14 Best Things to Do in Reykjavík in Winter (2025-2026)

One great thing about Iceland is that there is no bad time to visit! This is a guide to the best things to do in Reykjavík in winter!

While most travelers know to expect the northern lights in Iceland during the winter months, they may be unsure of other things to do. I have been three times during the dark months, so I hope my experience helps!

This guide will help you discover several winter activities in Reykjavík, from glacier hiking (okay, so that is a day trip!) to exploring some of the city’s best museums! It will also detail some of the best winter events, festivities, and more!

Did I miss anything cool to do during the winter in Reykjavík? Let me know your top picks in the comments.

When is winter in Reykjavík?

Some people say Iceland has two seasons: mild winter and winter. However, the cold winter season usually lasts from November to March.

You may also experience frigid temperatures in October and April, depending on the year.

Reykjavík Winter Daylight Hours

Since Iceland is just south of the Arctic Circle (with a small part actually in the Arctic Circle), it is one of the countries that experiences a dark winter.

At most, there might be five hours of daylight in one day during December. On the shortest day of the year, the sun rises at around 11 AM and sets at around 4 PM or so.

However, don’t let the darkness deter you; there’s still so much to do in Reykjavík after dark!

Reykjavík Winter Temperatures

In the winter, the average temperature tends to be around 1-2°C (33-35°F). Temperatures can go as low as -10°C (14°F).

The coldest month of the year is usually January. You can see the average winter temperatures below:

• Reykjavík in November: highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -1°C (31°F); 12 days of precipitation
• Reykjavík in December: highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -2°C (28°F); 14 days of precipitation
• Reykjavík in January: highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -3°C (27°F); 13 days of precipitation
• Reykjavík in February: highs of 3°C (38°F), lows of -2°C (28°F); 13 days of precipitation
• Reykjavík in March: highs of 4°C (39°F), lows of -2°C (29°F); 14 days of precipitation

Does it snow in Reykjavík?

Yes! Reykjavík does see a fair amount of snow throughout the year, and it’s possible to experience snowfall between October and May in Reykjavík.

Throughout the winter season, the average is around 309 mm (12.17 inches) of snow. Interestingly enough, I have rarely seen snow in Reykjavík despite traveling there three times during the winter months!

Can you see the northern lights in Reykjavík?

Reykjavík is the only capital city in the world outside of Nuuk, Greenland where it’s possible to witness the northern lights regularly.

The best time of the year to have the highest chances of seeing this magical phenomenon is between late September and late March.

Tons of tours allow you to see the northern lights, and within Reykjavík, Öskjuhlíð Hill is known for offering some of the best views!

Best Things to Do in Reykjavík in Winter

1. Go on a northern lights tour from Reykjavík.

The best times to see the northern lights are from September to April, as noted above. Iceland is very dark during the winter, which is ideal for catching the brilliance of the aurora!

If you stay in a darker place with minimal light pollution, it is possible to catch sight of the aurora borealis from your hotel window in Reykjavík.

Otherwise, you can travel north to Seltjarnarnes, a peninsula that is attached to the Grótta Island Lighthouse.

Both are about four and a half to five kilometers north of Reykjavík (about 3 miles or so) and have signature Icelandic baths you can relax in until the lights appear, including Kvika Foot Bath, which is open 24 hours a day.

About 4 km (2.5 miles) south is Öskjuhlíð Hill, a forested hill cloaked in darkness that is often referred to as one of the top places to see the lights around the city. Additional suggestions by locals include Laugardalur Park, Klambratún, and Hljómskálagarðurinn.

If you do not have a rental car on your trip to Reykjavík, you can also take one of the many northern lights tours available.

This will provide you with an expert guide who will take you out looking for them and away from the light pollution of the city! Click here to check northern lights tour rates and availability.

2. Warm up at one of the coziest cafes in Reykjavík.

There is nothing I love more than a Nordic cafe in the winter. Reykjavík has its fair share of good coffee, and I have visited so many cafes there throughout the years.

Here are some of my favorites that are worth visiting during the winter months:

Kaffi O-le (Hafnarstræti 11): This cafe is inside (or maybe beside?) the Radisson Blu 1919 Hotel and has one of the best coffees in Reykjavík! I ordered a flat white there, and it was made to perfection. Beware – it is only open until 3pm, but it is open daily.

Reykjavík Röst (Geirsgata 5): While the place serves Lavazza beans and is not a local microbrewery, I still love this cafe for its views and cozy vibe. It sits right by the harbor and is a great place to grab a coffee before a boat tour if you have one planned. They close at 6pm and are open daily.

