FACT: I like nothing (AND I MEAN NOTHING) about cold weather! I am a bikini wearing, warm sun toasting my skin with a cocktail in my hand type of woman, OK?! Temperatures like 0, -1 or honestly anything below 70° degrees is just TOO cold for me!
Enjoying much WARMER temps!
When I got the "bright idea" to visit Iceland during the winter (January to be exact), I even had to ask myself, "Kenya...are you out of your mind?!"
Yes! The answer is YES! (LOL)!
The capital and the largest city in Iceland is Reykjavík. I did a lot of research on visiting Reykjavík during the winter. I read several blogs, watched YouTubes but nothing could prepare me for what I experienced when I touched down on 'the land of fire & ice'! The main reason for visiting during the winter is a chance to see the Northern Lights!
Iceland is a great place to visit for experienced travelers, solo travelers, and families! My 1st trip to Iceland was with my brother to celebrate his FLIRTY THIRTY (30th birthday), but I could totally see myself making an EPIC solo trip out of Iceland in the future!
Let's get into the details for visiting Iceland in January!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
❄️ Entering Iceland: Since COVID, things have been turned upside down in the travel world (ugh)! Before planning your trip, visit the websites below for essential travel information for entry into Iceland:
1. Check the entry requirements for entering Iceland on Island.is.
2. Pre-register for your trip to Iceland on Visit.Covid.is.
3. Need a COVID test to enter your home country? Iceland offers free, same-day COVID test! Visit TestCovid.is for more info!
❄️ Language: Icelandic is the main language of Iceland, but English is widely spoken in the tourist areas.
❄️ Currency: The currency in Iceland is the Icelandic króna. Debit/credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere in Reykjavík, so there is no need to carry cash.
❄️ Plugs: For Iceland there are 2 associated plug types, C and F. Iceland operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz. Don't forget your universal converter!
❄️ Costs: Whew! One thing I was NOT ready for is how expensive Iceland is! Food, snacks, drinks = EXPENSIVE! The cost of alcohol is outrageous! Make sure to buy your spirits at the duty-free shops on arrival at Keflavík International Airport!
GETTING TO ICELAND
You can reach Iceland by ferry and by air. Flying of course is the fastest way to get to Iceland. All international flights land at Keflavík International Airport (airport code: KEF) which is about 31 mi (50 km) from Reykjavik. We booked our flights from the U.S. on Icelandair. Flights will be more expensive during peak season, June-August. Prices are usually at the lowest from September-March.
*Travel tip from the U.S.A: Look for flights to Iceland from New York & Boston. They tend to be much cheaper!
GETTING AROUND ICELAND
Navigating Iceland is fairly easy! Public transportation (bus, ferry & plane) are great ways to get around without a car.
If you're looking to save on lodging + a rental car, look into a campervan on Campervan Iceland. This is a GREAT way to explore the island!
We decided to rent a car for our trip. There are plenty of car rental companies to choose from (Hertz, Avis & Budget). After much research, I went with Lotus Car Rental. They were excellent! Our automatic compact car came with basic insurance and unlimited mileage. I used a promo code (absoluticeland) for a 5% discount as well! Our rental car total came to $235.00 for 7 days!
*Rental car tip: Most cars in Iceland are manual cars. Be sure to book an automatic car in advance.
Driving in Iceland in the winter can be difficult due to the weather and road closures! Check out Road.is for info on the road conditions ahead of time.
Map of Iceland! cc: Scott Jessop
FUNNY STORY REAL QUICK! We landed in Iceland around 6:30 A.M. When the rental car rep picked us up from KEF airport, I noticed that it was still pitch-black DARK outside! I think you know by now that I am a person that LIVES for the sun, and I was impatiently waiting for it to rise! I asked the rep what time would that be? He gave me a puzzled look and said, "There is not much sun in Iceland during this time. You will see the sun around 11 A.M."
This is how DARK it is in Iceland @ 9 A.M. in January! WOW!
