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This time of year, you probably prefer destinations where the temperature is around 70 degrees, you don’t step out and suddenly find yourself knee-deep in snow, and there are more than 5 hours of daylight every day. day.
That’s Iceland for you, but before you think we’ll stop you from visiting and you cross it off the list without a second thought, you should know how colder and darker it gets in Iceland, the more magical it becomesat.
If you love beach holidays, flying to this northern European island in the dead of winter probably sounds like a nightmare, but there are many reasons why it is. completely oppositeand we’ll show you why:
Why is Iceland so magical in winter?
Located just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland is perhaps one of the coldest countries in the world, with an average annual temperature of 54°F and particularly cold winters. ranging from 23°F to 35.6°Fbut it boasts some of the most spectacular scenery you’ll ever see everywhere over the pond.
Believe it or not, the best season to experience Iceland, with all its fjord-crossed peninsulas, Martian hinterland and fascinating Viking culture, is from November to March, unlike other European destinations that are best visited in the summer visited.
If there is anything, winter belongs to Iceland peak travel seasonbecause that’s when the aurora activity is at its strongest – who doesn’t dream of seeing the Northern Lights dancing above their heads? – and nature at its most dramatic, with snow-capped peaks and monumental glaciers.
Chase the elusive Aurora
Northern Lights tours are a big part of why tourists flock to Iceland to risk getting frozen – just kidding – this season, and since 2024 is the year of solar maximum, the aurora will at least will be most visible in at least two years. a decade, you don’t want to miss the chance to see them.
This 4×4 small group tour takes you through the desolate Icelandic landscape in the hunt for nature’s elusive light show, and although sightings are not guaranteed, you once again have a better chance of being successful this season than any other year.
It’s easily the most convenient way to chase the aurora, because you leave the hunt to the experts in the field, who know exactly where to take you for the best possible viewing, plus you get to sample Icelandic pastries and enjoy hot chocolate, all for $105.43.
Explore an otherworldly winter wonderland
Hunting the Aurora isn’t the only must-do in Iceland if you’re spending the winter: there’s a wide range of activities on offer from Reykjavik, the country’s compact, colorful capital, once you’ve tried every cinnamon roll in town, and you I took pictures of Hallgrímskirkja from every conceivable angle.
The Golden Circle is a popular day trip from Reykjavik all year round: a scenic route past explosive geysers, the Gulfoss waterfall, Iceland’s largest, and Thingvellir, where the fissures in the tectonic plates that separate Europe from the Americas are visible. in winter it is even more incredible.
With this winter day trip of the Golden Circle, tick off all those great sights, plus take a snowmobile ride – Iceland may be the land of eternal winter for some, but that’s definitely not possible in July – and explore the ice fields of Langjökull, a glacier in the highlands of Iceland.
Relax in a hot spring
Looking for a place to relax and escape the cold outside?
Aside from its icy adventures, Iceland is known for its… abundance of hot springs–– does a pearly Blue Lagoon, shrouded in mist and overlooking snow-capped hills ring a bell?
That’s clearly a tourist favorite, and we can certainly see how, what with the mud with special properties and the spa fanfare of it all, but it’s terribly busy, and it could close without any warning due to its critical location near an active volcano that erupts virtually every few months.
Instead, try the locals’ favorite Sky Lagoon: it overlooks the wild North Atlantic Ocean, spa combos are quite affordable by Icelandic standards, starting at around $80And if you’re lucky, you might even catch a Northern Lights show overhead in the heated outdoor pool.
$99 flights from America!
Finally, a big draw for tourists coming to Iceland from America this year is how affordable flights can be, especially if booked through a budget airline PLAYand we’re not talking about fairly cheap, between $300 and $400 one way: fares are valid as low as a shocking $99 one way!
Yes way.
PLAY flights are offered from Boston (BOS), Washington DC (IAD), New York’s Stewart International Airport (SWF) and Baltimore (BWI), and all winter long you can fly to Iceland and back from just $302 roundtrip.
But a word of advice anyway: PLAY flights have made cheap transatlantic travel possible ––it’s probably cheaper to travel to Iceland than certain destinations in America, for goodness sake!––but Iceland yourself is far from budget friendly.
Yes, there are budget-friendly winter activities, and you can certainly get discounts at some of the thermal lagoons, but make sure you bring enough cash to cover your stay.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
