Europe

Iceland in December

Festive Reykjavik, New Year fireworks, and aurora potential, wrapped around the year's shortest days. Plan tiny touring radii.

TradeoffsCold, highs near 38F (3C), 4 to 5 hours of daylight

Skogafoss waterfall, Iceland — IcelandPhoto: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Iceland. Festive Reykjavik, New Year fireworks, and aurora potential, wrapped around the year's shortest days. Plan tiny touring radii.

Weather: Cold, highs near 38F (3C), 4 to 5 hours of daylight
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Iceland

December has the shortest days of the year, with just four to five hours of daylight and highs near 38F (3C). Reykjavik is festive and lit up, and the New Year's Eve fireworks are legendary. The aurora and ice caves are both in season, but storms can disrupt plans, and crowds and prices rise around the holidays.

It suits families and couples who want a festive winter trip and do not mind a small touring radius. It is not for anyone planning a full Ring Road drive. If you want more daylight, choose February or March. Note that December 24 and 25 quiet the country.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Iceland this month.

New Year's Eve in Reykjavik

The city lights up with fireworks, and neighborhood bonfires happen beforehand.

Festive Reykjavik

Holiday lights and a cozy city make December charming.

Ice caves in the short daylight

Guided ice cave trips run from the south coast. Stay near the glacier the night before so you do not waste daylight driving.

What to pack for December

An insulated, waterproof jacket
Thermal layers
Waterproof boots with ice cleats
A warm hat and gloves

Our timing tip

Base yourself in Reykjavik or on the south coast and keep day trips short, since daylight is so limited.

Book Iceland for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Iceland
Opens a hotel search for Iceland in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Iceland
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Iceland
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Iceland for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Northern lights season

September through mid April

Dark skies return and the aurora becomes possible on any clear night. Equinox months often bring strong activity.

Ice cave season

Roughly November through March

Guided access to natural blue ice caves under Vatnajokull while cold keeps them stable.

New Year's Eve in Reykjavik

December 31

The city sets off a legendary distributed fireworks display, with neighborhood bonfires beforehand.

Things to do in Iceland

Full guide

The Golden Circle

Thingvellir's rift valley, Geysir's eruptions, and Gullfoss in one easy loop from Reykjavik. Go before 9am or after 5pm in summer to skip the tour-bus pulse.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The south coast to Vik

Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, then Reynisfjara's black sand and basalt columns. Respect the sneaker-wave warnings at the beach; they are not theoretical.

Tickets and tours →

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach

Icebergs drifting to sea and stranding on black sand. Worth the long drive east; summer zodiac tours get you among the bergs.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A northern lights hunt

September through mid April, on clear dark nights away from town lights. Give it multiple nights and check the cloud and activity forecasts rather than pinning hopes on one evening.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A glacier walk or ice cave

Crampons-on glacier hikes run year-round with guides; the natural blue ice caves are a winter-only show, roughly November through March.

Tickets and tours →

Geothermal soaking

Book the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon ahead, then balance them with local town pools at a tenth of the price. The hot river hike at Reykjadalur is the free classic.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Use the midnight sun: in summer, do the Golden Circle and south-coast headliners before 9am or after 6pm and you will share them with a fraction of the midday tour-bus wave.
Drive the Ring Road counterclockwise in peak season; most tours and rentals flow clockwise from Reykjavik, so you meet the crowd pulses offset by a day.
Book summer rental cars and popular guesthouses three to six months out; the country's bed supply is small and the south coast sells out first.
Go beyond the south: the Westfjords and the east fjords see a small slice of Iceland's visitors with scenery that concedes nothing.

Know before you go

The highland F-roads close from roughly October until June or later, gated by snowmelt: Landmannalaugar, Thorsmork, and the interior are summer-only, and rental insurance requires a 4x4 on them even then.
The Ring Road and main sights operate year-round, but winter storms can close sections for hours or a day at a time; road and weather alert sites are a daily winter ritual, not a suggestion.
Natural glacier ice caves open only in the cold months, roughly November through March; summer visitors can still do guided glacier walks and man-made tunnels.
The northern lights are seasonally gated by daylight, not luck alone: from May through early August the sky never gets dark enough. Aurora trips belong to September through mid April.

Iceland in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Iceland?

December is a month of real tradeoffs in Iceland. Festive Reykjavik, New Year fireworks, and aurora potential, wrapped around the year's shortest days. Plan tiny touring radii.

What is the weather like in Iceland in December?

Cold, highs near 38F (3C), 4 to 5 hours of daylight.

Is Iceland crowded in December?

Crowds in Iceland are moderate in December; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.

What is happening in Iceland in December?

Northern lights season (september through mid april); Ice cave season (roughly november through march); New Year's Eve in Reykjavik (december 31).