Iceland Reykjavik Weather in December — Climate Guide
December in Reykjavik is very-high
December is very-high for Reykjavik.
Aurora peak + Christmas atmosphere + NYE bonfires + ice caves. Daylight only 4h (sunrise 11:30, sunset 15:30) means a single midday outdoor window. Storms frequent — pad days for weather.
Travel score
Aurora peak + Christmas Yule Lads + spectacular NYE fireworks
December Weather at a Glance
December averages 36°F / 2°C highs and 27°F / -3°C lows with 14 precipitation days and 80mm. Sunshine 0 hours (technically — direct sunlight rare). Daylight only 4 hours (11:30-15:30). Wind chill -10°C standard, -15°C on windy days. Sea 5°C. The darkest, stormiest, most-atmospheric month — peak Aurora odds combine with peak Christmas-NYE pricing crush.
December Travel Advice
Book hotels 8-12 weeks ahead for Dec 26-Jan 2 NYE window — prices double. Pre-book Aurora tours with re-try guarantees (3-4 attempts often needed). Switch to guided South Coast tours — self-drive extreme risk. NYE fireworks at Hallgrímskirkja: arrive 22:30 for any spot, fireworks at midnight from every Reykjavik resident's personal stockpile. Þorláksmessa (Dec 23) skate fish dinner is the traditional pre-Christmas meal.
Flying In from Overseas
Christmas-NYE peak inbound from US (NYC + Boston direct), UK, Germany, Korea, Japan. Direct flights at year-peak: NYC-KEF $400-700 NYE week, London $300-550, Frankfurt $450-700. Korean winter break drives Asian Aurora travelers via Helsinki/Frankfurt $1,800-2,800. 8-12 weeks advance booking essential.
December Pricing Trends
Peak pricing Dec 26-Jan 2: Reykjavik 4-star $400-750/night, Hotel Borg $700-1,400, Retreat at Blue Lagoon $2,500-4,500, ION Adventure $700-1,500. Blue Lagoon $120-200 NYE week. Aurora tour $90-120. Ice cave $250-350. 4x4 rental $130-200/day. Most expensive Aurora-season month.
Reykjavik December Weather Stats
Avg High
2°C
Avg Low
-3°C
Rainy Days
14
80mm total
Sunshine
0h
Daily avg
Humidity
82%
humid
UV Index
0
Low
Wind
25 km/h
Gusts 70
Sea Temp
5°C
no swimming
Crowds
Very busy
At attractions
December Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
10 μg/m³
PM10
18 μg/m³
Status
good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
-3°C
Nighttime
-10°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
25 km/h
Max gust 70 km/h
Activities Recommended for December
December Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Aurora peak (KP frequent, dark skies)
- Christmas atmosphere + Yule Lads + traditional foods
- NYE fireworks at Hallgrímskirkja spectacular
- Ice cave tours operating
- Traditional Þorláksmessa skate fish dinner
Cons
- Only 4h daylight (11:30-15:30)
- Bitter cold + storms close roads
- Hotels at NYE peak (Dec 26-Jan 2)
- Roads close 8-10 days/month
- Self-drive extreme risk
December Events & Festivals
- Christmas season + 13 Yule Lads (Dec 12-24 — one Yule Lad per night brings small gifts to children's shoes)
- Þorláksmessa (Dec 23 — traditional skate fish dinner)
- Christmas Eve (main Icelandic Christmas celebration — opens at 6 PM sharp)
- Áramót / New Year's Eve fireworks at Hallgrímskirkja (Iceland buys $5M of fireworks personally — the world's most spectacular DIY NYE)
Reykjavik in December — Full Picture
Aurora peak + Christmas atmosphere + NYE bonfires + ice caves. Daylight only 4h (sunrise 11:30, sunset 15:30) means a single midday outdoor window. Storms frequent — pad days for weather.
What to Wear & What to Pack
Bitter wind + dark + wet. Heavy down coat (700+ fill), waterproof + windproof outer shell, thermal merino base + mid-fleece, scarf, waterproof boots with deep grip, insulated gloves, wool beanie, microspikes. Hand warmers in pockets. Like Korean coldest January or worse with wind chill.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
6.7°C
1.3°C
12/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
13.7°C
8°C
10.3/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
7.3°C
2.7°C
13/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
Current2.3°C
-2.7°C
13/mo
Reykjavik Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2° | -3° | 13d·75mm | 1h | 80% | 0 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 3° | -2° | 12d·70mm | 2h | 79% | 1 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 4° | -1° | 13d·80mm | 4h | 78% | 1 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 6° | 1° | 12d·60mm | 5h | 75% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| May (Best) | 10° | 4° | 11d·50mm | 6h | 73% | 3 | Busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 13° | 7° | 10d·50mm | 7h | 73% | 4 | Very busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 14° | 9° | 10d·50mm | 6h | 75% | 4 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 14° | 8° | 11d·60mm | 5h | 78% | 3 | Very busy | Peak |
| September (Best) | 11° | 6° | 13d·70mm | 4h | 79% | 2 | Busy | Peak |
| 7° | 3° | 13d·75mm | 3h | 80% | 1 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 4° | -1° | 13d·80mm | 1h | 81% | 1 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| December (Best) | 2° | -3° | 14d·80mm | 0h | 82% | 0 | Very busy | Peak |
View Other Months
Reykjavik December Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is December a good time to visit Reykjavik?
Reykjavik in December is very-high. Tourist crowds are very busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Reykjavik in December?
Reykjavik December averages a high of 2°C and a low of -3°C.
Does it rain much in Reykjavik in December?
Reykjavik December averages 80mm of rainfall over about 14 rainy days.
What should I wear in Reykjavik in December?
Bitter wind + dark + wet. Heavy down coat (700+ fill), waterproof + windproof outer shell, thermal merino base + mid-fleece, scarf, waterproof boots with deep grip, insulated gloves, wool beanie, microspikes. Hand warmers in pockets. Like Korean coldest January or worse with wind chill.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Reykjavik in December?
Reykjavik December sunrise is 11:30 and sunset is 15:30, with 4h of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Reykjavik in December?
Reykjavik December air quality (AQI) averages 30, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 10μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Reykjavik in December?
In December, Reykjavik is great for Aurora viewing peak, Christmas markets (Hafnartorg + Ingólfstorg), NYE fireworks at Hallgrímskirkja.
Is December peak season in Reykjavik?
Reykjavik December crowds are very busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Reykjavik
View Other Months
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.