New Year's Eve in Iceland

Bonfires in Reykjavik on New Year's Eve

During New Year's Eve, you can visit several bonfires in Reykjavik, but there are many more in the whole of Iceland. Most of them start at around 8 or 8:30 PM and are finished by 9:30 or 10 PM, as that's when people go home to watch the annual TV comedy satire show.

One of the largest ones in Reykjavik, and the most centrally located, is the one by the seaside on Aegissida street in the West part of town. It's a 20-minute walk from the Tjornin pond in downtown Reykjavik, but you can also reach it by Straeto bus nr. 11.

There are often organized firework displays by the Icelandic Search and Rescue Teams accompanying the bonfires, and sometimes some singing takes place. As this is early in the night and the sky hasn't filled up with smoke from the fireworks yet, you may get a chance to see the northern lights if the sky is clear and there's not much light pollution.

As everybody is filled with a festive spirit at the turn of the year, people often dress up in fun outfits for New Year's Eve and put on funny hats or fabulous glitter makeup. Just make sure to wrap up warm as well!

• Learn about Reykjavik City Buses: The Ultimate Guide

Iceland's New Year's Comedy Show: Áramótaskaup

Before midnight on New Year's Eve, people have a nice dinner, flock to bonfires around town and then watch a satirical comedy show on TV at 10:30 PM. Nearly every single Icelander watches this, and it has become a common conversation topic at New Year's Eve parties. Was it good? Was it bad? Was it better than last year's show? What was your favorite sketch?

The TV program is called Áramótaskaup, or Skaupið for short. That translates to the New Year's Spoof, or simply The Spoof. It has been running since Iceland's main TV channel started in 1966 and has become an integral part of the nation's celebration of another year's passing.

This 50-minute long TV program has multiple short sketches that make fun of the main events happening in the year that passed. Icelanders like to poke fun at themselves, and no one is spared in this yearly comedy show, especially not the Icelandic politicians, artists, or the president.

Above, you can watch a sketch in English, which makes fun of the way Iceland presents itself to other nations and how tourists can often perceive Iceland in a rose-tinted way. This sketch is from 2014, at the start of an increased tourism boom in the country. Many other sketches can be found online, but they are all in Icelandic.

Each year, we eagerly await it, as there is always a lot to be made fun of. If you'd like to participate, Skaupið is always shown on the main public TV channel in Iceland, called RÚV. You can watch it live with English subtitles.

New Year's Eve in Iceland's Countryside

As mentioned earlier, New Year's Eve follows the same routine if you decide to spend it in another town in Iceland besides Reykjavik, except you'll have fewer options for bars to attend after midnight. The above footage is from the town of Keflavik, just to give you an idea!

The early part of the evening is generally spent with the family, and after midnight, people meet up with friends and party. If you are staying in a small town, or somewhere in the countryside, then be sure to enquire with the locals about the customs in that area, and if there is perhaps a planned New Year's Ball or a concert somewhere that you can attend.

But if you want to escape the mad partying and find quiet solitude with just your closest loved ones, then you can rent a cozy cottage somewhere surrounded by stunning landscapes. It's the perfect way to unwind in a warm hot tub while watching the stars. You may even find a spot with a crackling fireplace to get cozy in front of!

Celebrating New Year's Eve in Iceland is also the perfect time to go on a winter adventure. Be sure to check out the variety of winter packages and winter self-drives on offer, as you can go and explore beautiful frozen waterfalls or try thrilling activities like ice-caving tours!

It's also worth mentioning that in December and January, when the sky is not filled with fireworks, it's the best time of year to see the beautiful northern lights dancing in the sky. There's a wide selection of northern lights tours you can explore. Whether it's on a bus, minibus, super jeep, or boat, you can find the best way to go aurora hunting in Iceland!

And finally, Happy New Year in Icelandic is "Gleðilegt nýtt ár"!

How will you celebrate the New Year this year? Will you spend it in Iceland? Have you visited Iceland before? What are your favorite memories from your visit? Share your thoughts and questions in the comment section below!