5 Days in Iceland: Our Dreamy Iceland Winter Itinerary!

I’ll never forget when my husband looked over at me and said: I want to see the Northern Lights next year. Within a few days, I had our Iceland winter trip planned!

Exploring Iceland during the winter offers a very different experience than the other seasons! As snow blankets famous landmarks and the Northern Lights dance across the Arctic sky, you feel like you’ve been transported to another planet.

My husband and I spent 5 magical days in Iceland in February, and the whole trip felt like a snowy dream!

With this guide, you’ll get to explore the capital city of Reykjavík and learn about Icelandic culture, plus venture out to the South Coast to see waterfalls, an ice cave, and a black sand beach! And of course, see the legendary Northern Lights and maybe even sleep under the stars like we did.

Although you may not be able to drive the entire Ring Road, there is plenty in Iceland to keep you busy for 5 days during winter! This is the perfect itinerary for first-time visitors to Iceland who want to experience all this country has to offer in winter.

Itinerary Overview and Map of Iceland

While this Iceland itinerary is geared towards winter, you could use it as a base for any time of year (besides the Northern Lights tour). However, the logistics may change depending on your preferences and the exact month you are visiting.

We personally visited Iceland in February, which meant we only had around 8-10 hours of daylight per day. This is something to keep in mind when visiting Iceland in winter and deciding how you schedule your days!

Days 1 and 2 are based in Reykjavik, so you don’t need a car for the beginning of the trip (we still rented one).

For Days 3–5 we drove ourselves, but if you’d rather not drive in winter, you can swap in a Golden Circle tour and the Katla Ice Cave tour from Reykjavik instead (more on renting a car vs. taking tours below).

Below is a quick overview of how we spent our 5 days in Iceland, including links to where we stayed and what tours we booked (all booked in advance!!).

And before exploring a new country, I always like to make sure I have a feel for the layout and where everything is!

So, I created a custom Google Map of Iceland for you that shows everything mentioned on this itinerary to make your life easier!

In addition to the map, you’ll get a printable PDF version of this 5-day itinerary to reference before your trip.

Just drop your email below for both the map and the itinerary!

Driving & Logistics for a Winter Trip to Iceland

Before arriving in Iceland, you’ll need to decide how you want to experience Iceland in winter. By that I mean, where are you going to stay and are you going to rent a car?

This itinerary includes exploring from Reykjavik up through the town of Vik on the South Coast.

We personally stayed in Reykjavik for 3 nights and then stayed in an igloo hotel on our last night in Hella (an hour from both Reykjavik and Via). This was the perfect balance for us instead of changing hotels every night.

You could also choose to stay in Vik or anywhere along the South Coast!

We did a mix of self-exploring and tours, depending on the activity. Because of this, we decided we wanted the freedom of a rental car for the entirety of our trip.

I highly recommend booking your car through DiscoverCars.com. They compare pricing across multiple companies so you get the best rate, and they have a great cancellation policy too! We were able to get a rental car for 5 days for less than $200!

However, some people decide to skip the rental car altogether and just rely on tours to avoid driving in winter due to intense road conditions in Iceland.

🚗 For more details on the pros and cons of renting a car vs doing tours, make sure to check out my guide on Renting a Car in Iceland in Winter! 🚗

Other people skip both the hotels and rental cars and see Iceland by camper van. However, if you are going to do this in the winter, I highly recommend the van has a heating system and snow tires!

Getting to Iceland

To get to Iceland, you’ll be flying into Keflavík International Airport (KEF).

Many major airlines fly into Iceland, including Icelandair, jetBlue, Alaska Airlines, Delta, KLM, Air France, Lufthansa. British Airways, and more!

We actually took a direct flight from Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Icelandair, which was awesome!

Flights from the east coast of the USA typically take between 5 and 7 hours. The cost will vary depending on the time of year, but you can definitely find flights for less than $1000, maybe even $500 during the winter!

✈️ Before you decide how to get around Iceland, make sure the bigger trip logistics are locked in. Flights, travel insurance, accommodation, money — my Passport to Confidence guide is a $7 step-by-step planning roadmap covering every decision from 6 months out to departure day. Download it instantly!

