An Iceland honeymoon works in any season. Come from September to April for the Northern Lights, ice caves and long evenings in hot water, or from May to August for the midnight sun and open highland roads. Most couples spend five to eight days, mix a few nights in Reykjavík with a countryside hotel or glass-roof lodge, and book private tours so the day runs at their own pace.
Is Iceland a good honeymoon destination?
Yes, if you like nature more than beach bars. The country is small enough to see a lot in a week, the drives are short between sights in the south, and you can end almost every day in a warm lagoon. It is one of the safest countries in the world to travel in, which makes it easy to relax. Read more in our post on why Iceland is the safest country in the world.
The trade-offs are the weather and the cost. Rain, wind and snow can change plans at short notice, and hotels, meals and tours are expensive. A good plan, a little flexibility and a few things booked in advance make the difference, and that is where a local travel agency can help.
When to go: winter or summer?
September to April is the time for the Northern Lights, which need a dark sky. December has only about four hours of daylight in Reykjavík, so the days are short, but the evenings are long and cosy. This is also the season for blue ice caves, snowy waterfalls and lagoons under a dark sky. For a winter honeymoon, read our guides to the Northern Lights and Iceland in December.
May to August brings long, bright days. From late May to late July the sun barely sets in Reykjavík, so you can sightsee at midnight, and the highland roads to places like Þórsmörk open from mid-June. There is no aurora in summer, and it is the busiest and most expensive time, so book early.
September and late March to April are good in-between choices: fewer visitors than summer, a chance of the Northern Lights, and more daylight than midwinter. Our month-by-month guide compares every month.
How long should an Iceland honeymoon be?
Five to eight days suits most couples. With five days you can do Reykjavík, the Golden Circle and the South Coast as far as Jökulsárlón, with one or two nights in the countryside. With seven or eight days you can add the Snæfellsnes peninsula or go further round the island at a slower pace. Ten days or more lets you drive the whole Ring Road in summer.
For more help with trip length, see how many days in Iceland and our 5-day winter itinerary.
Romantic places to stay
Most honeymoon trips combine two kinds of stay: a few nights in Reykjavík, where you can walk to restaurants and bars, and one or more nights in the countryside, where it is dark and quiet.
Glass-roof lodges, igloos and bubbles. South Iceland has a handful of small places with glass roofs or clear domes, so you can watch the sky from bed. Some are simple rooms with a shared bathroom a short walk away, others are full cabins with their own hot tub. They are at their best from September to April, when the nights are dark. Our guide to bubble and igloo hotels in Iceland compares them.
Country hotels on the South Coast. Hotels near Hella, Vík and Skaftafell put you close to the waterfalls, the black beaches and the glacier lagoon, away from city lights. Staying two nights in one place gives you a better chance of a clear night for the aurora.
Snæfellsnes. At Búðir, a country hotel stands next to a small black church on the lava, with the Snæfellsjökull glacier behind it. It is one of the most photographed places on the peninsula and a quiet base for Kirkjufell and the coast.
Hotels can be added to your trip in our trip planner, and our self-drive packages and many of our multi-day tours come with hotels already booked. Tell us it is your honeymoon and we can help you choose rooms that fit the occasion.
Hot springs and lagoons for two
A warm lagoon is the easiest romantic evening in Iceland, in any weather. The Blue Lagoon near the airport is open every day of the year, from 08:00 to 22:00 outside high summer, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. It makes a good first or last stop of the trip.
Sky Lagoon, on the sea a short drive from central Reykjavík, has an infinity edge looking over the ocean and a seven-step warm and cold ritual called Skjól. Our Sky Lagoon for Two with a Platter and Drinks includes two Sér passes with a private changing room, the ritual for both of you, a sharing platter and one drink each, for 44,180 ISK for two. Guests must be 15 or older. Evening slots go first, so book ahead.
Out in the countryside, the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir and the Laugarás Lagoon fit well into a Golden Circle day. Compare the two biggest lagoons in our Sky Lagoon vs Blue Lagoon guide, or browse all our hot spring tours.
Why private tours suit a honeymoon
On a private tour you have your own guide and vehicle. You are picked up at your hotel, you stop where you like for as long as you like, and the guide plans the route around the weather, the light and the crowds. It is the best way to see Iceland without either of you having to drive on winter roads, and you share the day only with each other. See all our private tours.
Private tours are priced per vehicle, not per person, so a couple pays the same as a small group. These are the ones honeymoon couples book most:
- Golden Circle Private Tour: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, Kerið and the Friðheimar tomato farm in about eight to nine hours, from 120,000 ISK per vehicle. You can add a Secret Lagoon soak, a snowmobile ride on a glacier or snorkelling in Silfra.
- Private Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Tour: waterfalls, Reynisfjara, the glacier lagoon and the Diamond Beach in one long day of about 14 hours, from 279,900 ISK per vehicle. If you have the time, splitting this route over two days with a country hotel is more relaxed.
