Reykjavik in January
Aurora nights in deep winter
By Daan · Last reviewed October 2026
The short answer
January is one of the weakest months in Reykjavik.
January is quiet after the holidays and good for aurora hunting and geothermal pools. Daylight is very short.
January in detail
What January actually feels like
- Weather
- -4–1°C
- Cold, dark and windy, with snow or sleet possible.
- Crowds
- Low-Moderate
- Fairly relaxed, with busier moments at the headline sights.
- Prices
- $$$$
- Higher rates, especially for central and view rooms.
+Northern Lights chances and cosy city life.
–Only about 4-5 hours of daylight.
My tip for January
Book a Northern Lights tour with flexibility for cloud cover.
- Northern Lights
- Geothermal pools
How January compares
Against the other eleven months
11th of 12 overall in Reykjavik, 12th for weather, 4th for space, 4th for value. The emptiest month is November; the best value is November.
See all twelve months for ReykjavikPlan around
What’s on in Reykjavik in January
- Short winter days
- Only a few hours of daylight, so plan activities carefully.
November–January
Not set on January?
Months I'd choose over January
Also good in January
Weather
Weather in Reykjavik in January
In January Reykjavik averages a high of 1°C (34°F) and a low of -4°C (25°F), with about 131 mm of rain or snow. The warmest month is July (around 14°C) and the coolest is January (around 1°C); the wettest month is September.
- Average high
- 1°C
- 34°F
- Average low
- -4°C
- 25°F
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
Climate data: ERA5 reanalysis 1991–2020 (Open-Meteo). Temperatures are averages of daily highs and lows.
Quick answers
Reykjavik in January: the questions people ask
- Is January a good time to visit Reykjavik?
- January is one of the weakest months in Reykjavik. It ranks 11 of 12 months in Reykjavik overall (12 for weather, 4 for space, 4 for value). The main upside: Northern Lights chances and cosy city life. The main downside: Only about 4-5 hours of daylight.
- What is the weather like in Reykjavik in January?
- Average highs are around 1°C and lows around -4°C. Expect about 131 mm of rain or snow. Cold, dark and windy, with snow or sleet possible. For comparison, the warmest month is July (around 14°C) and the coolest is January (around 1°C).
- Is Reykjavik crowded in January?
- Crowds are low-moderate. Fairly relaxed, with busier moments at the headline sights. The quietest month is November.
- How expensive is Reykjavik in January?
- Prices are at level 4 of 5 ($$$$). Higher rates, especially for central and view rooms. The best-value month is November.
- When is the best time to visit Reykjavik?
- In the CrowdFreeViews month scores, May is the best month overall (January ranks 11 of 12). The quietest month is November and the best value is November.
Still going to Reykjavik in January?
Book early and plan around the busiest hours — only about 4-5 hours of daylight.
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