As a guide I’ve been asked this question many times as we drive along an ice covered Icelandic road, with the wind blowing in total darkness at 9:30 in the morning: “What do the locals do in winter?”
As a traveller it must seem pretty brutal to live here in these months, and to some extent it is true. The winters here are long, chilly and of course dark.
However here in the Iceland we do actually get some winter sun, in Reykjavík for example, in mid winter we will get around 4 hours of daylight, and temperatures hover around 0 degrees celsius (32 farenheit). So it’s not really so brutal….unless there is a storm!
Lets look at some of the things I, your author, have been doing in the winter time to give you an idea how the locals spends his time.
1. Walking/hiking
We are quite lucky here in Iceland to have the nature so close to us. Even in Reykjavík you don’t have to drive for more than 20 minutes before you are surrounded by hills and mountains, ancient lava fields or quiet beaches.
One of our favorite family pass times is to go for a short hike. We have 2 young children and they always love the experience and explore somewhere new.
Úlfarsfell (wolf mountain) in very close to Reykjavík, and once at the top you get a great view of the whole city.
2. If we get a good covering of snow…
The weather here in Reykjavík is not what you would probably expect from an island that sits just below the Arctic circle. Temperatures range from -10 to +7 degrees celsius meaning we get a kind of weather cycle which gives is snow and rain. One day everything is white, covered in snow then before too long it’s all disappeared, then come back again. So when the snow comes and it often does, we like to play in it.
3. A weekend in a cottage
All over Iceland are small wooden cabin like buildings that are known locally as “sumarhús” meaning summer house. Don’t let the name fool you, these cabins are used all year round and are either privately owned or available for for rent at very good prices, providing you pay into a workers union.
This is a really popular thing to do. They are located around the country in areas of extreme beauty. So far in the last 6 month my family and I have rented a summer every month for one weekend.
Its so nice to get out into the countryside, away from all the stresses of city life, fill up the hot tub, open a beer and indulge yourself in the silence you are surrounded by. Of course in these locations you often find yourself in the hot tub on a cold dark night with the stars and the northern lights dancing around above you. It’s proper therapy for the body and soul.
4. Go swimming
The abundance of warm water from Icelandic geothermal energy sources has shaped a tradition of public bathing as a warm healthy and refreshing shelter from the harsh forces of nature. As swimming pools are located in almost every town around Iceland children grow up with swimming as a integral part of daily life. Swimming is therefore deeply rooted in Icelandic culture with people of all ages visiting the hundred public pools for both health and social purposes. The warm Jacuzzi (Heitur pottur in Icelandic) is the perfect spot for relaxation and unwinding after a long day – and a perfect place to hear and participate in the newest gossip. The greater capital area offers a range of public outdoor and indoor swimming pools, with facilities including saunas and steam baths.
5. Everyday life
Of course we do all the boring things too. We go to work, shop our groceries etc etc, but the winter here in Iceland can actually be quite pleasant. We like to visit each other friends and family for a cup of coffee and a chat, what the TV in the evenings, it’s kind of cosy, but of course, when the winter starts to come to an end we are all quire happy about it 🙂