Day 1: Arrival, Sky Lagoon & Food Tour

Early Morning: Arrival into Iceland

This itinerary assumes you arrive first thing in the morning on your first day. If you don’t, feel free to adjust your schedule as necessary.

My husband and I took an overnight, direct flight from Orlando and arrived around 7am into Keflavík Airport!

If you decided to book a car for your trip, the easiest place to pick it up is from the airport! However, keep in mind that some rental car companies will require you to take a free shuttle to their pick up location outside the airport. We had to do this, but it wasn’t a big deal!

For those not renting a car, I recommend booking private transportation to the hotel ahead of time, especially if you are arriving first thing in the morning like us. This way, you don’t have to worry about finding a taxi and can just get into your comfy ride straight to your hotel.

There are also shared bus transfers from the airport to Reykjavik that are much cheaper than the private options, but you may have to walk a bit in the cold to your hotel once you arrive.

If you need a recommendation for a place to stay in Reykjavik, here are my top picks:
Hotel Von ($$): Where we stayed! Perfect location, reasonably priced, comfy beds
Canopy by Hilton ($$$): Heart of Reykjavik, large and modern rooms, on-site restaurant
Tower Suites Reykjavik ($$$$): Luxury hotel with panoramic, sky high views of Reykjavik

Late Morning: Experience the Luxurious Sky Lagoon

After dropping your bags off at your hotel, it’s time to head straight to the Sky Lagoon!

Never heard of it? Sky Lagoon opened in 2021 and rivals the famous Blue Lagoon for popularity! It’s also only 15 minutes away from downtown Reykjavik (whereas the Blue Lagoon is 45 minutes away).

While Blue Lagoon is a family-friendly tourist attraction, Sky Lagoon boasts a more serene, relaxing adults-only experience. It’s famous for its 7-step ritual that takes you through a hot spring, a cold plunge, a sauna, a steam room, and more!

Plus, there’s a swim-up bar, a waterfall, and an infinity pool! It is truly luxurious, and the perfect place to visit after a long plane ride.

I honestly forgot about being jet-lagged because I was so relaxed here, especially after having a cocktail and soaking for over an hour in their heated hot spring pool.

I recommend making a reservation before your trip so you have a guaranteed spot! The tickets to Sky Lagoon are timed-entry, so if you want a morning slot before the crowds arrive, book early.

If you decided not to rent a car, you can book this ticket option that includes a transfer from Reykjavik!

We loved visiting the Sky Lagoon in winter, even though it was freezing outside.The temperature of the hot spring stays around 38 to 40ºC (100 to 104ºF), so you definitely won’t be cold!

When we visited, there was a low fog hanging over the pool, which made it feel like we were in an episode of Game of Thrones (IYKYK).

You can only do the full 7-step ritual once during your visit, but you have unlimited access to the hot spring and bar before and after, with no time limit!

If this doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, Blue Lagoon is also a great, classic choice!

P.S. The best time slots for Sky Lagoon sell out in advance! Book your Sky Lagoon tickets here to secure your spot! ❄️

Afternoon & Evening: Eat Your Way through Reykjavik

After you finish up at Sky Lagoon, make your way back to your hotel in Reykjavik and check into your room. (We took a quick power nap since we barely slept on our flight over).

To start your first night in Iceland, you’ll be partaking in the iconic Reykjavik Food Walk. Rated the #1 thing to do in Reykjavik, this food tour with Wake Up Reykjavik is the perfect way to learn about Icelandic culture!

You’ll be paired up with a local guide who will take you to 4-5 restaurants and food stalls around Reykjavik. During the tour, you will get to try a variety of local specialties, including Arctic char and the famous Icelandic hot dog!

We loved hearing stories about Iceland from our tour guide who grew up in Reykjavik! It was the perfect introduction to Iceland for our first evening.

And while most of the food was delicious, you’ll also get to sample some interesting Icelandic specialities, like fermented shark and very strong liquor!

