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Travel to Iceland in WINTER | Recommendations after living here
Not many people dare to travel to Iceland in winter, so some of the country's most spectacular landscapes are reserved for a few.
If you are one of these brave souls who will drive through carIce trails and aurora hunting in sub-zero temperatures! This article is for you! We'll tell you what to know before traveling to Iceland in winter.
Since how face the cold and make the most of the few hours of light, even the essential websites to check the status of the carReteras and time.
TRAVEL TO ICELAND IN WINTER
Let's get to it! We'll tell you what to know before traveling to Iceland in winter after having lived almost a year in this impressive country.
How to organize a route through Iceland in winter
La The vast majority of Iceland's most famous places are accessible in winter since the Ring Road, the carThe road that runs circularly around Iceland is maintained and remains passable most of the time.
The ideal thing if you travel to Iceland in winter is visit all the places that are within walking distance carretera or with small detours (Which are many and very impressive!) This way you ensure that the carThe lanes will be open and you won't spend much time exposed to the weather.
You will be outdoors for between 15 minutes and an hour maximum, before returning to the car to recover temperature. For example, to visit Gullfoss, the waterfall in the photo below.
As I said, the entire Ring Road is maintained, but when there are big snow storms or strong winds there are sections that are closed until the storm stops or they clean up. Especially in the east and north of the country is where the most snow accumulates and there are more storms, so If you prefer to play it safe, I recommend taking a route only through the south of Iceland..
⪼ Iceland itinerary in winter, touring the best of the south of the country
Something to know before traveling to Iceland in winter is that you have to assume that there are inaccessible places that you will have to leave out of your route. But you have the opportunity to see other places and phenomena that only happen during the colder months such as northern lights, frozen waterfalls or ice caves.
When to book everything
At most a month before the trip you should have the accommodation reservation and car made If you don't want to get any surprises.
Prices in winter are lower and fewer people travel, but also There are many accommodations that close during these months. In December we booked 3 weeks in advance and there were quite a few budget hotels without availability.
As soon as Activities you can do just a few days in advance. Winter tours such as visiting one of the different ice caves They don't usually have availability problems if you book a week in advance, or even less. But don't get confused, they are very small groups.
Apps to travel to Iceland in Winter
An of the most important things to know before traveling to Iceland in winter These are the apps you need to have.carThey also have a web version if you prefer.
road.is
At road.is you can consult the state of the carreteras and any notice that are on them. The condition is indicated with different colors (I've included the legend in Spanish below). I recommend visiting this website every morning before starting to drive to find out what you might encounter along the way or even if you need to change your route due to any issues. carcut retera.
As you zoom in on the area that interests you, cameras also appear that, when clicked, show you live images and how many vehicles have passed in the last hour.
It displays informative messages in English, which are especially interesting if there are carMain gates closed because it usually informs when their condition will be assessed or what time the opening is expected.
Vedur.is
The only reliable weather website in Iceland. Everything is translated into English and you have quite precise information about the temperature, wind and precipitation.
You can look at the three types of maps by region or click on whole country to see the global.
You won't use it that much, but if you're curious it gives information about the earthquakes that occur daily, avalanches and solar activity (to know the probability of auroras, although the Aurora App is better)
At the top of the website you see special notices with weather alerts and what level they are (yellow, orange or red).
Safetravel.is
On both its website and App you can Be aware of any warnings in Iceland. They are, for example, the ones that provide all the necessary information when a volcano is erupting or the ones that provide more in-depth information and give recommendations on how to act when there are weather warnings such as wind storms.
Our recommendation is that you come in every morning to take a look to see if there is anything new.
If you need to read it in Spanish you can enter from Google Chrome and you will get the option to translate.
Aurora
Finally Aurora, an app that you have to know before traveling to Iceland in winter because it is the best to see the Aurora probabilities.
⪼ You can read: Guide to see Aurora borealis in Iceland
Driving in winter, what car to rent
Our guide to what to know before traveling to Iceland cannot be missing some driving tips and what car to rent, as it is one of the biggest concerns of those who organize a winter trip to the land of ice and fire.
Definitely driving in winter conditions in Iceland can present challenges But you don't have to worry as long as you drive carefully and check the condition of the carRespect the restrictions and recommendations.
All rental cars and camper vans They have winter tires With some studs to improve grip, and honestly, they work great. We've driven regular cars on them... carThe trails were marked with warnings of very icy conditions, and we didn't slip at all, but you still need to be extremely careful and avoid any sudden movements. We have an article explaining what to keep in mind when... rent a car in Iceland Based on our experience, we have rented a car about 10 times in different seasons and with different companies.
From our experience A 4×4 is not necessary, but if you rent one you will feel safer and in case of heavy snowfall you will circulate better and it will be easier to get out if you get stuck in the snow. In winter prices are lower so a basic SUV or 4×4 with comprehensive insurance is around €500-€600 per week.
