joellebohringerIf you want to plan a winter trip to Iceland but have no where to start, this article is for you. Plan the perfect Iceland winter itinerary, including all the best things to do.
Going to Iceland in the winter might seem crazy, but it was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had! Even though the weather can be a very unpredictable, winter travel to Iceland allows you access to this incredible country with far fewer tourists than in summer. Plus, you also get to escape to a magical snow-covered natural paradise!
One of the most important things to remember about travelling to Iceland in the winter is that the days are very short. The north of the country can also be very difficult to access because of bad weather, so this itinerary has been built to allow you to see the best of the south coast during daylight hours!
I’ve also broken down the total cost of this entire trip here so that you can plan a similar Iceland trip on a budget!
Summary 6 Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
- Day One (Blue): Reykjavik
- Day Two (Orange): Golden Circle
- Day Three (Yellow): Vik and Southcoast
- Day Four (Purple): Area around Vatnajokull Glacier
- Day Five (Green): Area near Hofn and Return to Vik
- Day Six: Return to Reykjavik
Iceland Winter Travel Essentials
- Daylight hours are very short during the winter. The sun tends to rise fully around 11am and set around 4pm. There are a few hours of dusk, but it is important to plan ahead in order to see as much as possible.
- Icelandic weather is highly unpredictable, especially in the winter. It is essential that you stay up-to-date with weather alerts and that you keep a flexible schedule. For instance, when we travelled to Iceland, the Blue Lagoon was closed due to a volcanic eruption. One of the best places to check is with your car rental company, as they will help advise you on the current weather situation in Iceland.
- I highly recommend having an Icelandic Sim card while you travel. Especially if you will be travelling in changing weather, it is essential to be able to connect to the internet and receive up to date weather forecasts. If you would like to get an Esim, I recommend downloading the Iceland Esim from the Airalo app. Use the code JOELLE0025 to receive $3 off your first Esim from Airalo.
- It is important to get travel insurance before any trip. I personally use and recommend EKTA travel insurance, as it allows me to purchase both short-term and long-term travel insurance plans, and it allows me to customize my plan based on what activities I will be doing.
What to Pack for Icelandic Winter
It is important to dress in warm layers and bring plenty of winter essentials for your winter trip to Iceland. Check out my complete Iceland Winter Packing List here.
Accomodation in Iceland in the Winter
In Iceland, there are essentially three accomodation options:
- Hotels
- Guesthouses run by local Icelandic families
- Campervan rentals
I considered renting a campervan for this trip, but I honestly highly reccomend staying in guest houses and hotels during the winter months. While there are options for campervans with heaters, most campgrounds are closed during the winter months in Iceland. Even if you manage to stay at campsites, the shower facilities are in a separate location from your campervan, which means you have to walk though the freezing Iceland air while wet.
The great news for budget travellers is that hotel rooms are considerably cheaper in the winter than the summer. Hotels that normally cost $400+ per night in the summer can be found for around $150. All of our hotels and guesthouses while in Iceland were less than $200 a night.
Another budget trick that I reccomend is to look for accommodation that includes small kitchen facilities. This will allow you to cook some of your meals, greatly saving on the costs of eating out every meal.
The Best Way to Get Around Iceland in Winter
It is almost impossible to see Iceland by staying in Rejkavik the entire time. Tours are very expensive, as is staying in hotels in the capital. The best and most affordable way to travel around Iceland by far is to rent a car. We rented a car through Go Car Rental, and they were great!
As with accomodation, car rentals are also significantly cheaper in the winter months, and we paid $272 for a six day SUV rental.
During the winter, it is best to make sure that you have a 4×4 SUV. It is important to drive with caution, and to always stay alert to icy roads and changing weather conditions. Other than the weather, Iceland is a very easy place to drive.
