January weather guide

Iceland weather in January

Darkest month — peak aurora season but brutal weather

Score18Tough
Typical day3°C37°F · low -2°C
Rain & sun87mm0.7 hrs sun/day
Aurora borealis over Iceland — vibrant green and blue lights dancing across a star-filled night sky
By
Institutional byline · Updated

What the weather is like in January

Avg high
3°C
37°F
Avg low
-2°C
28°F
Rainfall
87mm
off-peak
Sun / day
0.7 hrs

January gets just 4–5 hours of daylight (0.7 hours of actual sun) and some of the year's wettest weather (87mm in Reykjavík, with storms driving the worst of it). Aurora-hunting potential is at its absolute peak when skies clear, but Ring Road conditions are unpredictable. F-roads and the Highlands are completely closed.

Against December, January runs about the same temperature with 8mm less rain.

These January averages are station normals for Reykjavik (Icelandic Met Office / NOAA, via Wikipedia, 1991-2020); other parts of Iceland vary. Full sources below.

Iceland in January, on the ground

January is mid-winter in Iceland: cold, often stormy, with daylight returning from about four hours a day to about seven by month’s end. Clear, calm nights are excellent for the northern lights, and the snow-covered landscapes are at their most photogenic.

Crowds and prices in January

After the New Year rush, January is among the cheapest months for hotels and car hire, and the main sights are at their quietest. Tours depend on the weather, so a flexible itinerary helps.

What to do in January

  • Go snowmobiling on Langjökull or Mýrdalsjökull with a licensed operator.
  • Take a guided ice cave tour in the Vatnajökull area, in the heart of the season.
  • Soak in a geothermal pool, from the Blue Lagoon to the town pools Icelanders use themselves.

Before you book: Hire a four-wheel drive with proper winter tyres, and avoid unlit rural driving after dark.

What to pack for Iceland in January

  • Serious winter layers & an insulated coat
  • Hat, gloves and thermal base layers

What's on in January

  • Þorrablót (Mid-winter feast) (Nationwide) — Traditional Viking-era food festival running through Þorri (mid-Jan to mid-Feb). Hákarl (fermented shark), svið (sheep's head), and other challenging dishes. Found at restaurants and community gatherings island-wide.

Is January the right month?

Iceland's best month, July, is six months after January; the toughest, November, is two months before. If your dates can move, August is the nearest best-season month. See the full month-by-month breakdown for Iceland, or where else to go in January.

Where to stay in January

January is low season in Iceland: rooms cost less, but the weather is less reliable. A rate you can cancel keeps your options open.

  • Reykjavík (city center)$$$
    Base for Golden Circle + day trips, restaurantsThe natural starting and ending point. Walking distance to Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, the harbor, and most restaurants. Most aurora day-trips depart from Reykjavík hotels.See hotels in Reykjavík for 12–18 Jan 2027
  • South Coast (Vík / Hella / Hvolsvöllur)$$
    Ring Road segment, Seljalandsfoss/Skógafoss baseMid-route stop for Ring Road travelers. Vík has the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. Smaller villages but well-equipped guesthouses and a few standout hotels.See hotels in Iceland for 12–18 Jan 2027
  • Akureyri (North Iceland)$$
    Mývatn aurora, north Ring Road, less-visited Iceland"Capital of the north" — second-largest town in Iceland, excellent base for Mývatn (Iceland's aurora hot spot, less light pollution than the south) and the Diamond Circle.See hotels in Iceland for 12–18 Jan 2027
  • Höfn (Southeast)$$
    Vatnajökull glacier, Diamond Beach, JökulsárlónSmall fishing town that's the launching point for the Vatnajökull glacier and Diamond Beach. Famous for langoustine. Limited accommodation — book ahead.See hotels in Iceland for 12–18 Jan 2027

Links open a hotel search for 12–18 Jan 2027; you can change the dates there. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Before you go

Book the rest of your January trip

Partner links. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

Is January a good time to visit Iceland?
January scores 18/100 on the Atlas Ranger Score — "Tough" — which blends weather with crowds and price. January is off-peak in Iceland — fewer crowds and better prices, in exchange for less reliable weather than the July peak.
How warm is Iceland in January?
Expect daytime highs around 3°C (37°F) and overnight lows near -2°C (28°F), with about 0.7 hours of sun a day.
Does it rain in Iceland in January?
January sees roughly 87mm of rain — moderate rainfall; a packable rain layer helps.
What should I pack for Iceland in January?
For January, pack: Serious winter layers & an insulated coat; Hat, gloves and thermal base layers.
Is Iceland quiet in January?
Yes — January is off-peak, so expect fewer people and lower prices than the July peak, in exchange for less reliable weather.

Sources: Visit Iceland (Official tourism) · Icelandic Met Office / NOAA: Reykjavik, 1991-2020 · Veðurstofa Íslands (Icelandic Met Office) + road.is · U.S. State Department Iceland Travel Advisory · NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Full provenance on the Iceland guide.

Keep planning

Plan your Iceland trip