Y’all, I damn near fainted at the rental car counter! I was in a place that only had sunlight for 4-5 hours a day during winter! I didn't know what to do! (LOL)! We got in the car and drove 55 minutes to our hotel in Reykjavík in PURE DARKNESS. It was a bit scary to be honest, but we made it! (LOL)!
WHERE TO STAY
IN ICELAND
Since my brother & I are Diamond members with the Hilton hotel chain, we decided to check out ALL the Hilton properties in Reykjavík! Hilton offers 3 amazing hotels in central Reykjavík. Here's a quick recap of each property:
Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre
Our 1st night's stay was at the Canopy, and we fell in love! This hotel is PERFECT if you don't plan on renting a car in Reykjavík, but still want to be near all the action! Canopy is just steps away from the shopping and nightlife of Laugavegur Street and Reykjavík city center.
While at Canopy, my brother and I stayed in the Twin Premium Room. The room was quaint with amazingly comfortable beds (seriously, I didn't want to get out of that bed - O M G)!
We dined at the hotel for the evening taking advantage of the Happy Hour and dinner specials at Geiri Smart restaurant! The food & cocktails are delicious!
The only downside to Canopy is that there is no parking. If you are driving, you'll have to use the parking garage adjacent to the hotel. Parking is about $30 a night. But if you're lucky, you can find street parking for free. Next up is:
Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection
by Hilton
The 2nd night we hopped over to the Konsulat hotel which was only 7 minutes from Canopy! The Konsulat is a boutique hotel that was once a department store in the 1900’s which still keeps its historical decor!
For being a Diamond member with Hilton Honors, we were upgraded to the Konsulat Suite which was AH-MAZING! The suite has a corner location with floor-to-ceiling windows, separate living room & private bathroom. Oh, let me say something quickly about the bathtub in this suite - it's HUGE with enough space to fit 3 people probably! I LOVED IT!
The restaurant on site here is amazing as well! The Konsulat also offers a great Happy Hour and delicious dinner options.
The vibe at this hotel is super laid back (which didn't bother me at all)! But if you want a little more action, the Canopy would be the hotel to stay at for sure!
Also, there is no parking at the Konsulat. You will have to use the parking garage near the hotel which runs about $30 a night.
The next 4 nights, we stayed at the Hilton Nordica!
Hilton Reykjavík Nordica
The Hilton Nordica is located just a few minute’s drive to Reykjavík's popular attractions, restaurants & bars! The vibe at this hotel is tailored towards business travelers! It's a huge hotel with over 200 rooms, an amazing spa, and great areas to relax and lounge in.
For our stay here we were upgraded to the Hilton Executive Twin Room on the 8th floor which gave us access to the hotel’s executive lounge! The room was clean, quaint and had amazing views of Reykjavík. However, I did enjoy our previous rooms at Canopy & Konsulat a little more. They had such a cool flair to them.
My brother & I loved dining at the VOX restaurant here. The food & cocktails were mouthwatering!
Good news! If you're renting a car, there is plenty of parking available here and it's FREE! Heeeeeey! (I hate spending $$ on parking)!
RESTAURANTS + BARS + NIGHTCLUBS IN REYKJAVIK
Reykjavík is most definitely the crown jewel of nightlife! You'll also find a plethora of cool restaurants and bars in this city too! We got to hang out a few cool restaurants, bars and even a little nightlife! Let's check it out:
*Click on the name to be directed to their website*
RESTAURANTS
Geiri Smart | Konsulat Hotel | VOX Brassiere Bar
BARS
The Reykjavík EDITION | Mals og mennigar | Jungle Cocktail Bar
NIGHTLIFE
Now that we've had a bite to eat, sipped on a delicious cocktail and danced the night away in Reykjavík, it's time for adventure!
THINGS TO DO IN ICELAND IN THE WINTER
❄️ Take a dip in a geothermal pool
Did you know that there are 17 geothermal pools in the greater Reykjavík area alone?! During my 1st visit to Iceland, I got the chance to check out 2 of them!
❄️ Sky Lagoon Iceland | Where the sea meets the sky!
