Trying to plan your Iceland Winter Itinerary?
Wondering where are the best places to go and how much you should add?
Below are my tips to help you decide and some suggested itineraries to help you get started:
- 3 days in Iceland in Winter
- 4 day Iceland itinerary in Winter
- 5 days in Iceland in Winter
- One week Iceland Winter itinerary or longer…
Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Iceland:
My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: DiscoverCars
The unmissable boat tour: Whale Watching
Fun activity: Swimming in Silfra Fissure
My favorite places to stay:
- Reykjavik: see best rated hotels – e.g. Vintage Boutique Hotel
- Lake Myvatn: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Laxa
- Vik area: see best rated hotels – e.g. Hotel Vik i Myrdal
Essential tips to plan your Iceland Winter Itinerary
Let’s start with the essential things to know before planning your itinerary:
Tip #1 – Consider daylight hours
The first thing to do is to check how long you have each day to see the sights. Iceland is a Northern country. There are huge variations in the number of hours of daylight every month. Here are the daylight lengths you can expect:
- November – 8h at the beginning of the month, 5h at the end
- December – 5h at the beginning of the month, 4h around the 21 December
- January – 4h30 at the beginning of the month, 7h at the end
- February – 7h at the beginning of the month, 10h at the end
- March – 10h at the beginning of the month, 13h30 at the end
The suggested itineraries in the following article can work for all months, you just have to enjoy more or fewer of the stops along the way.
Tip #2 – Plan for weather changes
It is Winter, road conditions can change very quickly. You may have to drive very slowly, or you may have to wait for a snowstorm to pass.
Don’t plan too much each day. Don’t worry you will still be fascinated, even if you only see a very small portion of Iceland.
Tip #3 – Don’t use info about Iceland in Summer
Some of the attractions are open both in Summer and in Winter but conditions are completely different.
You should not use books or blog about Iceland in Summer to plan a road trip to Iceland in Winter.
And I don’t recommend you follow Summer itineraries. Driving and daylight are completely different!
Tip #4 – Can you really drive in Winter conditions?
If you can’t, let’s stop right here. You should not rend a car to do a Winter road trip in Iceland, if you can’t drive on snow and ice.
If you can’t drive but still want to see the beautiful landscapes of Iceland in Winter, I recommend booking a small group tour.
For example, this one is quite complete. You just have to sit back and relax. See the program & Book
Tip #5 – Based in Reykjavik or not?
Nature is what is best in Iceland. Therefore, I think that you should not stay in Reykjavik but rather go and explore to be able to cover more ground (as you don’t have to drive back).
However:
- I do understand not wanting to pack every morning and the comfort of staying in the same place.
- When you are based in Reykjavik you can check the weather forecast in the morning, and decide where it is best to go
Therefore, you can find below some itinerary suggestions that are both Reykjavik based and on the road for the 3 days. But from 4 days, I strongly recommend going on a road trip.
If you are planning a road trip , check out all my favorite locations and their Winter accessibility in my travel guide eBook:
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 6 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 75+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Winter tips to make the most of your time
- 115+ original photos to help you choose
Tip #6 – Car rental tips
Here are a few tips to consider when renting a car in Iceland:
- TIMING – Iceland is a popular destination – for choice and good price, book as early as possible
- 2WD / 4WD – The F-roads (4WD tracks) are closed in Winter – You can absolutely drive around the Ring Road in Winter with a 2WD, but you will feel safer and more ready to face anything with a 4WD.
- RENTAL COMPANIES – When choosing the company, don’t just look at price consider age of the fleet, included mileage, 24/7 customer service, servicing availability… and the availability of studded tires instead of simple Winter tires as it may help you feel more comfortable.
- INSURANCES – Check all types of insurance and decide on the level of risk you are ready to take. For peace of mind, I strongly recommend the Gravel Protection one
Need to rent a car in Iceland?
My tips:
- Compare prices on my favorite platform: Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
- Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
- Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind!
- Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!
3 days in Iceland in Winter – itinerary idea
3 days in Iceland – Road trip itinerary Option Snaefellsnes
- Day 1 – Head to the Snaefellsnes peninsula – discover the highlights including the mountain of Kirkjufell and its waterfalls and the lava cliffs at ArnarstapiSleep in Borgarnes – see the best rated accommodations in Borgarnes
- Day 2 – Head to the Silver Circle – visit the Vidgelmir lava tube (book), head to the ice tunnel ‘Into the Glacier’ and admire the colors of the Hraunfossar WaterfallSleep in Laugarvatn – see the best rated accommodations in Laugarvatn
- Day 3 – Tour the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and mud pools of Haukadalur and the Impressive waterfall of Gullfoss – and if days are longer you can come back via the Kerid crater
3 days in Iceland – Road trip itinerary Option South Coast
If you are not driving back to Reykajvik, you have a chance to see more of the South Coast and to visit an ice cave!
