Iceland – the Land of Fire and Ice – is a bucket list dream for many travellers, and winter is one of the most magical times to visit.
Whether you’re heading for New Year, Valentine’s weekend, or a spontaneous snowy escape in February, you can experience steaming geothermal lagoons, frozen waterfalls, epic volcanoes, and (if you’re lucky) the dazzling Northern Lights.
In this guide, I’ll share our 4-day Iceland winter itinerary, how we booked everything ourselves, what it cost, and tips for making the most of your short winter break without blowing the budget
Contents
- Why Visit Iceland in Winter?
- About Iceland
- Planning Your DIY Winter Trip to Iceland
- Booking Winter Activities
- Saving Money on Food in Iceland
- 4-Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
- Best Winter Activities in Iceland
- Things to Do in Reykjavik
- 🎇 New Year in Iceland – Fireworks
- Golden Circle Tour
- Is Iceland Worth Visiting in Winter?
- FAQ: Short Winter Breaks in Iceland
- Useful Links
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Why Visit Iceland in Winter?
- Winter magic – Snowy mountains, frozen waterfalls, and icy landscapes you won’t see in summer.
- Northern Lights season – Best chance to see them is September to April.
- Smaller crowds – Quieter attractions than in peak summer.
- Geothermal bliss – Warm up in natural hot springs like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon while the snow falls around you.
About Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic island that lies between the North Atlantic Ocean and Greenland Sea. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, it has a milder climate than you might expect for somewhere so close to the Arctic Circle.
Winters average 1–2°C in Reykjavik, though the wind chill can make it feel much colder. In the highlands of Iceland the temperatures are so cold that it is uninhabited.
🌋Geologically, Iceland is still forming – it sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which means volcanoes, geysers, and geothermal hot springs are everywhere. You can explore glaciers and ice caves, walk between tectonic plates, and soak in naturally heated lagoons.
⛅ Daylight hours: In December and January, you’ll only get around 4-5 hours of daylight, so plan your sightseeing carefully.
Population: Fewer than 400,000 people live in Iceland, over a quarter of them in Reykjavik. Icelandic culture is steeped in Viking history and folklore.
🧚 Look out for the little fairy and elf houses on your journeys!
Planning Your DIY Winter Trip to Iceland
Flights to Iceland in Winter
I always assumed Iceland was too expensive, until I spotted return EasyJet flights from the UK for under £100. Winter prices are often much cheaper than summer. Use Skyscanner to compare flights from your nearest airport.
👉 Search for Flights on Skyscanner
Where to Stay in Reykjavik
We booked a self-catering apartment for £300 for 4 nights via Booking.com. It was outside the city centre, so hiring a car was essential.
👉 See Availability for Comfort Apartments
Car Hire vs. Transfers
- Car hire: We paid £144 for 5 days via Rentalcars.com. Driving in winter can be challenging due to icy roads, but it gave us flexibility.
- Transfers: If you’d rather not drive, Flybus runs from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik for around £22 per person.
Booking Winter Activities
I booked two trips on Get Your Guide – a ‘Northern Lights tour’ at 52 Euros each:
And the ‘Golden Circle tour’ at 65 Euros each:
(See more details about those trips further on.)
My bucket list dream was to go to the Blue Lagoon having seen photos of it on social media. We decided to go on New Year’s Eve and we booked the tickets directly on their website www.bluelagoon.com at £57 each. We made dinner reservations at Lava Restaurant too.
Sky Lagoon has opened since our trip: www.skylagoon.com and sounds fabulous also.
Saving Money on Food in Iceland
🍝 Food is expensive, so we packed porridge, pasta pots, and snacks, and bought wine duty-free before flying.
⚠️ Alcohol isn’t sold in Icelandic supermarkets, only in specialist shops.
4-Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
We were only going for 4 nights so we had to choose what to do carefully. I read a great book called ‘The Little Tourist Book of Iceland’ – it was full of interesting anecdotes and hints and tips of how to get the most out of your time there.
Day 1 – Reykjavik & Northern Lights Tour
- Arrive, settle in, and explore Reykjavik.
- Stroll the harbour, spot colourful houses, and enjoy the cosy cafes.
- Northern Lights tour in the evening (weather permitting).
Day 2 – Blue Lagoon & Reykjavik by Night
- Morning soak in the Blue Lagoon – 40°C water surrounded by ice and snow.
- Lunch or early dinner at Lava Restaurant (treat yourself, it’s worth it).
- Evening walk to see Reykjavik’s Christmas lights in winter months.
Day 3 – Museums & Local Food
- Whales of Iceland Museum – life-sized whale models and fascinating exhibits.
- Lunch at Reykjavik Chips – simple, delicious, budget-friendly.
- Perlan Museum – walk through an indoor ice cave, visit the planetarium, and enjoy panoramic city views.
Day 4 – Golden Circle Tour
- See the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall.
- Watch Strokkur geyser erupt.
- Walk between tectonic plates at Thingvellir National Park.
Best Winter Activities in Iceland
- Northern Lights viewing (September-April)
- Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon for a geothermal soak
- Golden Circle – waterfalls, geysers, and national parks
- Whale watching (better in summer, but museums offer a winter alternative)
- Exploring Reykjavik – cosy cafes, Christmas lights, street art
🌠Northern Lights Tour
To see the Northern Lights there must be a clear sky, no light pollution and high solar wind activity.
