Updated 14 Sep 2026 · recomputed nightly
Is January 2027 a good month to visit Reykjavik?
Calm — January is Reykjavik's quietest month: the typical day is calmer than 84% of its year.
The weather is the trade-off here, not the crowds.
Calm · Lively · Busy · Packed rank a day against Reykjavik's own year — not a headcount.
January 2027 is the Reykjavik most visitors never see — Calm on 21 of 31 days — 2 days run Busy or Packed, cool and wet, around 2°C / 35°F with rain on about 18 days.
Yes, if the weather does not put you off. The typical January day in Reykjavik is Calm, and only 2 of the 31 days in our window run Busy or Packed. Expect around 2 °C by day, with rain on about 18 days. The crowd comes with the school holidays in France and Germany. The quietest weeks of the year (January) falls on 7–20 January. Late January is the month's quietest stretch in Reykjavik — the typical day at 4%, against 62% in early January. The crush is at Laugavegur, Bankastraeti and Skolavordustigur; the quiet is at the Laugardalur valley. The calmest day is Thursday 21 January, the busiest Friday 1 January.
In short, quiet and wide open, if the weather doesn't put you off.
Among the 12 months we forecast for Reykjavik, January ranks 9th for crowd pressure. Its heaviest day is Fri 1 Jan, busier than 99% of the year; its lightest is Thu 21 Jan at 4%.
You won't need skip-the-line tickets here — that's rather the point. A month like this is the one for the longer visit — the guided walk, the food tour, the day out of town, with room and time to enjoy them. see what's on →
Pack for wet first — rain on 18 of 31 days.
A folding one lives in the day bag and weighs nothing.
See umbrellas →
Wet stone is the thing to plan around in a month this wet.
See walking shoes →
How busy is Reykjavik in January?
The busiest days are the 1st and 6th. Away from those, most days sit Calm. The calmest stretch is the 7th–31st.
The month is not one thing: its lightest day sits at 4% of the year and its heaviest at 99%, so where you land inside it matters. Daylight runs about 5 hours.
Either side of it, December picks up.
Calm apart from 2 days — the 1st and 6th, which run packed or busier. Any other date works.
Fri 01 Jan Packed busier than 99% of days here · United States public holiday · The dark season: under five hours of daylight
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
New Year's Day, 1 January
1 Jan 2027The day after New Year's Eve. Shops, museums and most restaurants are shut and the buses run a holiday timetable. The streets are quiet until late afternoon. Plan on the pools, a walk and a booked dinner, and do not plan on shopping.
Record Reykjavik on Fri 1 Jan 2027 is forecast Packed. Why: United States public holiday; UK public holiday; Iceland public holiday; New Year's Day, 1 January; The dark season: under five hours of daylight. Nearest calmer day: Sat 2 Jan (Lively). The day in full, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-01 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 02 Jan Lively busier than 60% of days here · UK public holiday · The dark season: under five hours of daylight
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Record Reykjavik on Sat 2 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: UK public holiday; Germany school holidays; France school holidays; The dark season: under five hours of daylight. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-02 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 03 Jan Lively busier than 58% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Record Reykjavik on Sun 3 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-03 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 04 Jan Lively busier than 57% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Record Reykjavik on Mon 4 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-04 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 05 Jan Lively busier than 57% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Record Reykjavik on Tue 5 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-05 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 06 Jan Packed busier than 98% of days here · Germany public holiday · The dark season: under five hours of daylight · Threttandinn (Twelfth Night), 6 January
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Event on this day
Threttandinn (Twelfth Night), 6 January
6 Jan 2027The last day of Christmas. Bonfires are lit around the Capital Region in the evening, with elf and troll processions and some fireworks. It is a local evening rather than a visitor one, which is exactly why it is worth knowing about: the crowd is Icelandic and it is outdoors in the dark.
