Stay in Reykjavik in January
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January in Reykjavik means darkness. On New Year's Day, the sun appears after 11:00 and sinks before 16:00, leaving fewer than 5 hours of pale, low-angled daylight. By the 31st that window stretches closer to 7 hours, but the light still feels thin, filtered through clouds on more than half the month's days. Wind off Faxaflói bay sharpens the cold well beyond what the thermometer reads, and you feel it in your teeth the moment you step out of Keflavík airport.
That darkness is what pulls a certain kind of traveler to Reykjavik in deep winter. The prolonged night creates prime conditions for the northern lights, which appear from the western edge of Seltjarnarnes when skies cooperate. Mid-January also opens Þorrablót season, Iceland's midwinter feast tradition, when restaurants across Miðborg serve fermented shark and singed sheep's head to tables of Icelanders who have been doing this since the 19th century. The city's geothermal pools stay at 38-40°C (100-104°F) no matter what the sky is doing.
To be fair, January will test your patience. Road conditions south of Reykjavik deteriorate without warning, and tour operators cancel Golden Circle and South Coast trips on short notice. Sidewalks across the city turn to ice sheets after dark. But if you can sit with the quiet, if 16 hours of daylight is not your requirement, this is the month when Reykjavik's tourist veneer is gone. The pools in Laugardalur stay open until 22:00, and the aurora can appear any time after 16:00.
Why visit in January
- Northern lights are visible on clear nights from within the city, with the longest daily darkness of any month improving odds over the shoulder season in September or March
- Þorrablót season begins mid-January, the one window when traditional Icelandic midwinter food appears on menus at restaurants that otherwise cater to summer visitors
- Hotel and guesthouse rates typically run 30-40% below the June-August peak, making one of northern Europe's priciest capitals more approachable
- Geothermal pools are at their most atmospheric when snow falls into the steam and the sky is already dark by late afternoon
Worth knowing
- Rain or sleet falls on more than half the month's days, often arriving as sideways sleet driven by North Atlantic winds reaching 80-100 km/h (50-62 mph)
- Day tours to the Golden Circle, Snæfellsnes, and the South Coast face frequent weather cancellations, sometimes two or three days running
- Many smaller restaurants and shops outside the 101 district keep reduced winter hours or close entirely until April
- Limited daylight constrains outdoor sightseeing to a narrow midday window, particularly in the first two weeks of January
Best for
Think twice if
January brings Reykjavik's coldest nights and one of its wettest stretches. The average high sits at 1.4°C (35°F) and the average low at -3.2°C (26°F), but steady wind off the North Atlantic routinely pushes the felt temperature 5-8 degrees lower. Precipitation totals 166mm across roughly 18 days, falling as rain near sea level and as snow at higher elevations around Esja. Humidity averages 77%. Overcast skies dominate, though clear spells arrive without much warning and rarely last more than a day or two.
Seasonal caution
- Sustained winds above 60 km/h (37 mph) hit Reykjavik several times each January, occasionally reaching 90-100 km/h (56-62 mph). The Icelandic Met Office (Veðurstofa) issues orange and red alerts. Car doors can rip off hinges in the worst gusts, and walking along the harbour becomes genuinely dangerous.
- Black ice coats sidewalks across Vesturbær, Hlíðar, and Miðborg after freeze-thaw cycles, particularly on unlit residential streets after dark. Locals wear studded ice grippers from November through March for good reason.
- Blizzard conditions (hvíða) can reduce visibility to near zero on highways outside the capital area within 15 minutes. The road.is website updates conditions hourly and should be checked before any drive beyond Reykjavik's suburban ring.
