Iceland Holidays

Iceland holidays are one of the few breaks away where you can see a glacier, soak in a geothermal lagoon, and chase the Northern Lights all in one day.

Holidays to Iceland 2026 highlights

• Northern Lights – the ultimate winter main event, painting the dark night skies in electric greens and purples from late September through mid-April.

• The Blue Lagoon – steam, 38°C milky geothermal waters, silica face masks, and a swim-up bar smack-bang in the middle of a jagged black lava field - pure relaxation.

• The Golden Circle – Iceland’s iconic day-trip loop packing the erupting Strokkur geyser, the thundering Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park all into one epic outing.

• Glacier Adventures – strap on crampons for a walk across Vatnajökull (Europe's biggest ice cap) or explore glowing natural ice caves beneath the surface in winter.

• The Midnight Sun – endless daylight from late May to early August, when the clock hits 11pm and it still feels like 3 in the afternoon. Total main-character energy.

• Reykjavik Vibes – a capital with huge personality, packed with colourful timber houses, the towering Hallgrímskirkja church, legendary coffee spots, and a notoriously lively pub circuit - Reykjavik is an absolute must for any city break lover.

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. If you want our top tips for doing Iceland on a budget, see our FAQ's.

• 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).

• City Breaks - Iceland also works brilliantly as a city break - three to four nights in Reykjavik covers the headline sights without needing to hire a car - sounds like a dream to us.

Top 5 Things to Do on Iceland Holidays

• Snorkel between two continents at Silfra – suit up in a drysuit and float through the crystal-clear, glacier-fed rift in Thingvellir where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates tear apart.

• Soak in oceanfront thermal waters at Sky Lagoon – swap the crowded classic spa for this cliffside geothermal infinity pool overlooking the North Atlantic, complete with a traditional seven-step wellness ritual.

• Plunge into a dormant volcano chamber – lower 120 metres straight down into the ancient, colourful magma cavern of Þríhnúkagígur aboard an open cable lift.

• Walk behind a thunderous waterfall at Kvernufoss – ditch the massive tour buses at Skógafoss and follow a quiet river gorge to duck directly behind the roaring veil of this hidden gem.

• Snowmobile across a massive ice cap – trade the standard tour bus for a high-speed thrill ride floating over the endless white horizons of the Langjökull glacier.

Top hotels for Iceland holidays 2026/2027

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 science or something. City escapes aren't always the kinda holiday you plan; 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 Honours 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 Centre 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 hotel 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 Honours 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.

• Centre 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)

Getting to Iceland

Three hours. That's all that stands between you and a country with more volcanoes than traffic lights, geothermal lagoons you can actually swim in, and a sky that occasionally turns green. Direct flights to Reykjavik Keflavik run year-round from London Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol - meaning Iceland is genuinely closer than a lot of people realise, and significantly more dramatic than anything you'd find on a four-hour flight to the Med.

Icelandair and EasyJet both operate UK routes, with frequencies picking up in summer for the midnight sun crowd and again in autumn for the Northern Lights chasers. Timing matters here more than most destinations - aurora season runs late September through April, and peak viewing windows book out fast once solar activity forecasts start circulating. Book an Iceland holiday package with OTB and your flights and hotel are locked in together under one ATOL-protected booking from £19pp deposit, so when everyone else is panic-refreshing availability in October, you're already sorted.

Iceland Holidays 2026 / 2027 - Travel Guide

Couples

• Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik - small-group bus tours run nightly between September and April, with free re-bookings if the aurora doesn't show on your night. Most operators include hot chocolate and a guide who knows the dark-sky lay-bys.

• Sky Lagoon at sunset - the alternative to the Blue Lagoon, on the Reykjavik coast with an ocean-view infinity edge and a seven-step bathing ritual. Premium-end pricing but worth it for the sunset slot.

• Tasting menu at Dill - Iceland's first Michelin-starred restaurant, hyper-local seasonal cooking that rotates with what's foraged and farmed that month. Book weeks ahead.

• Private hot pot at a country guesthouse - outside Reykjavík, 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. Discounted family tickets standard.

• Reykjavik's geothermal pools - the city has six public swimming pools heated by geothermal water, all with hot pots and slides, costing about £8 / €10 for adults and half that for kids. Laugardalslaug is the biggest and most family-friendly, and properly cheap next to the headline spas.

• Settlement Exhibition (Landnámssýningin) - built around an excavated Viking longhouse from around 871 AD, in central Reykjavik. Properly hands-on for older kids, and 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.

• 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 suitable for kids from around age six.

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, and one of the cheaper ways to cover the whole country at your own pace.

• Super-jeep tour to the Highlands - modified 4x4s heading into the volcanic interior, Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, glacier crossings, places ordinary cars can't reach. Premium-end day trips for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

• Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull - half-day guided crampon-and-ice-axe walks on the most accessible glacier from Reykjavik. No experience needed; the operators provide everything.

• 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, the clearest fresh water on earth.

• 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 classic introductory loop hitting Thingvellir National Park, the erupting Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall. The most-booked day trip in the country.

• The South Coast - massive waterfalls like Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss (the one you can walk behind), the black sand beaches at Reynisfjara, and basalt sea stacks at Vík. A full day with serious scenery.

• Snæfellsnes Peninsula - often called 'Iceland in Miniature', this region is packed with glaciers, lava fields, and the famously photogenic Kirkjufell mountain. A long but rewarding day.

• Silfra Fissure Snorkelling - snorkel between the tectonic plates in crystal-clear glacier-fed water. Freezing cold, but the visibility runs to 100m, and the bragging rights are real.

• Into the Glacier - drive up Langjökull in a modified glacier vehicle and walk inside a man-made ice tunnel carved 30m below the surface. Year-round, around £150 / €180 a head.

• Reykjadalur Hot Spring Hike - a 3km hike from Hveragerði that rewards you with a dip in a natural hot river. Free, scenic, and feels properly off-the-beaten-track despite being 45 minutes from the capital.

More Destinations

If Iceland isn't on your bucket list (even after you've heard all about it), don't worry, we've got plenty of other options that are giving a similar vibe; have a nosy below and thank us later:

• 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.