Tens of thousands of foreign visitors are scheduled to spend the Holidays in Iceland. The selection of activities for travellers during Christmas has increased dramatically in recent years: A few years ago everything closed down in Iceland over the holidays, even the restaurants, leaving visitors scrambling to find a decent meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
Fortunately all hotel restaurants, most fine dining and many regular restaurants are now open on Christmas Eve. However, it is advisable to make reservations. Icelanders will be eating glazed ham, smoked leg of lamb or ptarmigan (grouse) for dinner on the 24th. Most restaurants have a Christmas menu which includes local favourites or a modern take on them.
Read more: How to do Christmas like an Icelander
24 December – Aðfangadagur (Christmas Eve)
This is the day Icelanders celebrate Christmas. Shops, cafés and swimming pools in Reykjavík stay open until 12 pm or 2 pm. Museums, however, are closed, apart from the Settlement Exhibition (9-2pm) and the National Museum (10-12pm).
25 December – Jóladagur (Christmas Day)
Businesses are closed on Christmas Day, a day generally spent in relaxation. Buses do not run on this day but taxi services are available.
Some restaurants are open for business on Christmas Day.
Visit Reykjavík has a list of opening hours during the holidays.
But since Christmas is about other things than just eating, we at Iceland Insider decided to compile this handy list of great Holiday activities in Iceland:
1) Go to mass in Icelandic or English
At 18:00 churches in Iceland ring their churchbells to ring in Christmas. The National Broadcasting Service also broadcasts the tolling of the bells. For Icelanders this is the actual beginning of the Holidays, and it is customary to wish everyone a Merry Christmas at this moment.
Many Icelanders also go to mass on Christmas Eve at 18:00, as all churches have a mass at that time. Many churches, including Hallgrímskirkja church, also have a midnight mass, starting at 11:30.
The Catholic church Christ the King Cathedral just west of downtown Reykjavík, also has several services on the 24th. A children's mass at 16:30, a mass in Polish at 21:00 and a midnight mass at 23:59.
On December 25th all churches also have a mass, most at either 11:00 or 14:00. Hallgrímskirkja has a mass in Icelandic at 14:00 on Christmas day, and an English mass at 16:00. On Christmas day the Catholic Church has a festive mass in Icelandic at 10:30, and a English mass at 18:00. The Catholic church then has a daily mass in Icelandic at 18:00 over the Holidays.
2) Christmas Day: Visit the National Museum and Saga Museum
The National Museum is open on Christmas day 10:00-14:00. The National Museum has a Christmas exhibition, exploring the history of Icelandic Christmas and the traditions of the holidays.
Read more: The mystery, origins and history of the strange Icelandic Yule lads
The Saga Museum is also open on Christmas day from 12:00-18:00. There you can also learn about the history of Iceland. Another great Reykjavík museum which is open on Christmas day is The Volcano House, which has a fascinating exhibition on the geology of Iceland. The Volcano House is open 10:00-17:00 on Christmas day.
3) Drive to Borgarnes, visit the Settlement Museum
The Settlement Centre in the town of Borgarnes in West Iceland is also open on the 24th from 11:00-15:00 and on Christmas day from 10:00-21:00. The exhibiton of the museum offers an insight into the settlement and history of Iceland. The center also has a restaurant which offers traditional Icelandic dishes.
West Iceland offers unique natural beauty and several breathtaking waterfalls which are all easily accessible at this time of year, making this into a great day-trip from Reykjavík. Be sure to visit the waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafossar or the waterfall Glymur. (Also: at this time of year you should not attempt to cross the Kaldidalur mountain road from the West to Þingvellir in the south.)
Read more: 14 reasons to visit the wonderful West
4) Take a walk along the south shore of Reykjavík
Christmas day is a relaxed day in Iceland, as locals spend the day inside, surrounded with family. Many use this opportunity to take a stroll outside, enjoying the quiet and peace. Taking a walk along the west coast of Reykjavík, allows you to experience both: Meet families who are out getting fresh air, pulling their kids on sleighs or walking the dog, while you enjoy the view of Christmas decorations and the great view of the mountains of Reykjanes peninsula to the South of Reykjavík.
Read more: Old fishing sheds at Grímsstaðavör offer a unique glimpse of Reykjavík history
5) Book a sightseeing tour
Most tour companies offer sightseeing tours over Christmas. Or just rent a car, pack a lunch, and head out to the countryside to enjoy the Christmas spirit with the Christmas spirits!
