Iceland, the land of fire and ice, with its clean air and impressive displays of northern lights, is a popular destination for New Year’s trips. And for good reason: Iceland’s capital Reykjavik definitely knows how to celebrate during these long, dark nights.
The world’s northernmost capital, Reykjavik, celebrates New Year’s Eve with tradition and loving dedication. New Years Eve in Reykjavik is a major event for Icelanders and is celebrated accordingly.
Traditionally, the ceremony begins in the evening with mass in Reykjavik Cathedral, which many Icelanders hear on the radio. This is usually followed by dinner. New Year’s Eve dinner is usually a great experience with the family. Many people dress up in their best attire, drink champagne, and toast good fortune in the coming year.
More New Years traditions
“Áramótaskaupið ” (or “New Years Comedy”) is an annual Icelandic television comedy special and is an important part of the Icelandic New Year celebration for many. It focuses on the past year from a satirical point of view and shows little mercy towards its victims, especially politicians, artists, prominent businessmen and activists.
Then, in each neighborhood of the city, residents gather around a large bonfire (Icelandic: Brenna ) to celebrate the New Year in Reykjavik, while watching the many fireworks over the city. Dress is a lot more casual for these outdoor festivities, so swap your heels for tennis shoes. It’s also legal for residents to set off fireworks, so you can often find colorful displays of all sizes, large and small. The government lifts the ban on fireworks for tonight, and the largest fireworks displays can be quite dramatic.
You have to see them believe them. After the countdown on the clock, many residents toast with more champagne as fireworks explode at midnight.
Later, the locals gather in the small center of Reykjavik for a party. After all, Reykjavik’s nightlife is famous. On this last day of the year in Reykjavik, there is an unspoken rule: the colder the temperatures, the hotter the nightlife.
On New Years Eve in Reykjavik, downtown bars generally host live music until at least 5 a.m. Note: It can be difficult to find a restaurant that is open on New Years Eve, so prepare in advance. Fortunately, if you had a large, fancy dinner earlier in the evening, this shouldn’t be a problem. As tourism in Iceland grows, more and more restaurants are open, but don’t bet on it.
Don’t expect to find official city-sponsored events, but it shouldn’t be difficult to find private celebrations.
Take a tour
If you visit Iceland for New Years, consider booking a guided tour to visit the best places to see fireworks. You can also look up a campfire tour if you are unsure where to go.
