What to do in Iceland in winter

Some people suppose that winter in Iceland is not a high season. Don’t be in a hurry to agree with them. Did you know that, for example, December is one of the most mesmerizing months in Iceland? At no other time of the year are there such mysterious landscapes, mostly covered with snow and ice. Furthermore, winter in Iceland is a clean canvas where Northern lights often leave their charming paints because of shorter days. By the way, in case you have wondered if there are winter tours in Iceland, Top Iceland Tours is here to assure you that yes, there are, and quite a bit.

So what is unique about December, January, and February in Iceland? We will help you learn about special winter events and the best winter activities in Iceland.

What to do in Iceland only in December

What is unique about December in Iceland? This month is one of the best periods to explore Iceland because of Christmas. Icelandic towns are covered with thousands of Christmas lights, colorful decorations, and a celebration atmosphere in December. Traveling to Iceland in December is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Icelandic traditions and feel the strong spirit of the Icelandic people and nature. Here are some unique things to do in Iceland in December:

1. Celebrate Christmas with Icelanders. Enjoy Christmas songs, dances, and beautiful decorations from a fairytale. Visit the Christmas market in the center of Reykjavik, go ice skating, and attend a Christmas Mass. By the way, did you know that Iceland doesn’t have a Santa Clause but has its own unique 13 Christmas Trolls instead? You will have a chance to hear legends about them from the locals and even meet several trolls.
2. Taste delicious Christmas Icelandic food: salty smoked lamb (hangikjöt), glazed ham (hamborgarhryggur), ptarmigan (rjúpa), leaf bread (laufabrauð), and also drink Christmas ale (jólaöl).
3. On the evening of December 31, visit one of the 17 enormous traditional bonfires in Reykjavik in any area. Before midnight, enjoy watching the bright sky covered with millions of colorful fireworks. One of the best places to do it is Hallgrimskirkja church.

What to do in Iceland only in January

Although there are several celebrations in January, the vast holiday hoopla is down. The not only fuss is vanishing, but also crowds of people are declining. Calmness and peace return to the whole country. Good to know that January and February are much cheaper than other months. The prices of flights and accommodation are comparatively low. Here are some ideas of what to do in Iceland in January:

1. On January 6, attend an extraordinary Bonfire event where Icelanders, elves, and trolls dance and sing goodbye to Christmas.
2. Join the celebration of Thorrablot after January 19. Thorrablot is a midwinter festival from the Viking Age. There is a tradition to eat ancient delicacies such as lamb heads, ram’s testicles, and famous smelly fermented sharks during this event.
3. Visit a contemporary music festival called Dark Music Days (Myrkir Músíkdagar) in the Harpa concert hall in Reykjavik. The festival contains the latest national and international pieces of music.

What to do in Iceland only in February

Those who travel to Iceland during February will face the most uncrowded period on the island. And it means that the photos of winter landscapes will be the cleanest and the most beautiful, mostly without other tourists. Here are some exciting ideas to do in February:

1. On the first weekend of February, attend the Winter Lights Festival. It is a celebration of day lengthening and the winter beauty itself. People turn on the lights and conduct different art, music, culture, sport, industry, etc. For example, pay attention to the Pool Night and Museum Night with exciting, entertaining programs.
2. On February 14, celebrate Valentine’s Day in Iceland. Recently this date has become quite popular on the island. On this day, hotels make special offers, and restaurants propose delicious menus for those in love.

The best 9 winter activities in Iceland

There are top things to do in December, January, and February. Check out below the best winter activities in Iceland that will take your breath away.

1. Explore winter landscapes

Have you ever dreamed of being the hero of some great movie with fantastic landscapes like Game of Thrones? Winter Iceland is a whole world of unusual nature that will make your skin pleasantly cool. Winter turns Iceland into a completely alien place. Take tours out of town to explore incredible icy waterfalls, snowy volcanoes, bubbling geysers, black sand beaches, mysterious cliffs, vast national parks, glaciers with their lagoons, and more.

2. Hunt for Northern lights

Winter is a perfect time for watching Northern lights in Iceland. Because of shorter days during winter, it’s possible to catch these color lights from 8 pm until 5 am. These lights are real magic with a scientific explanation. Northern lights are natural phenomena that occur in the upper atmosphere due to the interaction of the Earth’s magnetic field, its atmosphere, and the so-called “solar wind.”

There is no 100% guarantee that Northern lights could be seen every night during winter, but the chances are pretty high. The perfect condition for catching them is the intensive solar activity, a dark cloudless sky without precipitation, the minimum artificial lights. By the way, Iceland has special tours that bring you to suitable places where the Northern lights could be seen the best.

