Reykjavik in December
Short days, Christmas lights, and some of the world’s most spectacular New Year fireworks set off by residents all over the city.
Is December a good time to visit Reykjavik?
December is a middling month in Reykjavik — crowds around 56/100. Not the worst, but November is noticeably calmer.
Book things to do
Tours and tickets in Reykjavik, from our booking partner.
What’s on in December
- Christmas
- New Year’s Eve bonfires and fireworks
Best days in December
Weekdays are almost always calmer than weekends.
Tue is normally the calmest day of the week.
Best hours in December
The daily rhythm, hour by hour.
The 9:00 AM window is usually the calmest of the day.
Weather in December
Typical highs, lows and wet days.
How December compares
Every month in Reykjavik, ranked by how calm it is.
Quieter alternatives
If your dates are flexible, these months are calmer in Reykjavik.
Frequently asked questions
Is December a good month to visit Reykjavik?
December is a middling month in Reykjavik — crowds around 56/100. Not the worst, but November is noticeably calmer.
How crowded is Reykjavik in December?
Reykjavik sits at roughly 56/100 in December on our crowd scale, which is 4 points below the yearly average. The quietest month is November.
What is the weather like in Reykjavik in December?
Expect highs around 3°C and lows near -2°C in December, with about 18 wet days across the month.
Sources
Weather: 1995–2024 averages from the Reykjavík weather station (NOAA GHCN-Daily); rain days count days with at least 1 mm.
Crowd scores are modelled estimates, not live counts.How the model works
Events, holidays and practical notes are checked against these official pages: