December on Iceland’s South Coast suits travelers who come for waterfalls, glacier hikes and hot water, and who are happy with cold, wet weather. Afternoons in Vík stay at 40°F (4°C), and ice cave tours and geothermal baths are on the menu.
The catch is the rain, on about 18 days of the month, and nights that drop to freezing. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited, so every outing stays on authorized roads and paths.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Vík: 40°F (4°C)
- Night low in Vík: 31°F (-0°C)
- Rainy days: 17.8
- Precipitation: 6 inches (164 mm)
- Sea near Vík: 46°F (8°C)
- Glacier activities: guided hikes and ice cave tours
What is the weather like in Iceland’s South Coast in December?
| Month | Average high | Rain | Rainy days | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 42°F (6°C) | 6.9 in (175 mm) | 17 | 46°F (8°C) |
| December | 40°F (5°C) | 6.5 in (164 mm) | 18 | 46°F (8°C) |
| January | 40°F (4°C) | 6.6 in (167 mm) | 19 | 46°F (8°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
December is cold and damp on the South Coast. Afternoons in Vík reach 40°F (4°C), and nights fall to 31°F (0°C). Skógar sees the same figures.
Rain falls on about 18 days of the month, so a dry day is something to use, not to count on. Plan the waterfalls and the canyon for the dry hours, and keep museums, pools and tours for the wet ones. The sea near Vík sits at 46°F (8°C).
November is a little milder, with highs of 42°F (6°C), lows of 34°F (1°C) and 17 rainy days. January matches December on temperature and adds a day or two of rain, 19 in all. Shifting four weeks either way changes the weather very little.
Where to go in Iceland’s South Coast in December
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, and you can walk behind it. With freezing lows and rain on most days, wear waterproofs and shoes with grip for that walk. Gljúfrabúi, 130 feet (40 meters) high, lies on the land of the old Hamragarðar farm, next to it.
Skógar and Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull Glacier lies 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) east of Skógafoss via Road 221.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
The canyon is roughly 1 to 1.2 miles (1.5 to 2 kilometers) long and 100 to 330 feet (30 to 100 meters) deep. It’s protected as a natural monument. The area is extremely popular, and heavy traffic puts pressure on the pathways, so stay on the marked path.
Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is a nature reserve, protected mainly for its birdlife. The puffins nest in the cliffs from late April to mid-August, so December is the month for the landscape.
Lighthouse Trail villages
Most visitors drive it. Each village has restaurants serving local ingredients, with fresh Icelandic seafood a highlight along the coast.
What to do in Iceland’s South Coast in December
Glacier hike and ice cave tour on Mýrdalsjökull
Mýrdalsjökull offers guided glacier hikes, year-round ice cave explorations, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near Katla volcano. The ice cave tours run all year, so December doesn’t close them.
Book a guided tour. Jökulsárlón, with its floating icebergs, is another glacier stop on the South Coast.
Hot river and Secret Lagoon
Geothermal bathing options include the Reykjadalur hot river and the Secret Lagoon near Flúðir. With nights at freezing and 18 rainy days, hot water is the natural December plan.
Bring a swimsuit and a warm layer for the walk back to the car.
Stokkseyri swimming pool
Stokkseyri has a public pool with an 18 meter outdoor pool, a slide, a wading pool and two hot tubs. It’s a good rain-day stop on the Lighthouse Trail.
Lava Show and Katla exhibition
The Katla centre has a free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark. Add it to a day built around the glacier.
Is Iceland’s South Coast busy in December?
Popular spots fill up quickly in peak season, especially in Vík and along the South Coast. Fjaðrárgljúfur is extremely popular.
Hotel Vík í Mýrdal has 78 guest rooms, five cottages and 15 self-catering apartments. Presthús Evening Sun Guesthouse is a small farm near Vík with a family room for four and three rooms for two or three people.
Hella has Stracta Hotel with 166 rooms and Hotel Kanslarinn with 21 rooms, by Ring Road 1. Selfoss is a convenient hub about an hour’s drive from Keflavík Airport, and Black Sand Hotel has 70 rooms about 40 minutes from Reykjavík.
Can you swim in Iceland’s South Coast in December?
The sea near Vík averages 46°F (8°C) in December. That’s a monthly average, and it’s cold for anyone getting in.
Swimming here means warm water: the 18 meter outdoor pool and hot tubs at Stokkseyri, the Reykjadalur hot river, or the Secret Lagoon near Flúðir.
What to pack for Iceland’s South Coast in December
December asks for waterproof layers and warmth. Afternoons stay near 40°F (4°C) and nights near freezing.
- Waterproof jacket and pants, for 18 rainy days
- Warm layers for nights near 31°F (0°C)
- Shoes with grip for the walk behind Seljalandsfoss and the canyon paths
- A swimsuit and towel for the Reykjadalur hot river, the Secret Lagoon and Stokkseyri’s hot tubs
- A change of dry clothes for the car after waterfall stops
What to know before visiting Iceland’s South Coast in December
Off-road driving in Iceland is strictly prohibited, and you should always stay on authorized paths, tracks and roads. At Fjaðrárgljúfur, which is protected as a natural monument under regulation no. 555/2024, there are no marked walking routes through the canyon itself, and general pedestrian traffic through it is not envisaged.
Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur both have hotels, guesthouses, cottages, restaurants and services for a stopover.
Is December a good time to visit Iceland’s South Coast?
Yes, for travelers who want waterfalls, glacier tours and hot baths and can live with rain and freezing nights.
November is a bit milder, near 42°F (6°C) in the afternoon, and January is about the same as December with slightly more rain. Shifting by a month changes little.
If you want swimming, plan on geothermal pools and hot rivers. If you want glaciers, the ice cave tours run year-round on Mýrdalsjökull. If you want puffins, come between late April and mid-August.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- visiticeland.com (https://www.visiticeland.com/the-regions/the-south/), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/moya/page/the-south-coast-lighthouse-way), 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/nature/beaches/the-coastline-between-stokkseyri-and-eyrarbakki), checked 2026-10-30
- nattura.is (https://www.nattura.is/svaedin/fjardrargljufur), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/travel-info/travel-blog/icelandair-stopover-south-iceland-itinerary), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/destinations/towns/vik), checked 2026-10-30