Top 11 Iceland Christmas Tours

1.Goðafoss, Laufas & The Christmas House Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 173 reviews · 4 hours · from $117Our pick

Spend four hours with a local English-speaking guide visiting Goðafoss, the historic Laufás turf houses, and Akureyri’s year-round Christmas House. Small groups are advertised at up to 15 people, with hotel and cruise-port pickup, a minibus, and Laufás admission included. Guides such as Jon, Inga, Lilja, and Graham add local stories and humor.

“This tour was one of the best I've ever gone on. It was absolutely perfect!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Half-Day Combo Tour to Goðafoss, Laufas and The Christmas House

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 146 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $127

From Akureyri, The Traveling Viking takes you to Goðafoss, Laufás Heritage Site, and the Christmas House, then adds a short town tour. Expect English narration, pickup, admission to Laufás, and guides such as Jon, Graham, and Lilja sharing local stories. The waterfall and turf houses are the strongest stops, while the Christmas House is more shop than attraction.

“Our tour guide and driver Jon was amazing. He was punctual, informative and funny. We had such a great time learning about Iceland. This tour is a must. Waterfalls were great, and Christmas house was cute. The waffles were delicious.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 54 reviews · 2 hours · from $182

Leave Reykjavik’s Old Harbor at 11 pm aboard a comfortable boat, cruise into Faxaflói Bay, and watch fireworks spread across the city from the water. You’ll have an indoor saloon, open-air deck, bar, warm overalls, and a champagne toast, with non-alcoholic Prosecco also available.

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Goðafoss, Christmas House, and Forest Lagoon Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 35 reviews · 4 hours · from $149

Travel from Akureyri with The Traveling Viking to Goðafoss waterfall, the storybook Christmas House, and Forest Lagoon. You get an English-speaking local guide, admission to every stop, a short Akureyri sightseeing drive, and 75 minutes in geothermal pools with mountain views. Guides such as Joanna, Lilja, Graham, and Ingimundur are known for adding local stories along the way.

“Our tour guide was Lilian - she was punctual, flexible, knowledgeable and a joy to be with. The tour went smoothly, we went everywhere we expected to go and Lilian even took the time to take us to places we were not expecting to see. When we come back we will definitely use the same tour guide or if anyone asks for a recommendation, you couldn’t get better than Lillian.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.New Years Fireworks Midnight Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 24 reviews · 2 hours · from $170

Board the Amelia Rose at Ægisgarður 5b for a 10:30 PM New Year cruise across Faxaflói bay. You’ll watch fireworks over Reykjavik from three panoramic decks, enjoy a complimentary glass of Champagne, and return about 12:30 AM. The boat has a bar, Wi-Fi, English-speaking crew, and wheelchair access.

“t Everything was perfect, very good service and management. The best! Thank you 😊”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.New Years Fireworks by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 20 reviews · 2 hours · from $150

Board Sea Trips’ Arctic Rose in Reykjavik at 10:30 PM for a two-hour New Year’s Eve cruise on Faxaflói Bay. You’ll watch fireworks from three observation decks, toast midnight with Champagne, and enjoy coastline views from a traditional Icelandic-style whale-watching boat. English-speaking guides, blankets, Wi-Fi, snacks, drinks, and a restroom are provided.

“Amazing evening for nye plus added bonus of seeing northern lights”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.The Reykjavik Christmas Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 19 reviews · 3 hours · from $173

Walk central Reykjavik with a local guide such as Palli, Paul, Einar, or Pauly, stopping for smoked lamb, laufabrauð, reindeer paté, gravlax, herring, Christmas drinks, and more. You will also visit the Little Christmas Store and hear Icelandic holiday tales. Tell the company about allergies before booking.

“Paul did an excellent job guiding our group around the city. He was very welcoming and and even took pictures of the group with all the Christmas decor around town (his idea!). The food was delicious.. smoked salmon and smoked reindeer were my favs. If you’re looking for an activity with great value and an entertaining guide don’t hesitate, book this one today! I’m tempted to do it again 🤣”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 18 reviews · 2 hours · from $74Best value

Join Your Friend in Reykjavik for a two-hour English walking tour through downtown Christmas lights and Icelandic folklore. Hear about the 13 Yule Lads, troll Grýla, and the Christmas Cat, visit markets, a bookshop, Little Christmas Store, and Hallgrímskirkja. Guide Bjornvain has earned praise for his humor and friendly style. Dress in warm layers.

“Guide sympa, lumières féeriques, jolie ville pour passer Noël.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Reykjavik Christmas Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $75

Walk central Reykjavík with a local guide and learn about Icelandic Christmas customs, the Yule Lads, the Christmas Cat, books, music, and Norse beliefs. You’ll visit Ingólfstorg, Austurvöllur, shops, and Hallgrímskirkja. Guides have included Stefán, Ester, Einar, and Barti, with hot chocolate and treats sometimes included.

“Got to be really honest about this one...it was extremely disappointing. We booked based on the description that we'd get to see/tour the Christmas markets and have that experience. Aside from our guide being 15 mins late (which is an eternity when the temps are in the negative degrees), he began his introduction simply stating because it was NYE, the Christmas markets were all closed and pretty much everything in the description of the tour would not be happening, but he'd be doing his best to give us something. Though, we did like the guide, our question is this: if they knew the markets would be closed on the 31st…”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Reykjavík: New Year’s Eve Northern Lights Yacht Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $140

Join Harpa Yachts for a 1.5-hour New Year’s Eve motor yacht cruise from Reykjavík. You’ll search for the Northern Lights near Videy Island and its Imagine Peace monument, then move closer to shore for the city’s midnight fireworks. An English- or Icelandic-speaking guide leads the outing, with champagne served at midnight.

“An intimate way to spend NYE in Reykjavik... capped at 35 people on a luxury yacht, we got Earth's fireworks (Northern Lights) and the just insane fireworks show the citizens of Reykjavik put on every New Year's Eve! If visiting Reykjavik during the New Year's holiday, I definitely recommend taking this cruise!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Winter Combo Godafoss Christmas House and The Forest Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 4 hours 20 minutes (approx.) · from $161Top rated

Travel from Akureyri to snowy Godafoss, visit the Christmas House in Eyjafjordur, then spend an hour in Forest Lagoon. The Traveling Viking provides transport, an English-speaking guide, Wi-Fi, and lagoon entry. Guides including Lilja and Joanna have led warm, informative outings for families and small groups.

“This was a great value for money trip. Our tour guide Lilja was amazing. She was very knowledgable friendly & helpful. We wanted to sit outside with our lunch at waterfall & she helped us clear snow off table & chairs. Thank you Lilja you helped make our trips more special.”

Check availability →Read our full review