3. Go inside the glacier.

One of the main advantages of traveling to Iceland in winter is visiting the ice caves in Vatnajokull Glacier during this season. Ice caves are formed because of water that flows under the glaciers and makes tunnels inside them. The ice caves are natural pieces of art that are unique every year. Under Vatnajokull, there are crystal caves that admit the sunlight. The view inside this cave is truly magical.

4. Experience lava caving

Lava caving attracts people during winter because of the beautiful natural ice sculptures inside of them. The stalagmites and stalactites are created by water that seeps through porous lava rocks and freezes. The most popular lava caves are:

– Vidgelmir cave, situated in Hallmundarhraun lava field.
– Leidarendi cave, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
– Raufarholshellir cave, situated near by Hveragerdi.

5. Go glacier hiking

The glaciers create the land of picturesque ice ridges and ice sculptures. Can you imagine that you will be able to step on the ancient ice and touch it? It is really important to go with a professional guide for safe hiking. The most beautiful glaciers to hike on are:

– Solheimajokull is situated between Eyjafjallajokull and Katla volcanoes.
– Falljokull is located near Skaftafell park and is known for its bright blue and white color.
– Breiðamerkurjokull is a part of the biggest glacier in Iceland, Vatnajokull.

6. Try snowmobiling on a glacier or lake.

Have you ever experienced not just snowmobiling but snowmobiling over a glacier? It is a genuinely indescribable adventure. In winter, it is even possible to ride on a frozen lake with the view of a volcano and mountains. To ride a snowmobile yourselves, you are supposed to be over 18 and have a driving license. Although local operators supply you with all the gear you need on tour, don’t forget to dress in layers.

There are several of the most popular places for snowmobiling in Iceland in winter:

– Langjokull is the second-largest glacier in Iceland. It is situated in the West of the island, not far away from the village Husafell, two hours away from Reykjavík. Take an exciting ride on snowy slopes with breathtaking landscapes.
– Vatnajokull is the largest glacier in Europe. It makes up to 8% of Iceland’s territory. The glacier territory is declared the national park in the country’s southeast.
– Myrdalsjokull is the fourth glacier in Iceland. It is situated on the South coast. The glacier covers the Katla volcano. Go to the top and enjoy a panoramic view of mountains, a volcano, and the ocean coast.
– Lake Myvatn is located in the North of Iceland, one hour away from Akureyri. It is a beautiful place where you can ride a snowmobile in winter over the lake when it is frozen. In winter, the whole valley of Myvatn Lake turns into a wonderland.

7. Snorkeling

You can snorkel between the Eurasian and North American plates in Iceland at the place called Silfra. It is located in Thingvellir National Park at the Thingvallavatn lake. The Silfra rift formed by the earthquake happened in 1789 due to two tectonic plates moving. Silfra is filled with the cleanest and clearest glacier water in the world.

For comfort snorkeling, it is crucial to put on the thermals beforehand. The local operators will provide you with an undersuit, drysuit, snorkel mask, hood, gloves, and flippers on the excursion. After diving into the water, you will be amazed at the cleanliness and the blue color of the water. Because of the water clarity, it is possible to see quite far down.

8. Relax in a hot spring

You can swim in hot springs all year round, but they obtain a unique charm in winter. Discover the beauty of snowy Iceland and then relax in a hot spring, for example, Blue Lagoon, near the Keflavik airport. Even during winter, the temperature of hot spring water is from 38°С to +40°C. Because of silica molecules that refract the sunlight, the water has all shades of blue. Interesting to know that in winter Blue Lagoon has the brightest blue color.

The water of Blue Lagoon has a good effect on the skin and health in general. The Silica precipitates and forms a layer of healing white mud at the bottom, deeply cleansing and rejuvenating the skin. Sea salt has an antiseptic effect and keeps the skin toned, while seaweeds moisturize and soften it.

9. Ride a cute Icelandic horse

Iceland is a heaven for those who adore horses. There are plenty of them. Icelandic horses are charming and friendly. They obtain thick winter fur that warms them and makes them even more adorable in winter. The harsh environment made an Icelandic horse strong, fearless, and reliable. During wintertime, the best places for horse riding are near Reykjavík and on the country’s South Coast. Just imagine yourself riding through the snowy landscapes in silence, hearing only your horse walking on the snow.

We believe that Iceland is wonderful to travel all year round with its unique advantages. Let’s discover Iceland together! Top Iceland Tours will give you a hand and make a perfect root and program to entertain you and show the best sides of Iceland in winter.