Clothes to travel to Iceland in winter
Something you should know before traveling to Iceland in winter is that if you don't bring the right clothing, you're likely to have a bad time, especially if you have windy days. But if you dress in the necessary layers and are well covered, the cold will be bearable.
To help you not to leave anything behind we have written A guide with all the clothing to travel to Iceland in winter.
Some of the essentials for traveling to Iceland in winter They are crampons, thermal clothing, a hat, a neck warmer, waterproof boots, and a headlamp for safety in case you get stuck in the carBring a jacket and some slippers or fluffy socks because many accommodations don't allow street shoes.
How to see the northern lights
Who wouldn't want to leave the hotel and see the green lady dancing in the sky? When you travel to Iceland in winter this is one of your biggest dreams. But we are going to be honest with you, Maybe you spend 7 days and you don't get to see any of them or you are very lucky and you make the most of seeing them all. It's a lottery.
So you tour Iceland, enjoy everything it has to offer (What is much!) y If you see auroras, take it as a gift.
Leaving the sincere moment aside, These are the keys to seeing the Northern Lights:
1. Check the odds in Apps like Dawn. We have an article where we teach you how to interpret them:
2. Buscar places away from city lights and with clear skies.
3. They can go anywhere, but the activity almost always starts heading north.
It has no more mystery! It is super easy to go searching for it on your own, we only recommend a guided tour If you are going to stay all the nights in Reykjavik.
Travel insurance for Iceland
To travel to Iceland as a European citizen Travel insurance is not mandatory but is highly recommendedIn the case of many Latin American countries, it is a requirement that may be required when entering.
🚑 European Health Insurance Card vs. Travel insurance What is the difference between them?
We recommend that you carry insurance for different reasons, one of them because healthcare in Iceland is not 100% free Added to the fact that it is very easy to slip when you travel to Iceland in winter.
Unfortunately, it's also not uncommon to see a car outside the carA travel insurance policy covers your quick repatriation home if needed. And countless other things, some not so tragic, like your suitcase not arriving and having to buy clothes.
If it were a service carOr we might have told you, "Hey, think about it and consider it," but the thing is... one week's insurance is less than €20 For this price it is worth going more calmly. In addition, we leave you a 5% off!
Daylight hours in Iceland during winter
How short the days are in winter is something you should know before traveling to Iceland in winter and take into account, especially in December and January The hours of daylight are very short. For us, this is one of the biggest drawbacks of traveling to Iceland in winter.
ᐈ Maybe this will help you: Best time to travel to Iceland, month by month guide
But come on, if these are the dates that suit you, go ahead! We did 5 days in the south coinciding with December 21, the shortest day of the year, and we enjoyed it very much. We left at dawn (1 hour before sunrise) and hurried until almost an hour after sunset. By doing this we had about five and a half hours of light.
It's super important Organize your route well to make the most of the daylight hours. I recommend visiting places no more than 30/40 minutes away from each other on the same day, and taking accommodation in the area you will visit the next day and driving to them at night.
Keep in mind that depending on the region the difference is quite noticeable, for example Akureyri (northern Iceland) in December on average there is only 3h30 of sunlight. The area south is where there are more hours of sunlight There is both location and sensation, since from many points you can see the sunrise over the sea.
How to travel by van in winter
The last thing to know before traveling to Iceland in winter is aimed at those who want to travel around Iceland in a camper van, One of the most popular ways to get to know the country.
Although the conditions are obviously different from summer, it is possible to travel around Iceland in winter by campervan, although there are certain things you should know. The main drawback is the cold, which is why it is It is essential to rent a camper with a heating system and a big enough to cook and eat inside, it will also help you not to get overwhelmed because there will be many hours inside. Thanks to being our reader you have a 5% discount additional discount when renting a camper.
Another thing you should keep in mind is that in winter the vast majority of campsites in the country are closed and, although you can sleep at the campsite for free, you will not be able to use showers, bathrooms or sinks. However, if you organize yourself well, you will find campsites open to spend the night.
The last thing you should keep in mind is driving in Iceland during winter. Just like with cars 4×4 traction is not essential, but it does help to drive more safely and to get out of difficult situations due to ice or snow. Keep in mind that it is very possible that the areas where you park to sleep will be covered in snow.
The positive part is that you will sleep in the middle of nature, which makes it easier to enjoy the auroras and that you will be able to make and undo your route depending on the weather conditions without depending on hotel reservations. Most do not have free cancellation.
I hope this guide with everything you need to know before traveling to Iceland in winter has answered your questions and encouraged you to visit this unique country. To read more about Iceland here you can access all articles, or see our Featured stories from Instagram. Thanks for reading us!
