Iceland in December at a glance
December is the darkest month. In Reykjavík the sun rises at 10:45 and sets at 15:47 on 1 December, which gives 5 hours and 1 minute of daylight. On 15 December it rises at 11:16 and sets at 15:29, leaving 4 hours and 12 minutes. Typical lows are below freezing in both Reykjavík and Akureyri, and Reykjavík gets the most rain of the year, about 95 mm on average.
A December trip is short on light and long on atmosphere. You get dark skies for the northern lights, snow-covered waterfalls when the weather allows, and far fewer visitors than in summer. What you give up is flexibility. Drives must finish by dusk, and many services run on holiday hours.
December weather and daylight
Typical averages for 1991–2020, rounded. They describe two weather stations, not the whole country.
| Station | Typical daily high | Typical daily low | Typical rain in the month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík (south-west) | 3 °C (37 °F) | −2 °C (28 °F) | about 95 mm |
| Akureyri (north) | 3 °C (37 °F) | −4 °C (25 °F) | about 73 mm |
| Reykjavík, 2026 | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 December | 10:45 | 15:47 | 5 h 1 min |
| 15 December | 11:16 | 15:29 | 4 h 12 min |
Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset, and twilight adds a little at each end. Reykjavík and Akureyri have similar typical highs, but the north is colder at night. Pack thermal layers, waterproof outer layers, a hat and gloves. See weather by month for the full year.
Our picks for December
Northern lights by bus or boat and an ice cave tour at Jökulsárlón.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Ice cave tour on Vatnajökull from Jökulsárlón
A local glacier guide, a 4x4 vehicle, helmet and spikes. Depending on safety conditions you visit an ice cave or a blue ice formation; hotel transfer, food and drinks are extra.
Check availability →
Northern lights cruise from the old harbor
A two-hour yacht trip with Wi-Fi, blankets and seasickness tablets. Drinks and souvenirs are extra, hotel pickup comes only with the matching option, and a sighting is not guaranteed.
Check availability →
Northern lights bus tour with hot cocoa
A guide, transport, hot cocoa and photo stops, with a free repeat if no lights show. It runs in the winter months and depends on the weather, so a sighting is not guaranteed.
Check availability →Tours and day trips in December
Northern lights tours, Golden Circle and South Coast days, glacier hikes and Silfra snorkeling, with live prices and availability.
Holiday opening hours
Opening hours around 24 to 26 December and 31 December differ from place to place. Ask each business, and book dinner and tours early.
| Place | What is published |
|---|---|
| Hallgrímskirkja (2026 plan) | Closed for visits on 24 and 25 December. 31 December open 10:00–12:00. Closed on 1 January 2027. Services are separate. |
| Þingvellir visitor center | 24 December 9:00–12:00, 25 December 10:00–15:00, 26 to 30 December 9:00–17:00, 31 December 9:00–15:00, 1 January 9:00–16:00 |
| Blue Lagoon | Christmas Eve 8:00–16:00, New Year's Eve 8:00–18:00. Regular hours 8:00–22:00 until 31 December. |
The Þingvellir and Blue Lagoon times are published regular times without a year, so confirm them for your dates. The Blue Lagoon needs pre-booking, and a volcanic or weather disruption can change opening. Also check the bus timetable for the holidays before you rely on public transport.
What works in December, and what does not
Short days, dark skies and cold water.
Northern lights
The nights are as long as they get. You need a dark and at least partly clear sky, and no tour or forecast can promise a sighting. A tour that does not see the lights may offer a repeat ticket instead of an automatic refund, so read the terms. Use the cloud map and the 0 to 9 activity scale from the Icelandic Met Office.
Golden Circle in winter
The route is about 250 km from Reykjavík and runs all year. In ice and snow the lower viewing paths at Gullfoss can be closed, and at Geysir you should keep to the marked paths. With sunrise near 11:00 and sunset near 15:30, start early and do not rely on a tight schedule. See the Golden Circle guide.
Silfra snorkeling
Silfra at Þingvellir is offered all year. The water is 2 to 4 °C, you need cold-water equipment, you never go in alone, and qualification and a health check apply for diving. The maximum dive depth is 18 m.
Not available
Normal summer access to the highlands is not available in winter, and Landmannalaugar is a summer destination. Ice cave trips are offered by operators with their own season, and no cave is guaranteed.
Driving, crowds and costs
The quietest month on the airport count, with a few cautions.
| Foreign departures at Keflavík, rounded | August 2025 | November 2025 | December 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| People counted | 313,000 | 142,000 | 120,000 |
December 2025 had the lowest count of the year, and hotel room occupancy was below 50 percent nationwide. That does not prove the lowest hotel prices or quiet Christmas days. See cheapest time to visit for how fees and seasons work.
SafeTravel warns of ice, snow, wind and little daylight. Four-wheel drive does not prevent sliding, and the car must carry equipment that fits your route. The studded tire season in Reykjavík runs from 1 November. The Ring Road can close at short notice, so check the road status and weather warnings every morning. A yellow warning means potentially dangerous weather, orange means major possible effects on traffic and infrastructure, and red means extreme danger. The road conditions page explains this in detail.
A distance fee of 6.95 ISK per km applies to cars up to 3.5 tonnes since 1 January 2026, and the new Ring Road section at Hornafjörður charges 1,500 ISK per passage. The airport bus Flybus starts at 3,999 ISK one way and takes about 45 minutes. A lodging tax of 800 ISK per accommodation unit and night applies at hotels and guesthouses.
Next to read
The months on either side, the season and the topics that matter most in December.
Iceland in November
Short days, a festival in Reykjavík and the first real winter driving.
Iceland in January
The days start to grow again, and the cold stays.
Iceland in winter
Darkness, ice and what a winter trip needs.
Northern lights
What a good night needs and how to plan for clouds.
Blue Lagoon and other lagoons
Opening hours, prices and how to book.
Iceland in December: common questions
How much daylight is there in December?
In Reykjavík about 5 hours and 1 minute on 1 December and about 4 hours and 12 minutes on 15 December, from sunrise to sunset.
Is December a good time for the northern lights?
The nights are long, so you have many dark hours. You still need a clear sky, and no night is guaranteed.
Is Iceland open on Christmas Day?
Some places are, with shorter hours, and some are not. Hallgrímskirkja is closed for visits on 24 and 25 December 2026. Þingvellir publishes 25 December hours of 10:00 to 15:00 for its visitor center. Ask each business for your date.
Is December cheaper than summer?
There are fewer visitors, and hotel occupancy was under 50 percent in December 2025. That does not prove a lower price. Compare your own quotes.
Can I drive the Ring Road in December?
It is not a guaranteed loop. Snow, ice, strong wind and short-notice closures can change your route. Check road status daily, use winter equipment and keep a spare day.