Day 2: Explore Reykjavik & Northern Lights Hunting

Afternoon: Lunch and Shopping in Reykjavik

After exploring the museum, head back into the city center and grab some lunch. I highlyyy recommend Reykjavik Chips – this place had incredible fish and chips with tons of yummy sauces! We had to talk ourselves out of going back a second time!!

Next spend the afternoon walking around downtown Reykjavik. One of the most popular spots to visit is Hallgrímskirkja, a stunning, Lutheran church that towers over the city. You really can’t miss it! It’s just a few blocks from Reykjavik Chips.

While the inside of the church is beautiful, the real highlight is riding the elevator to the top! From the bell tower, you’ll get incredible, 360º views of downtown Reykjavik and beyond. The cost is 1400 ISK (around $11) and well worth it!

Once you’ve finished at the church, head down Skólavörðustígur street, which runs right down the center of the church. After a few blocks, you’ll see the most famous portion of this street, which is appropriately named Rainbow Street!

A small portion of the street was painted with a rainbow in 2015 to celebrate Pride, and the city of Reykjavik decided to keep it! It’s now one of the most photographed spots in Reykjavik, as the street is perfectly framed with the church looming in the background.

Along Skólavörðustígur street, you’ll find plenty of local spots to explore and do some shopping, especially if you’re interested in hand-knitted wool sweaters and Icelandic volcanic salt.

Evening: Hunt for the Northern Lights

Alright, you’ve waited long enough! Tonight, you will go hunting for the famous Aurora Borealis, aka the Northern Lights! This is a must-do on any Iceland winter itinerary.

If this is your first time in Iceland, I highly recommend booking a Northern Lights tour. On a guided tour, you’ll learn all about the Lights from a local who will know the best spots, how to read the forecast, etc.

We booked this Super Jeep Tour with Arctic Adventures, which was epic! It’s a small group tour, and the Super Jeep allows you to go off-roading where the large buses can’t venture.

MY TOP PICK

Northern Lights Super Jeep Tour with Arctic Adventures

• Price: Starting at $200 per person
• Duration: 4 hours
• Rating: 4.2/5 stars ⭐
• Includes: Hot chocolate, blankets, photos, and more!

book it here!

Most tours leave between 8:30pm and 9:30pm, with pick up and drop off right in downtown Reykjavik!

Make sure to book a tour that has a “No Lights Guarantee”, so if you don’t see the lights, you can re-book the next night for free (which we had to do!!).

As a side note, I recommend booking a Northern Lights tour even if you have your own car! Why?

First, tour guides in Iceland know all the best spots to see the Lights and are professionals at reading the aurora forecast information.

In addition, most tours have several buses or trucks that go out each night to slightly different spots, and the drivers communicate with each other during the trip. So, if one group sees the Lights, the tour guides can let each other know! 

If you drive yourself, you’ll miss out on all of these perks, plus you’ll have to deal with winter weather and driving in the darkness, which does not sound fun!

For more tips on seeing the Northern Lights and which tour to choose, make sure to check out my complete guide on Iceland Northern Lights Tours!

Day 3: Golden Circle + Fridheimar Lunch

Your third day in Iceland will be action-packed, as you’ll be conquering the famous Golden Circle!

The Golden Circle is a 190-mile driving route that covers 3 of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions: Thingvellir National Park, Geysir Hot Spring, and Gullfoss Waterfall.

There are plenty of tour groups that conquer the Golden Circle from Reykjavik, so if you didn’t rent a car, no worries!

Here’s a quick overview of each spot! Or, you can check out my detailed guide on Exploring the Golden Circle In Winter for a complete breakdown of our day and what to expect!

