Gabija is passionate about traveling and writing. In her free time, she likes to read, try out different cuisines, or embark on outdoor adventures.
Wondering how to spend a weekend in Iceland during the winter? If you're traveling for a short time, you'd likely want to organize and preplan to make the most out of your trip. Here you'll find some ideas for spending a memorable weekend in Iceland in winter.
Iceland is a perfect destination for short getaways - it is small and compact, allowing you to explore more of it in a short period of time. Particularly winter brings a lot of charms to Icelandic nature, with new ice caves, snowmobiling, glacier hiking, and other fun activities to explore.
To make the planning easier, here's the itinerary for an exciting winter weekend in Iceland.
DAY 1: CRYSTAL ICE CAVE
Inside view of Crystal Ice Cave in Iceland
Crystal Ice Cave is one of the most impressive nature marvels in Iceland. Here you can witness the crystal blue ice unlike anywhere else. This ice cave has captivated much attention in recent years. The main reasons behind that are that it's situated in Europe's largest glacier, Vatnajokull, which is an incredible attraction itself and offers amazing photo opportunities.
Get a glimpse of the famous Crystal Ice Cave Tour featuring the charismatic ice cave guide Fannar.
Marble Sólheimajökull glacier - perfect option for a glacier hike
Iceland is nicknamed the land of Fire and Ice for a reason. During the glacier hike, you will be able to explore the "cooler" part of it. Glacier hikes, followed by ice climbing and ice caving, are one of the best ways to explore the ancient ice formations. There are several locations in Iceland where you can go glacier hiking, Skaftafell and Sólheimajökull being among the most popular of them. You can learn the main differences between the two in our Skaftafell vs. Sólheimajökull video:
Want to explore glaciers in the most sustainable way? Then eco-friendly glacier adventure is the right choice for you! During this tour, you will not only go on a thrilling glacier hike but also hear the history of the glaciers and how they are affected by climate change. You can see our glacier guide Francesco Li Vigni giving an introduction to glacier retreat here.
DAY 3: SNOWMOBILING AND ICE CAVING
When you take snowmobiling and ice caving, there's nothing better than combining them both. Engage in two exhilarating activities on the same day!
Snowmobiling and Ice Caving tour on Langjökull glacier in Iceland
Your snowmobiling and ice caving tour will take you to the top of the Langjökull Glacier, the longest and the second largest glacier in Iceland. After a thrilling ride, a visit to a natural cave awaits you. Ice caves are a natural phenomenon that is constantly moving and changing - which is why the glacier guides start the winter season by searching for new ones. With ice caves, you'll never know what to expect, but you are sure that it's going to be amazing to step into the frozen ice palace within the glacier!
Ice cave visit during Snowmobiling and Ice Caving tour on Langjökull glacier, Iceland
If you still have any doubts, you can watch the first-hand experiences from the Snowmobiling and Ice Cave tour here.
DAY 4: REYKJAVIK AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
You cannot really say that you've visited Iceland without visiting its capital, right? Reykjavik is a city full of life and vibrant colors. The country's capital is also a hub for culture with modern museums, vivid nightlife, and numerous shops, restaurants, and galleries.
Northern Lights over the Reykjavik city at night, Iceland
The other big advantage of the Icelandic capital is that it's extremely close to nature. You can easily visit the famous Blue Lagoon and Golden Circle or catch the Northern Lights. Northern Lights tours are one of the most popular activities to participate in from Reykjavik. You can see the magical auroras dancing in the night sky only a short distance from Reykjavik if you know where to look. During the Northern Lights tour, your knowledgeable guide will take you to places with the highest chances of seeing the aurora borealis. So, hop on a Super Jeep and go exploring the Northern lights!
SEE YOU SOON!
There is nowhere on Earth quite like Iceland, especially in winter when the ice and snow come out to glisten and the Northern Lights are dancing across our skies. We hope you’ll get the chance to pop by soon and join us on one of our winter tours!