Travel Trends for 2025
Our writers make six predictions for 2025 based on emerging travel trends.
1. There will be baths
It took a while for the travel industry to tap into Iceland’s hot water abundance.
Leisure lagoons, known as baðlón, have now emerged across the country. They offer stunning views, elegant architecture, and spa-like services to accommodate many needs.
Next year, The River Baths will become the twelfth baðlón to open. But is there room for more, or is Iceland heading into a bath bubble? No, it appears investors can relax, too. Travelers are embracing the trend by wearing swimsuits for a growing part of their visit. Surveys from the Icelandic Tourist Board indicate tourists cannot get enough of these unique baths—and swim-up bars with colorful cocktails.
Interestingly, other trends in activity contrast with relaxing spas. Those are ziplining and glacier walks. You can enjoy ziplining in Hveragerði, Akureyri, and Vík. Guided glacier walks with crampons mostly take place on Sólheimajökull and Skaftafell.
2. Attention, attention, everyone: Lesser-known sights are on the rise
The travel search engine giant Expedia calls them ‘detour destinations’—places less well-known and less crowded than tourist hotspots. Due to mass tourism, travel today can feel repetitive. Many travelers are looking for a balance. They want to visit popular attractions and explore unique places off the beaten path that they feel like they have to themselves. Luckily for travelers to Iceland, this can often be the case!
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a good example. Overcrowding (and parking fees) have pushed some to visit less well-known parking spots along the lagoon and the nearby Fjallsárlón lagoon. People are exploring more out-of-the-way regions like the remote Westfjords, with quaint fishing villages and stunning gravel roads threading steep fjords and mountain passes.
On that note, may we recommend a convenient feature on Visit Iceland: The Visitor Count. The digital counters, operated by the Icelandic Tourist Board, report visitor numbers for major and minor sights by the hour. For instance, the least busy hours at Geysir are in the mornings before the tour buses from Reykjavík arrive. Many people visit the famous Dettfoss along the northern Diamond Circle, while fewer make it to the detour destination of Aldeyjarfoss.
3. ‘Food Halls’ will continue to nourish Reykjavík’s expanding restaurant scene
Market analysts expect inflation and interest rates to come down next year. (Fingers crossed) That is good news for restaurants—and the rest of us! Paying over 20 percent more for groceries than two years ago takes a bite out of the paycheck. But tricky conditions will persist in the competitive Reykjavík restaurant scene, especially for newcomers.
Enterprises will continue to seek lower costs by establishing stalls inside some of the city’s widely popular mathöll food halls.
Food halls, or mathöll, are indoor courtyards with about six to eight food vendors and often common seating areas. Each of the seven food halls across Reykjavík has its own character and charm. Hlemmur, Hafnartorg Gallery, and Pósthús have a downtown vibrancy. They feature dim lighting and drinks in the air. Borg29, Höfði, and Grandi are relaxed and less congested.
Smáralind, a suburban shopping mall, plans to open a food hall with thirteen vendors. Kringlan, the other shopping mall in Reykjavík, has already changed its restaurant floor to a food hall named Kúmen.
4. The Solar Maximum Will Increase Winter Tourism
Iceland’s tourism made gains in 2024 only during the winter season. This past October, some 213 thousand tourists left Keflavík Airport, the most significant number on record for that month. This is thanks to a rise in northern lights tourism and more year-round hospitality options nationwide.
The solar maximum marks the peak of the sun’s 11-year cycle, bringing the most active and vivid auroras. With the next solar maximum predicted to peak in winter 2025, now is the perfect time to plan your Northern Lights adventure. The auroras are set to dazzle not just this winter but several winters, promising a celestial show like no other.
Winter in Iceland isn’t just about the skies—it’s also a great time for savvy travelers to find incredible deals on accommodations. While summer rates continue to rise, winter offers a chance to stay in unique and remote locations without breaking the bank. Imagine cozying up in a countryside retreat surrounded by Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes while staying within budget!
5. Peak ‘Vanlife’?
Iceland is, as they say, a road trip destination. Some sixty percent of travelers tour the country in a rental car. Over the past few years, an increasing number of travelers have chosen sleeper campervans.
By some estimates, the volume is one-tenth of all visitors. Today’s campgrounds look a lot like parking lots on grass. When will people go from trunks back to tents? It began happening this year with the popularity of platform tents on top of SUVs. Campervans are still not going away, but the fleet expansion might be slowing.
6. Volcano tourism will rise from lava, not ash
In early 2024, tourism in Iceland suffered sensational headlines hyping the eruption of Sundhnjúkar Craters and the evacuation of Grindavík. Airlines saw a short-term dip in demand. It seems some people may have delayed their trips. This change is likely due to international news about the volcanic events.
Industry experts predict a strong comeback in the charts, with much interest in volcanic sites. As the dust settles from the initial panic, travelers begin to see volcanic tourism's allure. The dramatic landscapes, unique geological features, and the thrill of witnessing nature's raw power are drawing adventurous souls back to Iceland.
As people seek out unique and thrilling experiences, volcanic tourism is set to rise, bringing with it a renewed appreciation for the power and beauty of our planet. Grindavík, the town hurt by the volcanic eruption, will soon open for traffic. Visitors to the Blue Lagoon will see design changes and "lava forming" construction to adapt to the new seismic realities nearby. Both are within the Reykjanes Geopark. Stay current on recent volcanic alerts and activity at Visit Reykjanes.
The Lava Center in South Iceland
To put all that scenery into perspective – and, more broadly, the creation of Iceland – check out the Volcano Express, Lava Center, and the Lava Show, all immersive exhibitions of Iceland’s intriguing geological forces, past, present, and future.
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