January is the month we would avoid in Reykjavik if you have flexible dates. Expect daytime highs around 3°C, nights near -2°C and roughly 13 rainy days across the month. Deep winter with highs around 3C, near-freezing nights and only four to five hours of usable daylight around the solstice, so plan sights for the middle of the day. This is peak Northern Lights season when skies are dark and clear, but winter storms regularly close mountain roads and cancel day tours, so keep the plan loose.
Day high
3°C
Night low
-2°C
Rainy days
≈ 13
Verdict
Avoid
January is quieter, which makes it the right month to afford the splurge picks.
Special occasions€€€Art Deco landmark · Midborg (101 downtown)
Reykjavik's grand old hotel, a 1930 Art Deco landmark on the Austurvollur square facing parliament, with a spa in the basement. You are in the dead centre of the 101 district, a few minutes from Laugavegur and Hallgrimskirkja.
from ~280 EUR/night
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First visit€€Laugavegur boutique · Laugavegur
A warm, low-key boutique hotel strung along the main Laugavegur shopping street, with a popular bakery and cafe on the ground floor. It puts the bars, restaurants and shops of downtown Reykjavik right outside the door.
from ~170 EUR/night
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Couples€€Old harbour design · Old Harbour and Grandi
A playful design hotel right on the old harbour in Grandi, next to the whale-watching docks and the slipway where boats are still hauled out for repair. The Slippbarinn cocktail bar downstairs is a local favourite, and the museums and food halls are a short walk away.
from ~160 EUR/night
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Budget€HI hostel by the pool · Laugardalur (Hlemmur east)
A big, well-equipped HI hostel out in the green Laugardalur valley, next to the city's largest geothermal pool and a bus ride from downtown. With private rooms as well as dorms and a self-catering kitchen, it is one of the cheapest ways to sleep in a punishingly expensive city.
from ~42 EUR/night
Check pricesReal hotel photos · prices are indicative from-rates, not live quotes · booking links support the site at no extra cost
With 13 rainy days and highs of 3°C, build your January days around indoor anchors and treat sunny windows as a bonus.
Old Harbour whale-watching
TipBoats leave the Old Harbour docks and run most frequently from April to October, with the highest chance of minke whales, humpbacks and dolphins in June to August; book a morning departure online, as afternoon seas are often rougher. Trips last around three hours, so dress in real layers and take a seasickness tablet beforehand, and check the operator's re-sail policy if nothing is spotted.
Perlan museum and viewpoint
TipThis glass dome on a wooded hill holds a walk-through ice cave, a planetarium aurora show and Iceland-nature exhibits, with a free 360-degree observation deck wrapped around the outside. Book the exhibition ticket online for a small saving, budget about two hours, and note it sits a couple of kilometres from the centre, so take the free Perlan shuttle or the city bus rather than walking.
Laugardalslaug geothermal pool
TipThe city's biggest geothermal pool has outdoor lanes, several hot pots at different temperatures, a steam bath and a waterslide, and entry is only around 1300 ISK, far cheaper than the tourist lagoons. The strict rule is that everyone showers naked with soap before entering, which locals take seriously, so do it properly; the pools stay open and warm even in a winter snowstorm.
Sky Lagoon
TipThis oceanfront geothermal lagoon in Kopavogur, about fifteen minutes from downtown, has an infinity edge facing the sea and a seven-step spa ritual, and it must be pre-booked online for a timed slot. It is far pricier than a municipal pool, so treat it as a splurge; the same shower-first rule applies, and a sunset or aurora-hour slot is the one to aim for.
Ready to plan the full trip? Start from the 3-day Reykjavik itinerary.
January is the month we would avoid in Reykjavik if you have flexible dates. Expect daytime highs around 3°C, nights near -2°C and roughly 13 rainy days across the month. Deep winter with highs around 3C, near-freezing nights and only four to five hours of usable daylight around the solstice, so plan sights for the middle of the day. This is peak Northern Lights season when skies are dark and clear, but winter storms regularly close mountain roads and cancel day tours, so keep the plan loose.
Typical January days in Reykjavik reach about 3°C, dropping to around -2°C at night. Layers work best.
Count on roughly 13 days with rain in January. Plan one indoor block per day and keep museum tickets as your fallback.