Christmas in Iceland is a lovely time. Everyone is merry and there are lots of fun events happening. I purposefully decided not to include Christmas activities that not holiday related on this list. You won’t hear me say, hunt for Northern Lights, go on a Glacier Walk, ride an Icelandic horse and so on  during this episode. While those activities are awesome, they can be experienced when it is not Christmas in Iceland.  Because the Christmas season in Iceland lasts for about a month, you will have lots of time to tick off some of the activities on  this list.







1. Try Icelandic Christmas Beer (jólabjór)



I am a big fan of tasty beers and Iceland has a thriving craft beer culture. In fact, one of my favorite episodes of this podcast is my interview about Iceland’s complicated and fascinating beer history with Óli the brewmaster at Ægisgarður brewery. Icelandic brewers start to offer their special Christmas brews around mid November. It is a glorious time and there are such tasty varieties. My two favorite are Egill’s Malt Jólabjór and Einstök´s Icelandic doppelbock. I highly recommend trying those and others while you are. I know that some Icelandic companies are exporting their beer, so you might find some Icelandic Christmas beer at a  distributor near you.



2. Laufabrauð



Next up is eating Laufabrauð, or leaf bread. Some people even call it snowflake bread. It is at type of bread that looks like a thin, flat cake. Geometric or leaf like patterns are cut into it and it is then fried quickly in fat or oil. It is only served during this time and it is yummy. Some people make it at home and many buy them from bakeries. Many of the supermarkets in Reykjavík carry them, but if you can get your hands on some fresh, homemade laufrabrauð, you are in for a treat.







3. Ice Skating in Ingólfstorg



Ice skating, in general, is an activity that you can do in Iceland at any time of the year at the Laugadalur sports center. However, ice skating outside in Ingólfstorg or Ingólfs Square is only reserved for the Christmas season. It kind of reminds me of ice skating in Rockefeller Center in NYC, expect it is not as extravagant and it might even be a smaller rink.



4. Eat some Christmas cookies - Piparkökur



It wouldn’t be Christmas for me in Iceland if I didn’t eat some piparkökur or pepper cookies. I know it might sound strange to want to eat cookies with pepper in them but don’t let that deter you. They taste similar to gingerbread cookies. Hopefully, that helps anyone that is on the fence with trying them. Boxes of them are sold in the supermarkets in Iceland. They are seriously delicious. I probably gain a few pounds during the holidays just because of these cookies.



5. Visit a Christmas Market



Like many communities that celebrate Christmas, Iceland has Christmas markets that feature locally made crafts and food. They are great places to find a unique gift for yourself or someone else.



6. Eat at a Christmas Buffet – Jólahlaðborð



Many restaurants in Iceland prepare special Christmas buffet menus. It is a tradition for most Icelandic people to get together with friends and family to chow down at a Christmas buffet. While the traditional fare, such as potatoes prepared in different ways, lamb, pickled herring, red cabbage, green peas and so on are served at the buffet, some modern dishes do show up as well.







7. Try Skatta



As I had mentioned in my Icelandic traditions, holidays and celebrations episode, December 23rd is one of the smelliest days of the year in Iceland. Many Icelandic people are enjoying their once a year indulgence in skatta, or fermented skate. The putrid smell wafts through air, crawls up your nostrils and pokes your brain. It is a smell that lingers in people’s clothes and is one you won’t forget easily. Many  people don’t eat it in their house because they don’t want the smell in their furniture and any other items in their house that might hold onto smells.