MONTHLY GUIDE
Iceland in December
Winter Solstice, Northern Lights & the Christmas Season
December is Iceland at its darkest and most wintry — the shortest days of the year surround the winter solstice, long nights make the Northern Lights a genuinely serious reason to visit, and Reykjavík takes on a real Christmas-and-New-Year atmosphere. None of this comes free: daylight is minimal, weather is cold and genuinely changeable, and December's Christmas and New Year periods behave differently from an ordinary winter week.
Iceland in December
December is Iceland at its most wintry. This is the country's darkest month, built around the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year, falling around December 21 — and the long nights that surround it make the Northern Lights one of the clearest, most serious reasons to visit this time of year.
December is also not one uniform month. Early December still carries a little of November's fading light and a genuinely quieter travel period; the Christmas period in the middle of the month brings shorter daylight still, alongside a real Reykjavík Christmas atmosphere and holiday-aware scheduling; and the New Year period at the end of the month combines the year's longest nights with real, rising demand around the holidays. This guide treats these as genuinely different planning contexts, not one flat December.
What stays genuinely strong through the month: geothermal bathing becomes especially appealing against December's cold, Reykjavík works well as a comfortable, flexible, weather-proof base regardless of the day's conditions, and — where current guide-assessed conditions and operator schedules allow — glacier and ice experiences remain part of the picture.
Why visit in December? For genuinely long, dark nights and a real Aurora chance; for a distinctly wintry Iceland without the crowd pressure of Christmas markets elsewhere in Europe; and for Reykjavík's own Christmas-and-New-Year character. Who should think twice? Travellers expecting long daylight sightseeing days, a guaranteed white-Christmas landscape, or an easy, fully flexible self-drive Ring Road trip — none of those are realistic December assumptions.
The honest way to think about December is: Iceland's darkest, most wintry month, with the Northern Lights and a genuine Christmas-to-New-Year character as its clearest identity — not an extension of November, and not a month to plan the way you would plan a summer trip with the temperature turned down.
Quick Guide to Iceland in December
- Best for
- Northern Lights, winter atmosphere, Christmas/New Year, geothermal, guided tours
- Season
- Deep winter, Iceland's darkest month
- Daylight
- Iceland's shortest of the year, centred on the winter solstice
- Northern Lights
- Strong dark-sky season — the year's longest nights
- Weather
- Cold, windy and genuinely changeable — snow, ice, rain and sleet are all realistic
- Driving
- Requires active road/weather monitoring, more than November did
- Highlands
- Do not plan self-drive around Highland access
- Christmas/New Year
- A genuinely different travel period — book ahead
- Packing
- Warm waterproof/windproof layers, gloves, hat, proper winter footwear
- Trip style
- Conservative self-drive, or guided travel depending on conditions and dates
December Quick Facts
Season
Iceland's darkest month
Deep winter
December reads as genuine deep winter from day one — this is not a continuation of November's transition, it's the year's darkest, coldest stretch.
Northern Lights
Genuinely strong
Strong relevance
The year's longest nights make December one of the strongest Aurora months in this guide's coverage — never guaranteed, but a real, serious reason to visit.
Daylight
Plan around it above all else
Iceland's shortest of the year
Daylight bottoms out around the winter solstice (~December 21) — this is the single most important planning factor for a December trip.
Christmas / New Year
Plan ahead
A genuinely different travel period
Late December brings real holiday-period demand and scheduling changes — this guide treats it as its own planning context, not an ordinary December week.
Best Activities
Best For
Why Visit Iceland in December?
December's clearest strength is the Northern Lights. This is Iceland's darkest month — nights are at their longest, giving a genuinely extended viewing window most evenings — when solar activity and clear skies cooperate, which is never guaranteed at any time of year.
Early December, the Christmas period and the New Year period are worth thinking about separately, not as one flat month. Early December still carries a touch of November's character and is genuinely the quietest of the three; the Christmas period brings the shortest daylight of the entire year around the solstice, plus a real Reykjavík Christmas atmosphere; and the New Year period combines that same deep darkness with real, rising demand and different operating schedules around the holidays.
Beyond the Aurora, a December trip remains substantially real: geothermal lagoons, Reykjavík's museums, restaurants and Christmas character, and — where current conditions and operator schedules genuinely allow — glacier and ice experiences all continue to work. This guide won't market December as reliably cheap, either — pricing depends on your exact dates (Christmas and New Year in particular can raise both demand and prices), availability and how far ahead you book, not the calendar month alone.
The trade-offs are real and worth naming directly: daylight is at its shortest of the entire year, weather is cold, windy and genuinely changeable, snow and ice are realistic possibilities without ever being guaranteed, Highland and F-road access should not be assumed at all, and the Christmas/New Year period specifically brings real scheduling and availability changes this guide won't paper over with a generic seasonal assumption.
