Things To Do In Reykjavik In Winter

Winter is one of the best times to visit Iceland, when the “land of ice and fire” really justifies its slogan. In this post, I will share with you my tips for things to do in Reykjavik in winter. Although many people may think it gets horribly cold, it is not that bad. Well, it does get cold, but temperatures in the capital are generally warmer than in the countryside.

In the last few years, Iceland became one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. With an exotic nature that blends mountains, scenic waterfalls, glaciers and many hot springs, a forward-thinking society and strange food, things get even better in winter.

Things To Do In Reykjavik In Winter

1- Go On a Reykjavik Walking Tour

Reykjavik is one of the most colorful cities in Europe, so braving the cold to see the city is totally worth it. The city is everything you would expect from a Nordic capital: it is very clean and organized. Walk around the streets filled with colorful houses and stop once in a while at one of the cool cafes – Cafe Babalu is my favourite. Visit the iconic Hallgrimskirkja, the city’s main church and take the elevator to see the city from the 75m-high tower.

Go for a walk on the Reykjavik seaside and brave the wind to see some of the ultra-modern sculptures. While on the seaside, you will also see the old port and the new Harpa Music Hall, with its beautiful architecture. Its interior is as beautiful as the exterior and, of course, this is a good place to warm up while exploring the city.

Book a Reykjavik Walking Tour Here

2- Go Swimming In Reykjavik’s Geothermal Pools

Iceland is one of the countries in the world with the highest geothermal activities, due to its many active volcanoes. Due to these activities, there are many geothermal pools all over the country, including Reykjavik. They are open to the public and locals like hours socialising in these places.

One of the best things to do in Reykjavik in winter is to visit a geothermal pool complex. I had the opportunity to visit the Laugardaslaug, the city’s largest complex. The temperature was low, about -2C (28F) and temperature contrast was very interesting, since my body was submerged in 40C water, while my face was freezing cold.

Laugardaslaug pool complex has swimming pools for adults and children, as well as jacuzzis with temperatures that range from 36 to 44 degrees. The whole point is that you go first into the less warm jacuzzi, then go to the next one, increasing the temperature. Apparently this is good for your health.

3- Go On a Golden Circle Tour

On your trip to Reykjavik, I recommend you rent a car so that you can go on a few day trips. One of the top day trips from Reykjavik is a Golden Circle tour. The whole journey is roughly 250km (155 miles) and you will see three important natural attractions.

You will start with a stop at a canyon that separates the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates, called Thingvellir. Besides the obvious natural importance of this site, it is also a highlight because it was here that the first parliament in the world was founded back in the 10th Century.

Your next stop on your Golden Circle tour is the geysers geothermal park. Many people will agree that this is the most exciting part of the tour. This is where you will see many geysers of different sizes gushing very hot water, as well as tiny streams of nearly boiling water. Strokkur, the largest geyser in the park is so powerful that it gushes water up to 40m high every few minutes. You should definitely stay for a few minutes to capture that.

The third of stop in the tour of the Golden Circle is the Gullfoss falls. This giant waterfall has a very unique semi-circular shape that I believe is very rare to see.

Book Your Golden Circle Tour Here

4- Swim In The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland, located right between Keflavik airport and Reykjavik. Unlike what many people think, this is not a natural pool. It uses the water of a geothermal plant located nearby.

These milky-blue waters are located in a spa complex with a fantastic infrastructure. In addition to swimming in the warm pools rich in silica and other minerals, you can also have several spa treatments. It is said that the minerals found in the Blue Lagoon have medical benefits such as relieving rheumatism and skin diseases. Going in winter you will also enjoy the temperature contrast.

Of course, this is a great place for you to take that killer selfie for your photo album or Instagram feed.

Get Your Blue Lagoon & Golden Circle Tickets Here

5- Watch The Amazing Northern Lights

Out of all natural phenomena, the Northern Lights are probably the most beautiful one you will see. They only take place in the northern-most parts of the planet, making Iceland a great place to see them. October to March is the best time of the year to see the Aurora Borealis (the actual name of this phenomenon). If you are extremely lucky, you will be able to see the Northern lights in Reykjavik. But  the city lights will interfere in the visibility, so 99% of the time you will have to go to the outskirts or even a few miles out of town.

There is no guarantee you will be able to see the Northern lights in Iceland or anywhere else. That’s because the intensity of the lights varies considerably. You will also have to take into consideration the weather conditions, because if it’s cloudy, you won’t see the lights, no matter how intense they are.

If luck is on your side, you will experience the most impressive light show that nature can provide. You can see the Aurora Borealis independently or go on an organized tour.

Book Your Northern Lights Tour Here

Winter In Reykjavik: Best Times To Visit

Considering that Iceland is located very close to the Arctic Circle, winter days are very short and nights are very long. For this very reason, I recommend you plan your days very carefully, so you can enjoy the few hours of daylight to see the main sights in Reyjkavik and region.

The best times to visit Reykjavik in winter are from late October to mid-December (ok, not winter technically, but you get it), and from mid-January to late March. The days will be much shorter between mid-December and mid-January. During this period, you will have no more than 3.5 hours of daylight, limiting a lot the time you have for sightseeing.

I also would like to mention that, even though Reykjavik is not as cold as Stockholm, Copenhagen or even Hamburg, it is very humid in winter. So be prepared for some rain, drizzle or snowfalls during winter.

What about you, have you been to Iceland in the colder months? What were your favorite things to do in Reykjavik in winter?