Iceland : Festive Reykjavik

Who for? Those who wish to celebrate Christmas or New Year with a difference and return home with a wealth of special memories.

Christmas and New Year are a chance for Icelandic families to spend time together at home. Surrounding the quiet family celebrations are many delightful traditions and customs that visitors too may enjoy. In the 13 days before Christmas, the 13 Christmas ‘Lads’, known locally as the ‘Jolasveinar’, come down from the hills to make mischief in the towns and villages – perhaps you will encounter one of them! Visitors with children should take note – leave a shoe in the window overnight and hopefully the ‘Lad’ of the day will leave a small gift…

The wonderful Christmas lights are everywhere - in the streets, adorning windows, on balconies and covering gardens, but even they cannot compare with the light show on New Year’s Eve. Just before midnight a riot of colour and sound explodes over the city as everyone sets off spectacular fireworks to welcome in the New Year. The city also plays host to numerous concerts and choirs and there seems to be something musical happening on every street corner. And the legendary nightlife steps up a gear for the special celebrations.

One of the most popular optional excursions at this time of year is to head out of Reykjavik in search of the awesome northern lights - either by coach or superjeep. And of course, the famed Golden Circle route is something that takes on a whole new look under a blanket of snow.

Reykjavik is a city known for its fine dining and during the festive season many restaurants offer exceptional menus making the most of top quality Icelandic produce – however availability is understandably limited and if you wish to make a reservation in advance, or would like some restaurant recommendations for festive buffets oe special evenings, please give our team a call. On a more traditional note, be sure to taste ‘Laufabraud’, a tasty side dish similar to ‘poppadoms’, traditionally prepared by all the family and highly addictive!

A city break for 3 or 4 nights during the festive season is simply magical although should you wish to stay for longer we can tailor-make a trip to suit.

We pride ourselves on our ability to tailor-make holidays, so if you cannot find exactly what you are looking for on this website, then let us find it for you. Most of our holidays can be adapted to suit your personal requirements or we can create a completely bespoke itinerary. If you would like to discuss your options further, please complete our enquiry form.