Tens of thousands of foreign visitors are scheduled to spend the Holidays in Iceland. The selection of activities for travellers during Christmas has increased dramatically in recent years: A few years ago everything closed down in Iceland over the holidays, even the restaurants, leaving visitors scrambling to find a decent meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
Fortunately all hotel restaurants, most fine dining and many regular restaurants are now open on Christmas Eve. However, it is advisable to make reservations. Icelanders will be eating glazed ham, smoked leg of lamb or ptarmigan (grouse) for dinner on the 24th. Most restaurants have a Christmas menu which includes local favourites or a modern take on them.
Read more: How to do Christmas like an Icelander
24 December – Aðfangadagur (Christmas Eve)
This is the day Icelanders celebrate Christmas. Shops, cafés and swimming pools in Reykjavík stay open until 12 pm or 2 pm. Museums, however, are closed, apart from the Settlement Exhibition (9-2pm) and the National Museum (10-12pm).
25 December – Jóladagur (Christmas Day)
Businesses are closed on Christmas Day, a day generally spent in relaxation. Buses do not run on this day but taxi services are available.
Some restaurants are open for business on Christmas Day.
Visit Reykjavík has a list of opening hours during the holidays.
But since Christmas is about other things than just eating, we at Iceland Insider decided to compile this handy list of great Holiday activities in Iceland:
1) Go to mass in Icelandic or English
At 18:00 churches in Iceland ring their churchbells to ring in Christmas. The National Broadcasting Service also broadcasts the tolling of the bells. For Icelanders this is the actual beginning of the Holidays, and it is customary to wish everyone a Merry Christmas at this moment.
Many Icelanders also go to mass on Christmas Eve at 18:00, as all churches have a mass at that time. Many churches, including Hallgrímskirkja church, also have a midnight mass, starting at 11:30.
The Catholic church Christ the King Cathedral just west of downtown Reykjavík, also has several services on the 24th. A children's mass at 16:30, a mass in Polish at 21:00 and a midnight mass at 23:59.
On December 25th all churches also have a mass, most at either 11:00 or 14:00. Hallgrímskirkja has a mass in Icelandic at 14:00 on Christmas day, and an English mass at 16:00. On Christmas day the Catholic Church has a festive mass in Icelandic at 10:30, and a English mass at 18:00. The Catholic church then has a daily mass in Icelandic at 18:00 over the Holidays.
2) Christmas Day: Visit the National Museum and Saga Museum
The National Museum is open on Christmas day 10:00-14:00. The National Museum has a Christmas exhibition, exploring the history of Icelandic Christmas and the traditions of the holidays.
Read more: The mystery, origins and history of the strange Icelandic Yule lads
The Saga Museum is also open on Christmas day from 12:00-18:00. There you can also learn about the history of Iceland. Another great Reykjavík museum which is open on Christmas day is The Volcano House, which has a fascinating exhibition on the geology of Iceland. The Volcano House is open 10:00-17:00 on Christmas day.
3) Drive to Borgarnes, visit the Settlement Museum
The Settlement Centre in the town of Borgarnes in West Iceland is also open on the 24th from 11:00-15:00 and on Christmas day from 10:00-21:00. The exhibiton of the museum offers an insight into the settlement and history of Iceland. The center also has a restaurant which offers traditional Icelandic dishes.
West Iceland offers unique natural beauty and several breathtaking waterfalls which are all easily accessible at this time of year, making this into a great day-trip from Reykjavík. Be sure to visit the waterfalls of Hraunfossar and Barnafossar or the waterfall Glymur. (Also: at this time of year you should not attempt to cross the Kaldidalur mountain road from the West to Þingvellir in the south.)
Read more: 14 reasons to visit the wonderful West
4) Take a walk along the south shore of Reykjavík
Christmas day is a relaxed day in Iceland, as locals spend the day inside, surrounded with family. Many use this opportunity to take a stroll outside, enjoying the quiet and peace. Taking a walk along the west coast of Reykjavík, allows you to experience both: Meet families who are out getting fresh air, pulling their kids on sleighs or walking the dog, while you enjoy the view of Christmas decorations and the great view of the mountains of Reykjanes peninsula to the South of Reykjavík.
Read more: Old fishing sheds at Grímsstaðavör offer a unique glimpse of Reykjavík history
5) Book a sightseeing tour
Most tour companies offer sightseeing tours over Christmas. Or just rent a car, pack a lunch, and head out to the countryside to enjoy the Christmas spirit with the Christmas spirits!
