Holidays to Iceland
Spewing volcanoes and epic glaciers. Black-sand beaches and the ethereal midnight sun. Explore the land of ice and fire with a holiday to Iceland.
Meteorological madness
Want to play mischief with your circadian rhythm? Then head to Iceland between mid-May and mid-August, when the sun basically doesn’t set! For the ultimate midnight sun experience, head to the island of Grímsey for the summer solstice.
Then there’s the small matter of the Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis. While a glimpse of the emerald and purple lightshow is never guaranteed, for the best chance of seeing it, head high into the Arctic between September and late March.
Arctic adventures
Iceland, unsurprisingly, is home to quite a lot of ice – 11% of the Nordic country is glacial. These conditions are perfect for arctic hiking, sledding, snowmobiling and - no word of a lie - volcanic horse riding.
Elsewhere, explore the otherworldly ice-blue caves in Vatnajökull or Langjökull for a pinch me experience.
Epic road trips
Route 1 is the ultimate ring road in Iceland. With enough time, it’ll take you anywhere. Head east to Vatnajokull National Park and the mountains of Vestrahorn, or venture north for the frozen falls of the Icelandic highlands. Or stay in the southwest for the legendary Golden Circle tourist trail.
Wherever you go, it’s about the drive as much as the destination. Expect to encounter crazy canyons, lovely lagoons, arctic tundra and very few fellow road-trippers. Bonus points for a suitably dramatic playlist!
Beautiful (breezy) beaches
A beach holiday in Iceland? Surprisingly, this is very much a thing … but don’t pack your flip flops and sunscreen just yet.
You see, Iceland’s beaches offer more of a ‘gaze in wonder’ than a ‘sizzle by the shore’ experience. Head south for some of the best. Reynisfjara is all stacked rock formations, crashing waves and jet black sands. Not to be outdone, Diamond Beach ups the ante with long stretches of icebergs that shine in the sun.
Sneak Peek
Best for... Stunning scenery and out-of-this-world arctic adventures 🗻
Go... Around the Golden Circle to see it all in a day 🥾
You have to... Cake yourself in silica mud at the Blue Lagoon 🧖♀️
Iceland holiday deals
Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
4.3
Excellent
- 9 Jan 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Fosshotel Raudara
4.1
Very Good
- 9 Jan 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Fosshótel Reykjavík
4.5
Excellent
- 9 Jan 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
Prices from
CenterHotel Miðgarður
4.6
Excellent
- 9 Jan 2026
- 7 nights
- Room only
- From Gatwick
Prices from
Details
Currency
Icelandic Krona
Language
Icelandic
Time difference
GMT +0
Cost of a beer
1150 kr
3-course meal
5500 kr
Flight time
3 hrs
Exploration for all ages
From sneezing pandas to grumpy cats, nothing unites the generations like animals. And Iceland has plenty to show off. Alongside the usual farmyard fare at Reykjavik’s Family Park Zoo, you can see seals, arctic foxes and reindeers. Prefer your critters in the wild? Take the fam on a boat trip from Reykjavik, Akureyri or Husavik to spot whales, puffins and even more seals. You can also hop on the back on an Icelandic pony to trek around the Raudholar countryside.
Brilliant bites and challenging chomps
Iceland’s arctic environment leaves its mark on your plate. Harsh conditions, minimal sunlight and frozen soil equals inventive cuisine. You can taste your way around Iceland at Reykjavik’s Hlemmur Mathöll food hall. Expect local fish jerky, Harðfiskur (dried fish), Pýlsur (Icelandic hotdogs) and a whole heap of super salty liquorice. If your stomach’s harder than a Viking’s helmet, settle into Sægreifinn for Hákarl – that’s fermented shark to you and me. Wash it down with a shot of local spirit Brennivin, known locally as the Black Death or, if you’re put off by the sound of that (cue grimacing emoji), order a cold bottle of Kaldi beer instead. Skál!
The Golden Circle
While Iceland is a little over 300 miles across, its arctic terrain turns that into an eight-hour drive. But fret not, those hospitable Icelanders have portioned off a few of their best bits in sledding distance of the international airport. The Golden Circle tourist trail takes through the ludicrously large waterfalls of Gullfoss, the regularly spewing geysers of Geysir and the startlingly still waters of the Kerid Crater. And that’s not even the half of it. With all sights seen, take a detour to the milky geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon.
When to go to Iceland
The best time to visit Iceland depends on what’s on your to do list. If it’s a scroll of outdoor activities, June and August are your best bets. The sun will be shining (constantly) and milder weather means you can get your hike on without any hassle.
The darker and admittedly colder months between September and March are prime Northern Lights spotting time. Hop on a night cruise or camp out to up your odds of seeing this magical light show.
For cheap Iceland holidays with fewer tourists and easy exploration weather, book for October, November, April or May.
