Iceland

Our winter visit to Víkurfjara and Vík after Reynisfjara: a detour around the ridge, snow and sunshine over the beach, and an unexpected village zipline.

Our February 2025 winter visit to Reynisfjara, from the snowy parking walk to basalt columns and heavy surf, with updated guidance after coastal erosion.

My first close view of an Icelandic glacier at Sólheimajökull in February 2025, from the snowy approach and glacial lagoon to guided glacier hikes and current safety guidance.

A February 2025 stop at Skógafoss on Iceland's South Coast, from the snow-covered falls and a rainbow to the staircase viewpoint and a sky that turned dark on the walk back.

Our real winter route through Thingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Secret Lagoon and Kerid, including why an overnight stay near Geysir worked better for us than rushing the whole Golden Circle in one day.

We chose Kvíhólmi Premium Apartments to balance our South Coast driving route. It looked remote from outside, but the apartment was warm and comfortable, and after an unsuccessful late-night aurora drive, we returned to find our first Northern Lights right outside.

A February 2025 walk from Seljalandsfoss to nearby Gljúfrabúi on Iceland's South Coast, from frozen spray and a closed winter path to a hidden waterfall inside a narrow canyon.

A February 2025 visit to Kerið Crater on the Golden Circle, walking around the rim and down to the frozen crater lake. The scale of the volcanic landscape felt completely different from above and below.

A February 2025 visit to Secret Lagoon in Flúðir, a quiet Golden Circle geothermal bath with warm pools, a cold plunge, snowy paths and changing winter weather.

A winter stop at Gullfoss on Iceland's Golden Circle, where the broad Hvítá River drops in two stages before turning into a narrow canyon.

I walked from Hótel Geysir into the geothermal area, waited through a small false start for Strokkur's full eruption, then spent the morning exploring steaming pools and winter paths as snow began to fall.

My first night in Iceland was at Hótel Geysir, with a spotless room, geothermal steam visible beyond the balcony, the Geysir area within walking distance, and a breakfast that made the start of the road trip much easier.

I walked across the exposed winter landscape of Þingvellir toward Öxarárfoss as clear skies gradually gave way to snow. At the end of the long walk, I found the first waterfall of my Iceland trip.

My first stop in Iceland was a winter hike through the Fagradalsfjall volcanic landscape, with strong wind, black lava terrain, moss, rising steam and wide views across the Reykjanes Peninsula.

A personal stop at Brimketill on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, with black lava coastline, powerful Atlantic waves and practical safety notes for the viewing platform.

A personal visit to Keflavík International Airport, with practical notes on arrivals duty-free shopping, card payments, water and getting ready for an Iceland trip.

The safety, weather, road, parking and aurora tools I found useful in Iceland, plus practical lessons from driving, fuel stops and keeping a flexible road-trip schedule.

A personal visit to Sandholt in central Reykjavik, with notes on its pastries, sourdough sandwich, cream-filled doughnut, atmosphere, queues and practical information.