Sadly, our Northern Lights tour was cancelled because of bad weather. The tour company rearranged for another evening but the weather was not on our side and it was cancelled and cancelled again on our last night. Get Your Guide refunded the money for our cancelled tour.
🌟Tip: Book this tour at the start of your trip!
The Blue Lagoon
We were very excited about going to the Blue Lagoon. The Blue Lagoon was one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Iceland and the reality matched my expectations – it was simply amazing! Drinking prosecco in that warm light blue water surrounded by ice and snow was sensational.
Things to know before your visit:
- We read some reviews that complained about communal showers but there are, in fact, private showers and changing rooms.
- You have a wrist band to use the lockers and purchase things like refreshments and to claim your free drink in the lagoon.
- 🍸 The bar is in the pool and you have the handy wrist band so you don’t get your purse wet.
- You can enter the water from inside the building so you don’t get cold.
🌟 Tip: Enter the water from outside. It is freezing outside and the feeling of being plunged into the warm water is sensational!
There are other fabulous facilities available at Blue Lagoon – including hotel accommodation and a Spa – all choices can be found on their website:
Lava Restaurant
There are a few restaurant choices. We ate at Lava Restaurant because it was New Year’s Eve and we wanted a bit of luxury.
The food was wonderful and there was a great menu for children. It was the one day that we really splashed out and it was worth every penny – I have never felt so relaxed.
Things to Do in Reykjavik
Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland and the largest city. There are plenty of attractions, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and shopping.
It is a pretty city alongside the coast and you can see snowy mountains in the distance.
We explored the city at night and in the day. We loved the Christmas lights, especially the Reykjavik Cat and enjoyed drinks in the cosy bars.
During the day, we visited two fantastic places: the Whales of Iceland Museum and the Perlan.
🐳 Whales of Iceland Museum
Whales are a huge part of Icelandic culture and there are many whales in the waters surrounding Iceland.
The Whale Museum has life-sized whale models on display. It is very informative and we learnt a lot about whales while we were there. You can see their website on this link:
Reykjavik Chips
After the Whale museum we were hungry. As I’ve mentioned, food is very expensive in Iceland so for lunch we ate chips in a café that literally only sold chips.
The chips were perfect – hot, soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. They were sold in cones and there was a choice of sauce. – they even had special tables for the cone of chips to sit in!
The Perlan Museum
This is a fantastic museum with incredible exhibits. You can explore an ice cave made out of tons of snow from Icelandic mountains. The temperature and lighting makes it feel like you are in a real ice cave and it is magical.
We missed the real Northern Lights but we enjoyed watching and learning about them in the planetarium in the Perlan museum.
🌟 Tip: You can view Reykjavik and beyond from the Observation Deck and watch the sunset there – it is great for photos.
The exhibits are fun, interactive and informative and you can learn about volcanoes, water, nature and so much more. See more information on their website:
🎇 New Year in Iceland – Fireworks
We had read in the ‘The Little Tourist Book of Iceland’ that Icelanders ‘love shooting fireworks’. Normally, fireworks are illegal in Iceland but for New Year’s Eve, Icelanders spend a huge amount of money on fireworks that they purchase from the Icelandic Search and Rescue charity to raise funds.
On New Year’s Eve night, fireworks are let off all over the city. They literally started at 9pm and didn’t end until the early hours of the morning – we’ve never see or heard anything like it.
Golden Circle Tour
On our last full day, we went on an 8 hour Golden Circle tour as it seemed to offer the most sights within the confines of little day light and was close to Reykjavik.
I have a friend who has driven the route and she says it isn’t too bad, but we were a little cautious about driving in such harsh, changeable conditions so that’s why we opted for an organised tour.
The tour lady was lovely and explained everything about the sites we visited and about Iceland and its people in such an interesting way that we felt the extra spend on the tour was value for money.
Our first stop was a volcano crater, which we couldn’t see very well because it was still dark.
The second stop was Gullfoss waterfall. The waterfall was immense – we could feel the spray of the freezing cold water as it plummeted down the 32 metre crevice. The tour stopped at other magnificent waterfalls too.
We walked through the centre of two tectonic plates and saw the site of the first parliament.
Our favourite part was watching a Geyser erupt. The earth surrounding the Geyser was frozen, which made it even more spectacular.
The day was very informative. The guide told us about their politics, culture and language. Also, wonderful stories about Iceland’s traditions, myths and legends and we discovered all about why Iceland is called the ‘Land of Fire and Ice’.
Is Iceland Worth Visiting in Winter?
Absolutely. Winter in Iceland is magical – fewer tourists, unique seasonal experiences, and landscapes that feel straight out of a fairytale. Just be prepared for short daylight hours, high food prices, and the possibility of weather disrupting your plans.
We didn’t see the Northern Lights this time, but that just gives us an excuse to go back in the winter – or maybe next time in summer to experience the midnight sun.
For more information about Iceland, see the links below and I also recommend you read ‘The Little Tourist Book of Iceland’ – available on Amazon for £13.99!
FAQ: Short Winter Breaks in Iceland
Is 4 days enough for Iceland in winter?
Yes – you can see Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon, and the Golden Circle comfortably, with time for museums and evening Northern Lights tours.
What should I pack for Iceland in December-February?
Thermal layers, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves, hat, scarf, sturdy boots with grip, and a swimsuit for hot springs.
Can you see the Northern Lights on a short trip?
It’s possible, but never guaranteed – check aurora forecasts and book flexible tours.
Useful Links
Tourist board: www.islandsstofa.is
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