This geothermal pool is located just 4.3 miles south of downtown Reykjavík. Sky Lagoon offers 3 different packages to choose from with prices starting at $45 for a day pass! *Prices are subject to change*
Sky Lagoon is so much FUN!
The Lagoon is approximately 38–40°C (100–104° F) which feels amazing during the winter! If that's not enough to entice you, the scenery alone will do the trick! Sky Lagoon gives 'Game of Throne' vibes, and I was here for it! You'll enjoy a swim up bar (there's a 3-drink limit), with a waterfall in an infinity pool setting. This place is a WHOLE VIBE!
Next up, Blue Lagoon!
❄️ Blue Lagoon Iceland | Home to one of 25 wonders of the world!
This geothermal pool is perhaps the most popular amongst visitors to Iceland! Some even call it a "tourists trap". But I had to check this place out for myself!
....it is indeed a tourist trap, but I loved it! (LOL)!
Blue Lagoon is great to visit on your 1st day or the last day of your vacation in Iceland. It is located 20 minutes from Keflavík Airport. We decided to hang out there on our last day before heading to the airport.
Day passes at Blue Lagoon start off at $53 depending on when you visit! *Prices are subject to change* My tip for visiting would be to do it early in the morning before it gets crowded.
Personally, I had a GREAT time at Blue Lagoon! The black lava rocks surrounding the lagoon are breathtaking! The mineral-rich & milky turquoise water felt AH-MAZING (the temperature of the water is around 98-104°F). And after 4 glasses of Prosecco, I was feeling AWESOME (LOL)! Using the face masks provided by Blue Lagoon was great too! Your skin will feel amazing afterwards!
❄️ Explore Laugavegur Street &
Reykjavík City Center
If you are ready to shop, grab a bite to eat, sip a cocktail or just simply hang out - Laugavegur Street is the place to do it!
While you're enjoying the sights, be sure to check out Hallgrímskirkja!
❄️ Road trip on Ring Road + Catch the
Northern Lights
Without a doubt, taking a road trip along Iceland's Ring Road (or Route 1) which circles the ENTIRE country is BUCKET LIST WORTHY! Ring Road runs a whopping 828 miles, so you know the scenery along this route is otherworldly!
Take a look at some of the popular spots to take in along Ring Road:
Skógafoss waterfall | Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck |
These are just a few of the wonders you'll experience along Ring Road! Be sure to check out 'Guide to Iceland' for more info!
❄️ THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
Seeing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) is on the TOP of a lot of travelers' lists! January is a great time to catch this astronomical phenomenon because the sky is so much darker around this time of year! The best place to see them in Iceland is Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon which is a 5-hour drive from Reykjavík!
If you're not up for the drive, a great place to spot the Northern Lights in Reykjavík is Grótta Island Lighthouse! It's just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Reykjavík!
*Tip: To better your chances of catching the Northern Lights, use apps like 'Hello Aurora' & 'Aurora' for updates on the best places to see them!
❄️ Golden Circle + Glacier Snowmobile Tour
The Golden Circle is a 186-mile (300 km) route to the 3 most popular natural attractions in Iceland: The Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss waterfall & Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir National Park)!
As you can imagine, a drive like that can be a bit frightening for a person not used to driving in snow, so we purchased an 11-hour tour with Reykjavík Sightseeing to explore these places! I absolutely recommend this tour! We had such a great time! Check out the breakdown of the tour now:
- 1st stop: Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir National Park). We arrived at 9 A.M. and it was still VERY dark outside which was confusing to me! I'm thinking to myself, "How the hell are we supposed to see anything"?! The tour guide motioned for us to follow her. We did. This lady now had us between what looked like a huge pile of rocks IN. THE. DARK! We clearly trusted this stranger!
When we turned the flash on our phones on, we were met with some of the most UNREAL scenery! We were at the Eurasian/North American Tectonic Plate Rift!! It is the only place in the world where you can see these two tectonic plates and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge above ground!! Crazy, right?! Although we were FREEZING (the temp was -1) it was worth this experience!