Reykjavík Roasters (Kárastígur 1): This cafe is the perfect place to stop on the way to Hallgrímskirkja and is another cozy find delivering some of the best coffee in the city. They have a couple of other locations, but this one is open until 5pm (every day of the week).

3. Visit the Blue Lagoon.

One of the best places to put on your Iceland winter itinerary is the Blue Lagoon and its geothermal spa (and hotels). It is a must if you’re taking your first trip to Iceland!

The world-renowned hot springs attract visitors throughout the year. These healing waters are a mixture of 70% ocean water and 30% freshwater, thus creating geothermal seawater.

The silica from the lava of the volcanic earth’s natural wells reflects sunlight in the emerging water, creates the water’s iconic blue color, and is at a constant, tranquil 38°C (100°F).

The two hotels of the lagoon are Silica Hotel and Retreat Hotel, which offer many amenities, from unlimited access to the lagoon to massages, facials, and cosmetics using the lagoon’s refreshing elements, float therapy, suites with their own private and hidden spa, and a Michelin-starred fine dining experience.

Click here to check out day trip options to the Blue Lagoon that are organized from Reykjavík.

4. Celebrate Þorrablót, an Icelandic midwinter festival.

Celebrate a revived pre-Christian midwinter festival called Þorrablót (Thorrablot) when visiting Reykjavík in winter!

Thorri is the month in which it takes place, on the 13th week of winter, which is usually the first Friday after January 19th, and “blot” means sacrifice in Icelandic, thus the name suggests its intentions!

Þorrablót is a sacrificial festival in honor of the pagan gods; however, today it is another occasion to gather together. Before and during dinner, traditional songs are sung, speeches, poems, and stories are recited, and games are played.

In addition, there are stage performances and traditional dancing after supper until the break of dawn.

While the delicacies on display are a bit unconventional to describe, they are part of the traditional Icelandic cuisine and must be loved for a reason: svið- boiled sheep’s head; hákarl- fermented shark; Brennivín- a schnapps distilled from caraway and potatoes; and blóðmör- solidified sheep’s blood wrapped in a ram’s stomach.

Icelandair has written a good piece describing it a bit more in detail, so I recommend checking it out for more if you’re looking for a great time in winter!

5. Go on a glacier hike (and into an ice cave) at Skaftafell National Park.

Book a trip to hike across a glacier at Skaftafell National Park! The Vatnajökull glacier is Europe’s largest, and the duration of the hike itself takes up to an hour and a half.

Located on the south coast of Iceland, it is one of my favorite day trips from Reykjavík in winter!

Deep fissures, crevasses, and even vertical shafts are present on the surface of the impacted ice as a result of the melting water dispersing into them.

You will need to do this as part of a trip, as it is not safe (or advised) to go alone, and it is one of the best experiences I have ever had in Iceland to date!

Troll Expeditions is one of my favorite adventure companies in Iceland, but this is a tour that you will need a rental car to get to, as the meeting point is outside of Reykjavík in South Iceland.

I think taking a glacier and ice cave tour in winter is essential to see the beauty of Iceland outside of Reykjavík. Click here for glacier hike rates and availability with Troll Expeditions.

6. Go ice skating and shopping in Ingólfstorg Square.

Shop and put on a pair of ice skates in Reykjavík’s old town at Ingólfstorg Square. The ice skating rink will be open from the end of November and will be there until New Year’s Day in 2026.

There are a few small stands where you can buy trinkets (or a cup of hot cocoa), and 100,000 light bulbs illuminate this well-known square. I heard there was a Christmas market there, but to be honest, I didn’t see one.

I looked up more information about that, and it turns out that the Austurvöllur Christmas Market only runs on weekends during December, hence why I missed it!

While it costs money to go ice skating (you can pay in person, as it seems that the links have been removed from booking online), it is free to wander about and watch those having a bit of fun on the ice.

7. Check out the Árbær Open Air Museum.

Dive right into the cultural heritage of Reykjavík at the Árbær Open Air Museum.

It is one of six museum experiences included in the Reykjavík City Museums, all of which present the history and culture of the Icelandic people from the time of their settlement until the modern era, and is about a fifteen-minute drive from the center of the city.

To preserve the identity of the people and Old Reykjavík as they entered the modern era, the city came together to establish the museum.

