Picture yourself in a winter fairytale where snow blankets the land, cotton candy pinks fill the sky, and ponies abound. That’s what you’ll experience when you visit the land of fire and ice. Venture out on the ultimate winter Iceland itinerary and get ready for an arctic wonderland.
I’ve visited Iceland in the summer, so I thought I knew what to expect on this trip, but all I can say is…
Wow. 🤩
Exploring Iceland in the winter was one of the most enchanting trips I’ve ever taken. Frozen waterfalls, northern lights, and golden skies… it was breathtaking. I am already dreaming of going back.
We had the most amazing time on our New Years trip to Iceland, so now I want to help you plan the ultimate adventure! Find everything you need to map out your 3 day winter Iceland Itinerary including where to stay in Reykjavik, things to do in Iceland, and other Iceland travel tips!
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Table of Contents
Travel Tips for Iceland Winter
🌅 Daylight in winter is short with the shortest days just having 4 hours of sunlight. So, try to plan things according to when the sun is up.
🥶 Winter weather in Iceland can be quite ferocious. Temperatures usually stay around 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit, but winds can be intense and snow storms are frequent.
🚙 There’s one main highway around Iceland, the Ring Road, so on snowy days it can take a while to get to places. Add more time into your schedule.
🌟 The Northern Lights are unpredictable, so if you want to see them try to have flexibility in your nighttime schedule.
💳 Most places accept credit cards in Iceland, but it’s always good to have a little cash on hand.
Iceland Winter Itinerary
Iceland Winter Itinerary Overview:
Day 1: Reykjavik and Lagoon
Day 2: Golden Circle
Day 3: South Coast & Waterfalls
You can switch this up if you want, but this is the order I’d recommend!
Day 1: Reykjavik & Lagoon
After a long day of travel, you can explore the city of Reykjavik and luxuriate in one of the geothermal lagoons. Because you may not have a lot of energy, this is the perfect way to start your trip.
Reykjavik is a really fun city with great museums, delicious cafes, and a fun vibe. So, you can spend your time exploring at your leisure. See the things you care about and skip the rest.
Don’t forget to stop for a hot dog at the famous hot dog stand! 🌭
Remember you should always get travel insurance to cover your trip and unexpected occurrences! Get yours with SafetyWing. ✈️
Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
You can’t visit Iceland without visiting one of the amazing geothermal lagoons. Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon are the two premiere lagoons that most people visit. Choosing between them may be the hardest part. 😩
I’ve gone to both and honestly I’m not sure I have a favorite. While Blue Lagoon is a bit more naturally beautiful, the Sky Lagoon 7 step ritual was really unique. You can read further to help.make your choice.
Just remember you’ll want advanced reservations at either lagoon!
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon has milky blue waters with volcanic rock all around it. With your entry ticket, you’ll also get a mud mask and a drink. So, you can spend time truly relaxing in the waters.
Plus, if you want something extra, you can pay to have a massage in the water or visit their spa onsite.
Sky Lagoon
On the other hand, Sky Lagoon is much closer to Reykjavik so it’s easy to access from town. While the Blue Lagoon offers mud masks, the Sky Lagoon has its signature 7 Step Ritual.
During the 7 Step Ritual you’ll spend time in the lagoon, do an invigorating cold plunge 🥶, dry off in the sauna, and continue through the journey. We loved doing this together and it was one of the highlights of our trip!
Hallgrímskirkja
This stunning Lutheran church sits on a hilltop over the city of Reykjavik and can be seen throughout.
At 244 feet tall it’s one of the tallest structures in all of Iceland. It has incredibly unique architecture and is definitely worth visiting to admire. If you don’t mind walking uphill, then you can even trek to it from town.
Reykjavik Museums
Stop into one of the famed museums in Reykjavik: The National Museum of Iceland or the Phallological Museum.
Visit the National Museum of Iceland to learn about Icelandic culture and its history. Or, choose something a bit different and stop in the Phallological Museum to see the largest collection of phalli in the world.
Day 2: Golden Circle
You cannot have a winter Iceland itinerary without including the famed Golden Circle. ⭐️ The Golden Circle is a driving loop near Reykjavik with some of the most spectacular natural sights and destinations.