Record Reykjavik on Wed 6 Jan 2027 is forecast Packed. Why: Germany public holiday; France school holidays; The dark season: under five hours of daylight; Threttandinn, 6 January. Nearest calmer day: Tue 5 Jan (Lively). The day in full, the year at a glance, and what's worth booking ahead: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-06 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 07 Jan Lively busier than 63% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Thu 7 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight; The quietest weeks of the year. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-07 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 08 Jan Lively busier than 63% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Fri 8 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight; The quietest weeks of the year. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-08 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 09 Jan Lively busier than 63% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Sat 9 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight; The quietest weeks of the year. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-09 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 10 Jan Lively busier than 62% of days here · Germany school holidays · The dark season: under five hours of daylight · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The dark season: under five hours of daylight
2 Dec – 10 Jan 2027The darkest six weeks of the year. Sunrise is around eleven and sunset is around half past three, so everything outdoors happens in a short window in the middle of the day and the northern-lights tours run every clear evening. Plan one outdoor thing per day, not three.
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Sun 10 Jan 2027 is forecast Lively. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The dark season: under five hours of daylight; The quietest weeks of the year. The day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-10 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 11 Jan Calm busier than 17% of days here · Germany school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Mon 11 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-11 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 12 Jan Calm busier than 17% of days here · Germany school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Tue 12 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in Germany and France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-12 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 13 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Wed 13 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-13 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 14 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Thu 14 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-14 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 15 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Fri 15 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-15 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 16 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Sat 16 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-16 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 17 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Sun 17 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-17 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 18 Jan Calm busier than 25% of days here · United States public holiday · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Mon 18 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: United States public holiday; France school holidays; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-18 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 19 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Tue 19 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-19 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 20 Jan Calm busier than 16% of days here · France school holidays · The quietest weeks of the year (January)
Event on this day
The quietest weeks of the year (January)
7–20 Jan 2027The emptiest fortnight of the year. Christmas is over, the winter festivals have not started, and daylight is still under five hours a day. Hotels are cheap and the northern lights season is at its best. Everything is open on normal hours; there is simply nobody in the way.
Record Reykjavik on Wed 20 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France; The quietest weeks of the year. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-20 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 21 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Thu 21 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-21 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 22 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Fri 22 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-22 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 23 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Sat 23 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-23 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 24 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Sun 24 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-24 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Mon 25 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Mon 25 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-25 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Tue 26 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Tue 26 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-26 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Wed 27 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Wed 27 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-27 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Thu 28 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Thu 28 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-28 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Fri 29 Jan Calm busier than 5% of days here · Germany school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Fri 29 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in Germany and France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-29 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sat 30 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Sat 30 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-30 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Sun 31 Jan Calm busier than 4% of days here · France school holidays
Record Reykjavik on Sun 31 Jan 2027 is forecast Calm. Why: school holidays in France. This quiet day in full, the year at a glance, and how this day compares: https://avoid-crowds.com/reykjavik/#d-2027-01-31 (Avoid-Crowds, as of 14 Sep 2026; recomputed nightly.)
Which week of January is quietest in Reykjavik?
Late January is the month's quietest stretch in Reykjavik — the typical day at 4%, against 62% in early January.
The upside of a quiet January
- The big-ticket sights are walk-ins now; the summer booking scramble is gone.
- This is a wing-it month: nothing needs locking in.
- Photograph the landmarks empty — the shot everyone else queues for.
No queues to skip, and nothing to book ahead — that's the whole point.
January weather in Reykjavik
Cold — around 2°C / 35°F, so pack a proper coat, with rain on about 18 days, so keep a layer handy. Daylight is short, about 5 hours, so plan the big sights for the middle of the day.
This is the value month: no need to book far ahead, and the freedom to change plans on the day is part of what you're getting.
More about Reykjavik in January
Based on: Iceland's public holidays · school vacations across France and Germany · the season pattern from official overnight stays · five years of weather records (2019–2023) · confirmed event dates · the published cruise schedule
Every figure is recomputed nightly from real cruise schedules, public and school holidays, and long-run climate normals. Gaps are shown, not filled.
