Iceland: New Year's Eve in Reykjavik

New Year's Eve in Iceland is one spectacular celebration.

Traditionally Icelanders celebrate with bonfires, where people sing traditional Icelandic folk songs accompanied by trolls, elves and other beings.

Locals gather at these bonfires after a festive dinner to meet their friends and neighbours, enjoy the warmth, perhaps do some singing and light some sparklers or small 'preliminary' fireworks.

Then at midnight all hell breaks loose!

Spectacular fireworks displays light the whole city, and while there is no 'official' display (as per London or Sydney for example) the whole population of the greater Reykjavik Area (that's around 200,000 people) let off fireworks - so you get a 360 degree panoramic display!

The custom is almost every family buys its own fireworks (most buy them from charities - mostly rescue work organisations) and blasts them off from their garden or some vantage point around midnight.

Icelanders make their own massive fireworks show all over the city.

This year there are special New Year's tours on offer in Reykjavík, which take guests to the heart of the action to join the locals around a bonfire and join in the singing and dancing!

Tours cost from £30 per person and include pick up from hotels, from Reykjavik Excursions.

How to get there

Guests can save £40 and get a free visit to the Blue Lagoon with Scantours' five day New Year package Reykjavik - which must be booked by Wednesday December 3rd this year!

Prices start from £875 per person departing December 29th, and include return Icelandair flights, all taxes, four nights accommodation at the Grand Hotel Reykjavik including breakfast, New Years Eve programme including champagne reception, 'Buffet on Ice' dinner, New Year's bonfire tour and dancing.

Head over to Scantours for more information.