Early December
- A little more daylight than later in the month
- Genuinely the quietest of the three periods
- Winter conditions, developing Christmas atmosphere
Christmas Period
- The winter solstice — Iceland's shortest daylight of the year
- Real Reykjavík Christmas atmosphere
- Holiday-aware scheduling genuinely starts to matter
New Year Period
- Still among the year's longest nights, daylight very slowly increasing
- Real, rising demand around the holidays
- Book well ahead — this is not an ordinary December week
Current road, weather and operator data always overrides these seasonal generalisations — this guide never claims an exact weather outcome or a specific opening schedule for any part of the month.
The Year's Longest Nights Are Here — December nights are genuinely long and dark, meaning strong Aurora potential. Check live aurora and cloud conditions before planning an evening around it.
Featured December Attractions
Handpicked places worth visiting on a December trip.
Drangajokull Glacier
westfjords
Drangajökull is Iceland's northernmost glacier and the only glacier outside the main volcanic zone, sitting in the remote northeastern corner of the Westfjords.
Langjokull Glacier Ice Tunnel
south iceland
Langjökull is Iceland's second-largest glacier and home to the Into the Glacier experience — the world's largest man-made ice cave tunnel system, drilled 500 m…
Nesjavellir Geothermal Station
south iceland
Nesjavellir is one of Iceland's largest geothermal power stations, located near Þingvellir in the heart of a volcanic rift zone.
Gunnuhver Mud Pools
reykjanes
Gunnuhver is one of Iceland's largest geothermal areas with boiling mud pools, aggressive steam vents and scalding hot springs near the town of Grindavík.
Krysuvík Geothermal Area
reykjanes
Krýsuvík (also called Seltún) is a vivid geothermal area on the Reykjanes Peninsula with dramatic coloured hot springs, steaming fumaroles and boiling mud pool…
north iceland
Attraction in north-iceland.
Explore Iceland in December
Weather in Iceland in December
December weather is Iceland's most genuinely wintry — colder and more changeable than November's, and capable of shifting within a single day at any point in the month. Iceland's maritime climate means December weather is never one single thing: expect a realistic mix of rain, sleet, snow, wind and cloud rather than one dominant pattern, and never assume a fixed outcome for your specific travel date from this guide's general averages alone.
Layering and genuinely warm, waterproof, windproof outer clothing matter more in December than at any earlier point in this guide's coverage. Iceland's maritime location also means December does not guarantee a snow-covered landscape, in Reykjavík or elsewhere — rain and sleet are just as realistic a December outcome as snow, depending on the specific weather system passing through.
Reykjavík right now
Average Temperatures
Typical December daytime temperatures — historical/climatological averages, not a forecast, and always worth checking a current forecast alongside. Actual experienced cold depends heavily on wind, wetness, elevation and the specific weather system on your dates, far more than on the average alone:
| Region | Average Day | Average Night |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík / Southwest | -1–4°C | -3–0°C |
| South Coast | -2–3°C | -4–-1°C |
| North Iceland | -4–1°C | -7–-2°C |
| East Iceland | -4–1°C | -7–-2°C |
| Highlands / elevation | -8–-2°C | Well below 0°C |
Wind makes the real feel considerably colder than the air temperature alone, especially on exposed coastlines, cliffs and higher ground — pack for the wind, not just the thermometer, more so in December than at any earlier point in this guide's coverage.
Will There Be Snow in Iceland in December?
Snow is a genuine, realistic part of Iceland in December, but this guide will not promise a snow-covered landscape for any specific destination or date — Iceland's maritime climate means rain and sleet are just as realistic an outcome, especially in Reykjavík and the immediate southwest. A White Christmas is never guaranteed in Iceland, in Reykjavík or elsewhere.
Snow cover is generally more likely and more consistent in North Iceland, the East and at elevation than in the southwest lowlands, and more likely later in the month than earlier — but this is a tendency, not a promise. Check a current forecast for your actual dates rather than assuming either extreme.
Wind
Wind is one of Iceland's most serious travel factors year-round, and December deserves the same serious treatment as November — genuinely more so, since this is the year's darkest month and wind combines with darkness to compound real risk.
- Hold vehicle doors firmly in open, exposed car parks — strong gusts can damage a door or catch you off guard.
- Exposed hikes, cliffs and coastal viewpoints deserve real caution in high wind, and some may not be sensible to attempt at all on a given day.
- Campervan travellers should factor wind into route and campsite choices as seriously as cold and darkness — most seasonal campsites are closed by December in any case.
- Drone flights become unsafe or illegal to attempt in strong wind, aside from any local flight restrictions.
