Things to Do in Reykjavik in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Reykjavik
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Minimal daylight actually works in your favor - you're awake for nearly all 4-5 hours of it (roughly 11am-3:30pm), so you won't miss anything while sleeping. The twilight hours from 10am-4pm create this ethereal blue glow that photographers obsess over.
- Northern Lights season hits peak darkness in December, with 18-20 hours of night giving you multiple viewing windows. Clear nights happen about 40% of the time, and you can literally watch from downtown Reykjavik when solar activity cooperates - no tour required, though tours take you away from light pollution.
- Christmas season transforms the city into something genuinely cozy rather than touristy. Icelanders take their 13 Yule Lads folklore seriously, downtown gets proper festive lighting, and the smell of kleinur (twisted doughnuts) and hot chocolate fills the cafes. New Year's Eve is borderline chaotic with locals setting off massive fireworks from every neighborhood.
- Tourist numbers drop significantly after early December, meaning you'll actually get elbow room at Blue Lagoon, easier restaurant reservations, and locals treat you more like a curious visitor than part of a cruise ship horde. Hotel prices drop 20-30% compared to summer, except Christmas week.
Considerations
- The darkness is legitimately challenging if you're prone to seasonal mood issues. Four hours of weak daylight means you're essentially operating in twilight or darkness for 20 hours daily. Some people find it romantic for three days, then deeply oppressive by day five.
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable and can shut down plans without warning. That 37°F (3°C) high feels colder than it sounds because of wind and humidity - it's the kind of damp cold that works through layers. Roads to major attractions like Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon close regularly, and South Coast tours get cancelled 2-3 days per week.
- Daylight hours are so limited that you're essentially doing one major activity per day maximum. By the time you finish breakfast and get organized, it's 11am. Sunset starts around 3:30pm. This isn't a destination for packing in six activities daily - it's physically impossible.
Best Activities in December
Northern Lights hunting from Reykjavik area
December gives you 18-20 hours of darkness per night, which means multiple viewing windows rather than waiting until midnight. Solar activity tends to peak around the winter solstice, and you can actually see auroras from Reykjavik itself during strong displays - Grótta lighthouse and Seltjarnarnes peninsula are 15 minutes from downtown. That said, cloud cover happens about 60% of nights, so build in multiple attempts. The aurora forecast updates three times daily, and locals check it obsessively.
Golden Circle route in winter conditions
Þingvellir, Geysir, and Gullfoss are actually more dramatic in December when ice formations frame the waterfalls and snow covers the rift valley. Crowds drop to maybe 30% of summer levels, meaning you can actually stand at Gullfoss viewpoint without someone's selfie stick in your face. The catch is daylight - you need to start by 10am to see all three sites before dark. Roads are generally maintained well, but rent a 4x4 if driving yourself.
Geothermal pool hopping beyond Blue Lagoon
December is actually ideal for hot springs because that 29-37°F (-2 to 3°C) air temperature makes 100-104°F (38-40°C) water feel transcendent. Blue Lagoon is fine but costs 9,990-19,990 ISK and feels like a spa resort. Locals prefer Laugardalur public pool (1,050 ISK) with seven hot tubs at different temperatures, or drive 45 minutes to Reykjadalur valley where you hike 45 minutes through snow to a naturally heated river. Sky Lagoon opened in 2021 and offers ocean views with fewer crowds than Blue Lagoon.
South Coast waterfalls and black sand beaches
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are genuinely more photogenic in winter with ice formations, and Reynisfjara black sand beach gets dramatic storm waves in December. The problem is weather - this route closes 2-3 days per week due to wind or ice, and the 2.5-hour drive from Reykjavik is no joke in winter conditions. Tours get cancelled frequently but offer the safest option since guides know when to turn back.
Ice cave tours in Vatnajökull glacier
December through March is the ONLY time natural ice caves are accessible, and they're legitimately one of Iceland's most surreal experiences - electric blue ice formations inside glaciers that exist for just one winter before melting. Tours leave from Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which is 4.5 hours from Reykjavik, so this is a full-day commitment or requires overnight in Höfn. Weather dependence is extreme - maybe 50% of December tours run as scheduled.
Reykjavik food halls and winter comfort food
December is peak season for Icelandic comfort food - lamb soup, fermented shark if you're brave, and Christmas buffets called Jólaborð featuring smoked lamb, rye bread, and ridiculous amounts of baked goods. Grandi Mathöll food hall near the harbor offers 8-10 vendors in one warm space, perfect for sampling without committing to full restaurant meals. The darkness actually makes cozy restaurant time more appealing than in summer when you feel guilty being indoors.
December Events & Festivals
13 Yule Lads visiting season
Icelandic Christmas folklore involves 13 troll-like characters who visit one per night from December 12-24, each with distinct personalities like Door Slammer and Spoon Licker. Kids leave shoes in windows to receive small gifts or rotting potatoes if they misbehaved. It sounds absurd but locals genuinely embrace it - you'll see Yule Lad decorations everywhere and special events at museums. Not a single-day festival but a cultural thing happening throughout the month.
New Year's Eve fireworks chaos
Icelanders spend roughly 1 billion ISK on fireworks for December 31, and it's not an official display - it's every single neighborhood launching massive explosives from their yards simultaneously from 11pm-1am. The smoke gets so thick you can barely see across streets. Perlan museum and Hallgrímskirkja church offer elevated viewpoints, but honestly just standing anywhere in Reykjavik works. Sales of fireworks fund Search and Rescue teams, so it's considered civic duty to blow stuff up.
Christmas markets and winter lights
Ingólfstorg square hosts a small Christmas market from late November through December 23 with local crafts, smoked lamb, and mulled wine. It's modest compared to European Christmas markets - maybe 15-20 vendors - but the vibe is genuinely local rather than tourist-focused. Laugavegur shopping street gets festive lighting that looks particularly good during the 20 hours of daily darkness.