atmosphere, that triggers mesmerizing displays of green, pink, and purple to splash across the night sky in a kaleidoscope of color. 

The Northern Lights are most visible on clear and dark nights, in places well away from the artificial light pollution around the city.

An organized aurora-watching tour with local guides who know the best spots and how to read the weather forecast will help you get the most out of this bucket-list experience.

NASA recently confirmed that the Solar Maximum (peak solar activity) is underway, so this is the best time to go aurora-hunting in Iceland!

And if you don’t see the Northern Lights light up the skies on your first try (there are no guarantees for this natural marvel), you’re welcome to try again the next night!

2. Explore Iceland’s Ice Caves

Over a tenth of Iceland is covered by gigantic glaciers, which reach down in icy tongues towards the coast, where you can easily explore their fascinating features on an ice cave tour.

Iceland’s incredible glaciers are always on the move, melting and refreezing repeatedly as the seasons change.  

This constant movement creates an ever-changing environment of fresh crevasses, maze-like interiors, and astonishing blue ice chambers at places like Katla on the South Coast.

As meltwater flows beneath the glacier and through deep crevasses, it carves out brand-new tunnels and caves, ready and waiting for you to explore!

Winter is the ideal time to visit Iceland’s ice caves, when the glaciers are at their most stable and safest to explore, accompanied by expert guides who know the best locations.

And each winter’s ice caves are in different places, making your experience unique - no one else will see Iceland’s brilliant blue ice caves the way you will!

3. Relax in Iceland’s Geothermal Hot Pots

In a land filled with dozens of geothermal spas, naturally heated pools, rivers, and hot springs, you’re never far away from somewhere special where you can relax after a day of traveling and exploring in Iceland.

Heated to the perfect temperature for a soothing soak, world-famous spas like the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon are the ideal places to unwind!

Icelandic bathing culture sees the locals dip daily in their favorite geothermal pools all year round, sharing stories and the news with their friends and neighbors.

Visiting one of these places in the winter is even more magical, as you enjoy the delicious contrast between the icy chill in the air and the warming waters of an Icelandic hot pot.

As well as the Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, there’s a splendid selection of equally impressive geothermal spas close to the capital, including Hvammsvík, Laugarvatn Fontana, Krauma, and the Secret Lagoon.

In the city, you can also visit beautiful public swimming pools like Sundhöllin or Vesturbæjarlaug or even the gorgeous geothermal beach at Nauthólsvík.

4. Explore the Golden Circle

Even though the winter nights are long in Iceland, there’s still plenty of time to explore the Land of Fire and Ice during the day.

The Golden Circle is the perfect introduction to Iceland’s most famous natural marvels.

Easily reached on a day trip from Reykjavík, the Golden Circle offers a thrilling collection of three iconic sights:

• Þingvellir National Park: This UNESCO World Heritage Site is rich in Viking history and geological marvels. Here, you can walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates and visit the site of Iceland’s first parliament, which met here from the 9th century for nearly a thousand years.
• Haukadalur Hot Spring Area: Watch the Strokkur geyser shoot superheated fountains of water and vapor high into the sky every few minutes, with clouds of steam hanging in the air.
• Gullfoss: One of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, Gullfoss is a fantastic sight in winter when it’s decorated with icicles and frozen at its edges.

And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can try snorkeling in the Silfra fissure, swimming in the crystal clear waters that separate the two tectonic plates.

Touring the South Coast will offer you the opportunity to witness the spectacle of more frozen waterfalls at Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.

5. Take a Glacier Hike or Go Snowmobiling

For the thrill-seekers, Iceland offers unforgettable glacier hiking and snowmobiling experiences that crisscross the country’s most dramatic landscapes.

You can book guided glacier hikes on Sólheimajökull as part of a tour of the stunning South Coast, where you can learn all about glacial formation, movement, and how climate change affects Iceland’s glaciers.

You’ll be kitted out with crampons, helmets, and all the safety gear you’ll need to enjoy these incredible icy marvels up close.

