The landscape and scenery in Iceland is very unique, making it one of my favorite destinations so far! I organized a self-drive winter trip for Brian and I in February, mainly to see the northern lights, not realizing how much Iceland had to offer. I organized this itinerary to help others get the most out of their Iceland experience and to provide you with all of the information you might need for your trip. This Complete Iceland Winter Itinerary will take you to all of the major landmarks on Iceland’s South Coast. I recommend visiting the southern coast during winter because of the potential for bad weather and icy road conditions, which are more likely in Northern Iceland.
Let’s get started!
General Iceland Tips
- Due to the country’s high latitude, days become shorter during the winter months. Be prepared to squeeze in your sightseeing during your daylight hours, which can be as short as 5 hours in mid-December.
- The weather in Iceland can be fairly unpredictable, make sure to always being checking the weather and road conditions. Expect the southern region to be around 32 °F (0°C) with a chance of snow/rain. During our entire trip it was rainy and cloudy, making it hard to stay dry and warm. For this reason, I recommend bringing clothes that are water resistant.
- If you want to rent a car in Iceland, I suggest reading through this article. The winter weather can sometimes make driving Ring Road dangerous, so it’s important to be prepared. Of course, if you don’t want to drive yourself, you can opt to book a pre-organized guided tour!
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Adapters for European Plugs
- The season to spot the Northern Lights is from September to April! Download the Aurora Forecast app to use on your trip.
Read more: The Complete Travel Packing Guide
Day 1
Arrive in Reykjavik, Iceland (Keflavik Airport)
A lot of the flights into Iceland arrive early in the morning, giving you the entire day to explore Reykjavik and check out the notorious Blue Lagoon.
Blue Lagoon Tips: Be sure to book your Blue Lagoon tickets in advance. When I planned this trip, they were booked 2 months out! The Blue Lagoon is also located close to the airport, which makes it a perfect stop for the beginning or end of your trip. The Blue Lagoon is the most popular geothermal spa in Iceland, but definitely not the only one! There are a number of others that are cheaper and less touristy. I recommend Gamla Laugin and Laugarvatn Fontana, which are located on the Golden Circle route (perfect for day 2).
There are a number of things you can do in Reykjavik, but I highly suggest:
- Hallgrímskirkja – The view from this amazing 244 ft. (74.5m) church is definitely worth seeing! The viewing platform at the top provides a full 360 ° of Reykjavik. Keep in mind that the church is active so it is not open on Sundays. The entry fee for the top is 900 ISK for adults and 100 ISK for children between the ages of 7 and 14. Infants are free.
- Bæjarins Beztu – This little hotdog stand in the middle of town serves the best hotdogs in Iceland! We loved this place so much, we went back in the same day for a late-night snack. The line can be long, as it is pretty popular, so don’t be afraid to order more than 2!
- Northern Lights Tour – One reason to come to Iceland in the winter is to have a chance at seeing the Northern Lights! While this activity is weather dependent, it is still worth trying to do while you’re in town. There are a wide variety of Northern Lights Tours, but if you want to do this on your first day in Reykjavik, I recommend the Northern Lights Small Group Tour. Of course, you don’t need a tour to see the Northern Lights. You just need the right conditions and good timing. There’s a chance to see them throughout the rest of your trip.
We stayed at the Icelandair Marina hotel in the Old Harbor for one night before beginning our drive to the Golden Circle.
Day 2
The Golden Circle and Flúðir
The famous Golden Circle is made up of Thingvellir National Park, the Gullfoss Waterfall, and the Geysir Geothermal Area. It takes 3 hours and 20 minutes to drive the entire Golden Circle route, but keep in mind that there is only about 5 hours of effective daylight during mid-winter in Iceland. For this Iceland winter itinerary, I recommend that you stay in Fludir overnight, but this can easily be a day trip from Reykjavik as well.
Þingvellir National Park
The first stop during this trip was Thingvellir National Park. You could easily arrive at Thingvellir as the sun is coming up, given that sunrise is a lot later during the winter. I enjoyed exploring the landscape and checking out the Öxarárfoss waterfall, but there are other attractions at Thingvellir worth doing as well.
