Reykjavík weather in December (Capital Region, Iceland)

Planning a trip to Reykjavík in December? Check out this comprehensive weather guide.

In December, Reykjavík typically experiences low temperatures and high snow/rainfall. December falls within the winter season. Anticipate daytime temperatures around 4°C, while night temperatures can drop to -2°C. The month is chilly, so ensure you're equipped and dress warmly. Preparation becomes key in these temperatures.

Reykjavík in December usually receives high snow/rainfall, averaging around 138 mm for the month. Typically around 19 days of snow/rainfall is expected.

The area experiences limited sunny days, amounting to roughly 20 hours of sunshine. This makes it perfect for those who lean towards cooler, cloudier settings rather than intense sunlit days

If you prefer dry days with pleasant temperatures, December may not be the ideal month to visit Reykjavík. June and July typically offer the most optimal weather. In contrast, January, February, March, April, September, October, November and December tend to have less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Reykjavík climate page with graphs.

 

Reykjavík, monthly averages in December

Min TemperatureMin Temperature -2°C  
Max TemperatureMax Temperature 4°C  
Water TemperatureWater Temperature 7°C  
Chance of RainChance of Rain 65%  
PrecipitationPrecipitation 138 mm  
Rainy daysRainy days 19 days  
HumidityHumidity 79%  
WindspeedWindspeed 22 km/h  
SunshineSunshine 20 hours  
Percentage SunshinePercentage Sunshine 15%  

Where to go in Iceland in December

Find out more about the weather in Iceland in December and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

Map not visible? Whoops sorry! Please refresh the page.
Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor
Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Reykjavík in December?

Wear a base layer in cold weather; this is the #1 thing you can do to increase your overall body temperature. With a water temperature of around 7°C there is no need to bring your swimwear.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in December.

Swimming
4/10
Cycling
3/10
Walking
3/10
Camping
1/10
Outdoor sports
3/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Reykjavík.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to Iceland? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in Iceland. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.