Dazzling fireworks, warm bonfires, and the mesmerizing aurora borealis combine to make New Years Eve in Iceland one of the most spectacular celebrations. It’s one of the loudest and brightest celebrations in the world.
After spending New Years in Iceland, I can confidently say that it’s one of the most magical places to ring in the New Year. 🎆
We managed to enjoy a local bonfire, catch the elusive northern lights, and see the fireworks all in one night. There’s no doubt that this was the best New Years I have ever had!
Even though there’s little daylight in Iceland winter, this New Years celebration provides all of the light you’ll need.
If you’re wondering why you should visit Iceland for New Years, then I’ve got you covered. This guide will tell you everything you need to know and convince you to plan your next holiday vacation there!
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Reasons You Should Visit Iceland for New Years
Iceland is truly a winter wonderland and I felt as if I had woken up in some magical fairytale when visiting for New Years. Golden light bounced off the snow and warm pinks filled the skies.
Then, New Years Eve happened and I was hooked on Iceland.
Iceland has very special traditions when it comes to ringing in the New Year. We spent the night celebrating with locals around a large bonfire, watching the Northern Lights dancing in the sky, and finally ringing in the year with fireworks going off in all directions.
It was an unforgettable experience. 😊
You can read more about the ultimate Iceland winter itinerary here!
The Spectacular Fireworks 🎆
Fireworks are legal for just one day a year in Iceland- yup, it’s New Years Eve.
That means, that they go all out. It seems as if every person in the country sets off fireworks while the sky fills with a miraculous display of color. If you’re staying in Reykjavik, you’ll literally be able to see them from anywhere.
We noticed the fireworks starting to go off as soon as it got dark and they continued throughout the night. But, there was nothing better than the crazy displays that went off right at midnight.
All of us watched from our apartment as fireworks burst around us in a 360 degree panorama. 👀 This will be seared into my memory forever.
Plus, the best part of it all, all proceeds go to a good cause. Citizens purchase the fireworks directly from the Iceland Search & Rescue organization (ICE-SAR) to help fund their efforts!
A win win all around!
Bonfires: A Unique Tradition 🔥
One of the coolest parts of the New Years traditions in Iceland are the MASSIVE bonfires they have throughout the country.
These bonfires are called Áramótabrennur are hosted by locals to meet with friends, celebrate the festivities, and burn away the old year. This tradition actually dates back centuries and is still very much alive today!
As we were driving along the main road, we saw bonfires popping up in various locations. As soon as we saw one close enough, we stopped and got out to join the fun.
Once we stepped out of the car, we could feel the heat emanating from the large bonfire. And, once we got closer we could really feel the heat, the bonfire was the size of a large bus.
Although we weren’t locals, we were welcomed in and no one blinked an eye.
There were hundreds of people standing around it enjoying the warmth and slowly fireworks began to pop up all around. It was one of my favorite parts of the night.
After warming up at the bonfire, we hopped back in the car, still buzzing from the excitement, and decided to chase the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights Chasing ✨
Fireworks and bonfires may sound like enough to convince you, but what if I add in the spectacular aurora borealis?!
You may get lucky, like we did, and get a spectacular Northern Lights show on New Years Eve. Typically, you want to be in a place that has less light to see the lights, but when they’re really vibrant you can see them anywhere.
Depending on timing, you can either see the lights before, after or even during the midnight celebration!
If you’re planning on tracking them yourself, I recommend getting the Aurora App to see the timing. When we went the display peaked at around 10 pm. So, we drove into Thingvellir National Park to watch them go off.
Watching them change from purple to green and light up the sky was a wonder to behold. It was absolutely magical.
Then, we still made it back to Reykjavik for the large fireworks displays!
New Years Day in Iceland
The joys of New Years don’t stop on New Years Eve. Although New Years Day is a slower day in the country, it’s got a wonderfully cozy vibe.
Many shops are closed, while others open late. So, sleep in and then grab a coffee once the local spot has opened.
From there, you can soak in one of the great geothermal pools throughout the country. If you’re in Reykjavik, you can visit the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. Either way, you’ll be able to soak in the warm water while snow sits all around.
If you’d rather have an adventurous day, then you can still get outside! There are plenty of waterfalls or great hikes to take on to celebrate the first day of the year.
Tips for Celebrating New Years in Iceland
📆 Book early– Iceland is a popular winter destination and New Years is a busy time. So, you’ll want to book hotels, flights, and car rentals early to get better prices!
🧤 Dress Warmly– New Years in Iceland is COLD, with temperatures often hovering around 0℃ or 32℉. So, you’ll need to wear plenty of warm layers. You can read more at my packing guide here.
🍛 Make dinner reservations– Many restaurants close on New Years Eve, so if you don’t want to be stuck with a gas station hot dog you’ll want a dinner reservation. We didn’t do this and drove around for a while before finally finding a kebab place!
🕐 Plan out your night– Understanding the timing of New Years will help guide your night. Bonfires typically start around 8 pm, whereas fireworks start a bit later around 9 or 10 pm. Then, Northern Lights can even happen in the middle of the night!
Where to Stay on New Years in Iceland
The best place to stay for New Years is Reykjavik, where the fireworks displays will light up the sky. It’s home to all of the best New Years festivities and celebrations.
I also recommend staying for a couple days before and after the New Years so you can visit the Golden Circle, go on an ice cave tour, and recover after your late night New Years outings.
While, Reykjavik is the best place to make your home base, the hotels are a bit pricier over the holidays. So, like I said before you’ll want to book early. We ended up finding a VRBO for a good price.
If you’d rather have a quieter night with locals, then you could stay in other towns like Vik or Akureyri, which are further from the mayhem.
We actually went to a New Years bonfire near Vik before driving back to Reykjavik for the fireworks displays.
You can book your Reykjavik hotels down here ↓
Final Thoughts on Visiting Iceland for New Years
Before getting to Iceland, we were a little nervous that we didn’t have official plans on New Years. But, that ended up working out in our favor as we had flexibility. So, we could maximize our evening plans.
That being said, if you want to have a nice meal or attend a party then you should book these things far in advance.
That night will live in my memory for years to come as we were welcomed in by locals and witnessed spectacular displays of lights. So, I hope you too can experience this wonderful night and fall in love with Iceland.
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👇 Dive into more of my Iceland winter posts to help plan your trip 👇
📍 Pin Why Iceland Is the Best Place to Spend New Year’s Eve (Trust Me!)
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