Skiing in Iceland: Glide Amidst Glaciers, Volcanoes, and Enchanting Fjords
Come to Iceland and ski in a landscape like no other. With lively and welcoming resorts and the opportunity for cross-country skiing adventures, Iceland promises a winter sports adventure you’ll never forget.
Skiing in Iceland is not like you’ve seen it anywhere else. Put aside your images of enormous Alpine resorts with queues of international tourists. Iceland’s ski resorts are much more low-key. Resorts such as Bláfjöll or Dalvik tend to be local in character, with fewer lifts and a much more friendly vibe.
But the real magic happens off-piste. Iceland is a landscape filled with glaciers, volcanoes, and mountains that tower over coastal fjords. Join a cross-country skiing tour in Iceland and see this wintry world in a way that few others see it.
At Icelandia, we offer a range of Alpine skiing tours that show you the very best of Iceland. Clip on your skis, traverse these breathtaking scenes and carve your way through the glorious powder.
For example, one of our most popular tours takes you on an adventure to the mountains and fjords of Tröllaskagi, the Troll Peninsula. Across six days, in Iceland’s best conditions, venture up some of north Iceland’s most iconic summits and ski your way down. With an expert guide, you’ll see the best routes and trails in the area.
Alternatively, take on a bigger expedition. For example, join our volcano ski touring challenge, which takes you to the biggest peaks in Ieland in an adrenaline-fuelled adventure. Or join a skiing expedition across the Vatnajökull National Park, or try an epic snowy traverse of the highlands.
Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy some of the best skiing conditions of your life—and make memories that’ll stay with you forever.
FAQ:
Unless you are planning to ski in Iceland, you don’t strictly need a ski jacket when visiting. In winter, your priority should be to stay warm, and thermal layers and a warm jacket will be helpful for that.
In summer, Iceland can still be quite cool by other countries’ standards, but standard outdoor gear—including a warm and waterproof jacket—will be enough.
Skiing in Iceland is not like skiing anywhere else. Imagine infinite wild, white landscapes, with the chance to see the northern lights. Picture pristine snows and breathtaking descents. Expect the thrill of an adventure that you’ll find in few other places in Europe.
In fact, to ski in Iceland is a completely different experience than to ski in the Alps, for example. You won’t find enormous resorts, crowds of tourists, and long lifts.
Rather, ski resorts in Iceland tend to be smaller, while the real action happens off-piste. For a true Icelandic ski experience, join a skiing tour, to explore the highlands and mountains in a way few others do. You’ll see a wild world that’ll stay with you forever.
The two most popular ski resorts close to Reykjavík are Bláfjöll and Skálafell. Both are just 25 minutes out of the city. Bláfjöll is the larger of the two resorts, with 14 lifts compared to Skálafell’s four.
You can also join ski tours from Reykjavík too. For example, on a summit tour of Iceland’s biggest peaks, you’ll ski the most rewarding mountains across five days.
There are a total of 13 ski resorts in Iceland, spread out across the country. For example, there are a couple a short distance from Reykjavík, but the majority are in the north of Iceland, around the city of Akureyri.
Iceland’s ski resorts tend to be smaller than you might be used to if you’ve skied in the Alps, though. Instead, most locals and visitors to the country prefer cross-country skiing. You’ll journey across Iceland’s remote landscapes on skis, and enjoy untouched powder on your descents.
If you’re planning to ski in a resort in Iceland, dress how you would dress at any other ski resort you’ve been to. For example, a ski jacket and trousers are a must, plus thermal layers, hat, gloves, scarf, and ski socks.
On the other hand, if you're cross-country skiing in Iceland, you’ll need some different gear. For example, as you’ll be moving up hills as well as down, you may get a little warmer. In this case, breathable trousers and layers that you can take off are preferable. Of course, though, don’t forget your warm, waterproof jacket just in case it snows!
December, January, and February tend to be the snowiest months in Iceland. In Reykjavík, for example, these three months typically see 12 days of snow each, with roughly about 20 centimetres (8 inches) of snow falling each month.
However, you can expect snow from November through to April in the city. There tends to be much more snowfall outside of the city on the local mountain peaks.
You don’t need to wear ski trousers in Iceland unless you are going skiing. These will typically be too warm for sightseeing and everyday use, even in winter.
Of course, though, if you’re planning to ski, bring your ski trousers! That said, what type of trousers you bring will depend on the kind of skiing you’re doing. If you’re heading to a resort, warmer trousers are best, but you might find these too heavy if you’re doing cross-country skiing.
As a country where it snows for much of the year, Iceland has many awesome skiing spots. But your best places to ski in Iceland will depend on what you want to get up to.
For example, if you want to ski in a resort close to Reykjavík, Bláfjöll could be your best option. Just 25 minutes from the city, the resort has 14 lifts, making it a convenient and entertaining option.
Alternatively, Dalvik, close to the northern city of Akureyri, is a popular alternative. While it’s small, it has the most reliable snow in the country, and it’s known as the capital of Icelandic skiing.
Another popular option is to get away from the resorts and explore Iceland’s snowy expanses on a skiing tour. Traverse the highlands, climb Iceland’s highest peaks, or get off-piste in the snowiest areas of the country.
Explore our tours to discover more.
Iceland is a country where mountains and volcanoes tower above serene sea fjords, and where more than a tenth of the land is covered in snow year round. Of course it’s a great place to go skiing!
However, Iceland’s ski resorts are not the main attraction. Rather, adventurers typically come for cross-country skiing in Iceland.
Imagine venturing across remote highland landscapes, before carving through fresh, untouched powder. There’s nothing quite like it! Explore our Iceland skiing tours to discover the best options.
You can’t usually ski all year round in Iceland, but the season does last a lot longer than you might find elsewhere. For example, the ski season typically kicks off in December and can last right through to June.
Hlíðarfjall, close to Akureyri in the north of Iceland, is the country’s highest ski resort at 1,014 metres above sea level (3,300 feet). This makes it one of the most reliable places for snow all year round, along with the Dalvik resort close by.
Opening dates for ski resorts in Iceland depend mainly on the snow conditions. For example, they typically open for only a few days in December, before kicking off their full timetable in January.
Again, depending on the conditions, most close from March. It’s best to check with the individual resorts.
If you’re interested in cross-country skiing, this is possible in Iceland from December through to June.
The best months for skiing in Iceland are March to May. This is the period when the darkest days of winter are long behind you, but the snow is still good. You can expect stable weather, long evenings, and unforgettable conditions.
That said, you can go skiing—in one of Iceland’s ski resorts or out in the wild—throughout the winter. You’ll just have shorter days through December to February, as it gets dark very early.