At this time of year, you’re likely prioritizing destinations where temps are in the upper 70s, you don’t step outside the door and you’re suddenly knee-deep in snow, and where there are more than 5 hours of daylight every day.
That’s Iceland for you, but before you think we’re discouraging you from visiting and you scratch it off the list without a second thought, you should know the colder and darker it gets in Iceland, the more magical it becomes, too.
If you love beach getaways, flying to this Northerly European island in the dead of winter probably sounds nightmarish, but there’s many a reason why it’s the complete opposite, and we’ll show you why:
Why Is Iceland So Magical In Winter?
Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland may be one of the coldest countries in the world, with an average yearly temperature of 54°F, and particularly chilly winters, ranging from 23°F to 35.6°F, but it boasts some of the most spectacular scenery seen anywhere across the pond.
Believe it or not, the best season to experience Iceland, with all its fjord-traversed peninsulas, Mars-like hinterland, and fascinating Viking culture, is from November through March, as opposed to other European destinations that are best visited in summer.
If anything, winter is Iceland’s peak travel season, as it’s when aurora activity is at its strongest––who doesn’t dream of seeing the Northern Lights dancing above their heads?––and nature at its most dramatic, with snow-sheathed mountain peaks and monumental glaciers.
Chase The Elusive Aurora
Northern Lights tours are a major part of the reason why tourists flock to Iceland to risk getting frostbitten––just kidding––this season, and as 2024 is the year of solar maximum, when the aurora will be at its most visible in at least a decade, you don’t want to miss out on a chance to see them.
This 4×4 small-group tour takes you through the desolate Icelandic landscape in a hunt for nature’s elusive lightshow, and though sightings are not guaranteed, again, this season you’ll have a higher probability of being successful than any other year.
It is easily the most convenient way to chase the aurora, as you’ll leave the hunting to the experts in the field, who will know just where to take you for the best possible display, and on top of that, you get to sample Icelandic pastries and indulge in hot cocoa, all for $105.43.
Explore An Otherworldly Winter Wonderland
Aurora-hunting is not Iceland’s only must-do if you’re visiting winter: there is a wide range of activities offered from Reykjavik, the country’s compact, colorful capital, once you’ve finished trying every cinnamon roll in town, and you’ve taken pictures of Hallgrímskirkja from every imaginable angle.
The Golden Circle is a year-round popular day trip from Reykjavik: a tourist route visiting explosive geysers, Gulfoss Waterfall, the biggest in Iceland, and Thingvellir, where the crevices in the tectonic plates dividing Europe from America are visible, it’s even more incredible in winter.
With this wintertime day tour of the Golden Circle, you’ll tick off all those amazing sights, plus go on a snowmobile ride––Iceland may be the land of eternal winter for some, but that’s definitely not possible in July––and tour the ice fields of Langjökull, a glacier on the highlands of Iceland.
Relax In A Hot Spring
Looking for a spot to relax and escape the outside cold?
Other than its freezing adventures, Iceland is famous for its plethora of hot springs––does a pearly Blue Lagoon, enveloped in mist and with views of snow-capped hills ring a bell?
That’s clearly a tourist favorite, and we can definitely see how, what with the special-properties mud and the spa fanfare of it all, but it’s very crowded, and it could close down with very little warning due to its critical location near an active volcano that erupts pretty much every few months.
Instead, try the Sky Lagoon, the locals’ favorite: this one faces the wild North Atlantic, spa combos are pretty affordable for Iceland standards, starting at around $80, and if you’re lucky enough, you may even get a Northern Lights show overhead in the heated outdoor pool.
$99 Flights From America!
Finally, a big draw for tourists coming to Iceland from America this year is how affordable flights can be, especially when booked through budget carrier PLAY, and we’re not talking moderately cheap, between $300 and $400 one-way: fares go as low as a shocking $99 one-way!
PLAY flights are offered from Boston (BOS), Washington D.C. (IAD), Stewart International Airport in New York (SWF) and Baltimore (BWI), and all through winter, you can fly to Iceland and back from as cheap as $302 return.
A word of advice, though, if we may: PLAY flights may have made low-cost Transatlantic travel feasible––it’s probably cheaper getting to Iceland than certain destinations in America, for heck’s sake!––but Iceland itself is far from being budget-friendly.
Yes, there are budget-friendly winter activities, and you can definitely get discounted rates at some of the thermal lagoons, but make sure you bring enough cash to cover your stay.
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