- Day 1 – Head to the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and mud pools of Haukadalur, the impressive waterfall of Gullfoss and the Kerid crater
Sleep in Selfoss – see the best rated accommodations - Day 2 – Head to the South Coast – stop at the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, explore a glacier at Solheimjökull and finish the day with a black sand beach at Reynisfjara
Sleep in Vik – see the best rated accommodations - Day 3 – Go further on the South Coast to the Jokulsarlon Glacier and across the road to Diamond Beach where icebergs sparkle on the black sand. From Jokulsarlon you can join one of the Ice cave tours. Book in advance.
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.
3 days Winter itinerary – Reykjavik based
It is similar to the first road trip option, but you can stop less and have less time to explore each stop because you have more driving to do to head back to Reykjavik.
- Day 1 – Head to the Golden Circle to discover: the Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur Geyser and the Gullfoss waterfall – if you have longer days you can add other stops such as the Kerid crater
- Day 2 – Head to the Snaefellsnes peninsula – depending on how many hours you have you can stop more or less – the 2 main highlights are Kirjkufell and Arnarstapi
- Day 3 – Head to the Silver circle – go down in a giant lava tube at Vidgelmir and admire the colors at Hraunfossar.
- Alternative Day 3 – Explore the South Coast up to the town of Vik – you could see the 2 magnificent waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss as well as the black sand beach of Reynisfjara
Where to stay in Reykjavik
If you are based in Reykjavik, below are some suggestions for your accommodations.
I have stayed in 4 different accommodations in Reykjavik (and I paid entirely for them, they did not know I was a blogger). All were very good. But I am mostly recommending 2 in the town center:
- B&B – For a home feeling and a fantastic location, I really enjoyed my charming B&B called Reykjavik Treasure – check out photos and availability
- RENTAL – For a spacious apartment with cooking facilities in the city center, I had a great time at the Rey Apartments – check out photos and availability
Otherwise, you can consider these options depending on what you are looking for:
- HOSTEL – The Reykjavik City Hostel has a good rating inside Reykjavik – check out photos and availability
- LUXURY – Head downtown to large smart apartments at the Black Pearl – check out photos and availability
- DESIGN – If you like modern design, have a look at the 41- a Townhouse hotel! – check out photos and availability
- FAMILY – Have a look at the Old Charm Reykavik Apartments. They have 2 and 3 bedrooms apartments and a decor with a lot of character – Check photos and availability.
- But there is a wide range of places to stay in the capital city – Choose among the best rated accommodations in Reykjavik
I don’t drink coffee 
But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…
4 days in Iceland – Winter itinerary
OPTION 1 – 4 days in Iceland – Road trip itinerary South Coast
- Day 1 – Tour the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and the geothermal area of Haukadalur, the powerful waterfall of Gullfoss and the Kerid crater
Sleep in Selfoss – see the best rated accommodations - Day 2 – Head to the South Coast – stop at the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, explore a glacier at Solheimjökull and finish the day with a black sand beach at Reynisfjara
Sleep in Vik – see the best rated accommodations - Day 3 – Go further on the South Coast to the Jokulsarlon Glacier and across the road to Diamond Beach where icebergs sparkle on the black sand. From Jokulsarlon you can join one of the Ice Cave tours. Book in advance. 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.
Sleep in Vik – see the best rated accommodations - Day 4 – Head to the Keflavik peninsula with the Lava tubes of Raufarholshellir, the Geothermal area of Gunnhever and Seltun and the Blue Lagoon
OPTION 2 – 4 days in Iceland – Road trip itinerary Snaefellsnes
- Day 1 – Head to the Snaefellsnes peninsula – discover the highlights including the mountain of Kirkjufell and its waterfalls and the lava cliffs at Arnarstapi – spend more time at the peninsula – climb the Saxholl volcano, head to Londragar…
Sleep in Grundarfjordur to try and catch the Northern Lights at Kirkjufell – see the best rated accommodations - Day 2 – See more of the peninsula and Head to the Silver Circle – visit the Vidgelmir lava tube (book), head to the ice tunnel ‘Into the Glacier’ and admire the colors of the Hraunfossar Waterfall
Sleep in Borgarnes – see the best rated accommodations in Borgarnes - Day 3 – Tour the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and mud pools of Haukadalur and the Impressive waterfall of Gullfoss – and if days are longer you can come back via the Kerid crater
Sleep in Selfoss – see the best rated accommodations - Day 4 – Enjoy the east side of the South Coast with the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss before driving back to Reykajvik or Keflavik airport
- Alternate Day 4 – Head to the Keflavik peninsula with the Lava tubes of Raufarholshellir, the Geothermal area of Gunnhever and Seltun and the Blue Lagoon
You can find the GPS coordinates of all the locations listed in this article in my eBook (as well as planning tips for each: how long to plan, facilities, difficulty or walking around…)
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 6 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 75+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Winter tips to make the most of your time
- 115+ original photos to help you choose
Iceland in 5 days in Winter
With 5 days you can do a nice loop to cover the South part of the country (but no, you can’t do the whole Ring road, the time is too short).
