Yes, December works in Iceland for travelers who want hot lagoons, Reykjavík’s churches and museums, and a few waterfalls. Afternoons sit right around freezing, at 38°F (3°C), so the cold is steady but not extreme.
The catch is the light and the rain. Sunshine is scarce, with 0.4 hours a day on average, and 15 days in the month bring at least a little rain. Plan the outdoor sights around that, and keep a hot pool for the end of the day.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Reykjavík: 38°F (3°C)
- Night low in Reykjavík: 29°F (-2°C)
- Rainy days: 14.6 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation
- Sunshine: 0.4 hours per day
- Sea near Reykjavík: 42°F
- Organ concert at Hallgrímskirkja: noon, first Saturday of the month
What is the weather like in Iceland in December?
| Month | Average high | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 3.4 in (87 mm) | 14 | 1.3 h | 44°F (7°C) |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 3.7 in (95 mm) | 15 | 0.4 h | 42°F (6°C) |
| January | 38°F (3°C) | 3.4 in (87 mm) | 15 | 0.7 h | 42°F (5°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
December in Reykjavík is cold and damp. The afternoon high is 38°F (3°C) and the night low is 29°F (-2°C), so the city hovers around the freezing line day and night.
15 days in the month bring rain, and the sun shows up for 0.4 hours a day on average. The days are gray more often than not. Pack waterproof layers, and put museums, pools and indoor sights on the rainy days. Outdoor stops such as Þingvellir or the waterfalls are better done when the sky looks brighter.
January is close to December, with a high of 38°F (3°C), a low of 29°F (-2°C) and 15 rainy days. Moving a month in either direction changes the light a bit more than the temperature.
Where to go in Iceland in December
Reykjavík
The city center runs from Aðalstræti up the hill to the end of Laugavegur, the main shopping street, so a self-guided walk from Hallgrímskirkja to the Harpa concert hall covers a lot. In December this is a good base for the short days. Laugavegur has bars, clubs and restaurants that open in the evenings, and museums and the church fill the daytime.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir has hiking trails, diving, angling and riding routes, and the Service Center at Leirar, close to the camping grounds, is the place to start. In December the walking is the part to plan carefully, because sunshine is scarce. Go in the middle of the day and dress for wet weather.
Flúðir and Laugarvatn
This is hot-pool country. Secret Lagoon, at Hvammsvegur in Flúðir, has a main pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold pool, and its water stays at 100 to 104°F (38 to 40°C) all year. Fontana, at Hverabraut 1 in Laugarvatn, has geothermal baths and a bakery where rye bread is baked in a geyser. Soaking in water this warm suits a month with a 29°F (-2°C) night low.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss plunges over the cliffs of Vestur-Eyjafjall, and you can walk behind it. Gljúfrabúi, about 131 feet (40 m) high, stands close by on the land of the abandoned farm Hamragarðar.
Vík and Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is a promontory 394 feet (120 m) high that rises out of the black sand just west of Vík. A small, square, orange-roofed lighthouse built in 1927 stands on its highest point. In Vík, the Katla Visitor Centre at Víkurbraut 28 and the Hafnleysa Maritime Museum at Víkurbraut 17 give you indoor stops when the weather turns.
What to do in Iceland in December
Hallgrímskirkja, the tower and the organ concert
Hallgrímskirkja is both a parish church and a national sanctuary, and it is the largest church in Iceland. Its tower gives a panoramic view of Reykjavík, the surrounding mountains and the ocean. On a gray day the view will be softer, so pick the clearest hour of the day.
The church also holds a service in English on the last Sunday of the month, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. The organ concert is at noon on the first Saturday of the month.
National Museum of Iceland
The museum, at Suðurgata 41 in Reykjavík, preserves and showcases the country’s cultural and historical heritage. Its permanent exhibition is Making of a Nation. It is a good use of a wet afternoon.
Audio guides come in 10 languages. Allow a few unhurried hours here and keep the outdoor sights for a drier day.
Sky Lagoon
Sky Lagoon is a geothermal lagoon by the sea, at Vesturvör 44 to 48 in Kópavogur, Greater Reykjavík.
Walking behind Seljalandsfoss
Start from Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the fall, and then continue to Gljúfrabúi, which is about 131 feet (40 m) high. Bring a waterproof shell and a dry layer for the drive afterward.
Ice caves on Mýrdalsjökull
Mýrdalsjökull glacier near Katla volcano offers guided glacier hikes, year-round ice cave explorations, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling. The ice cave tours run year-round, which makes them a sound choice for a month when the sun is scarce.
Go with a guided outfit. Pair the day with the free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark at the Katla centre in Vík.
Is Iceland busy in December?
Camping shapes the season in Iceland. Around 200 registered campsites exist, and most are open from the beginning of June to the end of August or mid-September. One example, the Grindavík campsite, is open from mid-March into November. That leaves December as a month for hotels and guesthouses.
Camping outside organised campsites in tent trailers, tent campers, caravans or camper vans is illegal without landowner permission. A traditional camping tent may be pitched for one night on uncultivated land along public routes in inhabited areas. In December, book a room early, and book a guided tour as soon as your dates are fixed.
The lodging tax is 800 kr. per lodging tax unit for hotels, guesthouses and similar places with a license in categories II to IV. For campsites and parking spots for motorhomes, trailers, pop-up campers and caravan sites it is 400 kr. per unit.
Can you swim in Iceland in December?
The sea is cold in December. Near Reykjavík it averages 42°F (6°C), near Vík 46°F (8°C) and near Höfn 45°F (7°C). Those are monthly averages, so a given day can run colder. The sea is for looking at in this month.
The place to get in the water is a geothermal pool. Fontana’s baths are in Laugarvatn.
What to pack for Iceland in December
December asks for warm, waterproof layers and a swimsuit, since Secret Lagoon stays warm all year.
- Insulated layers and a hat, for a night low of 29°F (-2°C).
- A waterproof jacket and pants, for 15 rainy days.
- A swimsuit, for Sky Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Fontana.
- A warm change of clothes for the drive after a lagoon or the glacier.
What to know before visiting Iceland in December
Hiking up the Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon along or in the river is strictly forbidden due to breeding grounds. At Þingvellir, camping and angling permits can be obtained at the Service center on arrival.
Is December a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, December suits travelers who want hot pools, city culture and a few waterfalls, and who can live with short, gray days. It is a poor fit for anyone counting on sunshine, which averages 0.4 hours a day.
January is as cold as December, with a 38°F (3°C) high and 15 rainy days. Shifting four weeks changes the light a little more than the temperature.
For culture, Hallgrímskirkja’s concert and the National Museum fit the month well.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- visitreykjavik.is (https://visitreykjavik.is/service/hallgrimskirkja-church-tower), checked 2026-10-30
- thjodminjasafn.is (https://www.thjodminjasafn.is/en), checked 2026-10-30
- secretlagoon.is (https://secretlagoon.is/?lang=is%2F), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/afangastadaaaetlun/moya/toy/index/place/seljalandsfoss), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/destinations/towns/vik), checked 2026-10-30
- umhverfisstofnun.is (https://www.umhverfisstofnun.is/english/visiting-iceland/travel-information/where-can-you-camp/), checked 2026-10-30
- visitreykjavik.is (https://visitreykjavik.is/frequently-asked-questions), checked 2026-10-30