• Thingvellir National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Thingvellir National Park is one of the only places in the world where you can see tectonic plates pulling apart. Within the park, there’s tons of gorgeous hiking trails, waterfalls, and more! Things get a little frosty in the winter, so crampons are recommended if you want to explore further. You can also snorkel or scuba dive between tectonic plates in the Silfra fissure here!!
• Geysir Hot Springs: Located in the geothermal area of Haukadalur Valley, this is a great place to stop along the Golden Circle, although there isn’t a ton to do here. This is actually where the name “Geysir” comes from! There are a few different hot springs and thermal baths in the area, but the most famous one that erupts is Strokkur.
• Gullfoss Waterfall: Gullfoss is extremely impressive, even in the winter! Gullfoss translates to Golden Falls and is very important to the Icelandic people and a protected natural site. We loved seeing it half frozen!
• Fridheimar (BONUS): The three spots above make up the traditional Golden Circle route; however, you must add a stop at Fridheimar Tomato Farm to your itinerary! This tomato farm and restaurant lets you dine inside a greenhouse among the tomato plants while eating unlimited tomato soup. Sounds like heaven, right?!

If you do rent a car, you can start in either direction, but here is the general itinerary I recommend you follow!

9:00am: Leave Reykjavik
10:00am: Arrive at Thingvellir National Park
12:00pm: Leave Thingvellir National Park
1:00pm: Arrive at Fridheimar Tomato Farm for lunch
2:00pm: Leave Tomato Farm
2:30pm: Arrive at Gullfoss Waterfall
3:00pm: Leave Gullfoss Waterfall
3:15pm: Arrive at Geysir Hot Springs
4:00pm: Leave Geysir and head back to Reykjavik
5:30pm: Arrive back at Reykjavik

Once you arrive back in Reykjavik, grab dinner at La Primavera Ristorante for delicious Italian food with an Icelandic twist!

Then, if you didn’t see the Northern Lights on your tour last night, use tonight to try again (this is what we had to do!)

Day 4: Ice Cave Tour and Black Sand Beach

Morning: Katla Ice Cave Glacier Tour

On your last full day in Iceland, you’ll be checking out of your Reykjavik hotel and making your way to the South Coast! (If you don’t have a rental car, you can stay in Reykjavik and conquer the last two days through organized tours).

You’ll want to get an early start out of Reykjavik and make your way towards Vik, a picturesque village on the south coast of Iceland!

From here, you will be embarking on an Ice Cave Tour, one of the top things to do in Iceland in winter!

This tour with Arctic Adventures takes you to the incredible Katla Ice Cave, which is inside a glacier on top of the Katla Volcano! How cool is that?! Katla is one of the only ice cave tours that are available year round.

You’ll gear up with a helmet and crampons before hiking up the glacier and wandering through natural ice caves. The beautiful blue and black ice walls will take your breath away!

This tour was quite possibly one of the coolest things we’ve ever done!! It felt like we were marching North of the Wall in Westeros, which unsurprisingly was filmed nearby!

And as we started hiking up the glacier, it started snowing heavily, which just added to the magic.

The structure in the photo above (the giant hole) is actually a natural opening that grew larger and larger thanks to the wind and has since collapsed.

However, different formations are constantly evolving, and this tour is still worth doing, as you get to walk through and under real ice caves and drink fresh glacier water. How cool is that?!

❄️ Read my full review of this Katla Ice Cave tour here for more information on what to expect! ❄️

Evening: Check Into Igloo Hotel

Tonight, you can stay right in Vik for convenience, or make your way to the town of Hella for a truly iconic glamping experience at the Aurora Igloo Hotel!!

We absolutely loved our stay in this Iceland igloo! It may have been my favorite part of the trip.

Each igloo has a heated bed, space heaters, a small table, and that’s about it! The restrooms and showers are located about 100 feet away in a heated standalone structure. However, they now have igloos with their own connected bathroom!

While these igloos feel super isolated, they are right off the main road, so you don’t have to worry about your safety.

They all face northward as well, so this is the perfect spot to watch the Northern Lights if they make an appearance! We actually woke up to the Lights from our igloo – so magical!

Read my full review of staying in the Aurora Igloo Hotel here! 🌌

Day 5: South Coast Waterfalls and Fly Home

Today is the last day of this epic 5 day Iceland winter itinerary 🙁

If your flight isn’t until the evening, I recommend making the most of your time like we did by exploring the two famous South Coast waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss before heading back to Reykjavik.

Or, you can squeeze these into Day 4 if you have to fly out earlier in the day.

