There’s a moment, as your plane descends over Iceland in winter, when the world below looks like a dream, a monochrome expanse of snow, steam, and shadowy lava fields.
Few places capture the romance of winter quite like this island of fire and ice. In just 48 hours, you can chase the Northern Lights, bathe in geothermal lagoons, and dine on world-class Nordic cuisine, all wrapped in an ethereal glow that makes every photo look filtered by magic.
Getting to Iceland from Dublin is refreshingly easy, direct flights with Icelandair and PLAY Airlines depart Dublin Airport (DUB) daily for Keflavík International Airport (KEF), taking just 2.5 hours. Once you land, it’s a 45-minute drive to Reykjavík: hop on the Flybus or Airport Direct shuttle for convenience, or rent a car if you plan to explore beyond the capital. Irish citizens don’t need a visa, and while Iceland is one hour behind Ireland, it feels a world away, a quick, seamless hop from Dublin into a landscape of snow, steam, and Northern Lights.
Day One: Reykjavík’s Cozy Cool
Arrive early at Keflavík International Airport, where the icy air feels cleaner than anything you’ve breathed before. Pick up your rental car (or arrange a transfer) and head to Reykjavík, the world’s northernmost capital. Check in at The Reykjavík EDITION, a sleek sanctuary on the harbor with a spa, rooftop terrace, and rooms warmed by Icelandic wool throws and bay views.
Start your day with a flat white and a slice of skyr cake at Reykjavík Roasters, before wandering the compact city center. Reykjavík in winter is made for slow exploration, pastel houses dusted with snow, street art peeking through frost, and the sound of distant church bells. Don’t miss the striking Hallgrímskirkja, its tower offering a panoramic view of rooftops painted in candy colors against the stark white landscape.
For lunch, cozy up at Messinn, where sizzling pans of Arctic char arrive bubbling in butter and herbs. Then, it’s time for the Golden Circle , Iceland’s quintessential winter road trip. Watch geysers erupt through the snow at Geysir, feel the icy spray of Gullfoss waterfall, and walk between continents at Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian plates drift apart beneath a blanket of snow.
As daylight fades (around 4 p.m. in midwinter), return to Reykjavík for cocktails at Jungle Bar, a candlelit hideaway with botanical infusions and a tropical soul. Dinner at DILL, Iceland’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, is a masterclass in Nordic innovation, expect tasting menus that feature smoked lamb, wild herbs, and fermented berries. End the evening wrapped in a blanket on the hotel terrace, scanning the sky for the elusive shimmer of the Northern Lights.
Day Two: Steam, Ice, and Sky
Begin your second morning with Iceland’s most indulgent ritual: a geothermal soak. Skip the crowds at the Blue Lagoon and head to Sky Lagoon, a sleek infinity-edge pool that overlooks the stormy North Atlantic. The contrast of steaming water and cold air is pure bliss, and it’s every bit as photogenic as you imagine.
Warm and relaxed, take a drive along the Reykjanes Peninsula, where black sand beaches, geothermal vents, and frozen cliffs create an otherworldly landscape. Stop at the Bridge Between Continents, a symbolic crossing between tectonic plates that feels like the edge of the world.
Back in Reykjavík, grab a steaming bowl of lobster soup at Sægreifinn (The Sea Baron) a no-frills favorite on the harbor, and browse Kraum, an Icelandic design boutique housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings.
As night falls, toast your final evening with a glass of Brennivín (Iceland’s potent schnapps) at Kaffibarinn, the legendary bar where locals and travelers mingle under low amber lights. Step outside afterward; if luck is on your side, the Northern Lights might just dance above the city one more time.
The Takeaway
In winter, Iceland feels like a fairy tale written in ice and steam, short days filled with golden light, long nights lit by auroras, and a sense of stillness that’s impossible to find anywhere else. Two days may not be enough to see it all, but it’s more than enough to fall under its spell.
