5 Days in Iceland: Ultimate Iceland Winter Itinerary

If you’re looking for the ultimate Iceland winter itinerary, you’ve come to the right place!

Exploring Iceland during the winter offers a very unique experience. As snow blankets the Icelandic landscape and the dance of the Northern Lights takes center stage in the Arctic sky, there’s no better time to embark on an otherworldly Iceland winter road trip.

In this Iceland winter itinerary, I cover exactly how to spend 5 days in Iceland during the winter time. You’ll spend time exploring the capital city of Reykjavík and learning about Icelandic culture, plus venture out to the South Coast to see waterfalls, an ice cave, and a black sand beach! Oh, and of course, you’ll hunt for the legendary Aurora Borealis!

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. Get ready to bundle up and embark on an unforgettable journey as you adventure through this ultimate Iceland Winter Itinerary!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you click an affiliate link or book through an affiliate program, I receive a small commission at no cost to you! 

How to Spend 5 Perfect Days in Iceland: Ultimate Iceland Winter Itinerary for First-timers

Getting to Iceland

If you are traveling to Iceland from another country, you’ll need to fly into Keflavík International Airport, which is located about 45 minutes outside of Reykjavik.

Many major airlines fly into Iceland, including Icelandair, jetBlue, Fly Play, 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!

Driving During Winter in Iceland

Before arriving in Iceland, you’ll need to decide if you want to take on this Iceland Winter Itinerary in a rental car or through tours. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of both options!

Renting a Car in Iceland During Winter

Of course, many people are concerned about driving in Iceland during winter, and for good reason! Iceland is known for its extreme weather, at all times of year! During the winter, Iceland can see intense wind, snowstorms, hail, sleet, and everything in between.

If you don’t have any winter driving experience and the thought of unpleasant conditions makes you anxious, you may want to skip renting a car during your winter road trip to Iceland. However, for those with some experience, it is totally doable!

We rented a car and were lucky enough to have bad weather only one of the days. We encountered some wild wind and mild snow, but we took it slow, and it was fine!

If you decide to drive, I highly recommend getting an SUV, which will be better equipped to handle winter weather. You can also opt for a 4×4 if you feel comfortable with that!

Obviously, driving allows you to have way more flexibility in your schedule and itinerary! For example, on our first day, we decided to get out of the cold and just go for drive. It also allowed us to stay in an Igloo hotel outside the city on our last night (more on that later)!

Relying on Tours During Winter

If you don’t rent a car, you’ll have to rely on organized tours during your trip. For those not a fan of driving in winter weather, this is a great option. You can rely on an experienced local to face the Icelandic weather, kick back, and relax!

Although you won’t have to drive, you will be subject to whatever schedule the tours set for you. In addition, this will probably make your trip more expensive, as these tours add up quickly, and rental cars aren’t that expensive in the winter!

Here’s a quick analysis I did to compare costs between the two for our trip!

Based on the above, it was actually cheaper for us to rent a car! However, choose whichever option you feel most comfortable with!

What to Pack for Winter in Iceland

I am working on a full blog post about what to pack for a winter trip to Iceland. However, here is a quick list to help you prepare in the meantime!

• 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)

Day 1: Sky Lagoon & Food Tour

Experience the Luxurious Sky Lagoon

Now that we’ve covered all the details about preparing for your trip, let’s get into this Iceland winter itinerary!

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.

After dropping your bags off at your hotel, 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.

P.S. If you need a recommendation for a place to stay in Reykjavik, I highly recommend Hotel Von!

While Blue Lagoon is a family-friendly tourist attraction, Sky Lagoon boasts a more serene, relaxing 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 recommend making a reservation before your trip so you have a guaranteed spot!

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

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. Take a shower or a nap if needed, as you’ll need your energy for this evening!

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!

Day 2: Explore Reykjavik & Northern Lights Hunting

Wander through Museums, Churches, and More

On the second day of this Iceland winter itinerary, you’ll spend most of the day exploring downtown Reykjavik. There’s tons to do in this tiny capital city, including plenty of places to get out of the cold!

To start your morning, go for a drive around town and head towards the Grótta Island Lighthouse. The lighthouse is located on the outskirts of Reykjavik. If it’s not too cold, it’s a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy nature.

After visiting the lighthouse, head to the National Museum of Iceland to learn more about Icelandic history, culture, religion, and more! The museum is located right outside the city center next to the University of Iceland. Opening hours are from 10am to 5pm daily, and it costs ~$18 for an adult ticket.

By now, you’ve probably worked up an appetite. Head back into the city center and grab lunch at Reykjavik Chips. This place has incredible fish and chips with tons of yummy sauces!

After lunch, spend the afternoon walking around downtown Reykjavik. I highly recommend checking out the Hallgrímskirkja, a stunning, Lutheran church that towers over the city. You can even take an elevator to the bell tower at the top for incredible views of Reykjavik.

Don’t forget to also check out the famous Rainbow Street and do some shopping!

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.

I’m working on a full guide about hunting the Northern Lights in Iceland; however, rest assured, booking a tour with a local will give you your best chance at seeing them! Most tours leave between 8:30pm and 9:30pm, with pick up and drop off right in downtown Reykjavik!

I recommend booking 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!

Day 3: Experience the Golden Circle

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

If you do rent a car, you can start in either direction, but here is what I recommend!

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 Gulfoss Waterfall
3:00pm: Leave Gulfoss 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! If you didn’t see the Northern Lights on your tour last night, use tonight to try again.

Day 4: Ice Cave Tour and Black Sand Beach

On the 4th day of this Iceland winter itinerary, 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! 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!

After your tour, have lunch at the incredible Suður-Vík right up the road. I recommend the reindeer burger!

In the afternoon, make your way down to the famous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. The most iconic black sand beach in Iceland, Reynisfjara has stunning basalt columns that look like something straight out of Game of Thrones!

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 Igloos. This is the perfect spot to watch the Northern Lights if they make an appearance!

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 by exploring the two famous South Coast waterfalls: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.

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).

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!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there is plenty to do when visiting Iceland during the winter, and this winter Iceland itinerary just cracks the surface of what this remarkable country has to offer! If you have more time, I highly recommend checking out the famous Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach!

Whether you’re visiting to hunt the Northern Lights or see the incredible Icelandic landscapes dusted in snow, Iceland in winter is a great idea! Make sure to try plenty of Icelandic food, embrace the Viking culture, and relish the frosty, snowglobe vibes.

Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!