Iceland Holidays

Iceland is one of the few places where you can see a glacier, soak in a geothermal lagoon, and chase the Northern Lights all in one day. Think waterfalls that roar louder than your morning alarm, glaciers that look straight out of a fantasy film, and lagoons so blue they deserve their own fan club.

✨ Good to Know

• ☀️ Weather: Summer highs sit at 10 to 15°C with the famous midnight sun, winter hovers around 0°C with short days. Pack layers and waterproofs whatever month you go, the weather can flip four times in a day.

• 🍺 Pint price - around 1,200–1,500 ISK (£7–£9) — yep, a little spenny, but worth it when you’re toasting under the midnight sun.

• 🌋 Volcanic brag - Iceland has over 30 active volcanoes, and new eruptions can pop up when you least expect them (don’t worry, locals are absolute pros at dealing with them).

✨ Highlights of your Holidays to Iceland 2026

• 🌌 Northern Lights: the headline winter draw, visible from late September through to mid-April on clear dark nights. Best spotted on a guided tour out of Reykjavik or from a remote rural lodge.

• ♨️ The Blue Lagoon: milky blue geothermal water at 38 to 40°C surrounded by black lava fields, with silica face masks and a swim-up bar. The most-photographed spa in the world.

• 🚗 Golden Circle: the easiest day-loop from Reykjavik, taking in Thingvellir National Park (where the Icelandic parliament was founded in 930 AD), the erupting Strokkur geyser, and the thundering Gullfoss waterfall.

• 🧊 Glacier hiking: crampon-walks on Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, plus ice caves underneath it in winter. Half-day to full-day guided trips out of Skaftafell.

• 🌙 Midnight sun: from late May to early August the sun barely sets, and 11pm hikes feel like late afternoon. The opposite extreme of the winter dark.

• 🏛️ Reykjavik: colourful timber houses, the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church, a strong coffee scene, and one of the most distinctive small-city bar circuits in Europe.

🏆 Top 5 Things to Do on Iceland Holidays

• Chase the Northern Lights – the ultimate bucket-list moment. Head out of Reykjavik on a clear winter night for your best shot at the green and purple sky show.

• Soak in the Blue Lagoon – milky geothermal waters, a steamy mist, and silica face masks that make your skin glow brighter than the Aurora.

• Road-trip the Golden Circle – tick off Thingvellir National Park, the erupting Strokkur geyser, and the thundering Gullfoss waterfall in one epic loop.

• Hike a glacier – strap on some crampons and conquer Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier. An adventure and a bragging right all rolled into one.

• Explore Reykjavik – colourful streets, cosy coffee shops, craft beer bars, and the iconic Hallgrimskirkja church with views that stretch to forever. Talk about a city break to remember!

🏨 What are the Top Hotels to Stay at in Iceland?

In a land where the sun never sets, you might be thinking... when will I even have time to sleep? But trust us, you'll need to... it's just science or something. City escapes aren't always the kinda holiday you plan in advance, they're more of a last-minute escape kinda vibe, but whatever your vibe, we've got a hotel to suit you. See all hotels in Reykjavik, or browse our top picks below.

💑 Couples

• Canopy by Hilton Reykjavik City Centre is smack in the centre with stylish design-led rooms, local Icelandic art throughout, and walking distance to Laugavegur's bars and restaurants. Hilton Honors loyalty perks transfer.

• Reykjavik Marina, Berjaya Iceland Hotels sits on the old harbour with quirky nautical-themed rooms, harbour and mountain views, and direct walking access to the cinema and the Old Harbour bar scene. A properly characterful pick.

• Hotel Island Spa leans into the wellness angle with a hot tub, sauna and floating pool on site, plus modern rooms and a strong breakfast spread. A short drive from the centre, good for couples wanting downtime between excursions.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• Grand Hotel Reykjavik has dedicated family rooms and junior suites, an on-site spa with hot tubs, and a brasserie restaurant. Around 15 minutes' walk to the centre, with green space nearby.

