New Year in Reykjavik: bonfires, fireworks and what is closed on 31 December
New Year's Eve in Reykjavik starts around a bonfire. Then the city goes quiet for almost an hour, and after midnight the sky above the capital glows for more than an hour. That is what an Icelandic New Year looks like if you plan it in advance.
In Reykjavik, ten bonfires are lit on New Year's Eve, and buses stop running already in the afternoon (as of 09/2026, Reykjavík). Below is the schedule for New Year's night, practical details for December 31, and a route through the south of the island for the holiday week.
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How New Year's night unfolds in Reykjavik
💡 In short:
- Bonfires are lit around 8:30 PM, at ten locations across the city.
- From 10:30 PM to 11:35 PM, almost the entire country watches Áramótaskaup, and the streets empty out.
- Fireworks start after 11:30 PM and keep going for more than an hour.
- Strætó buses on December 31 run only in the first half of the day.
- Bonfire times and evening schedule: 09/2026, according to Visit Reykjavík.
Icelandic New Year starts as a family dinner. Several generations sit down at the table, then everyone heads to the nearest bonfire together. People return to the TV by 10:30 PM, and the loud part of the night starts only after the fireworks.
The evening follows the same order year after year: dinner, bonfire, TV show, fireworks, clubs. In central Reykjavik, all of this is within walking distance, so you do not need a car. The catch: taxis after midnight involve a long wait.
© Franzrycou · CC BY-SAPhoto: Franzrycou, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsBonfires: dinner first, then the fire
The tradition is called Áramótabrenna. The fire is lit around 8:30 PM, and in Reykjavik alone there are ten such bonfires, according to RÚV. Two large bonfires burn on the islet of Geirsnef and near Gufunes, while the rest are spread across the city's neighborhoods.
© Mark Potocnjak · CC BY-SAPhoto: Mark Potocnjak, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsYou can walk to the nearest fire. Bonfires burn in Laugardalur, Úlfarsfell, Kléberg, Suðurhlíðar and other neighborhoods, and the city publishes the list of locations. Bring a thermos and do not expect to leave quickly: you will stand by the fire for at least half an hour.
Good to know: people do not set off their own fireworks near the bonfire. City services monitor what goes into the fire and ask everyone to follow the same rules.
Áramótaskaup: at 10:30 PM the streets empty out
Around 10:30 PM, people leave the bonfires and head home. There is one reason: Áramótaskaup begins, the New Year's satirical review of the year on the state television channel RÚV. The show has aired since 1966 and draws up to 90 percent of the country's residents to their screens (as of 09/2026, Reykjavik tourist office).
During these minutes, central Reykjavik is truly empty. If you want photos of streets without people, shoot between 10:30 PM and 11:35 PM. Bars are also half-empty at this hour, and you will find a table without a reservation.
AIIllustrative image: AI-generatedFireworks: where to watch in Reykjavik
The fireworks start after 11:30 PM and last for more than an hour. They are launched not from a single site but from all over the city, so the sky lights up from every direction at once.
Two classic viewing spots: the square by Hallgrímskirkja church in the center and the Öskjuhlíð hill southeast of the center. The hill offers a panorama, but the climb is slippery in winter, and a flashlight is essential in the dark.
Dress as if you are going for a long walk. The fireworks can easily stretch for an hour, and the wind makes the wait feel colder than the thermometer suggests.
ICE-SAR fireworks: the display supports rescue workers
In Iceland, rockets are sold not only by stores. The rescue association ICE-SAR runs a campaign every year, and fireworks sales provide up to 80 percent of its annual budget (as of 09/2026, Iceland Review). The association has more than 5,000 volunteers and around a hundred sales points across the country.
© Börkur Sigurbjörnsson from Barcelona · CC BYPhoto: Börkur Sigurbjörnsson from Barcelona, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsFor you, this means one simple thing: buy your rockets from official ICE-SAR tents. That way you pay for the work of rescue workers who head out on calls in snow and storms during winter, rather than for a random roadside stand.
Clubs and bars after midnight
After the fireworks, the second part of the night begins. Clubs and bars line the streets of Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur, with another cluster operating between Ingólfstorg and the old harbor. All of it is within the center, within walking distance.
Entry to popular clubs on New Year's Eve is paid, and the line by 1 a.m. is long. Arrive early or pick a spot farther from the main street.
The night is short only on paper. Many places stay open until morning, and you'll get back to your hotel in the dawn twilight.
Buses, shops, and the Blue Lagoon on December 31
The main thing about transport: on December 31, Strætó buses stop running during the day, and there is no public transit in Reykjavik in the evening or at night. Check the exact time of the last departures in the schedule on Strætó in advance.
The good news: the city center is compact. From Ingólfstorg to Öskjuhlíð hill is about 2.5 km, a 30-35 minute walk on the map. On New Year's Eve, order a taxi before 11 p.m.; after that, you'll wait a long time for a car.
The Blue Lagoon on December 31 is open 08:00-18:00 instead of its usual evening hours: hours verified on 11.09.2026 on the official website. Shops and supermarkets close earlier; check opening hours on the specific chain's website.
Book hotels in the center for New Year's dates in advance: the city is packed on those days. See hotels on Trip.com.