- Day 1 – Head to the Snaefellsnes peninsula a.k.a. “Iceland in Miniature” – discover the highlights including the mountain of Kirkjufell and its 2 waterfalls, the lava cliffs at Arnarstapi and the stunning landscapes including a glacier and fjords
Sleep in Borgarnes – see the best rated accommodations in Borgarnes - Day 2 – Head to the Silver Circle – visit the Vidgelmir lava tube (book), head to the ice tunnel ‘Into the Glacier’ and admire the colors of the Hraunfossar Waterfall
Sleep in Laugarvatn – see the best rated accommodations in Laugarvatn - Day 3 – Tour the Golden Circle: Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser and the geothermal area of Haukadalur, the powerful waterfall of Gullfoss and the Kerid crater
Sleep in Selfoss – see the best rated accommodations - Day 4 – Head to the South Coast – stop at the Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, explore a glacier at Solheimjökull and finish the day with a black sand beach at Reynisfjara
Sleep in Vik – see the best rated accommodations - Day 5 – Go further on the South Coast to the Jokulsarlon Glacier and across the road to Diamond Beach where icebergs sparkle on the black sand. From Jokulsarlon you can join one of the Ice Cave tours. Book in advance. 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.
Drive back
One week in Iceland in Winter (or 10-day or longer…)
Things to note for a 7 to 10 day Iceland Winter itinerary
When we start considering longer timeframes, then you can cover a lot more ground and the options are endless!
You can focus on the South coast and spend more time at each location, stopping everywhere you please along the way.
Or you can head for a full tour of the Ring Road.
My opinions about the Ring Road tour:
- In December and January, do not attempt the Ring Road Tour with less than 9 days because the days are very short and there is a lot to cover
- For the other Winter month, you can plan it over 7 days
- However, I you have those minimum number of days, you must pick and choose where you are going to stop along the way
7 day in Iceland – Winter itinerary suggestion (outside December and January):
- Day 1 – Golden Circle with geyser, Gullfoss waterfall, Thingvellir National Park and Kerid crater
Sleep in Selfoss – see the best rated accommodations - Day 2 – East South Coast – Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss Waterfalls and black sand beach near Vik
Sleep in Vik – see the best rated accommodations - Day 3 – West South Coast: Jokulsarlon Glacier, Diamond beach, Ice caves
Sleep in Höfn – see the best rated accommodations - Day 4 – East Fjords with magnificent scenery at every turn into a new fjord
Sleep in Egilsstadir – see the best rated accommodations - Day 5 – Myvatn area with the lava formations of Dimmuborgir, the geothermal area of Hverir, and the pseudo-craters on the lake
Sleep in Reykjahlid – see the best rated accommodations - Day 6 – Godafoss andAkureyri with Whale Watching
Sleep in Akureyri – see the best rated accommodations - Day 7 – Driving back to Reykjavik on Road 1
10 day in Iceland – Winter itinerary suggestion (outside December and January):
- Same for Day 1 to Day 6
- Day 7 – Drive South +Start exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: enjoy the magnificent landscapes with mountains, fjords, waterfalls, lava cliffs, lava caves, volcanic craters…
Sleep in Grundarfjordur – see the best rated accommodations - Day 8 – Continue exploring the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Sleep in Borgarnes – see the best rated accommodations - Day 9 – Head to the Silver Circle with the magnificent waterfalls of Hraunfossar
Sleep in Borgarnes again or head to Reykjavik to discover the city – see the best rated accommodations - Day 10 – Head to the Keflavik (Reykjanes) Peninsula with the Geothermal area of Gunnhever and Seltun and the Blue Lagoon
My guide below can help you plan your itinerary in more details with practical maps and tips to easily organize your days:
Plan your dream trip in Iceland thanks to my guide
- 6 maps to easily plan your itinerary
- 75+ pre-selected locations
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- Winter tips to make the most of your time
- 115+ original photos to help you choose
Want to see more of Iceland in Winter:
- Best things to do in Iceland in Winter – read article
- 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
- Driving in Iceland in Winter – read article
And keep track of your own trip!
Want to see more of ICELAND IN WINTER
PREVIOUS:
Planning an Iceland Winter Road Trip
NEXT:
Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!