Year-round climate
Averages from the last 5 years.
| Month | Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | -3 | 166 |
| Feb | 3 | -2 | 162 |
| Mar | 4 | -1 | 146 |
| Apr | 7 | 1 | 118 |
| May | 9 | 4 | 132 |
| Jun | 11 | 7 | 106 |
| Jul | 13 | 9 | 87 |
| Aug | 13 | 9 | 124 |
| Sep | 10 | 6 | 146 |
| Oct | 6 | 2 | 147 |
| Nov | 4 | 0 | 121 |
| Dec | 2 | -3 | 129 |
Holidays and festivals in January
Public holidays
- New Year's Day(Nýársdagur)1 January 2027
Headline events
Þorrablót (Midwinter Feast Season)
Starts on Bóndadagur (the Friday falling between January 19-25), runs through mid-February
Iceland's traditional midwinter celebration, rooted in the Old Norse month of Þorri. Restaurants and community halls across Reykjavik host Þorrablót feasts serving þorramatur, a spread of preserved meats, fermented fish, and cured delicacies that Icelanders have eaten through the darkest months for centuries. The season opens on Bóndadagur, the first day of Þorri, and runs through mid-February. Icelanders treat this as a genuine cultural gathering, not a tourist performance.
Best things to do in January
Northern lights viewing from Grótta lighthouse
natureThe western tip of Seltjarnarnes peninsula, about 3 km from central Reykjavik, offers minimal light pollution and an unobstructed northern horizon. On clear nights the aurora can appear as early as 16:30 and persist past midnight. The walk from BSÍ bus terminal takes about 40 minutes, or you can drive and park at the nature reserve lot.
January's 17-19 hours of darkness per day create the widest nightly window for aurora visibility of any month, and the low tourist numbers mean fewer headlights at Grótta spoiling long-exposure shots.Booking tipNo booking needed for self-guided viewing. Guided tours book up fast when a clear forecast appears, so reserve 2-3 days ahead with a flexible cancellation option.
Geothermal pool circuit
wellnessReykjavik operates 7 public geothermal swimming pools heated by the city's hot water supply. Sundhöllin, the oldest pool in the city (opened 1937), sits in central Miðborg with a rooftop hot pot and a view toward Hallgrímskirkja's spire. Laugardalslaug in the Laugardalur valley is the largest, with a 50-metre outdoor lap pool, multiple hot pots at different temperatures, and a steam room.
The contrast between heated water and January's freezing air, with snow falling and the sky already dark, is a sensory experience unique to winter. Summer crowds thin entirely by this month.Booking tipCity pools require no booking and operate on a walk-in basis. Sky Lagoon on the Kársnes peninsula does require advance weekend reservations.
Ice cave exploration at Vatnajökull
adventureNatural ice caves inside Europe's largest glacier open for guided tours from November through March. The caves form each autumn as meltwater carves tunnels, and each year's formations are different. The ice glows deep blue when headlamp light passes through it. Tours depart from Jökulsárlón, roughly 5 hours by car from Reykjavik, or you can fly to Höfn and drive 1 hour.
January's sustained freezing temperatures stabilize the cave structures, reducing collapse risk. By March the warming cycle begins and access narrows.Booking tipBook at least 2 weeks in advance. Operators cap groups at 12-15 people and sell out across the entire month.
Snorkeling Silfra fissure at Þingvellir
adventureThe Silfra fissure in Þingvellir National Park offers visibility exceeding 100 metres in glacial meltwater that stays at a constant 2°C (36°F) year-round. You float between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates in a dry suit. The entire snorkel takes about 30-40 minutes.
Fewer visitors mean smaller group sizes, sometimes 4-6 people compared to 12-15 in summer. The surrounding lava field is snow-covered and the low sun angle creates different light effects in the water.Booking tipDry suit tours run daily even in January but depend on road conditions to Þingvellir. Book with a flexible cancellation policy.
Dark Music Days (Myrkir Músíkdagar) at Harpa
cultureIceland's contemporary music festival runs for 4-5 days in late January, hosted primarily at Harpa Concert Hall on the Reykjavik waterfront. The programme spans new Icelandic compositions, experimental electronic sets, and chamber music performed in Harpa's glass-walled halls while harbour lights reflect off the water outside. Emerging Icelandic composers premiere work alongside established names. The festival has run continuously since 1980.