© G. Edward Johnson · CC BYPhoto: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsNorthern lights instead of fireworks
If you don't need the noise, Iceland's New Year's celebrations have a quiet version. Late December and early January offer the best chances to see the northern lights: the nights are the longest, and daylight hours are short.
The aurora doesn't appear on a schedule. You need three things: clear skies, darkness, and patience. Get at least 20-30 km out of the city, to a place with no streetlights.
Photographers will want a tripod and a spare battery: in the cold, batteries drain faster. A shutter speed of a few seconds and a wide-open aperture will get you a shot even with a basic camera.
© Marco Ottobelli · CC BY-SAPhoto: Marco Ottobelli, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsNorthern lights tours leave Reykjavik in the evening and return after midnight. During the holidays, spots sell out in advance, so book Iceland tours on GetYourGuide before your trip.
The aurora is unpredictable: even on a clear night, it may not appear. If the northern lights are the main goal of your trip, plan for two or three nights, not just one.
Tours and tickets in Reykjavik
Guided tours, skip-the-line tickets and activities — most offers can be cancelled free of charge.
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Winter Iceland without the crowds
In winter, Iceland shows you something you won't see in summer: empty attractions. Gullfoss, Geysir, and Þingvellir National Park on the Golden Circle are almost deserted in late December.
The drive from Reykjavik takes about an hour, but in winter you need all-wheel drive and experience driving in snow. If you're not comfortable with those conditions, take a bus tour.
On the south coast in winter, the black sand beach Reynisfjara and the waterfalls Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss are open. At Reynisfjara, stay well back from the water: the waves come in higher than they look.
Ice caves and Vatnajökull glacier are accessible only with a guide. You don't enter a cave on your own; it's life-threatening.
Plan around the short daylight hours. In late December it's light roughly from 11:00 to 16:00, so build your itinerary around sunrise, not after lunch.
8-Day route through southern Iceland
Eight days is enough to see both the city and the south coast. The order is: first Reykjavik, then the Golden Circle, then south to the glacier. Leave one unplanned day between transfers, winter weather changes the itinerary.
Day | What to see | How to get there |
|---|---|---|
1-2 | Reykjavik: city center, Hallgrimskirkja, harbor | on foot |
3 | Golden Circle: Gullfoss, Geysir, Thingvellir | car or tour |
4-5 | South coast: Skogafoss, Reynisfjara | car or tour |
6 | Glacier and ice caves | guided tour only |
7 | Blue Lagoon or city pools | transfer |
8 | Departure via Keflavik | Flybus |
On New Year's Eve in Reykjavik there is an evening cruise: you see the fireworks from the water, and it is a different perspective than from the hill. Spots on these cruises sell out long before the holiday.
If you are driving, book your car in advance: in December the choice of models is smaller and prices are higher. Car rental in Iceland on DiscoverCars.
Before you set off, check your insurance, the weather forecast along your route, and road closures on the road authority website. In a storm the pass closes, and plans change the same day.
What to know before the trip
January in Reykjavik is milder than people expect: the average temperature stays around freezing (as of 09/2026, Icelandic Met Office). The cold comes from the wind, not the frost, so how it feels does not match the number on the thermometer.
Dress in layers: thermal base layer, fleece, shell jacket, hat, gloves. Waterproof boots matter more than a warm sweater.
From our travel experience: a common mistake is one pair of shoes for the whole week. Boots do not have time to dry, and you spend the day in wet footwear. Take a second pair.
New Year in Iceland is celebrated with children too. Bonfires and a family dinner work well for families because they start early.
AIIllustrative image: AI-generatedBudget a little higher than usual: taxis on New Year's Eve are more expensive, and central accommodation sells out in advance. Food, pool entry, and saunas cost the same as in other months.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Is it cold in Iceland at New Year?
There is usually no hard frost: the average January temperature is around freezing (as of 09/2026, Veðurstofan). Wind and humidity make it feel colder, so you need a shell jacket and waterproof boots.
Can you celebrate New Year in Iceland with children?
Yes, it is a big family holiday. First dinner at home, then a bonfire in the nearest neighborhood, and by 10:30 pm everyone goes home to watch the TV show. Children watch the start of the fireworks after 11:30 pm, and staying for the end is not necessary. Dress your child as warmly as yourself.
How many days should you plan for a New Year trip?
Seven to eight days give you a relaxed pace. In that time you can see central Reykjavik, drive the Golden Circle, and reach the south coast. Leave one day unplanned in case of a storm. A short four-day trip turns into transfers without rest.
Which places should you not miss?
In Reykjavik: Hallgrimskirkja, Öskjuhlíð hill, and the old harbor. Outside the city, choose the Golden Circle and the south coast with its waterfalls.
Do buses run on December 31?
During the day city transport still runs, but services end in the first half of the day. In the evening and at night there are no buses in Reykjavik, so plan the festive evening on foot. The operator publishes the schedule of the last departures.
In short: what to book
If you have five days: Reykjavik and the Golden Circle. If you have a week: add the south coast and the glacier. If you are traveling with children: stay in the center and do not plan long transfers on New Year's Eve.
What to arrange in advance: central accommodation, northern lights tours, and a car for the holiday dates.
You can put the trip together piece by piece: choose a hotel in central Reykjavik on Trip.com and Iceland tours on GetYourGuide.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.