21 best things to do in Iceland (in Winter) – with photos

Best things to do in Iceland in Winter - short answers

TOP 5

If you need me to reduce even more than 21 because you are limited in time, my top 5 absolute favorite things to do in Winter in Iceland (the best places to visit) are:

• Visit natural ice caves - For example from Jokulsarlon - You can book this tour
• The Godafoss waterfall
• The Saxholl crater on a clear day
• Diamond Beach 
• Getting close to a glacier, for example at Solheimjökull - see options

1 - Warm up at the geothermal areas 

Winter in Iceland is not as cold as some may think. But if you are bored of the white of the snow, you can head to a geothermal area to see a little bit more colors. LOL. There are many options around Iceland, I have selected one in the South and one in the North, but you can also find out more options on the Reykjanes peninsula.

Located on the Golden Circle, the Haukadalur geothermal area is the most famous in Iceland and one of the most visited attractions in Winter and in Summer.
It is home to Geysir which is not really active. However the Strokkur geyser is. It erupts every 3 to 7 minutes. You can see the bubble forming and then breaking, it is quite fascinating.

In North Iceland, the Hverir / Namafjall geothermal area is one of the top things to do around Lake Myvatn in Winter.
The area is home to large mud pools and fumaroles. I love the contrast with the surrounding snow.

2 - Get a shower at the many waterfalls - Iceland Winter Highlights

3 - Go underground in these Iceland Winter attractions

For everyone, one of the main highlights of a Winter trip in Iceland is visiting an ice-cave. A natural one. You can't do it in Summer as they become unstable with the heat or disappear. Caves can be visited at different tongues of the glaciers.
The most famous tours are from Jokulsarlon.
I liked this tour because they look every year for new caves and try showing you both a black and the blue ice caves. Something truly unique that will not be there next year.
You can book this tour with a black and a blue cave if conditions permit.

Or you can check out my article about choosing your Ice cave tour.

There are other lava caves in Iceland but I love this one, especially in Winter.
The Vidgelmir lava tunnel is easy to access with just a few staircases and a good pathway all the way.
It can also be visited in Summer, but in Winter it has something special. In one area, ice stalagmites form on the lava. I had never seen such a phenomenon. I love the contrast: being in a tunnel created by burning lava combined with ice formations.
Guided tours only - you can book here

Another famous underground experience (accessible in Winter and in Summer) is the Ice Tunnel 'Into the glacier'. The giant 4WD truck drives you up the glacier to access a man made tunnel. At one point you are 40m under ice and snow.
It is not beautiful like the natural ice caves, but it is quite an experience!
You can book here

Need to rent a car in Iceland?

• Option 1 - Local experts - Iceland has a lot of specificities and offerings by local companies are adapted - compare cars and prices of quality local brands on GuidetoIceland.com
• Option 2 - International Brands - compare offers on Discovercars.com - one of the best customer-rated comparison sites!
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

4 - Get up close with the glaciers

You can see them from the distance with a glacial lagoon at your feet. The most famous one is Jokulsarlon on the picture above. The glacier is further away but it produce icebergs that float in the lagoon before heading to the sea. On my last visit there had been a storm and the lagoon was completely filled with icebergs. It was very impressive.
See more photos

5 - Spot wildlife and admire the horses

Wildlife is not the main attraction in Iceland, especially in Winter. However there are still a few options for you to enjoy animals.

In Summer, the wild reindeers live in the Central Highlands. However in Winter they come down to the East fjords for the easier conditions. You can see them on the side of the road. Be careful as they may cross sometimes!
I know you will want to stop to admire them, but be really careful and don't stop in the middle of the road!

6 - Climb a crater - yes, this is what to do in Iceland in Winter 🙂

Climbing Saxholl, on the Snaefellsnes peninsula, was one of my favorite experiences in Iceland in Winter. I was lucky because the visibility was incredible that day.
The views from the top of the crater with the lava, the snow, the glacier and the sun... unforgettable!
Just be reasonable in case of very strong wind and don't climb.

For this one I am cheating a little 🙂 Around a pond by Lake Myvatn are what look like volcanic craters. But they are pseudo-craters created by lava meeting water. It is a very rare phenomenon. I love them so much in Summer!
In Winter the experience is surreal. The pond is not visible as covered in snow. So you can only see some black pimples over the white landscapes. At one point I was alone on top of one of them and it felt like being in an Ice Age.

