Iceland in January suits travelers who want hot springs, city culture and winter scenery, and who are happy with short, gray, damp days. Reykjavik’s afternoons sit just above freezing, and the sun barely shows.
Daylight is the constraint of the month. Plan one or two outdoor stops a day, and keep museums, concerts and lagoons for the rest. Most campsites are closed, so a roof is the plan.
At a glance
- Reykjavik afternoon high: 38°F (3°C)
- Reykjavik night low: 29°F (-2°C)
- Rainy days in Reykjavik: 15
- Sunshine in Reykjavik: 0.7 hours per day
- Sea near Reykjavik: 42°F (5°C)
- Organ concert at Hallgrímskirkja: noon, first Saturday of the month
What is the weather like in Iceland in January?
| Month | Average high | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
| February | 38°F (3°C) | 3.6 in (91 mm) | 15 | 2.2 h | 41°F (5°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
January in Reykjavik is cold and gray, but not bitter. Afternoons reach 38°F (3°C) and nights drop to 29°F (-2°C), so the ground stays close to the freezing line all day. Akureyri in the north is colder, with a high of 37°F (3°C) and a night low of 26°F (-4°C).
Reykjavik has 15 days with measurable precipitation, and Akureyri has 11. Count on wet streets in either town. Waterproof outer layers matter more than sunglasses. Plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day and put museums, lagoons and concerts around them.
December is nearly identical, with the same afternoon high and a night low of 29°F (-2°C), but even less sun at 0.4 hours a day. January sits between the two for light.
Where to go in Iceland in January
Reykjavik
The city centre runs from Aðalstræti up the hill to the end of Laugavegur, the main shopping street. A self-guided walk can take in the sights from Hallgrímskirkja church to Harpa concert hall. Laugavegur’s bars, clubs and restaurants open in the evenings, which suits long dark January nights.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir offers hiking trails, diving, angling and riding routes. With so little sun, pick a trail you can finish in the middle of the day.
Secret Lagoon and Flúðir
The Secret Lagoon, at Hverahólmi near Flúðir, has three pools: a main pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold pool. Its water stays at 100 to 104°F (38 to 40°C) all year, so it is as warm in January as in any other month.
Fontana, Laugarvatn
Fontana offers geothermal baths and a geothermal bakery where rye bread is baked in a geyser.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss plunges over the cliffs of Vestur-Eyjafjall, and you can walk behind it. Gljúfrabúi, about 130 feet (40 m) high, stands close by. Wear waterproof layers and shoes with grip near the spray.
Dyrhólaey and Vík
Dyrhólaey is a 120-meter (about 394 feet) headland rising from black sand just west of Vík, with a small orange-roofed lighthouse from 1927 on top. The puffins nest from late April to mid-August, so they are not part of a January visit. In Vík, the Katla Visitor Centre sits in the historical Brydebúð building.
What to do in Iceland in January
Hallgrímskirkja tower and the Saturday organ concert
The tower gives a panoramic view of Reykjavik, the surrounding mountains and the ocean. Short days make midday the best moment to go up. The church houses the largest organ in the country.
Organ concerts are held at noon on the first Saturday of each month from September to June, so January has one. A service in English is held on the last Sunday of the month from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
National Museum of Iceland
The museum, at Suðurgata 41, preserves Iceland’s cultural and historical heritage. Its permanent exhibition is Making of a Nation, and audio guides come in 10 languages.
It makes a good plan for a wet day, and Reykjavik has 15 of those in January. Combine it with a walk to Hallgrímskirkja and Laugavegur.
Sky Lagoon by the sea
Sky Lagoon, at Vesturvör 44 to 48 in Kópavogur, is a geothermal lagoon by the sea with an optional seven-step ritual. With a January sea at 42°F (5°C), the warm water is the point.
Glacier and ice caves near Katla
Mýrdalsjökull glacier offers guided glacier hikes, ice cave explorations all year, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near Katla volcano. Ice caves are on offer year-round, so January is an option.
Katla Visitor Centre in Vík has a free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark. Reynisfjall Mountain can be hiked for views over the Atlantic.
Whale watching from Akureyri
Whale Watching Akureyri runs a specially designed ship that takes 200 passengers and RIB speedboats for small groups of 12, each with a guide and a trained captain. Akureyri’s January high is 37°F (3°C) and the night low 26°F (-4°C), so dress for cold on the water.
Check with the operator about winter departures before building a day around it.
Is Iceland busy in January?
The Grindavík campsite opens in mid-March. In January, plan on rooms rather than tents.
The lodging tax is 800 kr. per lodging tax unit for hotels and guesthouses with a license in categories II to IV, and 400 kr. for campsites and motorhome parking spots.
Can you swim in Iceland in January?
The sea near Reykjavik averages 42°F (5°C) in January, and 41°F (5°C) in February. Near Vík it is 46°F (8°C), and near Höfn 45°F (7°C). These are monthly averages, and none of them invites a swim.
Hot water is the answer. Dyrhólaey’s black sand beach sits just west of Vík, for a walk rather than a dip.
What to pack for Iceland in January
January asks for warm, waterproof layers, since days hover around freezing and 15 days bring precipitation. Bring a swimsuit as well for the lagoons.
- Waterproof jacket and pants for the 15 rainy days in Reykjavik.
- Insulating layers for nights of 29°F (-2°C), colder in Akureyri at 26°F (-4°C).
- Shoes with good grip for wet ground at Seljalandsfoss and Þingvellir.
- A swimsuit for Secret Lagoon, Sky Lagoon and Fontana.
- Warm hat and gloves for the Hallgrímskirkja tower and the whale boats.
- A flashlight or headlamp, since the sun barely shows in January.
What to know before visiting Iceland in January
Most campsites are closed in January, so book rooms. The lodging tax is 800 kr. per unit at hotels and guesthouses.
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, about 100 feet (30 m) deep, is strictly closed to hiking up along or in the river because of breeding grounds. Dyrhólaey’s puffins are only there from late April to mid-August.
Is January a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, for travelers who want hot springs, museums, concerts and a winter landscape, and accept short days. January is not for camping, puffins or long daylight hikes.
December and February are close on temperature, with a high of 38°F (3°C) in each. Shifting to February gains a little light, with a similar sea at 41°F (5°C).
For city culture, the Saturday organ concert and the National Museum work in any weather.
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