When Is The Best Time To Visit Iceland? Seasons & Weather

Posted On May 19, 2019 By admin With Comments Off

What’s the Best Time to Visit Iceland? When To Visit Iceland

Learn the best time to visit Iceland this year with tips-off for traveling during the summer high season, the winter low-grade season, and when to see the northern lights.

Iceland’s long dates of sunlight and heated weather conditions convince most people to visit Iceland during the spring and summer months( May- September ).

But the best time to go to Iceland genuinely depends on what you want from your excursion. Iceland is a popular vacation destination year-round for different reasons.

In this advance navigate, I’ll help you to figure out when is the best time to visit Iceland for a Golden Circle road trip, to see the northern lights, when to see wildlife, how to experience Icelandic wildflowers, or when to avoid the crowds in the off-season.

I’ll too fall over some of the best seasonal entertainments, fetes, and highlights in Iceland depending on which months you’re planning to be there!

My Favorite Time To Visit Iceland

Personally, after several outings to the country, my favorite time to visit Iceland is during the shoulder season in autumn( come ).

The months of September and October are especially good times to visit.

Iceland Waterfalls in the Autumn Fall is a Wonderful Time to Visit! Why Visit In The Fall?

By mid-September, numerous people’s” summertime trips” are over, and most of the tourists have gone home. Certainly not all, but a majority of them. It’s less crowded.

You’ll still find plenty of sightseers at Iceland’s most popular lures, but it’s more practicable in the autumn. Fall is also a great time to save money on inns in Iceland( because they aren’t cheap !)

Iceland’s incredible Northern Lights( aurora borrelias) start to become more visible and frequent in late September and early October too.

You can also be used still drive around the Icelandic highlands via remote F-Roads, which usually get closed by October as the first blizzard hurricanes hit.

Camping in September for Northern Lights Season in Iceland Best Time For Northern Lights

Technically, the Northern Lights in Iceland can be seen from September through April. But September- October and February- March, especially around the equinoxes- are the best months to see this spectacular natural light show. For a detailed guide on how to find and photograph the northern lights, click here.

Best Season For Photography

While I’m of the opinion that you’ll get great photos in Iceland no matter what season you called, each has its own assistances. The autumn and winter lighter is particularly spectacular, as the daylight stays low-pitched to the horizon throughout the day while sunsets and sunrises can previous for hours. Plus, the northern lights of course.

Good Months For Whale Watching

Whale watching season in Iceland happens from April to October. But the pinnacle season for whales is June, July, and August. Expedition are available from Reykjavik, the Vestmannaeyjar Islands, and Akureyri.

When Is The Best Weather?

The best time to visit Iceland for huge condition is during the summer high season. July and August have average high-priceds around 13 degC( 55 degF) however temperatures can be as high 20 degC( 68 degF ). Surprisingly, the spring months of May and June have the least amount of rain.

Best Season To Save Money

Hotels, airfare, safaruss, and car rentals in Iceland are cheapest in the winter months( November, December, January, February) — aside from the holidays. Everything is more expensive during the summer( July& August ). For very good combining low prices and nice forecast, lead during the shoulder seasons: May- June or September- October.

Best Time To Avoid Crowds

Iceland has become incredibly favourite over the last few years. If you’re trying to avoid the crowds, avoided inspecting Iceland during the summer months of June- August. Winter has the fewest sightseers, but likewise the coldest temperatures.

Summer in Iceland High& Low Seasons in Iceland High& Low Seasons In Iceland Visiting Iceland In The Summer: June- August( High Season)

Iceland’s warmest peak season looks hoards of tourists arrive in Reykjavik to take advantage of nearly 24 -hour sunlight. This is the warmest period to explore the country’s landscapes.

From late May to late July, Iceland’s prominent midnight sun symbolizes there are almost 21 hours of daybreak, from about 3am until midnight. The phenomenon peaks on June 21 st, the summer solstice.

Most of the country’s favourite attractions are open during the summer, and it also has the best driving conditions for a superhighway journey. But it’s also “the worlds largest” populace time to visit. Especially in July& August, the ultimate flower of high season.

