Golden Circle in December 2026: in daylight or in the dark?
Short answer: On 15 December 2026: Þingvellir National Park at 09:45 (Morning departure): twilight only, the sun is down. Sun up 11:17–15:26. The "Late-morning departure" version keeps it in daylight. With the usual timing, 31 of 31 days in December reach a main stop after sunset or before sunrise.
The shortest of Iceland's classic day tours, but in midwinter the first stop at Þingvellir is usually before sunrise.
| Date | Morning departure: Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss | Late-morning departure: Þingvellir National Park, Gullfoss |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 1 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 10:46, sunset 15:44 | In daylight · sunrise 10:46, sunset 15:44 |
| Wed 2 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 10:49, sunset 15:42 | In daylight · sunrise 10:49, sunset 15:42 |
| Thu 3 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 10:51, sunset 15:40 | In daylight · sunrise 10:51, sunset 15:40 |
| Fri 4 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 10:54, sunset 15:38 | In daylight · sunrise 10:54, sunset 15:38 |
| Sat 5 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 10:56, sunset 15:37 | In daylight · sunrise 10:56, sunset 15:37 |
| Sun 6 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 10:59, sunset 15:35 | In daylight · sunrise 10:59, sunset 15:35 |
| Mon 7 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:01, sunset 15:34 | In daylight · sunrise 11:01, sunset 15:34 |
| Tue 8 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:04, sunset 15:32 | In daylight · sunrise 11:04, sunset 15:32 |
| Wed 9 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:06, sunset 15:31 | In daylight · sunrise 11:06, sunset 15:31 |
| Thu 10 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:08, sunset 15:30 | In daylight · sunrise 11:08, sunset 15:30 |
| Fri 11 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:10, sunset 15:29 | In daylight · sunrise 11:10, sunset 15:29 |
| Sat 12 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:12, sunset 15:28 | In daylight · sunrise 11:12, sunset 15:28 |
| Sun 13 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:14, sunset 15:27 | In daylight · sunrise 11:14, sunset 15:27 |
| Mon 14 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:15, sunset 15:26 | In daylight · sunrise 11:15, sunset 15:26 |
| Tue 15 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:17, sunset 15:26 | In daylight · sunrise 11:17, sunset 15:26 |
| Wed 16 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:18, sunset 15:25 | In daylight · sunrise 11:18, sunset 15:25 |
| Thu 17 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:19, sunset 15:25 | In daylight · sunrise 11:19, sunset 15:25 |
| Fri 18 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:20, sunset 15:25 | In daylight · sunrise 11:20, sunset 15:25 |
| Sat 19 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:21, sunset 15:25 | In daylight · sunrise 11:21, sunset 15:25 |
| Sun 20 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:22, sunset 15:25 | In daylight · sunrise 11:22, sunset 15:25 |
| Mon 21 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:26 | In daylight · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:26 |
| Tue 22 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:26 | In daylight · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:26 |
| Wed 23 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:27 | In daylight · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:27 |
| Thu 24 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:24, sunset 15:28 | In daylight · sunrise 11:24, sunset 15:28 |
| Fri 25 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:24, sunset 15:29 | In daylight · sunrise 11:24, sunset 15:29 |
| Sat 26 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:24, sunset 15:30 | In daylight · sunrise 11:24, sunset 15:30 |
| Sun 27 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:31 | In daylight · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:31 |
| Mon 28 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:33 | In daylight · sunrise 11:23, sunset 15:33 |
| Tue 29 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:22, sunset 15:34 | In daylight · sunrise 11:22, sunset 15:34 |
| Wed 30 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:22, sunset 15:36 | In daylight · sunrise 11:22, sunset 15:36 |
| Thu 31 Dec | Mostly dark · sunrise 11:21, sunset 15:38 | In daylight · sunrise 11:21, sunset 15:38 |
Check your own tour times Golden Circle tours
Questions
Will the Golden Circle tour be in daylight in December 2026?
On 15 December 2026: Þingvellir National Park at 09:45 (Morning departure): twilight only, the sun is down. Sun up 11:17–15:26. The "Late-morning departure" version keeps it in daylight. With the usual timing, 31 of 31 days in December reach a main stop after sunset or before sunrise.