Is Iceland good for a honeymoon?

Let’s not beat around the bush, Iceland is a great place for a honeymoon. First of all, it’s a natural spa destination. Forget windowless rooms with a piped-in panpipe soundtrack and instead, embrace the raw outdoors with a scrub and a treatment at the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon. Iceland’s bathing culture means there are natural, geothermal pools across the island, set amidst ethereal lava fields and looking out over the wild North Atlantic.

Those that seek adventure on their honeymoon can try glacier hiking, snowmobiling and monster trucking over the frozen landscape, or perhaps a ride on an Icelandic horse. Then there are the real bucket-list activities. A honeymoon is (usually) a once-in-a-lifetime trip and each day should be full of once-in-a-lifetime sights and experiences. Spotting the Northern Lights as they dance against the night sky, illuminating the rugged landscape in eerie green, or perhaps spotting icebergs in the frozen waters of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and watching the sunlight glint off shards of ice on Diamond Beach.

All this, combined with the naturally friendly demeanour of the Icelandic people (who love a celebration) and an array of boutique hotels and secluded cabins to stay in, make Iceland one of the best destinations for a honeymoon.

Getting to Iceland

With close to one hundred flight options from destinations across Europe and the USA, Iceland is an easy place to get to. Out in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, it acts as the perfect stop-off between North America and Europe. An array of budget and flagship airlines fly to Reykjavik, so you don’t have to splash out on getting there and can save most of your money for sightseeing and accommodation.

From the airport, it’s simple to get into the centre of Reykjavik. The easiest option is the Flybus airport transfer, which runs from Keflavik Airport to the BSI bus terminal in the centre of Reykjavik. Then, from here, shuttles can take you straight to your hotel in the capital. Booking the Flybus online in advance means you can hop on the bus as soon as you leave the arrivals lounge – there’s always a bus waiting because the Flybus timetable matches the landing schedule of every flight into Keflavik.

Glaciers, volcanoes and black-sanded beaches – Iceland is brimming with natural wonders

From the biggest ice caps in Europe to chunks of ice sparkling on black-sanded beaches and an interior of rugged, unspoilt scenery, Iceland has so many things to see and do. There are outdoor activities galore and natural geothermal pools for spa afternoons. Check out our round-up of the fifteen must-see places in Iceland for your honeymoon inspiration.

How long to stay in Iceland

How long you spend in Iceland depends on the season. In winter, a week is probably the ideal length of time for a honeymoon in Iceland as the interior is inaccessible and you are confined to the coast. There are still plenty of things to do in Iceland in winter along the south coast, Golden Circle and, of course, spotting the Northern Lights outside Reykjavik. The geothermal bathing pools are particularly dramatic at this time of year as snow falls above you. Fitting in all the highlights of Icelandic winter requires around a week.

Summer in Iceland sees long days and short nights and the interior and north open up as road conditions are more favourable. With a few more options for things to see and do, ten to fourteen days is probably better to cover everything in summer. You’ll still want to see the highlights like the Golden Circle, the sights of the south coast and geothermal lagoons, but you can also explore places like Husavik in the north for whale watching, and perhaps the hiking trails of the wild interior. Summer is also a popular time of year to embark on the full circle road trip of the island, which should take between ten and fourteen days to see it all properly.

Where to stay in Iceland

There’s a wide variety of hotels and places to stay in Iceland. For honeymooners, the boutique hotels of central Reykjavik can provide a romantic base, housed in 19th-century buildings and some with in-room spa treatments on offer. There are also 5-star chains for those that seek familiar luxury, most of which are eco-certified in keeping with Iceland’s forward-thinking environmental policies. During the winter months, it’s a good idea to base yourself in Reykjavik and take day tours out to the natural sights across the island. Road conditions in winter mean it is easier to leave the driving to someone else.

Outside of Reykjavik, you’ll find family-run guesthouses in the small towns around the ring road, if you fancy a road trip. But the highlight for honeymooners has to be the secluded cabins. Wood-clad and dwarfed by the rugged scenery, they look like something from a fairytale. Embarking on a ring-road summer road trip and staying in secluded cabins along the way means you can fully immerse yourself in Iceland’s beguiling landscape.

Black-sanded beaches and glacier lakes, check out the sights of the south coast of Iceland

On a tour of the south coast of Iceland, you’ll find some of the country’s most impressive sights. The thundering waterfalls of Skogafoss and Selfoss, the jet-black sand at Reynisfjara Beach, and the silent drift of icebergs on the lake at Jökulsárlón. We’ve rounded up the best bits in our ultimate guide to the south coast of Iceland.

What to do on a honeymoon in Iceland?

There’s no denying the romance of Iceland’s epic scenery, from craggy mountain ranges to the white tongues of glaciers, the sleek blue of ice caves to the milky blue of geothermal pools. If you’re still not convinced by Iceland as a honeymoon destination, we’ve rounded up the best things for couples to do in Iceland.