Originally a farm, Árbær was also transformed into an open-air museum in 1957, with a village of 20 historical buildings relocated from the city’s center, forming a town square in addition to the farm.

This specific museum focuses on the architecture and lifestyles of the past in Reykjavík and has a variety of highlighted exhibitions and events held throughout the year, including showcasing traditional craftsmanship.

8. Taste Icelandic cuisine on a Reykjavík food walk.

Take a food tour around downtown Reykjavík while tasting the traditional flavors of Icelandic cuisine. Discover the lives of the locals in various shops and restaurants, and sample eight different dishes and delicacies for three (delicious!) hours.

You will experience (with the guide) the locations of small, family-run restaurants and shops to famous, world-renowned ones; get the experience of a local by going to hidden gems and secret hangouts.

You’ll have the chance to try a mixture of authentic flavors with Icelandic lamb soup, a variety of seasonal meats and cheeses, Iceland’s raved lobster soup, and of course, the country’s famous hot dogs.

You will get the background of each dish, along with the best times to visit each venue, and more! This is a great way to learn more about the cuisine of Iceland and it is a wonderful winter activity (especially when the weather is not playing nice). Click here for food tour rates and availability.

9. Head out on a whale-watching excursion.

Witness whales up close on a whale-watching excursion from the coast of Iceland! You will meet your tour guide at the Old Harbor and sail out to Kollafjöður; from there, you will be near Viðey Island and Faxaflói Bay, which are both popular destinations for bird and whale watching.

Once in the bay, you can see a ring of mountains in the distance, including the Snæfellsjökull Glacier, another spectacular site to experience the best of Iceland.

The duration of the tour will be three hours; therefore, it is crucial to be prepared for the cold breeze and potential waves splashing you as you sail the Atlantic Ocean. Guides will provide their passengers with warm overalls in addition to spacious indoor cabins with heating, WiFi, and a bar.

With the narration of the experienced tour guides, you will have a chance to see minke, killer, and humpback whales, as well as dolphins and harbor porpoises. Click here for whale-watching rates and availability.

10. Enjoy the Winter Lights Festival in February.

Celebrate winter with the annual Winter Lights Festival and honor the growing sunlight of the closing period of darkness. From February 5-8, 2026, experience the light installation and art of the outdoors in Reykjavík’s city center.

The event is free of charge and is one of the most anticipated winter events in Reykjavík!

The thermal pools have stages with music performances and are illuminated; all the major museums incorporate dance and theater performances, lectures, live music, film, and readings; and the Reykjavík Ski Resort is open for winter activities.

The six main light installations in the city center include the iconic Hallgrímskirkja, two different light shows at the Harpa Concert Hall, the Reykjavík Art Museum, the National Gallery of Iceland, and the Reykjavík City Hall and De-Lux… all of which have their own names.

The illuminating combination of art and entertainment lights up the city between 6:30pm and 10pm every night of the festival.

11. Explore the National Museum of Iceland.

Witness 1,200 years of history at the National Museum of Iceland. The structure of the exhibitions provides a clear chronology from the colonization of the island to the present day.

Evenly divided into seven periods, the narration of the museum highlights details that are often overlooked.

You can see preserved artifacts from the first centuries of the island’s settlement from 1,100 years ago. And you’ll also have the chance to see the transition from the pagan Norse tradition to Christianity, which includes the adoption of medieval Christian culture.

A shift in sovereignty is also showcased from when the King of Norway expanded his kingdom to Iceland, followed by the takeover from the Danish Empire, and thus, artifacts of war, including spears, shields, and swords, are on display.

The museum even presents the transition from the urbanization of settlements to the present day. Stop by the museum shop for souvenirs or at the cafe for refreshing food and drinks!

The National Museum of Iceland is open daily from 10am until 5pm.

12. Go on a Golden Circle day tour.

Experience an incredible day in Iceland’s scenic landscape. From lakes to waterfalls, and geysers, take an eight-hour Golden Circle tour by bus from Reykjavík.

Depart from the city center until Hveragerði, where you can take a break and stretch your legs. Then, resume your road trip on the southern coast’s portion of the Ring Road toward Kerið Crater, a 3,000-year-old lake made from a volcanic crater.

Afterward, you will proceed in the direction of the iconic Gullfoss waterfall, with water originating from the Langjökull glacier that feeds the Hvítá River, producing a roaring cascade– spraying and drenching anyone that gets close.

Continue the voyage to the Geysir area, where you can catch sight of the spouting geyser of Strokkur up close, and take a serene lunch break immersed in nature.

