Winter in Iceland is a unique experience. A winter wonderland that is not as freezing as you would expect. The average temperature in Winter is never too far below 0°C/32
°F
.
If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, check the weather forecast at WunderGround.com.
Winter activities in Iceland include:
- A better chance at seeing the Northern Lights,
- Seeing amazingly beautiful waterfalls breaking through an armour of ice,
- Soaking in the warm spa waters of the Blue Lagoon surrounded by a beautiful Winter landscape,
- Booking a Whale Watching trip around the Reykjavik shores.
- Renting a 4x4 and drive through the Icelandic Terrain on an adventure.
- Hiking a Glacier
- Going on a riding tour on an Icelandic horse
- Trying out one of the geothermal heated swimming pools that are scattered around the country. Most of the facilities also include hot tubs and steam baths,
- Stepping on the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates as you get a rare glimpse at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.
TIP : Be aware of the wind, especially in Reykjavik. Icelanders refer to the windy conditions as “Window Weather”, it looks nice on the outside but actually being outside sometimes is not so pleasant. We recommend visitors dress appropriately on their visit to Iceland.
See our blog The Icelandic Winter Travel Planning Checklist to find out the best Winter essentials for visiting Iceland.
Winter in Iceland usually gets about 4 - 7 hours of daylight. January and February get the shortest amount of daylight with just 4 hours, usually from 11am to 3pm. Never fear, there’s lots going on to embrace the darkness and enjoy the Icelandic atmosphere (and the strange food) such as the Feast of Thorri.
This feast takes place in mid January to mid February which involves festivities and enjoyment for tourists and locals with Thorrablot Buffets in the Capitals restaurants. Find out all about the Feast of Thorri in our blog HERE.
When you visit Iceland be sure to include the Black Sand Beaches of the Seaside town, Vik. This is known as the most beautiful coastline in Iceland. The black sand from Iceland's volcanic ash stretches across the Ring Road to the North Atlantic.
