Getting to and around Iceland in December: transport and parking when hotels are full

Arriving at Keflavík and the first drive

Most December arrivals land at Keflavík Airport, about 50 minutes’ drive from central Reykjavík on Route 41. If you pick up a rental car at the airport, allow 30–45 minutes for the shuttle and paperwork; winter tyres are mandatory in practice, and studded tyres are common. The drive is straightforward in daylight, but December daylight is limited to roughly 11:00–16:00 around the winter solstice, so an afternoon arrival can quickly become a dusk drive. Keep your first night in Reykjavík or Keflavík rather than pushing for the countryside. A basic airport-area hotel or guesthouse is the sensible choice if you land after 15:00; book it before you fly, as December weekends fill.

If you are relying on buses, the Flybus and Airport Direct run between Keflavík and Reykjavík’s BSÍ terminal in about 45 minutes, with connections to major hotels. In December, services are less frequent in the evening, so check the last departure. For the first night, I would book a hotel in central Reykjavík (101 or 105 postcodes) within walking distance of BSÍ or a Flybus stop, rather than a cheaper suburban place that requires a taxi. That first night is about buffer, not sightseeing.

Moving between bases when rooms are full

With rooms scarce, the practical strategy is fewer bases and longer stays. Reykjavík and the South Coast are the two areas with the most beds, but in December even Vík and Höfn can sell out weeks ahead. Instead of chasing a different hotel each night, pick two bases: Reykjavík for the capital and Golden Circle, and Vík or Kirkjubæjarklaustur for the South Coast. The drive from Reykjavík to Vík is about 2.5 hours on Route 1 in good conditions; in December, add 30–60 minutes for ice, wind and photo stops. That makes Vík a realistic single-day transfer, not a lunchtime detour.

North Iceland is a different calculation. Akureyri is roughly 4.5–5 hours from Reykjavík on Route 1 via the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel, and December conditions can close the highland roads entirely. If your December trip is short, skip the north or fly: domestic flights from Reykjavík to Akureyri take about 45 minutes and are less weather-dependent than the drive. For a 4–5 day trip, I would book Reykjavík plus one South Coast base and leave the north for a longer summer visit.

Parking in Reykjavík and along the South Coast

Central Reykjavík parking is paid and enforced on weekdays; the blue zones (P1–P3) around Laugavegur and Skólavörðustígur are convenient but fill quickly. Hotel parking is rarely free in the 101 area — many places charge per night or have no spaces at all. If you are driving, consider a hotel slightly outside the centre, such as near Hlemmur or in 105, where street parking is easier and often free overnight. Always read signs: some zones are resident-only, and winter street-clearing can restrict parking. For day trips, use the large paid car parks at Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa rather than circling side streets.

On the South Coast, parking is simpler but not always free. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss have paid lots (expect a few hundred ISK via app or card), and the Reynisfjara lot near Vík is also paid. In December these fill less than in summer, but daylight is short, so arrive before 14:00. Hotel car parks in Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur are usually free for guests; confirm when booking. Do not park on verges or farm tracks — landowner access is a real issue, and rescues are costly.

Weather, road closures and what to skip

December weather can close roads with little notice. Check road.is and vedur.is each morning; Route 1 is usually passable, but mountain roads and the road to Þingvellir can be icy. A 4x4 is not essential for the Ring Road, but it helps on side roads and in the Westfjords, where many routes are closed or impassable in December. I would skip the Westfjords and the highlands entirely on a winter trip — the payoff is low and the risk is high. Instead, keep plans flexible and use Reykjavík as a fallback base if a South Coast day is cancelled.

What I would book: a refundable or flexible rate in Reykjavík for the first and last nights, and a South Coast hotel with free parking for the middle. Avoid non-refundable prepaid rates in December unless you are certain of your dates; weather cancellations are common. For a fuller picture of timing and areas, see our guide to booking a hotel in Iceland for northern lights season. Book early, but keep one night flexible.