Iceland is beautiful, but I really don’t recommend coming alone!

Having a like-minded travel buddy who can walk, stop, and take photos with you is truly important.
Iceland’s winter is vast and quiet; alone, you can easily be moved by its beauty, but also swallowed by loneliness.

People often say you should visit Iceland twice a year—
once in summer to see the green grass and midnight sun;
once in winter to see the aurora and ice caves❄️
And winter is when Iceland shows its most mysterious side.

For those planning to visit Iceland 🇮🇸 in winter:
If you want to avoid pitfalls 💣, be sure to read this guide carefully👇
Though I can’t cover everything, I’ll try to be detailed to help you avoid trouble and travel with peace of mind!
-
🧳 Winter packing essentials:
📌 Clothing: waterproof down jacket + thermal underwear + sweater + fleece pants + windproof hat + scarf + warm gloves
📌 Shoes: anti-slip snow boots✅ (regular hiking shoes might not be enough)
📌 Electronics: camera📷, tripod, waterproof and cold-resistant batteries, power bank (cold drains batteries fast)
📌 Daily necessities: hotels generally don’t provide toiletries, so bring your toothbrush, toothpaste, skincare, and lip balm
📌 Special reminder: Iceland’s winter wind is very strong, be sure to bring a windproof shell + glasses to protect your face
-
🚗 Travel recommendations:
1️⃣ Don’t trust low-cost tours!
Winter road conditions are complex, and cheap tours often cut corners on vehicles, accommodation, and safety.
Safety, experience, and professional drivers are very important⚠️

2️⃣ Not recommended to drive alone!
Black ice, blizzards, and road closures are common, and it’s really unsafe alone.
It’s better to choose a small group tour of 2-8 people with experienced guides and drivers, allowing flexible stops,
which saves you worry and lets you focus on enjoying the scenery.
-
❄️ Practical itinerary reference (winter highlights)
D1: Arrive in Reykjavik – airport pickup to hotel – Hallgrímskirkja Church – Sun Voyager
D2: Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – Skógafoss Waterfall – Vik Black Sand Beach – Plane Wreck
D3: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Diamond Beach – Blue Ice Cave Adventure (open only in winter❄️)
D4: Golden Circle day tour: Geysir – Gullfoss Waterfall – Þingvellir National Park
D5: Reykjavik city tour – soak in Blue Lagoon♨
D6: Return
-
Winter must-see highlights:
🌌 Aurora viewing: October to March is the peak aurora season; choose areas far from city light pollution.
🧊 Blue Ice Cave adventure: a natural wonder open only in winter, must go with a professional guide!
🏔️ Black Sand Beach + waterfalls: the stark contrast of white snow and black sand is Iceland’s most stunning scene.
🧖‍♀️ Blue Lagoon hot springs: soaking in hot springs while snowflakes fall is truly a blissful experience.
🛻 Icelandic horse farm experience: winter-only riding activity, the little horses in the snow are super cute.
-
🫶 In short, winter in Iceland is romantic, pure, but also a bit challenging.
Its beauty deserves to be “shared,”
so bring along someone you trust and who understands you, and go see the aurora together💚