Booking choice: The small-group day trip, from $164 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Guided tours here run through the winter, and the Classic Day Tour and Nicetravel listings say they operate in all weather. The scenery is just as striking, but you trade long summer evenings for a few hours of low sun.
Below: daylight, weather and cancellations, what changes at the stops, and how to choose your date.
The quick answer
Yes, you can do a Snaefellsnes day tour in winter. Around the December solstice Reykjavik gets only about four to five hours of daylight, so part of the 11-hour day is in the dark. Storms can shorten or skip stops. Book early in your trip, dress for snow and wind, and use the free cancellation if a storm is forecast.
Do Snaefellsnes tours run in winter?
Yes: the main tours on this site run through the winter, and the Classic Day Tour and Nicetravel listings say they operate in all weather conditions.
Operators can still change the route on the day for safety. One reviewer on a March tour heard that a departure the day before had been cancelled for high winds.
Winter dates fill up too: check the small-group day trip.
Check dates for the small-group day tripHow much daylight is there in winter?
About four to five hours in Reykjavik around the December solstice, rising quickly from February.
With 11 hours on the tour, you leave and return in the dark in midwinter, and the stops are timed for the light in between. By March, days are back to around 12 hours. Around the June solstice, Reykjavik has about 21 hours of daylight.
| Month | Daylight in Reykjavik | What it means on tour |
|---|---|---|
| December | About 4 to 5 hours | Drive in the dark both ways |
| February | About 7 to 10 hours | Most stops in daylight |
| March | About 12 hours | Full day of light |
| June | About 21 hours | Light all evening |
What does the weather do to the tour?
High winds, snow and ice can shorten stops or close them, and slow the drive.
Reviewers describe snow slowing the tour in late October and winds strong enough to make walking hard. The scenery still impresses most, but one guest warned that from late October the view will not match the summer photos.
What do the stops look like in winter?
Snow on Kirkjufell and the lava fields, and big Atlantic surf on the black beaches.
The sea at Djúpalónssandur is especially dangerous in winter storms: stay well back from the waterline. Seals may still be on the rocks at Ytri Tunga, but nothing is guaranteed.
The lowest-priced guided day tour listed here: the Classic Day Tour.
Explore the Classic Day TourWill you see the northern lights?
Not as part of these tours: they are daytime trips and do not stop to look for the aurora.
In midwinter you return to Reykjavik after dark, so on a clear night you may see the lights from the window or after drop-off, but treat that as luck. For the aurora, book a dedicated evening northern lights tour.
What should you wear in winter?
Thermal base layers, an insulated jacket under a windproof shell, a warm hat, gloves and winter boots with grip.
Traction spikes help on icy paths. Full list in what to wear on a Snaefellsnes tour.
Is a small group better in winter?
Often, yes: pickup is included, so you are not waiting at a bus stop in the dark and cold.
The BusTravel small group and Nicetravel both include pickup in central Reykjavik. The Classic meets at Bus Stop 12 unless you pay for pickup.
Pickup included in winter: check dates for the Nicetravel small group.
Check dates for the Nicetravel small groupWhen is the best time to go outside summer?
September, October and March balance thinner crowds with reasonable daylight.
If you only have one winter day free, consider the shorter Golden Circle instead; see Snaefellsnes vs the Golden Circle.
Frequently asked questions
Is Snaefellsnes worth visiting in winter?
Yes, if you accept short daylight and the chance of storms. The snow makes Kirkjufell and the lava fields spectacular on a clear day.
Are roads to Snaefellsnes open in winter?
Tours run all winter, but snow and wind can slow or reroute them. Driving yourself in winter needs experience on icy roads.
What if my winter tour is cancelled?
If the operator cancels, you are offered another date or a refund. You can also cancel yourself for free up to 24 hours before.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Snaefellsnes Small-Group Day Trip
- Small group, maximum 19 travelers
- Pickup and drop-off at selected hotels, guesthouses and bus stops in central Reykjavik
- Guide and air-conditioned transport
Snaefellsnes Peninsula Classic Day Tour
- Professional guide on a full-day coach tour (up to 65 travelers)
- Stops: Berserkjahraun, Kirkjufell, Snæfellsjökull National Park, Djúpalónssandur, Lóndrangar, Arnarstapi, Ytri Tunga, Búðakirkja
- Meet at Bus Stop 12, Thorunnartun 1; hotel pickup at an extra fee
Small-Group Snaefellsnes National Park Day Trip
Small group with Reykjavik hotel pickup, from age 5
