Winter in Fjallabyggð
Slow down, exhale. Be present.
From October and forward, winter is slowly approaching. Days become quite. The sunrise and sunsets slowly merger into one long golden glowing show. The mountains turn white, the evenings grow longer, and the darkness becomes part og the experience rather than something to escape.
This is a time to slow down. To wake up without rushing. To watch the snow fall outside your window. To soak in a hot tubs while the mountains disappear into the darkness. To step outside on a clear night after dinner, look up at the sky filled with stars, and, if you are lucky, watch the most beutiful of dance shows, the northern lights.
Winter in Fjallabyggð is not only about what you do. It is about how it feels to be here.
Experience the darkness
In winter, darkness arrives early and stays late. At first, it may feel unusual. Then something changes. Without the constant light and activities from summer moths, and everyday life, you start to notice different things. The glow from a window. Frost or snow beneath your feet. The sound of the wind, the stars glimmering in the sky. Maybe even the northern lights dancing.
There is something special about experience the true darkness in a place surrounded by mountains and sea. Instead of filling every moment, winter here gives you space to simply be.
A different kind of adventure
For those who want to get out in the the snow, Fjallabyggð offers plenty of ways to experience winter.
Carve your way down the slopes at our two ski resorts, head into the mountains on backcountry skis, explore on cross-country skis or snowshoes, or take to the high mountains on a heli-skiing adventures. Or local tour operators have plenty of experience and knowledgable guides.
You can make winter as active as you want, ot you can do absolutely nothing. Both are perfectly good was to spend a day here.
Warm up slowly
After a day outside, come back to a cozy place to stay. Slip into a hot tub. Warm up, relax and watch the winter landscape around you.
Spend an afternoon exploring a museum, tasting a local beer, visit one of our swimming pools, or simply just wander through our towns.
And when evening comes, settle in for a meal at a local restaurant. Discover the many flavour profiles our area has to offer. Visit the local brewery, or enjoy a drink at the wine room.
Let life get a little quieter
Maybe you come for the skiing. Maybe you come for the northern lights. Maybe you come because you want to experience an Icelandic winter. But you might find that what stays with you is something much simpler.
The quiet.
The darkness.
The mountains.
The feeling of having nowhere else you need to be.
Welcome to winter in Fjallabyggð.
Winter in Fjallabyggð generally runs from November to March, although snow and winter conditions can arrive as early as October and continue on into spring and May. The landscape changes throughout the season, from the first snowfall and dark evenings to proper winter snow and eventually brighter days.
The best time to visit depends on what you want to experience. Come early winter for quiet atmosphere and dark skies, in midwinter to spring for snowy landscapes and winter activities, or later in the season for best skiing opportunities and longer days.
The ski season in Fjallabyggð depends on which type of skiing you want to experience.
Fjallabyggð has lift-served ski areas in Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður, while the surrounding mountains are known for backcountry skiing, ski touring and heliskiing. Cross country skiing is also a popular activity. These activities do not all follow the same seasonal calendar.
November - December: Early season, skiing might be possible when there is enough snow, but condition and lift openings can be unpredictable. This is not a period to book around guaranteed skiing.
January - February: The lift operated ski areas, and cross country skiing trails may be available as snow conditions develop. Same goes for the Late February often mark the start of the main commercial season for our ski-touring and heliskiing operators.
March: A good period to consider for any kind of skiing, with a combination of winter snow and increasing daylight. There is often a few fresh powder days, but conditions vary from year to year.
April: A key month for ski touring and heliskiing. Longer days and smooth spring corn runs. Longer days provide more time in the mountains.
May- June: Ski touring and Heliskiing can often continue higher up in the mountains, with ling daylight hours and spring snow. Lower slopes and the lift operated ski area may have less to no snow.
Winter in Fjallabyggð and north Iceland is actually not as cold as one might assume. For being located in the arctic the winters are pretty mild with average temperatures around 2°C (35°F) to -4°C (25°F). The temperature can drop to -10°C (14°F) to -15°C (5°F). So if visiting in winter it’s always good to bring an extra layer of clothing.
Often starting as early as end of August, the Northern Lights can be seen during clear evenings. During the darker months, November to March when the weather conditions align your chance of seeing the lights dance are high. If they are a priority to you, consider staying several nights, rather than relying on a single evening.
Winter days in Fjallabyggð are short, especially around December and the winter solstice, that only has 2,5 hours of daylight. The darkness is a part of the season here, but the days are increasing quite fast with 6 hours of daylight by the end of January.
Because we are surrounded by mountains in our fjords, the direct sunlight will hit our towns at the valley floors a bit later in the mornings and earlier in the evenings, than the actual sunrise and sunset.
Fjallabyggð calms down in the winter time, some restaurants, cafés and museums close down for the season. But there are always some that stay open as Fjallabyggð is home to almost 2000 who loves here all year around.
If you are unsure if the place you wish to visit is open, you can always call or contact them. Some activities and places are even opening on request.