This loop takes four hours without stopping at all of the attractions. So, on the shortest days, you may not have a ton of time to explore further. But, if you dedicate a day to this expedition, you’ll still get to see most of the highlights!
Plus, this drive was remarkable and we felt like we were living in an arctic paradise. ❄️
Kerid Crater
Vibrant blue waters lie in this large volcanic crater. It’s one of the most arresting sights along the way! Luckily, it’s just a short walk from the parking area, but there is a 600 ISK fee to visit.
Gulfoss
Without a doubt, Gulfoss is the most famous waterfall in all of Iceland. Water gushes over an 800 foot wide area with three levels.
As soon as you get out of your car, you’ll hear the roaring waters of the falls. 💦 As you get closer, you may even start to feel mist. Luckily, there are a couple of of viewpoints to observe the falls that are just short walks from the car. It’s definitely worth seeing with your own eyes!
Geysir
Within 10 minutes from Gulfoss, sits a large geothermal area with plentiful geysers. As you walk along the path, pools bubble and geysers randomly erupt high into the sky above you.
Geyser areas are created from geothermal and volcanic activity 🌋 beneath the surface.
If you’ve been to Yellowstone, then you may have experienced a similar landscape. But even if you have, it’s worth stopping to see the regular bursts from the ground. Just make sure to stay on the path and avoid the boiling water below!
Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park
Thingvellir National Park is considered Iceland’s birthplace. For years, parliament met in this area where the nation was shaped.
Visit this park to learn about its history, but also to visit some of the amazing geological features. Here, in this park you’ll find the continental fissure between North America and Eurasia. Tectonic plates tear the valley apart creating a vast gorge.
Things to See in Thingvellir National Park:
- Oxarfoss
- Þingvellir Church
- Thingvellir National Park Visitor Center
- Snorkel in the Silfra Fissure
- Almannagjá Gorge
Day 3: South Coast
Drive South from Reykjavik and spend a day exploring the incredibly scenic South Coast. Along the way, you’ll be able to stop at a handful of stunning waterfalls and remarkable black sand beaches.
It’s one of my favorite stretches in Iceland and it’s an area that you don’t want to miss!
If you make it all the way to Vik, then you’ll be driving 2.5 hours one way and 5 hours total. So, just prepare for a long day of driving. 🚙 We took advantage of the daylight hours and drove when it was dark out. But, you may not be comfortable doing that!
Seljalandsfoss
There’s something magical about Seljalandsfoss. ✨ You’ll be able to see this waterfall from the road, but as you get closer it becomes even more astounding. Walk behind the falls for one of the prettiest scenes in Iceland!
My one regret from this trip was due to limited sunlight, we didn’t get to stop at this falls on our trip. But, we saw the powerful cascade from the road and I visited in the summer a few years ago.
Skogafoss
Visit one of the most stunning waterfalls in Iceland and hear the roar of the water. You can choose to stay at the bottom or climb up above.
Although I think this waterfall is beautiful, it’s incredibly crowded with busloads of people stopping here often. But, few know about the hike that extends beyond the top of the falls.
This is where it becomes a winter wonderland. ☃️
If you continue past the overlook at the top, you’ll find a trail that leads to a snow covered canyon. This path is 16 miles round trip, but you can go as far as you want before turning around. Along the way, you will see many more waterfalls.
Kvernufoss
Although some of the other waterfalls on this list are more popular, this one was our favorite. Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss draw big crowds, but this one is much quieter.
We had the whole waterfall to ourselves for 25 minutes!
You’ll just take a short walk (10 mins or so) from the parking lot to get to the waterfall. Once you get there, walk behind the falls and look around you at the ice covered cliff opening. It’s amazing!
Reynisfjara Beach
Powerful waves crash down onto this dark black sand beach that was formed by volcanic lava many years ago. It’s a natural wonder. 😮
Reynisfjara is the most iconic black sand beach in all of Iceland for many reasons. Just off the shores of this beach you’ll see large rock formations, while on the shoreline you can admire the basalt columns.
