I am not a morning person; I never have been. I hate leaving the warm cocoon of my bed, especially before the sun is even up. So the fact that the sun doesn’t even rise until after 11am at the end of December had one advantage. Almost every morning of our adventure, we’d pull over and watch the sun come up. Here are 5 of our favorite spectacular Iceland sunrises:
December 30 Sunrise: 11:21am
1. We stopped just off Highway 1 near Eyjafjallajökull as we were on our way to go glacier hiking on Sólheimajökull. The water was partially frozen and the sky looked like it was on fire as the sun set the clouds ablaze.
December 31 Sunrise: 11:20am
2. On the coldest day of our trip, we watched the sunrise over Þingvellir National Park as we waited to do one of the craziest things we’ve ever done – go snorkeling in freezing cold water. In winter. The clouds became so red, it looked like there was lava in the sky!
January 1 Sunrise: 11:19am
3. While the rest of the country slept after an epic night of celebrating New Year’s Eve, we set off extra early to begin our road trip circumnavigating Iceland. Near Vik the sun had begun to rise, illuminating the sky in a vibrant pink. These ducks added such spectacular contrast and their quacking was literally the only sound on this still morning.
January 3 Sunrise: 11:16am
4. We had just started hiking around the Skútustaðagígar pseudo craters on our Lake Mývatn Super Jeep tour as the sun peaked up over the mountains. We didn’t have any clouds that morning for dramatic effects of the sky being on fire, but what made this sunrise so spectacular was the way it glinted off the icy bluish snow.
January 5 Sunrise: 11:13am
5. It was our last full day in Iceland and we had begun making our was from Mývatn back to Keflavik. Somewhere in the North along Highway, we spotted this frozen river just as the sun began to come up. Iceland sure did start our last day with a dramatic sunrise and we joked that we watched the sun come up at least 5 times as we drove through mountain passes.
Which of these is your favorite Iceland sunrise?
Jennifer Dombrowski
Jennifer Dombrowski is a location independent globe trotter and bases herself in Prata di Pordenone, Italy. She works as a social media and innovation strategist in higher education and is a regular contributor on johnnyjet.com. Her website, jdombstravels.com, is the 2012 Destinology Travel Bloggy Best Newcomer award winner. Google+
Follow Me:
We’re Jennifer and Tim and we love traveling! We are just one ordinary couple who have found that travel brought us closer together, taught us patience, the art of compromise, and how to truly appreciate the diversity of this extraordinary world. So far, we've visited 37 countries, lived in the United States and Italy, and Tim has lived in Korea. And we do it all while both holding down full time jobs. 
Greece 
Italy 
24 comments
Skip to comment form ↓
Ali
January 17, 2013 at 7:30 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
They’re all gorgeous! I know you just put them in date order, but I think each day was more beautiful than the one before!
Ali recently posted..How to Make a Travel Budget
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 17th, 2013 at 9:27 pm
I agree, Ali! Sunrises definitely did not disappoint.
[Reply]
Petite Adventures
January 17, 2013 at 9:39 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
These are all absolutely breathtaking! And, I love that you didn’t have to get up at 4:30 a.m. to catch them – the best of both worlds!
Kate xo petite-adventures.blogspot.ca
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 18th, 2013 at 10:12 am
Definitely the best of both worlds, Kate! It is really sort of odd to be up and moving for hours before the sun even rises.
[Reply]
Bethany
January 17, 2013 at 10:46 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Wow – getting to start your last day with 5 sunrises is pretty incredible! I’m not a morning person either so I hardly ever see the sun rise but it is such a treat to see. I never even thought about it rising so late in Iceland in December – great for seeing them but must’ve been tough to get out of bed each day too.
I really love the pink one here with the birds. 
Bethany recently posted..All My Favorite Drinks Come From Lake Erie Islands
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 18th, 2013 at 10:15 am
It is so tough to get out of bed when it’s pitch black out. Your body thinks it should still be sleeping and we’d literally be up and moving for hours before the sun would even start to come up. I don’t know how people that live in the Polar regions do it all the time!
[Reply]
Leigh
January 18, 2013 at 1:22 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I like the third one the best!
Leigh recently posted..Otavalo: One of the Best Places to Visit in Ecuador
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 18th, 2013 at 10:18 am
Thanks, Leigh! The birds really made for beautiful contrast in that one.
[Reply]
Cathy Sweeney
January 18, 2013 at 5:29 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I’d enjoy experiencing the late sunrise, just like a enjoy the really late sunsets in some places in summer. Makes me feel like I’m cheating somehow.
Spectacular scenes, beautifully shot!
Cathy Sweeney recently posted..A Sweeney First: Zip-Lining in Mazatlan
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 18th, 2013 at 10:21 am
Thanks, Cathy! It was fantastic seeing the sun rise each day but such short days do make a trip like ours challenging. It was all definitely worth it though!
[Reply]
Natalie
January 18, 2013 at 8:21 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
They are very nice but I think number one is my favourite because there is a vast contrast of colours there.
Natalie recently posted..Gaziantep Castle : Remembering the Veterans
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 18th, 2013 at 10:22 am
Thanks, Natalie! The sky just appeared on fire in that one with the oranges.
[Reply]
Sofie
January 18, 2013 at 2:13 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Lovely pictures!
I prefer the first:-)
Sofie recently posted..Celebrate 2013 by winning a trip through Europe and some cash to spend!
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 21st, 2013 at 7:31 pm
Thanks, Sophie! They were all beautiful to see!
[Reply]
Travelwriticus
January 19, 2013 at 12:36 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I like esp the first one. It makes me think there is no difference between sky and soil.
Travelwriticus recently posted..Monuments of Elisabeth of Austria
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 21st, 2013 at 7:33 pm
It certainly doesn’t look like there is a difference, does it? We loved the way the sunrise and clouds were reflected.
[Reply]
Ally
January 19, 2013 at 10:43 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Wow an 11am sunrise? I like the third sunrise the best, love the pinkness!
Ally recently posted..Bungy Jumping in Queenstown
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 21st, 2013 at 7:34 pm
It’s kind of crazy that the days are so short in winter, Ally! And sunset was around 3pm!
[Reply]
D.J. - The World of Deej
January 19, 2013 at 1:53 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Amazing shots….I love the one on New Years Day especially. The 11am sunrise boggles my mind…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..The Volcano at Mirage Las Vegas – Pic of the Week
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 21st, 2013 at 7:35 pm
Thanks, D.J.! Yes, it was a bit odd to have the sun rise nearly mid-day.
[Reply]
Andrea
January 19, 2013 at 3:40 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Beautiful! Especially the one with all the birds
Andrea recently posted..Atlantic City In the Off-Season
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
January 21st, 2013 at 7:36 pm
Thanks, Andrea! I definitely think the birds made that one a really interesting shot. And it was so still out that day except for all their quaking!
[Reply]
Deb
February 6, 2013 at 7:03 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Love the photo of the birds taking off. Beautiful images all around. You have sold me on Iceland. I must fit it into my travels soon!
Deb recently posted..Winterlude Delights, Canada’s Best Winter Party
[Reply]
Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
February 6th, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Thanks, Deb! You and Dave would love Iceland; I just know it. There are so many adventurous things to do there.
It’s definitely one of my all time favorite countries. Tim wants to camp and hitchhike around Iceland on our next trip.
[Reply]