Perfect 6 Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
Iceland Winter Itinerary Day One- Reykjavik
Day One of your winter itinerary includes arriving in Iceland, relaxing, and exploring Iceland’s quirky capital city
Relax at the Blue Lagoon
Unfortunately, while we were visiting Iceland, the Blue Lagoon was closed due to a nearby volcanic eruption! However, if you are travelling to Iceland in the future, I highly reccomend visiting Blue Lagoon. It is one thing that I really regret having to miss from our Iceland itinerary.
The Blue Lagoon is located close to the airport, so I reccomend going directly to the Blue Lagoon after picking up your rental car.
The best and cheapest place to purchase Blue Lagoon tickets is at the official Blue Lagoon Website.
Explore the City
Reykjavik is a tiny but very charming capital city. The entire downtown is very walkable. It is also important to note that most parking here is paid Here are some things I reccomend checking out:
- Hallgrímskirkja Church: At 244 feet tall, this church is one of the tallest buildings in all of Iceland. It is a symbol of Iceland and cannot be missed when visiting Reykjavik.
- Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur: This famous hot dog is stand is the best place to try Icelandic hot-dogs and a “must-do” while visiting Reykjavik. The location can be found here. Hotdogs cost 600 Kroner ($4.28), which may sounds expensive. However, this is by far the cheapest meal you will find in Iceland!
- Iceland Phallological Museum: If you are like me at all, you love weird museums. Iceland Phallological Museum is truly a testament to all of Iceland’s weirdness, as it is entirely devoted to, well, phallics. I think it is a bit overpriced for the experience ($20 per person), but is still an interesting way to spend an hour.
- Rainbow Street: Reykjavik’s rainbow street is dotted with adorable shops and cafes. The street is dedicated to the city’s LGBTQ Pride Celebration, and it is an absolutely festive street with a message of tolerance.
- Icelandic Street Food: If you are looking for something a bit more hearty than hotdogs, the restaurant Icelandic Street Food offers amazing Icelandic dishes at a street food price!
Stock up on Groceries
Your first day in Reykjavik is a great time to stock up on groceries. While dining in restaurants is prohibitively expensive all throughout Iceland, grocery store prices are around the same as in western Europe.
There are two main grocery stores in Iceland that have the best prices: Bónus and Krónan. Both of these shops are located just a few minutes drive from central Reykjavik and can also be found throughout the country in larger cities.
I reccomend stocking up on cheese, bread, and snacks, as they can provide perfect quick lunches while on the road. Especially if you are travelling in the winter, it should be cold enough to keep them in a bag in your car overnight without going bad.
Chase the Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is actually way harder than you may imagine. We unfortunately didn’t see any Northern Lights throughout our whole trip, and I so wish we would have booked a Northern Lights Tour. On these tour, expert aurora trackers bring you to prime locations to see the lights. If you don’t see them the first night, you can usually go out with them again on a second night.
If you do decide to look for the lights on your own, I reccomend downloading one of the many Aurora Tracking apps from the app store.
Where to Stay on Day One
We stayed at Thingholt By Center Hotel in Reykjavik. The hotel is centrally located and has a great free breakfast. We were even given free passes to the spa at check-in by the lovely reception team.
Iceland Winter Itinerary Day Two- Golden Circle
Driving Time: 2 hour total driving time, not including getting to your hotel in the evening
Day two of your Iceland winter itinerary includes driving the iconic Golden Circle Route.
Thingvellir (Þingvellir) National Park
Thingvellir is a place where you could easily spend all day. It is an absolutely gorgeous national park, and it is so relaxing to spend a few hours hiking on its pristine trails. In total, I reccomend arriving at Thingvellir for sunrise (around 10am) and staying for a few hours.
Geysir
Geysir is another popular spot on the Golden Circle Route. Honestly, I didn’t find it that impressive, but it is still worth a quick stop to stretch your legs. It’s located about 45 minutes from Thingvellir and is directly on the way to Gullfoss. There are also restaurants and toilets at the Geysir visiting center.
Gullfoss
Gulfoss is a massive waterfall that is definitely worth seeing. You park in the parking lot and can walk down multiple paths to see the falls from different viewpoints. Be sure to bring all of your weather gear, as Gulfoss can get especially cold.