7 - Enjoy the black beaches

Iceland has a lot of black beaches. This is due to the intense volcanic activity. In Winter the contrast of the dark black with the white snow creates and even more intense visual experience.

Diamond beach is a true gem. This is close to Jokulsarlon on the South Coast. The icebergs escape to the sea but are pushed back towards the beach and end up on the black sand. When the sun is out, they are sparkling like diamonds. Some are white, others blue and a few black.
The last time I visited was after a storm and the beach was covered with icebergs of all sizes.
Here the scenery is almost similar in Winter and in Summer.

Reynisfjara is the most famous. When talking about the "Iceland black beach" is normally refers to this one. it is located on the South coast, near the town of Vik.
It is a very long black beach with a cave, basalt columns and pillars in the water.
If you are visiting, please be extremely careful as the waves can suddenly come a lot higher than the ones before.

One of my favorites is Fauskasandur. It is located in the East Fjords. The beach itself has nothing special except for a monolith. But I love the view with the mountain and the small cliff. This is one of my favorite pictures from my last trip (taken in February).

Where to stay in Iceland in Winter?
My tips:

• Reykjavik - capital city - see best rated accommodations
• Selfoss - between Golden Circle and South Coast - see best rated accommodations
• Vik - near waterfalls and glaciers - see best rated accommodations
• Höfn - gateway to the East fjords - see best rated accommodations
• Egilsstadir - between fjords and North Iceland - see best rated accommodations
• Reykjahlid - for the wonders of Lake Myvatn - see best rated accommodations
• Akureyri - capital of the North - see best rated accommodations
• Grundarfjordur - to explore the Snaefellsnes Peninsula - see best rated accommodations

8 - Let your imagination run wild in lava fields - (best places to visit in Iceland in Winter)

Iceland is full of lava fields created by numerous eruption over time. Some are recent and still very dark, others are old and covered with moss (but you can't see it in Winter with the snow).

In North Iceland, Dimmuborgir is a famous lava field near Lake Myvatn. Here the formations are giant and your imagination will have a blast discovering strange shapes in the rock. In Winter the landscape is pure black and white, so you might feel a little bit disoriented.
If visiting in December, this is the home of the Yule Lads (the local version of Santa Claus).
See more photos on my Dimmuborgir in Winter article

On the Snaefellsnes peninsula, a lot of the coast is made from lava cliffs. At Londrangar the legend says that the 2 giant lava plugs are trolls.
A viewing platform as been set up so that you can take it all in.

Arnarstapi is probably the most famous in the Snaefellsnes peninsula. On this coastal walk you can see many lava formations being hit by the waves: simple monoliths, basalt columns, an arch, a bridge, holes... Take your time and look at the details in the rock.
Plus if you look inland, you can admire the Arnarstapi mountain and its beautiful pyramid shape.

9 - Stay up to see the northern lights

Most people visit Iceland in Winter to see the Northern Lights. It is the best time to see them, since the nights are longer.
But remember there is no guarantee. You need a clear sky and sun activity 18h before.
Many hotels offer wake-up calls to inform you when they are visible so that you can sleep and don't have to check every 15min.
And then you just have to hope they are strong. See my article about the Northern lights.

Top things to do in Reykjavik in Winter

You may only have a few days to spend in Reykjavik in Winter.
In that case, my recommendation is to book day trips to see Nature as this is the best Iceland has to offer. For example:

• Tours to the Golden Circle
• Tours to the South Coast
• Tours of the Snaefellsnes peninsula

But if you are stuck in Reykjavik or just enjoy cities, I recommend:

• The Perlan museum for the circular platform offering views in all directions (such as in the picture above)
• The Sun Voyager sculpture on the waterfront
• The cathedral
• The Flyover 4D cinema for a short but amazing experience flying over Iceland - you can book here
• The museum Whales of Iceland with its life-size replicas - pre-purchase your ticket in your own currency

See my article with the best things to do in Reykjavik in Winter

And to finish, if you want to dream about your travel around Iceland in Winter, here is my summary video to take you travel with me 🙂

Want to see more - the best of Iceland in Winter:

• 35 pictures of Iceland in Winter - read article
• Iceland Ice Cave Tours and tips - read article
• 7 Iceland waterfalls in Winter - read article
• Tips for visiting Iceland in Winter - read article
• Planning an Iceland Winter Road Trip - read article
• Iceland Winter itinerary suggestions - read article
• Driving in Iceland in Winter - read article

Planning a trip to Iceland in Winter

Check out my travel guide to help you plan:

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