• Midgardur by Center Hotels is a sleek, central spot right on Laugavegur with a cosy spa, hot tubs, family rooms, and modern rooms perfect for recharging after a day chasing waterfalls or the aurora.

• Fosshotel Reykjavik is a four-star with family rooms across multiple categories, the Haust Restaurant on site celebrating seasonal Icelandic ingredients, and a Beer Garden on the ground floor for parents needing a wind-down after a long day.

✨ Luxury

• Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton is a boutique luxury stay in the oldest part of Reykjavík, set in a former 1900s department store with eclectic vintage decor, a private bathhouse with hot tub and sauna, and a wine room serving breakfast. The most-characterful five-star option in town.

• Iceland Parliament Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton sits next to the Icelandic Parliament on Austurvöllur square, with luxury rooms and suites, a geothermal Parliament Spa, fine dining at Hjá Jóni, and historic ballroom space. Walking distance to Harpa, the cathedral and Laugavegur shopping.

• Hilton Reykjavik Nordica is the larger five-star Hilton on the eastern edge of the city centre, with the VOX Brasserie restaurant, a full-service Hilton Spa, and properly serious wellness facilities. Better value than the boutiques, particularly with Hilton Honors loyalty perks.

💰 Value

• Alda Hotel Reykjavik is stylish but more sensibly priced than the boutique pack, with a fitness centre, outdoor hot tub, and clean Nordic-design rooms a short stroll from the city's main sights.

• Center Hotels Plaza is a well-reviewed central pick with a daily happy hour, free buffet breakfast and walkable access to the headline sights. Solid mid-range.

• Fosshotel Baron is a four-star with family suites, daily happy hour and a properly central position. The pick for travellers wanting Reykjavik centre at a noticeably softer rate than the boutiques.

👉 All hotels in Reykjavik

🗣️ Local Lingo

Icelandic is the official language and English is spoken almost universally, Iceland has one of the highest English-fluency rates in the world. Locals don't expect visitors to attempt Icelandic (it's notoriously hard, with five grammatical cases and a thousand-year-old vocabulary), but a few phrases earn a smile:

• Halló, Hello

• Takk (or takk fyrir, thank you for it), Thanks

• Fyrirgefðu, Excuse me / sorry

• Skál!, Cheers (literally "bowl", what you say when clinking glasses)

• Bless, Goodbye (yes, really)

🧳 Iceland Holidays 2026 / 2027 - Travel Guide

💑 Couples

• 🌌 Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik: small-group bus tours run nightly between September and April, with re-bookings if the aurora doesn't show on your night. Around £55 to £80 a head.

• 🛁 Sky Lagoon at sunset: the alternative to the Blue Lagoon, on the Reykjavik coast with an ocean-view infinity edge, a seven-step bathing ritual and a pricier feel. Around £60 to £100 a head depending on package.

• 🥂 Tasting menu at Dill: Iceland's first Michelin-starred restaurant, hyper-local seasonal cooking that rotates with what's foraged and farmed that month. Around £130 a head before drinks. Book weeks ahead.

• 🏡 Private hot pot at a country guesthouse: outside Reykjavik, plenty of small farmstays have private outdoor hot tubs for guests, brilliant for an aurora night under the stars.

• 🌅 Walk the Reykjavík harbour at sunset: the best free activity in the city, with the Sun Voyager sculpture, the Harpa concert hall lit up after dark, and Faxa Bay views.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families

• 🐋 Whale-watching from Reykjavik harbour: boat trips run year-round (best April to October) to spot minke whales, humpbacks, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises. Around £80 for adults, £40 for kids.

• ♨️ Reykjavik's geothermal pools: the city has six public swimming pools heated by geothermal water, all with hot pots and slides, costing about £8 for adults and £4 for kids. Laugardalslaug is the biggest and most family-friendly.