The festival is staged specifically to counter January's darkness. It does not occur in any other month, and the programme changes entirely each year.Booking tipIndividual concert tickets go on sale about 3 weeks before the festival. A multi-concert pass offers better value if you plan to attend 3 or more performances.
Museum day at Perlan and the National Museum
culturePerlan, the dome-shaped museum on Öskjuhlíð hill (opened 1991), houses a planetarium, an indoor ice cave exhibit, and simulated northern lights displays. The National Museum of Iceland, founded in 1863, covers the settlement era through modern independence with Viking-age artefacts and medieval manuscripts. Both are reachable by bus from Hlemmur terminal.
Indoor cultural sites become the practical backbone of a January itinerary when daylight is scarce. Both museums see significantly lower attendance than in summer, meaning you can take your time with exhibits.Booking tipNo advance booking needed for either museum in January. Perlan's planetarium shows have limited seating, so arrive by 10:00 for a morning slot.
Kolaportið flea market browsing
shoppingReykjavik's only flea market operates on weekends inside a harbourside warehouse near the Grandi district. Vendors sell used Icelandic wool sweaters (lopapeysa), vintage books, dried fish, and secondhand outdoor gear. The food section stocks fermented shark samples and harðfiskur strips.
January's cold makes outdoor markets impractical, but Kolaportið is fully indoors and heated. The winter off-season means fewer cruise ship visitors, so you browse comfortably rather than shoulder to shoulder.Booking tipOpen weekends only, typically 11:00-17:00. Arrive before 13:00 for the best selection of wool sweaters.
What to eat in January
On menus now
Kjötsúpa
Lamb and root-vegetable soup that Icelanders eat all winter, but January is when it appears on nearly every lunch counter in the city. The broth is thin and clear, built from lamb bones, with turnip, carrot, and dried herbs. Cafés along Laugavegur serve bowls with thick slices of rúgbrauð on the side.
Rúgbrauð
Dense, dark rye bread traditionally slow-baked underground using geothermal heat. In January the bread appears alongside nearly every soup and stew in the city, often spread with Icelandic butter and served warm. The texture is moist, almost cake-like, with a faint sweetness from the long bake.
Plokkfiskur
A mashed-fish-and-potato comfort dish that peaks in popularity during Iceland's coldest months. Salt cod or haddock is boiled, flaked, mixed with béchamel and mashed potato, then baked until the top browns. You will find it on weekday lunch specials at cafés in the Hlemmur area of Miðborg.
What to drink
Brennivín
Caraway-flavored spirit nicknamed Black Death by Icelanders, traditionally knocked back between bites of hákarl during the midwinter feasts. The combination sounds punishing, and it is. Available year-round, though January is when locals drink it with purpose rather than as a novelty for visitors.
Festival food
Þorramatur
The midwinter feast platter that defines the Þorrablót table. A wooden tray arrives loaded with hákarl (fermented Greenland shark with an ammonia bite that waters your eyes), svið (singed sheep's head, split in two), hangikjöt (birch-smoked lamb), slátur (blood pudding), and harðfiskur (wind-dried fish). Most restaurants in the 101 district offer a Þorrablót set menu during the season.
Regular events in January
Myrkir Músíkdagar (Dark Music Days)
Iceland's premier contemporary music festival, staged annually at Harpa Concert Hall and smaller Reykjavik venues. Programmes range from orchestral premieres to experimental electronic performances over 4-5 days.
Late January, typically the last full weekend plus 2-3 surrounding daysÞrettándinn (Twelfth Night)Free
The final evening of Iceland's extended 26-day Christmas season. Community bonfires are lit across Reykjavik's neighbourhoods, the 13th and final Yule Lad (jólasveinn) departs for the mountains, and some gatherings include fireworks. Families bring sparklers and thermoses.
