Iceland Trip

Iceland by month · winter

Iceland in January: what it is really like, and how to plan it

By · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated

January is the darkest month and one of the best for the northern lights and the blue ice caves, with the South Coast, the Golden Circle and Reykjavík all open and quiet. Plan short days around four to six hours of light, a 4x4 with winter tyres, and one spare day in five for a storm; leave the north and east of the Ring Road to travelers with more time than plans.

Key facts

Daylight
5.4 hours on the 15th in Reykjavík (sunrise 10:56, sunset 16:21)
Weather
Reykjavík averages -3 to 2 °C, about 158 mm of rain or snow (10-year normals)
Northern lights
14.2 dark hours a night mid-month: a good month
Highlands
All F-roads closed
Cost
About $1,471 - $1,948 per person for 7 days as a couple in comfort hotels, before flights
Crowds
Quiet everywhere outside the ice-cave tours and the Blue Lagoon

Weather in January

Around freezing on the coast and colder inland, with the year’s strongest winds and the most storms. Snow comes and goes in Reykjavík; it stays in the north.

January normals for four towns, from ten years of daily records
TownAverage highAverage lowRain or snow in the month
Reykjavík2 °C-3 °C158 mm
Vík3 °C-1 °C316 mm
Akureyri0 °C-6 °C112 mm
Egilsstaðir1 °C-5 °C149 mm
January normals for four towns, from ten years of daily records. ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, averaged over the most recent ten complete years. Any single day can be far from the average.

Daylight and darkness

On the 15th of January the sun is up for 5.4 hours in Reykjavík, from 10:56 to 16:21. The sky is fully dark for 14.2 hours, enough for the northern lights on a clear night. The longest nights of the year, 18 hours or more of darkness, but also the most cloud. Four nights gives you a fair chance; six is better.

Tonight's live northern lights verdict

Roads and the highlands

The South Coast and the Golden Circle are ploughed first and open most days. Passes in the north and east close for a day or two at a time. Every F-road is closed.

Every F-road is closed in January. Live road conditions on the Ring Road and main routes

Best in January

  • Crystal ice caves under Vatnajökull (guided only)
  • Northern lights on long dark nights
  • Þingvellir and Gullfoss under snow
  • Hot springs in the snow: Secret Lagoon, Sky Lagoon, Hvammsvík

Skip: A full Ring Road loop in one week. The north-east crossing closes too often to plan around.

What January costs

Quiet everywhere outside the ice-cave tours and the Blue Lagoon. Hotels and cars are at their cheapest, about 20% under the shoulder months.

A 7-day self-drive trip in January, by travel style
Travel stylePer personWhole party
Couple, budget rooms, standard car$1,249 - $1,665$2,498 - $3,329
Couple, comfort hotels, standard car$1,471 - $1,948$2,941 - $3,895
Couple, luxury hotels, 4x4$2,209 - $2,915$4,417 - $5,830
Family of 4, comfort hotels, 4x4$1,437 - $1,910$5,747 - $7,640
4 friends, budget rooms, standard car$1,092 - $1,463$4,369 - $5,853
A 7-day self-drive trip in January, by travel style. From the Iceland Trip budget model (last updated 2026-07-07): accommodation, car, fuel, food and two paid activities per person; flights excluded.

Run your own numbers in the budget calculator · Every month compared

Book ahead

  • Ice-cave tour from Jökulsárlón (sells out)
  • A 4x4 with winter tyres
  • Hotels on the South Coast with two-night stays
  • Travel insurance that covers weather delays

Pack

  • Crampons that strap to boots
  • Windproof shell over a warm layer
  • Headlamp
  • Swimsuit and a towel for the pools

Iceland in January: questions people ask

Is January a good time to visit Iceland?

Yes for the northern lights, ice caves and empty winter landscapes, if you accept short days, storms and a plan that stays on the South Coast and the Golden Circle. It is the wrong month for the highlands, long drives or a full Ring Road.

How many hours of daylight does Iceland have in January?

About four and a half hours at the start of the month in Reykjavík, nearly seven by the end. The figures for the middle of the month are on this page, computed for the date.

Can you drive the Ring Road in January?

Parts of it. The south and west are usually fine with winter tyres; the north-east between Mývatn and Egilsstaðir closes in storms and should not be on a fixed schedule.

Deeper reading on iceland-trip.com

Our sister site covers every place in depth: access, parking, seasons, what to expect. Written by the same team.