New Year’s tours in Iceland

Yes, Iceland is a fantastic place to spend New Year’s! Icelanders take the celebrations seriously, so you’re bound to have a night to remember.

At this time of year, the country is still in its icy winter costume. Picture icicle-lined waterfalls and snow-capped mountains. And with the longer hours of darkness winter provides, you’ll be able to chase down the Northern Lights.

Most Icelanders kick off the festivities at around 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. This is the more formal part of the evening, where people visit family and friends for dinner.

Afterwards, it’s traditional to go to a bonfire in the local neighborhood. Wander the streets of Reykjavík at this time of night and you’ll feel the magic starting to build.

Now it’s time for the party to properly start! You’ll see plenty of locals out and about in town, so why not join in? Sip on sparkling wine at your hotel as the big moment draws near.

At midnight, the fireworks begin. You’ll find it hard to miss the displays around Reykjavík. And with that, New Year’s Day arrives and the next year begins!

Read this blog to learn more about the New Year’s festivities in Iceland.

In Reykjavík, Iceland’s capital, the main New Year’s firework show is in the old harbor area. People gather near the Harpa concert hall in the city center to watch the gigantic display.

Towns and villages across Iceland also have their own local firework shows. This means that wherever you are, you’ll get to experience the New Year’s magic!

Apart from the celebrations, there’s plenty you can do in Iceland around New Year’s. Here’s just some of what you could get up to:

• See the Gullfoss waterfall and Strokkur geyser on a Golden Circle tour
• Relax in the warm, soothing waters of geothermal spas like the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon
• Spot frosted waterfalls on Iceland’s south coast
• Marvel at glistening glaciers in Vatnajökull National Park
• Watch icebergs floating on Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
• Roam the site of Iceland’s Viking-era parliament at Þingvellir
• Wander a black sand beach studded with diamond-like chunks of ice
• Check out the cool cafés, bars, restaurants, and food halls of downtown Reykjavík
• Join a Northern Lights hunting excursion in the countryside
• Add exciting activities like a super jeep glacier tour

Want even more inspiration for your trip? Check out these Iceland winter must-sees and must-dos. And get the low-down on Iceland's unusual traditions and customs.

It’s possible to see the Northern Lights at any time during winter if the conditions are right, including New Year’s! If you go to a firework show on New Year’s Eve though, they might get in the way.

To see the Northern Lights, you need dark nights, clear skies, and high solar activity. December and January offer the most hours of darkness, so there’s plenty of time for them to appear.

If you’re lucky enough to get a cloudless night, you may well spot the Northern Lights on your New Year’s trip to Iceland. In fact, some of these packages even include a special excursion for hunting them in the countryside.

Determined to see this natural marvel? Take a look at these Northern Lights tours in Iceland.

There’s no denying that Iceland is cold in the wintertime, but it’s probably not as chilly as you think. In December and January, the average temperature in Reykjavík is around 1°C (33°F).

At this time of year, it can be snowy, especially outside of urban areas. There can also be frost on the ground. But not to worry, main paths and roads are regularly cleared and gritted.

The main thing to be aware of is the wind. This shouldn’t be a problem if you come prepared though. Keep reading for some handy tips on what to bring!

For more info on what to expect, see this guide to Iceland’s weather and climate.

A short break of 4–6 days around New Year’s would give you enough time to enjoy the celebrations and see some of Iceland’s nature. You’d be able to join a guided group tour or multi-day tour by bus to get out of town.

If you want to see more of Iceland, you could extend your trip. With Iceland Tours, you can add extra nights in Reykjavík to the start or end of your package when you book online.

You can fill these up with a range of day tours, so you can see even more on your trip.

Feel like you need more time to explore the land of Fire and Ice? Check out all of our winter trips to Iceland and find the one for you.

Start by checking out the New Year’s tours above. Because of the public holidays at this time of year, they have fixed departure dates to make sure you can get the most out of your trip.

Once you’ve found the one for you, go ahead and book via the tour package page. You’ll be able to customize your trip with extra days and activities if you like.

Pay a 5% deposit or the full amount up front, it’s up to you. Then you’ll get a confirmation and we’ll be in touch with your travel documents closer to your trip date.

You can start browsing for flights online as soon as you know your travel dates. That said, it’s best to hold off booking until you’ve confirmed your trip arrangements with Iceland Tours.

So you can get the best price and most flexibility, we don’t include flights with our packages. It’s easy to find flights online though. Iceland is well connected with daily departures to hub airports in Europe and North America.

At New Year’s, you might be spending a little more time outdoors than you usually would in the middle of winter!

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to bring everything you’ll need to stay warm and comfy:

• Thick winter coat
• Waterproof outer layers
• Sweaters and fleeces
• Thermal socks and inner layers
• Wooly hat, scarf, and gloves
• Walking boots
• Swimsuit

A swimsuit is a must if you plan to go to the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, or local swimming pools. You might also want to bring a special outfit for the New Year’s festivities.

For more info on Iceland’s winter weather and what to bring with you, see this winter packing guide.