Iceland is a winter wonderland all year round but in the colder months, things become even more dazzling. When one of my friends suggested that I visit Iceland in winter I was shocked. What could I possibly do in a freezing cold landscape? I was wrong of course.

My trip to Iceland in winter

Surprisingly, it is not as cold in winter as one would expect. Actually, winter temperatures are sometimes warmer than winter in London or Canada. It was a great experience visiting Iceland in the chilly months and witnessing sights that I couldn’t possibly see in any other time of the year. Good thing I took my friend’s advice and got a fair priced ticket from a good flights booking website.

Northern Lights

Also known as Aurora Borealis, this natural phenomenon is very fascinating and a sure part of most travelers’ bucket-list. Of course, you should treat them as a bonus part of your trip because they don’t appear every year. The stars need to alight and you need a perfectly dark clear night for a solid chance to see this marvelous wonder of nature. Of course, the highest chance of seeing them is in the winter months. You should stay at least a week in Iceland and hope for the best. But even if you don’t get to see them it’s alright. The beautiful country has plenty more to offer.

Cheaper and less crowded

Iceland is known to be one of the most expensive cities to visit but in the winter months, prices drop a little and you don’t have to deal with noisy crowds. In fact, there are many hotels there that offer accommodation at discounted rates and the special wintertime tour prices will help you save a lot of money. If you also manage to get an affordable ticket then I think traveling to Iceland on a budget is very much possible. And here’s the best part, with lesser tourists your tour guide may tell you more details about the places as there would be fewer people they need to pay attention to.

Hot baths

Thanks to the intense volcanic activity in Iceland, there are plenty of geothermal pools. Even though they are accessible all year round but in the winter months it feels ten times better to relax in warm water. The most famous such pool is the Blue Lagoon. It even has a spa and a restaurant for an all-around great time. There are many other private hot springs if you wish for some alone time but they might be pricier.

Perfect lighting

In winter, days are super short in Iceland, around 4-5 hours. But in that short time, the sun stays low so you always have that sunset/sunrise lighting that’ll make every picture very magical. And if it happens to be a cloudy day then the dim light through the dense clouds will engulf the landscape in a blue-green hue giving it a very surreal feel. Just dress up warmly, get something warm to drink and enjoy the gorgeous view. Make sure you have enough SD cards to take as many beautiful scenic photos as you want.

Diamond Beach

On most tours in Iceland, you’re sure to stop by at the Jökusárlón Glacier Lagoon. Sure, this beach is beautiful no matter what tie of the year but in winter there is a high chance that you may get to witness the northern lights reflected in the waters but there are more icebergs in winter than in summer time. The black sandy beach with diamond-like icebergs resting on top, in the mouth of the lagoon which eventually connects with the ocean. The crystal-like icebergs are the reason why it got the well-deserved nickname of “Diamond Beach”. Yes, the pictures you take here are going to be just spectacular.

Ice Caves

Of course, you can visit the glacier caves any time of the year but it’s the colder months that really bring out the beauty of these caves. For these few colder months the water in the glaciers freezes up creating these Ice Caves with stunning blue walls and a very dreamlike feel to them. However, I must warn you that you shouldn’t visit these caves on your own as some parts can be extremely dangerous. Best thing to do is to get a professional tour guide and take all safety measures to witness this wonder of nature.

Magical Landscape

Just the beauty that comes out in winter is enough reason to visit Iceland. The spectacular frozen waterfalls, snowy lava fields, glaciers, and black sandy beaches will make you feel like you’re not on planet Earth anymore. The scenic views in Iceland during winter is what fantasy and dreams are made of. And if there happen to be a snowstorm, you’ll get to see the definition of winter wonderland come to life. Trust me, it’s almost like a cool heaven on Earth!