Fridheimar Restaurant
Fridheimar is an unexpected gem of a farm/restaurant located on the Golden Circle Route. It is a large, family-run tomato farm. They’ve turned one of their greenhouses into a incredible restaurant, where you can indulge in unlimited soup and homemade bread for about $20. They even have Icelandic ponies on site, and it is a remarkably affordable, delicious, and unique lunch option. I highly reccomend booking in advance to ensure that you can get a table at the buffet.
Secret Lagoon
Another option for this day is to book an evening visit to the Secret Lagoon, which is the oldest geothermal spa in Iceland.
Where to Stay on Day Two
We personally stayed in Minniborgir Cabins in Minni Borg, a small village on the Golden Circle Route. It was hands-down our favorite stay of our entire Iceland Winter Itinerary. The cabins offer private hot tubs in each cabin, and you can even cook dinner in the fully-functional kitchen.
Alternatively, you could also continue on to the larger city of Selfoss, but if you are travelling Iceland with a car, I reccomend looking for more rural accommodation, as they offer more privacy, are often better-priced, and give you a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights!
Iceland Winter Itinerary Day Three- Vik and the South Coast
Driving Time: 2 hour total driving time, not including getting to your hotel in the evening
Day two of your winter Iceland Itinerary includes exploring iconic waterfalls, swimming in an abandoned swimming pool in the mountain, and checking out a crashed plane on a black sand beach.
Seljalandsfoss & Gljufrabui
Seljalandfoss and Gljufrabui are some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Iceland. Located next to each other, they are an incredible place to explore. Be sure to wear waterproof clothes, as the waterfalls are very misty and wet!
Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool
Just a short drive down the road is my favorite place in Iceland. The Seljavallalaug swimming pool is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. Located in the mountains, it is completely free and is absolutely incredible.
Read my full guide on how to access the site here.
Skogafoss
Today should be called the day of waterfalls, as you see some of the most incredible waterfalls in Iceland on Day Three. Skogafoss is just a short drive from Seljavallalaug, and it is a site not to be missed!
Sólheimasandur plane wreck
In 1973, a US military plane crashed onto the black sand beaches of Southern Iceland after running out of fuel. Luckily, everyone survived, and today, the plane is still resting on the beach, where it has become a popular tourist destination.
Getting to Sólheimasandur can be a bit difficult, as you can no longer drive more than 4km away from the site. However, check out my full guide to visiting Sólheimasandur for details of how to see this site, including a shuttle bus option.
Where to Stay on Day Three
We stayed at Hotel Katla in Vik. The price was okay and the hotel included a good breakfast and outdoor hot tub. If I were to travel this route again on a budget, I’d probably look for a place with self-catering facilities, as we really enjoyed cooking for ourselves in the cottages the night before.
Iceland Winter Itinerary Day Four – Glaciers and More
Driving Time: 2.5 hours driving north to the Vatnajokull glacier, plus 10-40 minutes to get to Hofn for an overnight stay.
Day four of your Iceland Winter Itinerary is entirely devoted to glaciers ! You’ll be exploring all of the incredible sites near the Vatnajökull Glacier. As the Glacier is about 2.5 hours away from Vik, you’ll want to start driving very early in the morning so that you can arrive at the sites around sunrise.
Skaftafell
Skaftafell is a glacier national park located near the Vatnajökull Glacier. Exploring Skaftafell properly would require an entire day, but it is a great place to stop for a quick walk during sunrise. Just be careful, as we found the path at Skaftafell to be very slippery, so I reccomend bringing crampons if you decide to do any walking in the area!
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
The next 3 stops are all located around the same parking lot and are definitely one of the best highlights of any Iceland Winter Itinerary! The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is about 40 minutes from Skaftafell, and it is a site where giant pieces of the Vatnajökull glacier break off and float into the Ocean. While there, we even saw seals swimming in the water!
