If you’re a regular reader of my blog, then you probably already know that my husband and I recently did a 7 day road trip in Iceland during the winter. We absolutely fell in love with the place! In fact, it was quite possibly one of our favourite countries we’ve ever visited. Why? Where do I start…
Experiencing Iceland in winter was so unique!
Being from sunny Queensland, where the weather is warm and sunny pretty much all year round, we made the brave decision to visit Iceland in winter. It was such a refreshing change to visit a country with a climate of polar opposites to where we live.
In a matter of 30-hours (yes, it took that long to get there), we went from 80% humidity and white sand beaches to rugged mountains, gigantic glaciers and lava fields blanketed in snow.
Iceland in winter is certainly a land of extremes. We experienced gale-force winds, fierce passing storms, gently falling snow, rain showers, as well as beautiful, sunny, blue sky days. So don’t forget to pack those winter woolies!
Related Post: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Your First Trip to Iceland
Tip – The best way to see Iceland – rent a 4WD and go on a road trip!
Iceland is the perfect place for road tripping. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend doing it any other way. Iceland is absolutely riddled with natural wonders. Having your own vehicle will allow you to map out your own road trip path, or follow ours. You’ll also have the freedom and stop whenever you see an amazing view or waterfall (hint- they’re everywhere!).
If it’s your first time in Iceland, don’t worry, it’s really easy to drive on the roads and navigate your own way around Iceland, even in winter. We hired a Landrover Defender, which was perfect, as we were able to go off-road and see a lot more than most other tourists, who only had small cars.
Related Post: 7 Day Iceland Itinerary: Golden Circle and South Coast Road Trip
Have you ever wanted to see the Northern Lights?
Seeing the Northern lights was definitely a highlight of visiting Iceland in winter. It should be on everyone’s Iceland Bucket List.
Though, it’s a common misconception that you will be guaranteed a sighting. But the Northern Lights are pretty elusive. We stayed in Iceland for 10 nights in total and only saw them once! They were really faint and barely visible to the naked eye. It was totally worth it though. Luckily I had a DSLR camera and tripod to capture a long exposure shot.
Related Post: Iceland Bucket List: 50 Things to See & Do
We loved Iceland so much that we are thinking of visiting again, maybe in the summer next time!
SHOP OUR ICELAND WINTER TRAVEL ESSENTIALS:
Read More About Iceland:
- 7 Day Iceland Itinerary: Golden Circle and South Coast Road Trip
- Ultimate Iceland Bucket List: Top 50 Things to Do
- The Coolest Things to Do in Iceland in March
- What to Wear in Iceland in Winter + Packing List
- 10 Things You Need to Know Before Your First Trip to Iceland
- 25 of the Best Luxury Boutique Hotels in Iceland
- 20 Photos to Inspire You to Book a Trip to Iceland
- Video: Staying at the Silica Hotel in Iceland
- The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
We hope that our photos have inspired you to visit Iceland! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.
Planning a trip soon? Here is a list of the websites and resources we use for booking everything from flights, to accommodation, tours, and more:
- Skyscanner for booking the best flight deals
- Booking.com | Agoda | Hotels.com for the best rates on hotels
- Airbnb | HomeAway to find the best apartment and home rentals
- Rentalcars.com for quick and easy car rentals
- Luxury Escapes for luxury package holiday deals and tours
- Get Your Guide for a great range of day tours
- Tourradar | Intrepid for multi-day experiential and adventure tours
- Priority Pass for airport lounge access in hundreds of locations around the world
- Skyroam to stay connected to WiFi everywhere I go
- iVisa to apply for entry visas for most countries in the world
- World Nomads for the most comprehensive worldwide travel insurance
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About the Author:
Amanda Twine is the founder and creator of Fly Stay Luxe – a luxury travel blog sharing informative travel guides, food guides, hotel reviews, itineraries and tips about how to make luxury travel more affordable.
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Traveler's Itch says
Yesss! We went to Iceland in winter as well and fell in love! So gorgeous.