January 6Bóndadagur (Husband's Day, First Day of Þorri)Free
The opening day of the Old Norse month of Þorri marks the traditional start of Þorrablót season. Icelandic women give gifts to their male partners, and many restaurants launch their midwinter feast menus on this date.
The Friday falling between January 19-25Best places this January
Hallgrímskirkja
landmarkReykjavik's landmark church, completed in 1986 after 41 years of construction, stands 74.5 metres tall on the crest of Skólavörðuholt. The tower observation deck offers a 360-degree view of the city, the harbour, and Mount Esja to the north. In January, the view at the edges of daylight, when the horizon glows orange for an hour without the sun fully rising, is unlike any other month.
MiðborgHarpa Concert Hall
cultural venueThe glass-and-steel concert hall on the Old Harbour waterfront hosts the Dark Music Days festival in late January. Even outside festival nights, the Ólafur Elíasson-designed facade catches whatever ambient light exists, and the interior lobbies are warm, free to enter, and offer harbour views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
MiðborgHöfði House
historic siteThe building, dating to 1909, where Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev held their 1986 summit sits on the Borgartún waterfront. There is no interior access, but the exterior and the small shoreline park beside it are worth a 15-minute stop, especially when aurora appears over the bay behind the house.
LaugardalurLaugavegur and Skólavörðustígur
neighbourhood walkReykjavik's main commercial streets run through the 101 district and stay lively even in January's reduced hours. Coffee shops keep earlier closing times (around 18:00 on weekdays) but offer warm refuge between outdoor walks. The streets are decorated with fairy lights through most of January.
MiðborgGrótta lighthouse and nature reserve
natureThe lighthouse at the tip of Seltjarnarnes, accessible by a tidal causeway, sits on one of the best spots near central Reykjavik for northern lights viewing. The nature reserve surrounding it is quiet in January, with no nesting-season restrictions. Dress for full wind exposure on the walk out.
SeltjarnarnesWhales of Iceland exhibition
museumA large exhibition hall in the Grandi harbour district displaying 23 life-size whale models, including a 25-metre blue whale replica. It is the kind of indoor attraction that earns its place in January, when outdoor whale watching tours from the harbour face frequent cancellations due to sea conditions.
Grandi
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Insider tips
The Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast page (vedur.is) is more reliable than any tour operator's prediction. Check the cloud-cover map at 17:00 each evening. If a clear window appears northwest of Reykjavik, drive 15 minutes to Grótta rather than paying for a bus tour to the same spot.
Sundhöllin pool has a rooftop hot pot that most visitors miss because the entrance is not obvious from the street. Ask at the front desk. It might be the most atmospheric soak in the city, with a direct sightline to Hallgrímskirkja.
Kolaportið flea market's food hall sells hákarl and harðfiskur samples at a fraction of what tourist shops on Laugavegur charge. If you want to try fermented shark without committing to a full Þorrablót dinner, this is where locals point visiting friends.
Bus route 11 from Hlemmur to Seltjarnarnes runs every 30 minutes and drops you within a 10-minute walk of Grótta lighthouse. It is the cheapest route to the best nearby aurora spot. The last return bus departs around 23:00.
When the wind rises above 50 km/h (31 mph), skip the harbour walk and head to Perlan instead. The observation deck is enclosed, the planetarium runs hourly shows, and the café has the same panoramic view without the hypothermia risk.
Avoid these mistakes
- Booking a rental car without full gravel and wind insurance. January storms drive sand and ice into paint and windshields, and a single cracked windshield claim without coverage can exceed the entire rental cost. Every major rental company offers this add-on at the counter.
- Scheduling outdoor activities on consecutive days with no indoor backup plan. Weather cancellations are normal in January. If you stack a glacier hike on Monday, a horse ride on Tuesday, and a snorkel on Wednesday, two of the three might evaporate. Build flexible indoor days between outdoor bookings.
- Driving Route 1 beyond Borgarnes in January without checking road.is first. Road conditions change by the hour, and sections in the north and east close entirely during storms. Travelers from milder climates underestimate how fast Icelandic weather shifts from drivable to dangerous.
