What to know before your winter trip to Iceland

Iceland's winter transforms the landscape into a pristine, snow-covered wonderland, offering a unique and magical experience. However, navigating the country during this season requires careful planning and preparation. Here's what to be aware of and a few recommended items to bring for your winter trip to Iceland:

Weather, roads & daylight

The weather: Weather is always the main character in Iceland - especially during winter. That's when snowstorms, icy roads, whiteouts and rapidly changing conditions are common. Keep a close eye on weather forecasts at en.vedur.is (The Icelandic Meteorological Office) and try to be flexible with your itinerary, as conditions may dictate adjustments to your travel plans.

Road conditions: Roads can be challenging in winter, especially in more remote areas. Check the road conditions and closures at road.is and safetravel.is before heading out. Consider renting a 4x4 vehicle with studded winter tires for added safety, especially if you plan to venture off the main roads. Drive carefully!

Daylight (or a lack thereof): With limited daylight hours in winter, plan your activities accordingly. The sun rises late and sets early, providing a shorter window for exploration. But even though the sun is only visible for a few hours, the twilight time is incredible so make sure you enjoy that too!

The winter checklist

Layers: The best way to dress for winter is to wear a few layers (top and bottom) that you can then remove or add as you please (good base layers are life).

Crampons: Even just some small ones that you can easily put on and take off when needed.

Headlight: The shortest day of the year in Iceland has just over 4 hours of daylight so a headlight with brighten up your days.

Swimsuit and flip flops: Iceland is far from being a tropical island but you have so many options of hot pools (public and natural) that you’re not gonna want to miss.

Walking pole: Depends on what you want to do but for any winter hikes it’s always a good idea to bring at least one or two walking poles.

Sunglasses: The sun is always super low during winter, doing its best to blind you when you're driving, so bring your favourite sunglasses.

Hot tip

Winter time isn't only problematic, it's also one of the most magical seasons to experience Iceland with the northern lights, snow-covered landscapes and frozen waterfalls. There's also one thing that's hard to beat on a beautiful winter day - a natural hot spring! Even the standard swimming pools that you'll find in any town across the country is worth the small fee to warm yourself in. You'll find my favourite ones in the guide.

By staying informed, dressing appropriately, and embracing the enchanting winter atmosphere, you'll create unforgettable memories during your Icelandic winter adventure. Now put on your headlight, get in your swimsuit, put your crampons on your flip flops and get over here!