Iceland Winter Adventure
I’ve just returned from an unforgettable winter break in Iceland to celebrate my husband’s 30th birthday. Visiting this incredible country in winter felt truly magical.
Arrival in Reykjavik
We arrived in Iceland to a blanket of snow and transferred to our hotel, Grandi by Center Hotels. The transfer took around 1.5 hours as our hotel was located at the far end of Reykjavik near the harbour.
Exploring Reykjavik
Our first full day began with a walk through the heart of the city. We made our way towards the iconic Hallgrímskirkja via the colourful Skólavörðustígur, also known as Rainbow Street. The vibrant path leading up to the church creates such a striking contrast against the snowy surroundings.
Hallgrímskirkja itself is stunning. Its stepped concrete façade is an ode to modernist architecture. Standing in front of it, you really appreciate how Icelandic nature inspires its design.
From there we continued our walk down to the beautiful Sun Voyager sculpture. With sweeping views across the bay and the snow-covered Mount Esja in the background.
Along the way we stopped in a couple of Reykjavik’s many souvenir shops before heading for lunch at a cosy traditional café — the perfect place to warm up from the cold.
The Lava Show
After lunch we visited the fascinating Lava Show Reykjavik. This unique experience recreates a volcanic eruption by superheating real lava to around 1100°C (2000°F) before pouring it into a showroom right in front of the audience. It’s an incredible way to understand the raw power of Iceland’s volcanoes and how they have shaped the country’s landscapes over thousands of years. Watching molten lava flow just metres away was both thrilling and slightly surreal.
That evening we were scheduled to go on a Northern Lights tour, but unfortunately it was cancelled due to the weather.
Sky Lagoon & Northern Lights
Our second day started more leisurely with breakfast before wandering back into town. While exploring, we found a lovely café serving delicious crepes — a perfect late morning treat.
Later that afternoon we headed to the beautiful Sky Lagoon, located just outside the city. Before leaving the UK we had upgraded our experience to the Sér Pass, which included private changing facilities.
The lagoon itself is breathtaking. The warm geothermal water stretches out like an infinity pool overlooking the dramatic Icelandic coastline.
One of the highlights here is the famous seven-step Sky Ritual, which is designed to rejuvenate both body and mind:
- Laug – Enter the warm lagoon
- Kuldi – Cold plunge (my husband braved this… I dipped my foot in and quickly changed my mind!)
- Ylur – Sauna with a huge window overlooking the ocean — easily the most stunning sauna I’ve ever experienced
- Súld – Refreshing cold mist
- Mýkt – Sky body scrub applied before the next step
- Gufa – Relaxing steam room
- Saft – An Icelandic elixir made with crowberries
After completing the ritual we returned to the lagoon to relax and soak in the views.
That evening we finally set out on our Northern Lights excursion. Our guide took us out to the stunning Thingvellir National Park. After a couple of stops and patiently waiting for the clouds to clear, we were rewarded with the most incredible sight — the dancing green lights of the Aurora Borealis. Seeing them in person was absolutely magical.
The Golden Circle Adventure
On our final full day we set off on an excursion around Iceland’s famous Golden Circle.
Our first stop was a small geothermal park in Hveragerði where we watched one of the geysers erupt and even tried bread that had been baked using geothermal steam.
Next, we visited the striking Kerið Crater. Walking around the crater rim with the snow-covered landscape surrounding it made for some incredible views.
We then stopped at Faxi Waterfall before heading to the famous geothermal area of Geysir. Here we watched the powerful Strokkur erupt — an impressive display of nature’s energy.
Our next stop was the spectacular Gullfoss waterfall. Partially frozen in the winter cold, it looked absolutely breathtaking with icy formations surrounding the rushing water.
The final stop of the day was Thingvellir National Park, where we enjoyed a short walk through the dramatic landscapes before heading back to Reykjavik.
Final Thoughts
Our winter trip to Iceland was truly unforgettable. From dramatic waterfalls and geothermal landscapes to relaxing lagoons and the magical Northern Lights, every moment felt special.
Iceland is an incredibly beautiful country, especially in winter, and I would absolutely recommend visiting if you get the chance. It’s a destination that feels wild, unique and wonderfully different from anywhere else.
Should you wish to travel to this exciting part of the world please contact us on 01785 818202 or email info@regent-travel.co.uk