Diamond Beach
On the edges of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, pieces of glacier are brought to the beaches by the tide. It is called the diamond beach because it really looks like diamonds resting on the immaculate black sand beach!
Vatnajökull Glacier Blue Ice Cave Tour
One of the most unique things about travelling to Iceland in the winter is the chance to go on an ice cave tour. These ice caves are only present in the winter, and every winter, different ice caves form. You can only visit these ice caves with expert guides, as it is impossible and highly unsafe to drive a normal vehicle onto the glacier.
I reccomend booking an afternoon tour, as this will allow you more time to see other sites during the day. The tour will finish at sunset, and your expert guides will drive you back safely to your car to end the day.
We booked this Blue Ice Cave Tour, and I highly reccomend this incredible experience.
Where to Stay on Day Four
You’ll want to look for accomodation between the glacier lagoon and the town of Höfn for tonight’s accommodation. We chose to stay overnight at Guesthouse Nypugardar, which was about a 40 minute drive north from the Glacier Lagoon. Overall, the guesthouse was absolutely lovely. It is located on a family farm. They have a small restaurant that serves fresh lamb from the farm, and it was the best meal that we had during our entire stay in Iceland.
If you want to stay slightly closer to the Glacier Lagoon in order to reduce your driving time, I’ve hear great things about Ekra Glacier Lagoon, which is only about 10 minutes away from the Glacier.
Iceland Winter Itinerary Day Five- Begin the Drive Back
Driving Time: 3 hours without viking village, 5 hours with viking village
Today, you’ll start making the long journey back to Reykjavik. The main stops are sites along the South Coast Road that you didn’t necessarily have time to see before.
Viking Village
Near the village of Hofn, north of the Vatnajökull Glacier, there is a semi “authentic” viking village that was constructed for a number of movie sets. As my husband is a major viking nerd, we wanted to stop and see the set. While it is not truly authentic, it is one of the most accurate remakes of a viking village, and it gives you a feeling of what ancient Iceland may have looked like. The village costs 1000 IKR per person to enter ($7.12) and also includes access to nearby Stokksness. The location can be found here.
Stokksness
Stokksness is an incredible black sand beach and mountain that overlooks the sea. This area is absolutely beautiful, and it has far fewer tourists than most other black sand beaches in the area. If you get lucky, you may even see one of the many puffin colonies that are known the frequent the area!
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
On the way back to Vik, you can stop at the impressive and magical Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon. It is just a short stop off the side of the road, and it is absolutely breathtaking.
Reynisfjara Beach
Once you return near Vik, you can stop to see another famous black sand beach, Reynisfjara. It is famous for its basalt columns that line the beach, and if you have time, it is definitely worth a stop.
Unfortunately, we travelled very slow on this day, and we did not have time to properly stop and enjoy Reynisfjara.
Dyrhólaey Viewpoint
Another great stop on the way back to Vik is Dyrhólaey viewpoint. The drive up to the viewpoint is sometimes not possible during the winter, but if the weather is mild, you can definitely drive up to the viewpoint for breathtaking views of the ocean and beaches.
Where to Stay on Day Five
Essentially, you can choose to stay in Vik, or you can try to continue onwards in order to get even closer to Reykjavik. We personally had a morning flight on the next day, so we chose to try to drive as close as possible on Day five. We ended up staying at Hotel Kvika. It is a charming hotel in the countryside, and it is only about 40 minutes from the Reykjavik airport. It also has a fabulous outdoor hot tub and sauna, and it is a great place to see Northern Lights.
Day 6- Return to Reykjavik
Driving Time: 2.5 hours if driving from Vik
Today, you’ll make your way back to Reykjavik in order to catch your flight.
Visit Secret Lagoon or Blue Lagoon
If you have an evening flight, you can try to catch some last-minute relaxation by visiting either the Secret Lagoon or the Blue Lagoon. Both of these lagoon spas are located close to Reykjavik and offer the perfect amount of relaxation to end your Iceland winter itinerary.
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