Dip into romantic spas and geothermal pools in Iceland

It’s no secret that a good honeymoon involves some serious pampering with your significant other. While other spa destinations across the globe might offer the same experience – a couples massage in a room without windows as the tinkle of New Age music plays on a speaker – Iceland offers something a little different. Across this tiny nation, you’ll find a series of hot springs and geothermal pools.

With its ethereal milky-blue waters in the striking lava fields near Keflavik, the Blue Lagoon is a hot favourite with couples looking to unwind. Slip into the bath-warm waters and indulge in a massage or face scrub. Clink glasses of bubbly to your new life together and relax as Iceland’s wilderness unfolds around you. Or, perhaps head to the Sky Lagoon, a natural geothermal pool jutting out over the North Atlantic Sea. It’s got an infinity feel to it. Looking at it, you’re not quite sure where the warm thermal waters end and the wild Atlantic begins. Up in the north of Iceland, you’ve got Mývatn Lake, similar to the Blue Lagoon but a little less crowded, and the Secret Lagoon is another of Iceland’s geothermal pools that sits along the route of the Golden Circle.

Explore amazing ice caves

Adventure-seeking couples can embark on a glacier hike where the vast frozen landscape is home to secret ice caves. Taking an ice cave tour in Iceland is one of those bucket-list experiences that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Making your way through the sleek, glowing blue world of an ice tunnel makes for a picture-perfect honeymoon moment. Some ice cave tours involve sipping a local tipple from a chunk of ice, the perfect moment to “cheers” to your new life together.

Spot the Northern lights in Iceland

The Northern Lights are at the top of many people’s bucket lists, and there’s an undeniable romance to the twisting green glow illuminating the landscape. Standing hand-in-hand in the middle of the Icelandic wilderness as the aurora borealis dances above you is what honeymoon memories are for. Embarking on a Northern Lights tour means a professional and experienced guide can take you to the best spot to see this spectacle, and help you snap the perfect photograph of this moment. The Northern Lights season runs from September through to January.

Chase stunning waterfalls in Iceland

One of the most popular experiences in Iceland is chasing waterfalls. From the thundering cascade of Gullfoss on the Golden Circle to the rainbows cast in the mist at Skogafoss, each of the waterfalls in Iceland is a spectacle to behold. Couples that enjoy hiking together can hit the Fimmvörðuháls trail up past Skogafoss and along “waterfall way” to spot some of Iceland’s most beautiful falls.

Visit Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach in Iceland

Most people, when they picture a honeymoon abroad, think of a couple strolling hand-in-hand along a sweeping sandy beach. Now imagine that, but the sand is glittering jet-black and the bay is fringed with twisting rock formations that look out of this world. Iceland’s Reynisfjara black sand beach provides a dramatic and unique backdrop to the honeymoon photos, for sure.

Embark on an Arctic adventure at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach

Perhaps the most romantic backdrop in Iceland is either the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon or nearby Diamond Beach. Picture this: standing side-by-side on the deck of a boat, puttering across a glacial lake as glowing blue icebergs drift silently by. At Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon you can take a boat trip on the water for a romantic cruise.

Then, the Black Diamond Beach is just across the road. Here, glimmering chunks of ice sit on the black sand as the sea crashes against the shore. When the sunlights hits these shards of ice, they seem to glow golden.

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

Depending on your personal preference and what activities you want to do, Iceland is a great place to visit in summer and winter. The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn see less travellers to Iceland so the sights are less crowded, but the weather can be less predictable during these months. Read our blog about the best time to visit Iceland to work out the details and choose the best time for your honeymoon.

How to dress for an Iceland honeymoon trip?

Dressing in Iceland depends on the weather and the season. A summer honeymoon in Iceland means mostly balmy days, so light t-shirts and summer jackets are ideal for strolling around Reykjavik. There are a few swanky restaurants in the capital that could call for dressing up in your finery if you wish, and hiking boots and a light waterproof jacket are a must if you’re heading into the great outdoors – it can rain any time of year here.

In winter, sturdy boots with good grip are essential as even Reykjavik can be covered in big snow drifts. Blend in with the locals in chunky knitwear to keep toasty, but layers are the key to keeping warm in winter. A waterproof jacket, hat, scarf, gloves and even waterproof trousers are a must if you’re heading out to see the natural wonders of the island.

If you’re spending a romantic day at a geothermal pool like the Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon, you should pack swimwear (but you can rent or buy swimwear here if you forget).



If you haven’t guessed already, Iceland is a great destination for a honeymoon. Not only is it home to natural spas and geothermal pools to rival any five-star hydrotherapy treatment, it’s also a land of dramatic scenery and bucket-list experiences. Honeymoon tours and attractions in Iceland embrace the great outdoors, bringing couples closer together and mean making memories to last a lifetime.