Snowmobiling across Langjökull (Long Glacier) in West Iceland is one of the most exhilarating ways to experience Iceland’s snowy winter wilderness, exploring areas other vehicles can’t reach.

Equipped with a snowmobile suit, gloves, helmet, and a full safety briefing, you’ll soon enjoy spectacular views and a thrilling ride across icy volcanic craters.

6. Discover Reykjavík’s Winter Charms

A winter trip to Iceland means you can enjoy exploring the streets of Iceland’s colorful capital, Reykjavík.

Packed full of cozy cafes, top-notch restaurants, street food stalls, intriguing art galleries, and museums, walking its snow-lined streets in winter is a joy.

Take a walk up Rainbow Street to Hallgrímskirkja for panoramic views of the city’s multicolored rooftops from the church tower.

Stroll down to the shoreline to look at the stunning Sun Voyager sculpture and the iconic Harpa Concert Hall and see if Tjörnin, the city’s pond, has frozen over!

7. Explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula

The Snæfellsnes Peninsula, often called Iceland in Miniature, is also easily reached on a day trip from Reykjavík in the winter.

Just a few hours away from the capital, Snow Mountain Peninsula offers a fantastic combination of photogenic mountains, beautiful beaches, plunging waterfalls, ancient lava fields, and a gigantic glacier-topped volcano.

It’s a mesmerizing 200-kilometer loop filled with fantastic sights:

• Kirkjufell: this majestic mountain is one of Iceland’s most photographed peaks, made famous by Game of Thrones, and it’s even more beautiful when covered by winter snow
• Snaefellsjökull: the inspiration for Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth, this spectacular stratovolcano catches the eye from far away.
• The Black Church at Búðir: this iconic black church is a photogenic gem.

8. Enjoy Iceland’s Winter Festivities

Winter in Iceland is brightened by Christmas markets, food festivals, fireworks, bonfires, and Yuletide celebrations, lighting up the long dark nights with streets filled with illuminations.

• Christmas Traditions: Iceland has 13 “Yule Lads,” mischievous figures similar to Santa Claus who come down from the mountains in December, bringing presents for well-behaved children and rotten potatoes for the naughty ones!
• New Year’s Eve: Fireworks light up the sky for hours as locals and visitors celebrate the New Year with enormous bonfires and tremendous displays.
• Þorrablót: Held in January and February, this midwinter festival celebrates Icelandic heritage with traditional food, music, and storytelling.
• Twelfth Night / Þrettándinn: this festival marks the end of Iceland’s Yuletide festivities (Jólin) and the last day when fireworks can be lit or Christmas beers can be drunk.

9. Horseback Riding in the Snow

Icelandic horses are unique, a little smaller than others, but very friendly, and known for their smooth gait, the tölt, which makes riding them a lot of fun!

The Icelandic horse came to the country with the first Viking settlers, and they’ve been an integral part of the culture for over a thousand years.

Winter horseback riding is a fantastic way to explore the Icelandic countryside and connect with the country’s culture and heritage.

Many farms near the capital offer horseback riding tours year-round, including short rides near Reykjavik or longer trips through Iceland’s countryside.

10. Go Whale Watching

More than twenty species of whales visit the nutrient-rich waters around Iceland, following the Gulf Stream, which makes it a perfect place for these marvelous mammals to feed throughout the year.

Many of these charismatic creatures spend their winters in the seas around Iceland, and you can take a winter whale watching tour from the Old Harbor in Reykjavik to look for them.

Humpback and Minke whales are spotted most days in the waters around the capital, along with Harbor porpoises and white-beaked dolphins.

On a three-hour boat trip, you’ll be kitted out in warm overalls, with expert guides who know the best places for a bucket-list experience you’ll never forget!

Iceland’s winter season offers awe-inspiring sights, unforgettable adventures, and memorable moments.

Whether you’re marveling at the auroras, exploring snow-capped landscapes, or simply relaxing in a gorgeous geothermal pool, visiting Iceland in winter promises experiences you’ll remember forever.