Strokkur Geyser
Next on the list is the Geysir area, which is a good area to stop and get some lunch. You can eat at the Geysir Center or there is a soup shop close by called Supa Geysir, perfect on a cold day. The main attraction in this area is the Strokkur Geyser. It erupts every 5-7 minutes, so you can watch it in action multiple times.
Gullfoss Waterfall
Last on the list is the Gullfoss Waterfall. There’s a wooden walkway that splits into two different areas. One area brings you to a viewpoint above the waterfall while the other one leads to a platform really close to the falls.
Tip: At the end of your day sightseeing, a great way to unwind would be to check out either Gamla Laugin or Laugarvatn Fontana and enjoy a nearby hot spring.
I opted to stay at the Icelandair Hotel in Flúðir, but there are plenty of other options in this area as well including a few hostels.
Day 3
Waterfalls, Solheimasandur Plane Wreck, and Vik
Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss Waterfalls
The first stop for Day 3 is the Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, about a 1-hour drive from Fludir. The unique part of this beautiful waterfall is the option to walk behind it! Make sure to bring rain boots and a rain jacket, as it’s misty and muddy.
Around 25 minutes down the Ring Road is the Skogafoss waterfall. There is the option here to climb to the top, which takes around 10 minutes as long as it’s not too icy. You can always just enjoy this amazing waterfall from the bottom as well.
Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
Only 10 minutes away is the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck! This is a photographers paradise, as the wreck is right on a black sand beach with an amazing landscape behind it. Getting to the plane can be a bit challenging though, as you have to walk to the wreck from the parking lot, which is an hour trek one way. It really is an adventure in itself. Be cautious though. This is not something that is recommended if the weather is really bad because it can be easy to get lost. For more information on the wreck, click here. If you want to see the wreck, but don’t feel comfortable hiking out to it yourself, there are organized ATV rides with a guided professional during the months of January to August.
Visiting Vik
If you have time at the end of your day, you may want to visit the black sand beach of Reynisfjara. This is an absolutely must do while you are staying in Vik! This beach is one of the best examples of Iceland’s black sand beaches and amazing basalt columns. It is usually very misty/rainy in Vik, so we recommend wearing a rain jacket when visiting Reynisfjara. If you don’t have time tonight, try going at sunrise!
I recommend staying in Vik tonight at the Icelandair Vik Hotel. If you are interested in staying in a hostel, consider Vik HI Hostel or Eystri-Solheimar. For a good bite to eat, I recommend Smidjan Brugghus and Sudur Vik.
Day 4
Skaftafell, Vatnajokull Glacier, and Jokulsarlon
My favorite part of our winter Iceland trip was doing a glacier hike up the largest glacier in Europe. If you are adventurous and enjoy a good hike, this is a must do! Arctic Adventures offers a great guided tour from Skaftafell National Park, about 2 hours drive from Vik. Another great option for today is to go into the glacier to see the ice caves.
Tip: If the weather in Iceland has been rainy, the ice cave tour has a good potential of getting cancelled. We were originally scheduled for that tour and it rained almost every day on our trip, flooding the ice caves and making them off limits. We were accommodated by doing a glacier hike instead, which was absolutely amazing.
Jokulsarlon and the Vatnajokull Glacier
At the end of your day, I encourage you to visit one of my favorite places in Iceland, Jokulsarlon and the Vatnajokull Glacier! Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is filled with broken pieces of the massive glacier, creating one of the most popular destinations in Iceland. The lagoon empties out to the ocean, where a lot of the icebergs make their way to the black sand beach across the road known as Diamond Beach. Make sure to go across the street and check it out, especially during sunset!
We made the mistake of trying to make the 2-hour drive back to Vik. It was raining, dark, and there were a ton of trucks on the road. The Ring Road is not well lit at night and most of the bridges are one lane, making it difficult at night, especially in bad weather. To avoid this, I recommend staying at the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon tonight. It’s the nicest hotel in the area and only a 20 minute drive!
Day 5
Svartifoss Waterfall, Fjadrargljufur Canyon, Eldhraun, and Dyrholaey
Start your morning at Skaftafell National Park to hike to the Svartifoss Waterfall (The Black Waterfall). This is another place in Iceland to see the basalt columns just like the ones at Reynisfjara in Vik. The hike to Svartifoss is an easy 3.4 mile circular trail. This is a great to-do item for winter or summer and there are plenty of other interesting places in Skaftafell as well. As always, check the current weather conditions at the visitor center before beginning any hike.