• 🏛️ Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin): built around an excavated Viking longhouse from around 871 AD, in central Reykjavik. Properly hands-on for older kids, around £20 for adults, free for under-18s.

• 🦌 Family Park and Zoo (Húsdýragarðurinn): small Icelandic-animal-focused zoo and family park in Laugardalur with reindeer, foxes, seals and a kids' splash zone in summer. Around £12 entry.

• 🐎 Icelandic horse riding: Iceland's small, distinctive horses are a child-friendly riding experience even for non-riders. Several stables outside Reykjavik run 1-2 hour beginner trips from around £75 a head.

🥳 Groups

• 🚐 Ring Road campervan trip: rent a six-berth campervan from Reykjavik, do the 1,332 km loop in 5 to 7 days, sharing fuel and pitches. Properly memorable for a group of mates, around £150 a head per night including the van.

• 🚗 Super-jeep tour to the Highlands: modified 4x4s heading into the volcanic interior, Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, glacier crossings, places ordinary cars can't reach. Day trips from around £200 a head.

• 🏔️ Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull: half-day guided crampons-and-ice-axes walks on the most accessible glacier from Reykjavik. Around £85 a head, no experience needed.

• 🤿 Silfra Fissure snorkel: snorkel between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates in 2°C glacier-fed water (drysuits provided). Properly cold but visibility runs to 100m. Around £150 a head.

• 🍻 Reykjavik runtur (bar crawl): the local tradition of moving from bar to bar through the small hours. Kaffibarinn, Prikið, Pablo Discobar, Slippbarinn (see Nightlife below) all cluster within walking distance.

Best Day Trips to do on your holidays in Iceland

Reykjavík is the cool kid on the icy block, but the real magic happens when you leave the city limits and hit the open road. Whether you’re hiring a swanky 4x4 or hopping on a guided coach tour, these day trips are absolute belters that ensure your holidays to Iceland are packed with adventure.

• The Golden Circle - the OG route hitting Geysir, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park - a solid 10/10 introduction to the country.

• The South Coast - Chase massive waterfalls like Skógafoss and walk the moody black sands at Vík - totally gorge scenery everywhere.

• Snæfellsnes Peninsula - often called 'Iceland in Miniature', this region is packed with glaciers, lava fields, and that famous pointy mountain, Kirkjufell.

• Silfra Fissure Snorkelling - brave the cold to snorkel between tectonic plates in crystal clear water - it’s freezing, but you'll have achieved top-tier bragging rights... every cloud n' all that!

• Into the Glacier - head up Langjökull in a monster truck and walk inside a man-made ice tunnel - yes, it's as cool as it sounds.

• Reykjadalur Hot Spring Hike - a scenic hike that rewards you with a dip in a natural hot river - perfect for any active holiday goers out there.

🌍 More Destinations

• 🦌 Lapland (Finland), the direct aurora alternative, Northern Lights, husky safaris, glass-roofed igloos, Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, and a winter snow-and-fairy-tale feel that's properly different from Iceland's lava-and-glacier vibe. Direct flights to Rovaniemi, Levi and Kittilä in winter.

• 🌃 Helsinki (Finland), the Nordic city break for design lovers, Suomenlinna sea fortress, the Design District, sauna culture and a strong food scene. A 3-hour flight from the UK with year-round appeal.

• 🚲 Copenhagen (Denmark), Nyhavn's colourful harbourfront, Tivoli Gardens, Christiania, and one of the densest Michelin-star scenes in northern Europe. Cycle-friendly and walkable, brilliant for a long weekend.

• 🏰 Tallinn (Estonia), the medieval old town that's one of Europe's best-preserved, plus a strong digital-nomad coffee scene and a ferry hop to Helsinki for a two-city trip.

• 🇳🇱 Amsterdam (Netherlands), canals, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh, brown-café culture, and a flat city you can cycle in a day. The most accessible Northern European city break, an hour's flight from the UK.