Iceland in December

December has the least daylight of the year and the most rain in Reykjavik, and it's still a great time to visit Iceland. Early in the month you get low-season quiet. From mid-month on, the whole country turns festive: lights in every window, the Yule Lads coming down from the mountains, and a New Year's Eve that people fly in for.

The trade-off is simple. You get about four hours of sun, so every day needs a plan that fits into that window, plus a backup plan for when the weather shuts a road.

December weather in Reykjavik

It's cold, but not as cold as the name suggests. The Icelandic Met Office's 1991-2020 averages for Reykjavik put the December high at 3.3°C (38°F) and the low at -1.6°C (29°F), which isn't far off a New York winter. What makes it feel colder is the wind and the wet. December is the wettest month in Reykjavik, with about 95 mm of rain or snow spread over roughly 15 days, and the city averages only about 13 hours of sunshine for the entire month.

It also swings a lot from year to year. In the Met Office's monthly records, December 2023 averaged -1.2°C in Reykjavik, while December 2025 averaged 4.0°C. Pack for either.

>> more on weather in Iceland

How much daylight you get

On 1 December the sun rises around 10:45am and sets around 3:50pm. By the winter solstice on 21 December it's up at about 11:20am and down by 3:30pm, a little over four hours (sunrise and sunset times for Reykjavik). Twilight adds some usable light on either side, but plan your driving for the middle of the day.

What December costs

Early December is off-season, and hotels, car rentals and many tours are cheaper than in summer. That changes from about 20 December: flights and rooms over Christmas and New Year's fill up and prices climb, so book those dates early.

I'm not going to quote a fare here, because it would be wrong by next week. What's worth knowing is who flies. Icelandair flies to Keflavik all year, and so does United from Chicago. Most of the other US and Canadian airlines that serve Iceland, including Delta, Alaska, Air Canada and WestJet, only fly there in summer. Budget airline PLAY stopped flying on 29 September 2025, so older advice about cheap PLAY fares no longer applies.

>> more on flights to Iceland and budgeting for a trip to Iceland

Things to do in December

Many of the same outdoor activities available in summer still run, you just have less time to fit them in.

• Northern Lights. The long nights are the whole point for a lot of December visitors. You need darkness and clear skies, so check the Met Office aurora forecast, which shows cloud cover alongside aurora activity. More in our guide to viewing the Northern Lights.
• The Golden Circle. Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss make a good short-day trip from Reykjavik. See exploring the Golden Circle.
• Whale watching. Elding runs its classic whale watching tour from Reykjavik's Old Harbour every month of the year. Humpbacks, minkes, dolphins and porpoises are the usual sightings in Faxaflói bay.
• Snorkeling in Silfra. Yes, in December. The water in the fissure at Þingvellir is 2-4°C, and you'll be in a drysuit with a guide.
• Hot pools. Soaking outdoors while it snows is how Icelanders get through winter. Start with the Reykjavik city pools.

The interior is off the table. Highland F-roads close in mid-September and stay closed until the following summer.

>> more things to do in Iceland in winter

The Blue Lagoon and the Reykjanes eruptions

A lot of people plan a Blue Lagoon soak on the way to or from Keflavik airport. The lagoon says it's open every day of the year, but it sits about 5 km from Grindavík, where the Sundhnúkur crater row has erupted nine times since December 2023. The lagoon has closed several times during that activity, and in November 2024 lava covered its car park. The ninth eruption ended on 5 August 2025, and in September 2026 the Icelandic Met Office reported that the ground is still rising as magma builds up. Check Safetravel's Reykjanes page before you go, and don't book the lagoon so tight to your flight that a closure costs you anything.

>> more on the Blue Lagoon

Driving in December

Around Reykjavik and on the Golden Circle, main roads are usually passable in an ordinary rental car with winter tires, but storms can close them with little warning. Check road conditions on umferdin.is (or call 1777) every morning, and look at Safetravel for alerts. With four hours of light, a drive that looks short on the map can end in the dark.

>> more on driving in Iceland and car rental

Christmas in Iceland

Iceland doesn't have one Santa, it has thirteen. The Yule Lads are mischievous troll brothers, and the first one arrives on the night of 12 December, with another each night after that. Kids leave a shoe on the windowsill and find a small present in the morning, or a rotten potato if they've misbehaved. Their mother, Grýla, hunts naughty children, and the Yule Cat eats anyone who hasn't got new clothes before Christmas Eve. Icelandic Christmas stories are not gentle.

Reykjavik has several Christmas markets, including the annual market in Heiðmörk woods on the edge of the city on Advent weekends. It's also the season for laufabrauð (leaf bread) and the big Christmas buffets called jólahlaðborð.

Plan around the holidays themselves. Christmas Eve is a public holiday from 1pm, and 25 and 26 December are full holidays. Icelanders celebrate on the evening of the 24th with family, so shops close early and the streets go quiet. Buy groceries ahead and book any restaurant meal well in advance.

>> more on Christmas in Iceland

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve in Reykjavik is one of the best in the world, and it isn't organized by anyone. Visit Reykjavik notes that there are no official fireworks displays: the people of the city buy the fireworks and set them off, and by midnight the sky is full of them. Find a spot with a view, such as the hill around Hallgrímskirkja, and dress for standing outside for an hour. Afterward, a lot of Icelanders head out to the bars until morning.

Like Christmas Eve, 31 December is a holiday from 1pm, so do your shopping in the morning.

>> more on New Year's Eve in Iceland and holidays and events in Iceland

What to pack

A warm, waterproof jacket, waterproof boots with good grip, a hat, gloves and a scarf. Wool base layers make a big difference if you'll be outside at night waiting for the aurora. Bring a swimsuit too. The pools are open in winter and they're the best way to warm up.

>> more on what to wear in Iceland in winter

FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Iceland?

Yes, if you want the Christmas atmosphere, New Year's Eve and a shot at the Northern Lights, and you're fine with short days. If your trip is about hiking or long drives, go between June and August instead. See when to go to Iceland.

Is everything closed over Christmas?

Not everything, but a lot shuts from 1pm on 24 December, and 25 and 26 December are public holidays. Hotels stay open and many tours still run. Check opening hours for anything you're counting on.

Do I need a 4x4 in December?

Not for Reykjavik and the Golden Circle in normal conditions, but you do need winter tires and the flexibility to stay put when umferdin.is shows a road closed. For longer trips along the south coast or beyond, a 4x4 gives you more margin.

Can I combine December with a stopover?

Easily. Icelandair's route between North America and Europe runs through Keflavik all year. See how to plan a stopover in Iceland.

Photo by zophonias