On this beach, you’ll also be able to venture into Halsanefshellir cave that sits below the mountain above. But, be careful as rockfall is common and the waves can be too large to enter!
We spent an hour on this beach just admiring the sunset and the gorgeous landscape. I truly never wanted to leave!
Ice Cave Tour
For those of you who want something a bit more adventurous, go on an Ice Cave Tour of Katla. We took the tour with Arctic Adventures and it was one of the best things we did in Iceland!
A super jeep will pick you up and transport you over the Ice until you get to the mouth of the cave. Once you get there, you’ll suit up and then journey into the ice tunnel. 🧊 Glistening ice surrounds you as you enter the large blue dome. Once you get in there, you’ll need a flashlight to see the dark depths of the cave. It’s a marvel.
Cave Tours take about 3 hours, so just know that you may have to skip other things on your 3 day winter Iceland itinerary when you’re working with limited daylight.
Planning Your Iceland Trip
How to Get to Iceland
Iceland has become so popular in recent years because it’s easy to get there! IcelandAir offers tons of flights to North America and Europe from Reykjavik. ✈️
Also, IcelandAir allows you to stopover in Iceland for up to 7 days at no extra charge. So, you can add another fun destination to your trip!
Flights to Reykjavik are just 5.5 hours from the East Coast in the US and 3.5 hours from the UK. So, it’s a great destination to explore!
Where to Stay in Reykjavik
If you only have three days in Iceland, then I recommend basing yourself around Reykjavik. That way you have a home base and you can easily take day trips or excursions from there.
However, there are plenty of options of where to stay! You can choose between hotels, camping, or airbnbs. Since you are going in the winter, I would skip the campsites for now and instead opt for a warm place to stay in the city.
You can find a number of great hotels in the city that are walkable to things like the Exeter Hotel. But, if you want more unique or adventurous places a bit further from downtown try stays like the ION Adventure Hotel or a Glass Lodge.
Best Hotels in Reykjavik
Should I Rent a Car in Iceland?
Iceland is one of the best countries to take a road trip in, because there’s so much to see and do along the way. However, Iceland winter driving is no joke.
We made sure to get a 4WD car with insurance, so that we were covered. My husband is a very confident driver and yet he got nervous at times. There were points where we were driving in a full on white out with very little visibility.
So, if you are not comfortable driving in icy and snowy conditions, then there are plenty of tours you can book around Iceland. Consider a three day tour or booking numerous day tours.
What to Pack for Your Iceland Winter Trip
Honestly, I was so overwhelmed when we were packing for our trip. I fretted for weeks over what shoes I needed and how much to bring to stay warm.
My biggest tip is to bring waterproof shoes that are sturdy and tons of layerable warm clothing. After worrying for weeks, I ended up getting a pair of insulated hiking boots and they worked so well!
In a pinch, you can rent things like microspikes in Iceland, but below is a quick list of things I’d bring!
Iceland Winter Packing List:
- Insulated Hiking Boots or Snow Boots
- Microspikes
- Warm Winter Jacket
- Snow Pants or Waterproof Pants
- Merino Wool Base Layer
- Thermal Underwear
- Gaiter
- Merino Wool Socks
- Winter Hat
- Gloves
Tips on Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland
The Northern Lights are most visible from the months of September through April. However, they are never guaranteed, so you should consider yourself very lucky if you do see them!
You will need two things: clear skies and high solar activity. ☀️
We were very lucky during our three day trip to Iceland, because there was a huge solar storm so the Northern Lights were incredibly vibrant! If you want to see them I recommend downloading the Aurora App and checking the Iceland forecast for updates. you can take a tour or drive to a dark sky area. We went to Thingvellir National Park both nights and saw a spectacular show!
Final Tips for Visiting Iceland in Winter
Honestly, Iceland in winter will simply blow you away. But, before you go it’s important to follow these Iceland travel tips: plan your trip in advance, pack the proper warm gear, and get a car with 4WD. When you’re planning look up sunrise and sunset times, so you know how much daylight you’ll have.
Now you’re ready to visit the remarkable land of fire and ice! Follow this winter Iceland Itinerary and you’ll fall in love with this country. 💕
Let me know if you like this itinerary in the comments!
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