- 2nd stop: Geysir Geothermal Area was next! Every few minutes, this geysir is supposed to sprout water upwards of 100 ft.! I waited around in the freezing cold (remember, it's -1) for SEVERAL minutes to experience this, but sadly nothing happened. I had to retreat to the Geysir Center to "defrost". The geysir area is beautiful nonetheless!
- 3rd stop: The stop after the Geysir was Gullfoss waterfall! Gullfoss (translated to ‘Golden Falls’) is 1 of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found in the Hvítá river canyon in Southwest Iceland! Gullfoss is simply STUNNING in the winter! It reminded me so much of Niagara Falls!
The waterfall was of course covered in snow which made it more amazing, but I for sure would like to see this powerful waterfall in the spring/summertime!
Gullfoss waterfall in January is very BEAUTIFUL (and cold)!
- 4th stop: The last stop on this tour was my FAVORITE - snowmobiling for 1 hour! This was my very 1st time snowmobiling, so I was stoked about this experience! It turned out to be exactly what I had hoped! Iceland is the PERFECT place for this activity of course!
We arrived in an oversized Jeep with MASSIVE snow tires to what felt like the middle of nowhere! When we stepped out of the Jeep, we were literally surrounded by miles and miles and MILES of beautiful snow!
Bláskógabyggð truly is a WINTER WONDERLAND!
The guides suited us up in snowsuits, helmets, and gloves and after a quick briefing, we were on our snowmobiles ready to go! The snowmobiles seat 2 people and after about 30 minutes of riding, you can switch off drivers!
We zipped around on the snowmobile in the freezing cold admiring the mounds of snow around us! The mixture of snow/ice was hitting our face at a rapid pace so be sure to keep the visor on your helmet down!
When it was my turn to drive, I don't know if I got a little too excited (or maybe I just can't drive LOL), but I flipped myself, my brother, and our snowmobile over! But not to worry, we were perfectly OK! The guide assisted us with flipping the snowmobile and we were back on our way!
After the tour was over, we hopped back on the Jeep and headed back towards our meeting spot in Reykjavík! It was a long day (11 hours), but it was incredibly FUN!
There are plenty of activities that'll keep you busy in Iceland for sure, but just be mindful that in the winter, some of your exploration may be limited due to the weather!
GENERAL TIPS FOR VISITING ICELAND
❄️ The weather in January is very temperamental! It could be sunny one minute and a snowstorm the next! PACK ALL YOUR WINTER GEAR! Warm coats, gloves, thermals, sweaters, hiking boots, etc.! You're going to need it! I even purchased insulated bibs from Amazon which came in handy on the snowmobiling tour!
❄️ Here's something to keep in mind: Daylight in January in Iceland lasts for about 4-6 hours! The sun rises around 10:30 A.M. and the sun sets at around 4:30 P.M. Other than that, it is DARK! That really shocked me when I arrived in Iceland! It took me some days to get used to this (LOL)! This was very cool to experience though!
Cool aerial shot of Iceland courtesy of Airbus Space!
❄️ Iceland is very environmentally conscious, and they encourage people to recycle and reuse. Bring a reusable water bottle with you as the tap water is safe to drink here!
❄️ While out dining on my 1st night in Iceland, I left a tip on our bill. Our server kindly let us know that tipping is not customary in Iceland. Note that some of the restaurants/bars will include gratuity!
❄️ Safety in Iceland: As a solo traveler, I ALWAYS research crime in the countries I travel to. Iceland was no different. It was reassuring to know that Iceland is considered by many as one of the safest countries in the world to live in or visit. Not once did I feel unsafe while exploring this island.
I ♥️ Iceland!
This was my 1st visit to Iceland, but I see that I'll have to make several more trips back to fully explore this amazing island in its entirety! But on this visit, my brother & I took some incredible pictures, vibed with some super cool Icelanders, and made some dope memories! Did I also mention that Iceland made country #20 for me?! (Heeeeeeeeey)!
Until next time, Iceland!