- Tours — including glacier hiking, boat trips and some guided day tours — can be cancelled for wind and safety conditions; this is a genuinely common December outcome, not a rare one.
Official weather warnings always override a planned itinerary — a route or activity is never worth continuing once a genuine warning is in effect.
Rain, Sleet & Snow
December brings a real mix of rain, sleet and snow depending on the week, region and elevation — pack for all three rather than for snow alone. A calm, clear December day exists, but it is not the default to plan around.
A proper warm, waterproof, windproof outer layer and weather-resistant footwear with real grip matter for comfort and safety on any outdoor day. Reduced visibility, wet or icy surfaces and the year's shortest daylight all affect driving, walking and photography planning together, so build genuine flexibility into any December day.
What to pack:
Don't plan around a single exact rainfall, snowfall or temperature figure — check a current short-range forecast for your actual dates instead.
Fast Weather Changes
Winter storm systems can develop and change quickly in December, genuinely more so than in November. A calm morning does not guarantee a calm afternoon, and this is one of the month's most important planning realities, especially around the Christmas and New Year travel periods when flexibility matters even more.
Plan around this variability:
- Check road.is and vedur.is before any significant drive
- Build a genuine flexible buffer into any multi-day route
- Never treat a booked tour, flight or hotel as a reason to drive through an active warning
Current official warnings always take priority over any itinerary, booking or affiliate recommendation in this guide.
Regional Differences
Reykjavík & Southwest
- Generally the mildest, most sheltered region, and still fully practical as a base through the month
- Snow cover is genuinely inconsistent here — rain and sleet are just as realistic, and a White Christmas is never guaranteed in the capital
South Coast
- Wetter and windier than the capital region, with a real chance of sleet or snow on colder days
- Waterfalls remain a strong, reliable highlight regardless of season, conditions permitting
Southeast
- Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell remain genuinely worthwhile where conditions allow — this is squarely within the natural ice-cave season this guide describes, though specific cave access is always an operator decision
- A long drive from Reykjavík deserves real weather buffer, more than November required
North Iceland
- Turns properly and consistently wintry, more so than the southwest
- Whale watching and other seasonal activities are genuinely limited this time of year — check current status directly rather than assuming
Highlands / elevation
- The most weather-sensitive region by far, and this guide's default assumption is that ordinary self-drive access should not be planned around at all
- Any access is a current-conditions question, never a calendar one
For current conditions and warnings, always check Veðurstofa Íslands (the Icelandic Meteorological Office) directly rather than relying on general seasonal guidance.
What Does December Weather Mean for Your Trip?
- The year's longest darkness and genuinely strong Aurora potential
- Dramatic, moody winter light for photography
- A genuinely quiet travel period outside the Christmas/New Year window
- A distinctly wintry Iceland experience without needing deep-winter specialist gear beyond what this guide's Packing section will cover in a later part
Travellers who pack properly, stay genuinely flexible, and check current conditions before every drive and every plan tend to have excellent December trips.
Will Iceland Have a White Christmas?
Not guaranteed — in Reykjavík or anywhere else. Iceland's maritime climate means December brings a genuine mix of rain, sleet and snow, and a snow-covered landscape on any specific date is never something this guide will promise. Check a current forecast as your dates approach rather than assuming a postcard scene.
Daylight in Iceland in December
December contains Iceland's shortest days of the entire year, centred on the winter solstice around December 21 — this is one of the single most important planning factors in this whole guide's coverage. Early December still offers around 5 hours of daylight; by the solstice, that falls to roughly 4 hours, before beginning a very gradual increase again through the final days of the month.
December 1 and December 31 do not have the same daylight, and this guide will not treat them as though they do — always check real sunrise/sunset times for your actual travel dates. Twilight extends usable light a little further at both ends of the day, genuinely useful for city sightseeing and photography, but it is not equivalent to full daylight for driving or an outdoor sightseeing stop, and this guide never treats it as such.
Sunrise
Roughly 10:45 early in the month, later than 11:20 around the solstice
Sunset
Roughly 15:45 early in the month, earlier than 15:30 around the solstice
Hours of light
Falls to around 4 hours at the winter solstice, Iceland's shortest day of the year
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early December | ~10:45 | ~15:45 | ~5h |
| Winter Solstice (~Dec 21) | ~11:20 | ~15:30 | ~4h |
| Late December | ~11:15 | ~15:40 | ~4h15m |
Sunrise and sunset times vary by region — Reykjavík, the South Coast and North Iceland don't share an identical clock — but the month-long pattern of bottoming out around the solstice applies nationwide.
The Winter Solstice in Iceland
The winter solstice falls around December 21 each year and marks Iceland's shortest daylight period of the entire year — the single biggest planning factor in this whole guide.
Daylight begins increasing again, very gradually, immediately after the solstice — by the final days of December the change is barely noticeable day to day, but the turn has genuinely happened.
Planning Around Short Daylight
Morning
- A later start is genuinely normal in December — sunrise itself doesn't arrive until well into what would be a normal morning elsewhere
- Don't plan an early-morning outdoor sightseeing stop before real daylight has actually arrived
Afternoon
- Midday is the only reliably lit part of the day, and it's a genuinely short one — plan your single most important outdoor stop for this window
- Build in more weather buffer than November required — conditions change fast this time of year
Evening
- Darkness falls by mid-afternoon in December, which means a genuine, unhurried Aurora check fits naturally into an early evening, without staying up especially late
- Late-afternoon darkness should shape dinner and any evening activity planning, not a summer-style schedule
December itineraries should be built around a genuinely short sightseeing day from the start — this is Iceland's shortest-daylight month, and no itinerary in this guide will treat it otherwise.
Photography and December Light
- Low sun angles (where the sun appears at all) suit dramatic winter light throughout the brief daylight window
- A genuine golden-hour-like quality can last much of the short day near the solstice
- Long, dark evenings open up real, extended Aurora photography potential most nights
Photography plans should adapt to the actual daylight window for your travel dates — full Photography guidance arrives in a later part of this guide.
Northern Lights in Iceland in December
December is genuinely one of the strongest months in this guide's coverage for the Northern Lights — this is Iceland's darkest month, with the year's longest nights giving real, extended viewing windows most evenings.
But darkness alone is never enough. A sighting depends on the combination of real darkness, clear sky gaps, and sufficient solar/geomagnetic activity — all three need to align on the same night, and none of them can be guaranteed in advance, in December or any other month. A strong geomagnetic forecast is not useful if the sky is fully clouded over at your specific location.
There is no fixed nightly Aurora schedule — this guide will not publish one. December's long darkness provides a genuinely broad opportunity window across the evening and into the night, but actual activity and cloud cover on your specific night determine whether anything is visible, not a fixed appearance time.
You do not necessarily need to drive hours from Reykjavík to have a real chance — moving even a short distance away from the brightest city-centre lights meaningfully improves visibility, and darker countryside locations improve it further still. Þingvellir, the South Coast and genuinely rural hotel areas are all realistic conceptual options. No single named place guarantees a sighting, and this guide will never encourage driving into deteriorating weather conditions just to escape city lights — road safety always takes priority.
Use AuroraVision's live forecast and current cloud cover before heading out on any given night — a genuinely clear forecast for your specific location is far more useful than the mere fact that it's December.
🌌 See the Northern Lights
Track real-time aurora activity and plan your Northern Lights trip with AuroraVision.
1. Check
Aurora activity and current cloud cover for your actual location.
2. Decide
Whether conditions genuinely justify going out — a clear-but-cold night is more useful than a strong forecast under full cloud.
3. Act
Choose a safe, dark, legal location or a guided tour — never a live road lane or unsafe shoulder.
Aurora Photography — the Basics
Aurora Viewing Safety
Never chase the Northern Lights by:
Where to Look for the Northern Lights
None of the locations below are guaranteed Aurora spots — seeing the lights depends on genuine darkness, gaps in cloud cover, and enough solar activity, all checked live rather than assumed from a location's reputation.
Reykjavík outskirts
Convenient for travellers without a car, though city light pollution is a real factor close in.
Þingvellir
Genuinely dark, with legal parking areas and a wide, unobstructed sky view.
Reykjanes Peninsula
Close to Reykjavík and Keflavík, useful if you don't want a long drive after dark.
South Coast
Dark skies well away from Reykjavík, with real foreground interest for photography.
Rural hotel areas
Many countryside hotels sit well away from city light pollution — a practical option on a genuinely cold December night.
North Iceland
Genuinely dark once away from Akureyri, though the region is fully winter by December — check current road conditions before any drive.
Recommended
Guided Northern Lights Tours
Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour with Pro Aurora Photos Small Group
Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos
Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Free Photos & Hot Chocolate
Northern Lights 4x4 Tour with Pastries and Cocoa from Reykjavik
Things to Do in December
A genuinely December-relevant introductory selection — deeper Weather, Glaciers, Ice Caves, Best Places and Best Things sections all arrive in later parts of this guide.
Recommended
Popular December Experiences
3-Day Ice Cave, South Coast, Golden Circle and Northern Lights
Golden Circle & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik
Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik
Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour
4-Day Iceland: Golden Circle, South Coast, Volcano Hike & Northern Lights
Iceland from Reykjavik: Golden Circle Tour with Local Surprise
Start Planning My December Trip
Build a route around your real dates, the shortest daylight of the year and current conditions — full Driving and Highlands guidance arrives in a later part.
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