Finally, the bus will continue to Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir National Park), where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet and form the rocky cliffs, fissures, and dramatic rift valleys. Click here for Golden Circle day trip rates and availability.

13. Marvel at beautiful Hallgrímskirkja.

The emblem of Reykjavík would without a doubt be the Hallgrímskirkja, a 73-meter-high (240-foot) cathedral designed in modern fashion, but dependent on traditional Icelandic motifs.

It is a Lutheran Church that is one of the tallest buildings in Reykjavík and it sits at the center of the city on Skólavörðuholt Hill.

Head up to the top of the tower any day from 10 AM to 5 PM, and the tower closes 15 minutes before the general closing time. Tower tickets are 1400 ISK (about $11.25).

This church is often the centerpiece for many festivals, including the Winter Lights Festival held in February, and is illuminated with a light show, which in turn illuminates the entire city.

14. Go to a community bonfire on New Year’s Eve.

Iceland takes advantage of its deep, dark winter nights with early fireworks in anticipation of the upcoming New Year. The fireworks start as early as 8PM, and last until half an hour to an hour before the actual transition into the New Year.

This is primarily because the whole country is too busy laughing at the world with the Icelandic TV comic show Áramótaskaupið which, when it closes, is the cue for the real firework show to begin.

Many locals in Reykjavík either watch the fireworks near the Hallgrímskirkja Cathedral or shoot their own from Klambratún Park or Landakotstún Park.

You can get cozy around the many bonfires that are organized throughout the city; the bonfires themselves are a tradition from the Middle Ages, in which people used to burn the old things they no longer needed. Although the tradition is well preserved, many Icelanders simply gather around the bonfires to sing together.

Looking for additional things to do during winter in Reykjavík?

There are plenty of things to do in Reykjavík in winter, so this is not a complete guide (and the ones above are merely a few of my favorite suggestions).

However, here is a quick list of alternatives if you have extra days and are considering sticking around the city a little longer!

• FlyOver Iceland: A motion experience that takes you over the country in a very interactive way; it is one of the main attractions in Reykjavík.
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: This is a great day trip option and a perfect addition to your itinerary if you’re visiting the South Coast
• Horseback riding: The country is known for its Icelandic horses and there are plenty of day tours you can take to ride one outside the city.
• Perlan: This is an interactive nature museum in Reykjavík that offers panoramic views, a man-made ice cave, a volcano documentary, and a northern lights experience. It is also a nice place to see the aurora from its observation deck if you have clear skies.
• Enjoy a heated swimming pool in Reykjavík: Iceland has so many secret lagoons, hot springs, and natural swimming pools. In Reykjavík, you can enjoy one of the city’s heated pools (you can find a list of them here).

Where to Stay in Reykjavík

I have stayed in several places around Reykjavík over the years (and not all I’d recommend, sadly)! Here are some of my top picks!

The Reykjavik EDITION (Luxury)

The Reykjavik EDITION is a newcomer to the capital’s accommodation scene and is a 5-star hotel right close to the water.

You’ll be just a short walk from Laugavegur Street (shopping!), Harpa, and other top things and places in Reykjavík. It is also home to TIDES, one of the best restaurants in Reykjavík. Click here to check EDITION’s rates and availability.

Hotel VON (Mid-range)

This mid-range boutique hotel is located on Laugavegur Street and has 52 rooms on the property. I received a free upgrade to a Deluxe room when at Hotel VON and I had a balcony that gave me views to the north where I could see the northern lights.

It is also home to BON Restaurant, which has a nice wine selection. Click here to check Hotel VON’s rates and availability.

Skuggi Hotel by Keahotels (Mid-range)

I also have to include Skuggi Hotel on this guide as I stayed there during the wintertime as well! This 3-star hotel is conveniently located and is only a short walk from the main sights of Reykjavík.

It is also close to Bus Stop #9, where several tours pick up from.

The breakfast was my favorite in Reykjavík and was included in my hotel price. There are fewer people in winter than in the summer months, so rates tend to be cheaper. Click here to check Skuggi Hotel’s rates and availability.

Kex Hostel (Budget)

The famous Kex Hostel is a good option for those traveling to Reykjavík on a budget. The trendy hostel is in a repurposed biscuit factory in the city and is located just a stone’s throw away from the action! Click here to check Kex Hostel’s rates and availability.

Did I miss any of the best things to do in Reykjavík in winter? Or the best places close to Reykjavík? Let me know in the comments!

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