- Packing only a heavy parka without windproof layers underneath. The challenge in Reykjavik is not the absolute cold, it is wind penetration. A puffy jacket that lacks a windproof membrane will let 70 km/h gusts straight through.
Practical tips for January
Book Golden Circle and South Coast tours with operators that offer free rebooking on weather cancellations, since January sees cancellation rates of roughly 30-40% of scheduled departures. Keflavík airport sits 50 km (31 miles) from Reykjavik. The Flybus and Airport Direct shuttles run on fixed schedules year-round, but budget extra time for the drive if conditions on Reykjanesbraut are poor. Most Reykjavik restaurants close by 22:00 on weeknights in January, earlier than the summer hours that guidebooks list. The Strætó public bus system operates reduced weekend schedules. Alcohol is sold only at Vínbúðin state stores, which close at 18:00 on weekdays and 14:00 on Saturdays, with no Sunday hours. If you plan to drink at your guesthouse, buy ahead. Tipping is not customary in Iceland, as service is included. Credit cards work everywhere, including buses and market stalls. The króna (ISK) fluctuates, so load a currency app rather than exchanging cash at the airport. Pack a travel adapter for Iceland's Type C and F outlets (standard European round-pin). Daylight hours are precious. Plan outdoor walks and photography for the 11:00-15:00 window and save museums and pools for the dark hours.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit Reykjavik?
It depends on what you came for. If you want northern lights, midwinter Þorrablót feasts, and geothermal pools in snowfall, January delivers those better than any summer month. If you need long daylight for hiking, reliable whale watching, or a road trip around the island, January is a poor choice. The city is quiet, prices are lower than summer, and the pools are blissfully uncrowded. But you need to be comfortable with cold, dark, and plans that change on short notice when the wind picks up.
What is the weather like in Reykjavik in January?
Cold, wet, and windy. Highs barely clear freezing, and the wind off Faxaflói bay regularly pushes the felt temperature well below the forecast. Rain or sleet falls on more than half the days. Snow accumulates occasionally but tends to melt within a day or two at sea level. The dominant challenge is wind, which can exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) during storms. Dress in windproof layers, not bulk.
Can you see the northern lights in Reykjavik in January?
Yes, and January offers the longest nightly viewing window of the year because of the extreme darkness. The aurora is visible from within the city on clear nights, though light pollution in the 101 centre reduces intensity. The best nearby spot is Grótta lighthouse on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, where light pollution drops off sharply. Clear nights are not guaranteed, so check the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast each evening and be ready to go when a gap in the clouds appears.
Is Reykjavik crowded in January?
No. January is deep off-season. You will not encounter queues at Hallgrímskirkja's tower, reservations at most restaurants are unnecessary on weeknights, and popular day tours run with small groups. The exception is the Dark Music Days festival in late January, when Harpa Concert Hall draws music fans and some evening concerts sell out. Outside that long weekend, the city feels noticeably quieter than any month from May through September.
Is it safe to drive in Iceland in January?
Within Reykjavik and on the main highway to Keflavík, roads are usually ploughed and passable. Beyond the capital area, conditions deteriorate fast. Route 1 between Reykjavik and Vík is manageable in fair weather but can close during storms. Northern and eastern sections face ice, snow drifts, and single-lane mountain passes. All highland F-roads are closed until late spring. Check road.is before every drive, carry emergency supplies, and rent a 4WD with studded tyres if you plan to leave the greater Reykjavik area.
Things to Do in Reykjavik in January
Free cancellation Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland
City tour: 3 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik
Day trip: 10 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater
Day trip: 11 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik
Day trip: 6.5 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik
Day trip: 8.5 hours, free cancellation.
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Free cancellation South Coast Day Tour Black Sand Beach & Waterfalls from Reykjavik
Day trip: 10 hours, free cancellation.
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