December asks more of a traveler than any other Icelandic month, and gives back more in return. Daylight shrinks to four hours around the solstice, storms can rearrange an itinerary overnight, and yet this is the month of glowing ice caves, aurora filled skies, thirteen mischievous Yule Lads, and a New Year’s Eve that turns Reykjavík into a city wide, semi legal fireworks display.
Here is how to do December right.
Understand the Daylight First
Around December 21, the sun rises after 11 am and sets before 4 pm in Reykjavík. This is not a problem; it is a design constraint. The “day” is one long golden hour, sunrise bleeding into sunset, and photographers consider it the best light of the year. Plan one major sight per day, drive in darkness on either side, and fill the long evenings with pools, food, and aurora hunting.
The Best Things to Do in Iceland in December
1. Enter a Natural Ice Cave
The blue ice caves beneath Vatnajökull are December’s headline act. They form anew each winter as summer meltwater channels freeze, and certified guides scout them every season. Tours depart from Jökulsárlón, and the colors inside (deep glassy blue, black ash bands) justify every superlative. Book well ahead; December slots vanish.
2. Hunt the Northern Lights
Long nights mean maximum aurora opportunity. The method: check the vedur.is cloud cover and activity forecast, drive out of city light (Grótta in Reykjavík works in a pinch, Þingvellir is better), and be patient between 9 pm and 1 am. December weather is the variable, so give yourself several nights of chances.
3. Meet the Yule Lads
Iceland does not have one Santa. It has thirteen, descending from the mountains one per night from December 12, each with a specialty: Spoon Licker, Door Slammer, Sausage Swiper, Window Peeper. Children leave shoes on windowsills for small gifts (or a potato, if behavior warrants). Their ogress mother Grýla eats naughty children, and the Yule Cat eats anyone who received no new clothes. Icelandic Christmas folklore does not mess around. The National Museum and Dimmuborgir in the north both host Yule Lad appearances.
4. Walk Through Christmas Reykjavík
The capital in December is genuinely lovely: lights strung over Laugavegur, the giant Yule Cat sculpture on Lækjartorg, ice skating on Ingólfstorg, and Christmas markets at Ingólfstorg and Hafnarfjörður’s Christmas Village. Try the seasonal drinks: jólabland (orange soda and malt brew) and the queue worthy hot chocolate at Mokka.
5. Soak While It Snows
A geothermal lagoon in falling snow is the single best argument for winter travel. Sky Lagoon’s infinity edge in December twilight, the Blue Lagoon under stars, or the Secret Lagoon with steam rising into freezing air. Locals will be in the neighborhood pools as always: 38 degree hot tubs, minus 2 degree air, total contentment.
6. Tour the Golden Circle in Winter Dress
Gullfoss half frozen is arguably better than Gullfoss in July, and Strokkur erupts through steam clouds that double in drama in cold air. Þingvellir under snow is silent and severe. Roads on the route are maintained all winter; just drive slowly and check road.is each morning.
7. Celebrate New Year’s Eve Like an Icelander
Reykjavík’s NYE is famous for a reason. The evening follows a strict national script: dinner, neighborhood bonfires (brennur), the entire country pausing to watch the Áramótaskaup comedy revue at 10:30 pm, and then, at midnight, tens of thousands of private fireworks fired simultaneously from every street. Sales fund the volunteer search and rescue teams, which is why Icelanders buy with such enthusiasm. The Hallgrímskirkja area offers the classic view.
8. South Coast, Carefully
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Reynisfjara all run in December, draped in ice. Hire a 4WD, carry crampon grips for your boots (waterfall paths become skating rinks), keep the day’s driving under 155 miles (250 kilometers), and treat weather warnings as commands rather than suggestions.
December Travel Tips
- Build a buffer day into any itinerary; storms close roads several times each winter.
- Book the ice cave, Blue Lagoon, and NYE dinner before you fly.
- Rent 4WD with winter tires (legally required and universally fitted).
- Pack thermal base layers, a real winter coat, waterproof boots, and ice grips.
- Hotels outside the festive week (roughly Dec 27 to Jan 2) are among the cheapest of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Iceland?
Excellent, if you accept short days and weather risk in exchange for ice caves, aurora, and the holiday atmosphere.
How cold is Iceland in December?
Milder than the name suggests: typically 27 to 37°F (minus 3 to plus 3°C) in Reykjavík, colder in the north, with wind chill the real factor.
Can you drive the Ring Road in December?
Experienced winter drivers can, with flexibility built in. Most December visitors are better served basing in Reykjavík and the South Coast.
Are tours running over Christmas?
Yes, most operators run through the holidays, and December 24 to 26 sees reduced but not zero availability. Restaurants do close early on the 24th, when Icelanders celebrate.