- Northern Lights Private Tour: your own guide follows the cloud forecast from about 21:00 for four to five hours, from 80,000 ISK per vehicle for one to four people, September to April. If the weather stops the tour, you choose a new date or a full refund.
- Katla Ice Cave Private Tour: a private visit to the ice cave under Mýrdalsjökull, starting in Vík, about three hours in total and running all year, from 175,000 ISK per vehicle.
Special experiences for couples
A few experiences feel made for two:
- Northern Lights from the sea. The Northern Lights Luxury Yacht Cruise leaves Reykjavík's Old Harbour on winter evenings, September to April, with an indoor lounge, an outdoor deck and blankets, for 1.5 to 2.5 hours, from 12,990 ISK per person.
- A private cave with a tasting. The Caves of Hella Private Luxury Tour takes you into man-made caves near Hella with your own guide and ends with a tasting of whisky, gin and mead. It lasts about 90 minutes, runs all year and costs 99,000 ISK per vehicle. It fits well into a South Coast day or a night in the Hella area.
- Glacier and ice. Walk on a glacier with crampons, or step into a blue ice cave in winter. See our ice cave tours and our guide to choosing an ice cave tour.
- A slow evening in Reykjavík. Walk up to Hallgrímskirkja, along the harbour to Harpa and the Sun Voyager, then have dinner in the old town. Book restaurants ahead at weekends.
Honeymoon trip ideas
Stay in Reykjavík, travel with your own guide. Our 6-Day Iceland Private Tour Package gives you a private driver-guide for the whole trip: private airport transfers, private days on the Golden Circle, the South Coast and Snæfellsnes, and two free days in Reykjavík. It is 495,800 ISK per vehicle for one to four people. Hotels are not included, so you can choose your own or add 3-star or 4-star hotels with breakfast in the same booking. For a shorter trip, see the 5-Day Iceland Private Tour Package.
Drive yourselves, with the planning done. Our 5-Day South Coast and Glacier Lagoon self-drive includes four hotel nights with breakfast, a car from Keflavík Airport, a day-by-day route and help from our team. You spend two nights in the same countryside hotel near Skaftafell or Kirkjubæjarklaustur, which is ideal for the Northern Lights and for a slow morning. A 4×4 is included from October to April. Prices start from 103,600 ISK per person for two travellers sharing a room in Comfort hotels, and you can choose Superior hotels. The kilometre fee is paid separately. Our winter driving guide helps you decide whether to drive in the dark season.
Join a small-group tour. If you would rather not plan anything, our vacation packages include hotels, a guide and the main sights. The 8 Day Iceland Northern Lights Tour Package goes around the country from September to April, with many nights to look for the aurora.
Practical tips for honeymooners
- Book the special things first. Countryside hotels, glass-roof lodges, Sky Lagoon evening slots and private guides sell out early in summer and over Christmas and New Year.
- Keep a spare day. Storms can close roads or cancel tours. Put a flexible day in the middle of the trip, and read our ideas for when tours are cancelled.
- Pack for wind and rain. Even in summer you need a waterproof jacket, warm layers and good shoes. See our packing list or our winter packing list.
- Budget honestly. Eating out, alcohol and petrol are expensive. Hotel breakfasts and a supermarket stop for lunch help.
- Fly in early? Many flights land in the early morning. A lagoon on the way into Reykjavík fills the hours before check-in; see arriving early in Iceland.
Tours to book for an Iceland honeymoon
If we had to pick four for a couple, these would be our choices:
- 6-Day Iceland Private Tour Package: your own guide for the whole trip, with the Golden Circle, the South Coast and Snæfellsnes.
- Northern Lights Private Tour: just the two of you and a guide chasing clear skies, September to April.
- Sky Lagoon for Two with a Platter and Drinks: a private changing room, the ritual, food and a drink each.
- 5-Day South Coast and Glacier Lagoon self-drive: hotels, car and route planned, with two nights near the glacier lagoon.
Questions people ask
Is Iceland good for a honeymoon?
Yes, if you enjoy nature, hot springs and quiet countryside more than beaches. It is safe and compact, and private tours and countryside hotels make it easy to slow down.
What is the best month for a honeymoon in Iceland?
September to April for the Northern Lights and ice caves, June to August for the midnight sun and highlands. September and late March are good in-between months with fewer visitors.
How many days do you need for an Iceland honeymoon?
Five to eight days covers Reykjavík, the Golden Circle, the South Coast and either the glacier lagoon or Snæfellsnes without rushing.
Can we see the Northern Lights on our honeymoon?
Yes, from about September to April, if the sky is clear and there is some solar activity. Plan several nights and stay at least one night in the countryside, away from city lights.
Are private tours in Iceland expensive for a couple?
They are priced per vehicle, so a couple pays the same as a small group. For example, the Golden Circle Private Tour starts from 120,000 ISK per vehicle and the Northern Lights Private Tour from 80,000 ISK per vehicle.