Fjadrargljufur Canyon
About an hour away from Skaftafell is a 328 ft (100m) canyon that is very often missed because it is not located right on the Ring Road. Fjadrargljufur Canyon, however, is easily accessible. There will be a sign off of the main road, turn and continue driving on road number 206. The last bit of the drive is gravel, but doable for any type of car. The canyon is typically not as busy during the winter months, making it less crowded and better for beautiful photos!
Tip: There is a walking path along the canyon’s edge that leads to a waterfall, about a 30-minute walk. Do be careful during winter as the path can be icy in areas.
Eldhraun Lava Field
Next stop on the Ring Road is Eldhraun, the largest lava field in Iceland. This region looks like it came straight out of Lord of the Rings and is definitely worth a stop to take some pictures! There is a parking area right along the Ring Road with official signage, where you can stop or there is another area just before this point that has plenty of space to park and is great for pictures. It’s also a nice way to avoid other tourists. The GPS coordinates are: 63.742696, -18.172071
Dyrholaey Lighthouse and Kirkjufjara Beach
The last stop on the list for today is the Dyrholaey Lighthouse and Kirkjufjara beach. When driving to Dyrholaey, you will see that there are 2 road options, an upper and lower section. On the upper section, you will find amazing views in all directions as well as the Dyrholaey Lighthouse. The lower section will lead you down to the black sand beach where you can see Arnardrangur or “Eagle Rock.”
I recommend staying in Vik tonight to break up the drive back to Reykjavik.
Day 6
Exploring Reykjavik
Today you will head back to Reykjavik, about a 3-hour drive from Vik. Depending on how much you enjoyed Reykjavik on Day 1, you can choose to spend all day of Day 6 there or can choose to fly out today. Today is also a great day to go to the Blue Lagoon if you chose not to do that on Day 1.
Here is a list of potential things to do in Reykjavik today:
- Laugavegur Street: This is the main strip in Reykjavik, consisting of shops, restaurants, bars and more. This is a great place to go if you want any souvenirs for yourself or family members back home. This is also the same street that the Lebowski Bar is on, known for its variety of white russians (these are expensive, but delicious).
- The Harpa Concert Hall: Besides the amazing architecture, Harpa Concert Hall offers tours, short films, and concerts as well as a beautiful view from the top. The entrance to the building is free, but you do have to pay for films, tours, etc. There is also a free bus from Harpa that goes to the Perlan Museum on the hour.
- The Perlan Museum: The Museum is known for having an observation deck with a full 360 view of Reyjkavik, but it also offers some pretty cool exhibits like the Man-made Ice Caves. Perlan also has a planetarium with a few different film options.
Must try Icelandic Liquor 
Delicious Lamb Soup 
Plokkfiskur: Fish Stew
Here are some restaurant options for your last dinner in Iceland!
- The Laundromat Café: Great place to start your day with some breakfast or lunch. This cute café is laid-back and reasonably priced!
- Krost: Krost is actually off of Laugavegur street. This is a great place for any kind of food (including vegan and vegetarian options) as well as customer service. They also have a wine bar! What’s not to like?
- AALTO Bistro: This is a good place to go to try Scandinavian cuisine. This bistro focuses on local and in season ingredients and is very fresh! Good for lunch or dinner.
- Frederiksen Ale House: For something more laid back, you can try the Frederiksen Ale House for some live music and pub food. The food is a mix of traditional pub food and Icelandic food, creating a nice blend. They also have a great draft beer selection!
I recommend staying in downtown Reykjavik for your last night to enjoy a different area of the city. We stayed at the Hotel Reykjavik Centrum and really loved the location it was in. The hotel also provided a nice breakfast there the next morning before heading to the airport.
Day 7
Fly Home from Reykjavik
This concludes my Iceland Winter Itinerary! It takes you to all of the must-do winter locations and is a flexible itinerary to fit your needs! Please feel free to edit and use it as a guideline, so you get the most out of your trip. It is also possible to shorten this trip down to 4-5 days, there would just be less time for some of the tours, hiking and sightseeing.
As always, I specialize in planning vacations and it would be my pleasure to help you customize your Iceland adventure! Email me here to set up a free consultation so we can talk options! Happy traveling!
