New Year's Eve in Iceland: bonfires, the Áramótaskaup and fireworks on every street

Neighbourhood bonfires, a comedy show that stops the country, and an entire city launching its own fireworks. How the night unfolds hour by hour and what to book ahead.

New Year's Eve in Reykjavík is one of the most unusual in Europe: neighbourhood bonfires after dark, the whole country in front of the TV at half past ten for the Áramótaskaup, and at midnight an entire city setting off its own fireworks for hours. There is no big official countdown show in a square: here the party is made by the residents themselves. Here is how the night works, hour by hour, and what to know if you are spending it in Iceland.

The night, hour by hour

These are the usual times each year, but they can change. Confirm them on reykjavik.is a few days before.

The bonfires (brennur)

A centuries-old tradition: big community bonfires at several spots around Reykjavík and the capital area, where neighbours gather, sing and watch the year's wood burn. They are free and open to everyone. The city publishes the list of locations and times on its website each year.

Two warnings: in strong wind they can be cancelled for safety, and do not get closer than the organisers allow. Dress warmly, because you will be standing still for a good while. For what to wear, see our list of what to pack for Iceland in winter.

The Áramótaskaup: when the whole country watches the same thing

At around 22:30, Icelandic public television (RÚV) airs the Áramótaskaup, an hour-long comedy show that runs through the year in satirical sketches. A huge share of the country watches it, and for that hour Reykjavík feels like a ghost town.

It is in Icelandic and the jokes are very local, so you will understand almost nothing. It is still worth watching for a while, at your hotel or in a downtown bar that has it on: the fun part is seeing everyone laugh at the same moment.

Midnight: the fireworks

This is what really surprises visitors. In Iceland private individuals buy and launch their own fireworks, and most are sold at stands run by the volunteer rescue teams (ICE-SAR, Landsbjörg), for whom it is a major source of funding. So buying fireworks also supports the people who would come for you if something went wrong in the mountains.

At midnight the sky fills from every neighbourhood at once. The classic places to watch:

• The hill at Hallgrímskirkja: the most famous and the most crowded. Incredible atmosphere, but packed, with rockets going off very close.
• Öskjuhlíð and Perlan: high up, with a view over the whole city.
• The seafront: more space and a view across the bay.

The advice we give everyone:

• Wear safety glasses if you are close to where people are launching. They are often handed out with the fireworks.
• The rockets are set off by ordinary people, not professionals. Keep your distance.
• The smoke is real: air quality drops sharply for a few hours that night. If you have asthma or breathing problems, watch from somewhere high and further away, or from indoors.

Dinner, bookings and 1 January

• Book dinner well in advance. Many restaurants close on the 31st, and those that open usually serve a set menu.
• Supermarkets and shops close early on the 31st, and on 1 January almost everything is shut. Buy what you need beforehand.
• Taxis are scarce and pricier that night. If you can, stay downtown.

What about the northern lights?

If the night is clear there may be an aurora, but between the smoke and the light from the fireworks, the 31st is not the best night to look for one in town. Use other nights of your trip: our northern lights outing costs €99, reserving is free and you pay 48 hours before. Why they are hard to see from the city is explained in northern lights from Reykjavík.

If you are here for several days between Christmas and Epiphany, the 3-day South Coast + Diamond Beach trip (€449) leaves every Friday morning and is back Sunday night, subject to availability and road conditions. For the rest of the holidays, read Christmas in Iceland, and for booking questions, the FAQ.

One last thing: the party does not end on the 31st. On 6 January (Þrettándinn), the last day of the Icelandic Christmas season, there are more bonfires and fireworks to see the holidays off.

Frequently asked

All guides