Trends · 5 min read
Coolcations: why Iceland in winter is the trip of the year
Northern lights, glacier lagoons and cheaper flights than summer.
The trend
As summers get hotter, travelers are heading somewhere cool. Iceland in winter has the darkest skies for the aurora and fares from the East Coast often under $400.
A 5-day loop
Reykjavík (1) → Golden Circle (1) → South Coast black sand beaches and waterfalls (2) → Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon (1). Book a guided ice-cave tour from Skaftafell.
Keep costs down
Iceland is pricey — stay in guesthouses with kitchens, buy groceries at Bónus, and do free hot springs instead of only the Blue Lagoon.
Jamie's quick tips
- Rent a 4x4 and check road.is every morning.
- Aurora app + clear skies = go outside at 11pm.
- Layers: wool base, down, waterproof shell.
