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Traveling to Iceland in winter isn’t for the faint at heart. While there are loads of reasons not to travel to Iceland in the winter (read them here), there are just as many to go too! After spending a week in Iceland in January, we’d argue it’s a great time to visit the country!
**Be sure to check out our video of Iceland at the end of this post.. that will give you some real life footage of what winter in Iceland is really like!
10 Reasons To Visit Iceland In The Winter
1. Off Season In Iceland In The Winter Means Cheaper Prices
With Iceland being one of the most expensive places to travel, getting there during the offseason grants for a bit of ease on the budget. Visiting Iceland in the winter means discounted tours, hotels, rental cars, entry to hot springs, and even on food too! Traveling during the off season is a great way to save a few bucks! You’ll still be spending way more than you think being in Iceland, but at least you can save a couple bucks here and there!
READ MORE | Why You Should Always Travel in The Offseason
2. Stunning Snow Covered Landscapes
The beauty of snow is unlike any other beauty around. It adds depth and texture to mountains and fields that would otherwise be hidden. And shoot, there’s so much romance found in the snow! Seeing snow covered hills, and icicles all around waterfalls is quite the sight to see!
3. Fewer People On The Road
Fewer people equals less traffic, which in turn means fewer cars in parking lots giving you the ability to actually park near whatever attraction you’re after. While winter driving conditions in Iceland are not always easy, the far fewer cars on the road make up for some of the tougher driving!
READ MORE | 12 Tips to Driving in Iceland
4. It’s A Photographer’s Paradise
Perfect lighting all the time. Fewer crowds of people. Icicles hanging from all sorts of places. Gorgeous colors reflecting off the snow. Sunrise/sunset moods in all the daylight hours. You get the picture. It’s a photographer’s happy place!
Traveler’s Tip… With the winter weather in Iceland typically being wet, we strongly suggest getting a travel umbrella to keep your camera gear protected while getting all your shots!
5. More Freedom Of Travel
With fewer people visiting Iceland in the winter, and the possibility of winter weather closing roads (making it not the best choice to book too far in advance), you really gain so much more freedom when traveling. You’re forced to really sit back and enjoy each area you visit, and don’t have to feel rushed to leave someplace because chances are, there will be availability nearly everywhere you go! While this may seem stressful to some, it’s a great way to experience travel!
6. There Will Be Fewer Tour Bus Loads Of People At Every Location
Notice how we didn’t say there will be no tour buses… we say fewer because you’re bound to have people flocking all the major sights to see. But at least if traveling to Iceland in December, January, or February, there will be fewer tour bus loads being herded around!
7. Amazing Lighting .. Like, All The Time
Lighting is crucial for good pictures, and we’ve yet to be somewhere other than Scotland with better light conditions than Iceland in the winter…when the sun does make an appearance ;). With the sun never fully rising you have 4-5 hours of sunset/sunrise lighting, making for some of the prettiest skies you’ll ever see! You won’t have much light, but when you do, it will be perfect!
8. Higher Chance Of Seeing The Northern Lights
While never guaranteed, visiting Iceland in the winter months ups your chances of seeing the Northern Lights. With the many hours of darkness and not much light pollution outside of Reykjavik, the Aurora Borealis is easier to see… if the weather is clear enough to spot it! While you may not get the chance to see the Northern Lights, the likelihood that you will is tenfold during the winter!
READ MORE | Check the Northern Lights “Schedule” Here
9. Warm Cozy Feel Everywhere You Go
Think fires blazing, warm cups of coffee, and snuggling under blankets anytime you enter a building! Winter weather in Iceland brings on a cozy feel unlike any other. And it’s funny, we’ve found that cozy feel brings in so much joy and happiness too!
Buddle up buttercup, and experience the wintertime in Iceland!
10. Witness The Best Sunsets You’ll Ever See
Literally the entire time there’s even a glimpse of light, it will look like a sunset! With purples, pinks, and oranges filling the sky AND reflecting off the snow, the sunsets in Iceland during the winter are sure to leave a lasting impression!
Reasons To Not Visit Iceland In The Winter
We’d be lying if we said visiting Iceland in the winter is a blissful holiday for all. Like any and all situations, there are downsides to visiting Iceland in the winter too. And yes, of course, we’ve written about them.
Check out these ten reasons NOT to visit Iceland in the winter, and see if you’re up for the adventure!
READ MORE | 10 Reasons NOT to Visit Iceland in the Winter