If you stayed the night in Vik, both of these waterfalls are on your way back to the airport! We stayed in Hella, which meant backtracking a bit, but we didn’t mind!

Both Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are absolutely stunning, even in winter! I do recommend crampons if you want to explore around the waterfalls, as the pathways can get a bit icy. However, we did not have them and fared ok!

Skógafoss is completely free to visit, while you do have to pay for parking at Seljalandsfoss (less than $10 USD).

These waterfalls are both worth the visit as they are actually quite different. While they are around the same height, Skógafoss is wider and has more water passing through it, so it’s a bit more impressive in person!

Skógafoss also has a ladder along the side of the cliff that you can walk up to get an aerial view. In the winter, however, these stairs get very slippery, so crampons are recommended.

Seljalandsfoss, on the other hand, has stairs that lead to the cave behind the waterfall that you can typically walk through. When we visited, however, this pathway was closed due to the snow.

Seljalandsfoss also has a bit more to do around it than Skógafoss. There is a long walking path that takes you past some smaller waterfalls, over little wooden bridges, and more!

Once you’re done exploring the waterfalls, it’s time to make your way to the airport! Make sure to give yourself plenty of time for the drive and to fill up your gas tank before dropping off your rental car!

Bonus Activities

If you have more time during your winter Iceland trip, here are some other activities to consider adding to your itinerary.

We unfortunately didn’t have time to see these two spots, but they would be the perfect addition to this itinerary if you don’t fly out until Day 6!

Glacier Lagoon: The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a very popular place to visit in Iceland in both winter and summer! Within the lagoon are large icebergs that are truly a sight to see, especially if they have wildlife floating on them! The Lagoon is still accessible during the winter and is about 2 hours north of Vik. You can also take zodiac boat tours through the Glacier itself!

Diamond Beach: Just beyond the bridge of the Glacier Lagoon is Diamond Beach. The beach is named after the chunks of icebergs that wash up on the black volcanic sands that look like large diamonds! It’s particularly beautiful during sunrise or sunset in the golden light.

What to Pack for Winter in Iceland

Packing for Iceland in winter was probably the most stressful packing I’ve ever done, since I am a Florida girl!

While you might look at the temperatures in Iceland and think they aren’t that bad, think again! The wind in Iceland makes it feel much colder than what the thermostat might read.

If you have been skiing or to winter destinations before, your packing list won’t look much different. Below is a summary, or you can check out my detailed Iceland Winter Packing List here!

• Thermal base layer (preferably wool!)
• Warm mid-layer (sweaters, fleece jacket, etc)
• Windproof snow pants
• Outer layer/shell jacket (preferably long like this one!)
• Snow boots (make sure they will keep your feet warm!)
• Thick, wool socks
• Gloves, scarf, beanie, and a neck warmer!
• Crampons (optional)
• Hand warmers (like Hothands)

Shop my Iceland Winter Essentials here!

Final Thoughts

There are few places in the world that I think are as magical as Iceland in the winter, and after reading this itinerary, I hope you see why!

Where else can you hunt for the Northern Lights, sleep in a glass igloo, explore ice caves, and chase frozen waterfalls, all within 1-2 hours of drive time?

And please don’t skip exploring Reykjavik, learning about Viking culture, and of course, trying some Icelandic food!

I definitely want to visit Iceland in the summer too, but I am so glad we got this winter experience.

➡️ Next up, I recommend reading my One Day Reykjavik Itinerary to get started with planning the details of the first leg of this adventure.

Read More Iceland Blog Posts Below! ⬇️🇮🇸❄️
Visiting Iceland In February: Everything To Know!
13 Incredible Things to Do in Iceland in the Winter!
Ultimate 5 Day Iceland Winter Itinerary
Renting A Car In Iceland In Winter: Is It Worth It?
The Only Iceland Winter Packing List You Need!
How To Spend One Epic Day In Reykjavik
A Guide To Exploring Iceland’s Golden Circle In Winter
Is an Iceland Northern Lights Tour Worth It? Things to Know!
The Most Magical Stay at an Iceland Igloo Hotel!
An Epic Glacier Hike To The Katla Ice Cave In Iceland

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