Summer Weather Conditions By Month

JUNE Average Rain: 36 mm Average Low: 7oC/ 44 oF Average High: 12 oC/ 53 oF

JULY Average Rain: 60 mm Average Low: 8oC/ 47 oF Average High: 13 oC/ 56 oF

AUGUST Average Rain: 118 mm Average Low: 8oC/ 47 oF Average High: 13 oC/ 56 oF

Pro’s Of Visiting In The Summer

All attractions are open More daylight time to explore Iceland’s best weather conditions

Con’s Of Visiting In The Summer

Overcrowded entertainments Higher costs for housing and automobile rentals It can be hard to sleep with constant sunlight

USEFUL TIP: One mode to avoid summer populaces is to sleep during the day and travel sightseeing at night when everyone else is in bunked, because the sun often doesn’t start until midnight and rises again at 3am! Packing For Iceland In The Summer

Although countless Icelandic locals will tell you that their summer season is nice and warm, they probably don’t have the same definition for’ warm’ as you do!

Bring a hat, scarf and mitts just in case, it’s better to be over developed than not being able to feel your paws. You may also want to pack a sleep mask for the midnight sunbathe. Specially if you’re camping in a tent!

Top Iceland Highlights In Summer

WHALE WATCHING- Animal admirers flock to Iceland during summer months to witness more than 20 different species of whales including humpbacks and orcas. Akureyri and Reykjavik are good targets to go whale watching.

PUFFIN SPOTTING- Summer in Iceland is the best time of year to see some of the 8 million Puffin fowls which nest in the sea cliffs. Many settle in Vestmannaeyjar and the Latrabjarg Cliffs in Westfjords from late April until mid-August.

MIDNIGHT SUN- To witness the Midnight Sun, aim to visit Iceland during the summer solstice on June 21 st, the longest day of the year. In some areas of the country the sun never actually provides! It simply hits the range and starts to rise again.

HIKING& CAMPING- Some of Iceland’s best hiking is located in the highlands, the center part of the country. To access these remote ranges, you need to drive on Iceland’s “F-Roads” which are only open from June to late September.

ROAD TRIPS- There’s nothing like a good road jaunt driving past geothermal domains, hooting cascades, or massive glaciers on Iceland’s Ring Road or the Golden Circle. Summer months provide very good driving conditions for these routes.

Recreation Summer Festivals In Iceland

Iceland National Day Secret Solstice Festival International Viking Festival

Visiting Iceland in the Fall Iceland in the Fall( My Favorite Time to Visit !) Visiting Iceland In The Autumn: September- October( Shoulder Season)

The autumn season in Iceland begins in September and stays until late October, with colder brave creeping in more and more each day. You’ll find that accommodation and flight premiums start to decline as the daylight hours get shorter too.

If you’re hoping to catch the first snowfall of the year, October is your best bet. If you’re really lucky, you might even spot the Northern Lights in late autumn very. The jazz can start to get stronger, seeing it feel colder than it really is.

Iceland is covered in stunning autumn shades of oranges and colours, plus the rain produces a distinctive smell to the air. You’ll also recognized migratory birds as they prepare to move abroad for the winter months.

Autumn Weather Conditions By Month

SEPTEMBER Average Rain: 110 mm Average Low: 5oC/ 41 oF Median High: 10 oC/ 50 oF

OCTOBER Average Rain: 155 mm Average Low: 2oC/ 36 oF Average High: 7oC/ 45 oF

Pro’s Of Visiting In Autumn

Attractions& hotels are often cheaper Less tourists, overcrowding Northern glowings being to appear

Con’s Of Visiting In Autumn

Less daylight hours to explore The forecast gets colder

Packing For Iceland In The Autumn

Strong winds and torrent is more frequent in the autumn, so be prepared for all weather conditions. From September to October, windproof and waterproof invests are essential and wearing strata will help you stay on top of the ever-changing temperatures.

Freak snowstorms can also happen too, so wear pleasant footwear, bundle a windproof& waterproof jacket, warm added mantles, and wreaking a wintertime hat and gloves just in case.

Crest Iceland Highlights In The Autumn

FORAGING- This is the best time to go mushroom or berry-picking in the Icelandic countryside. During the autumn months, you can find and pick mad blueberries, strawberries, redcurrants and crowberries in Iceland.

EXPLORE F-ROADS- September is the last month you can still drive Iceland’s rocky& remote F-Roads that lead to the interior central highlands. Once the winter snows start in October( sometimes late September) they are no longer maintained, and merely highly-modified super jeeps can aim them.

GLACIER HIKING- Once you are kitted out by a expedition busines with crampons, a harness, frost ax, and a helmet — you can begin your glacier hiking adventure! Solheimajokull Glacier is one of Iceland’s most famous glaciers to hike, only about 2-hours from Reykjavik.

NATURAL HOT SPRINGS- Icelanders love to swim outside in all seasons, and fall is a great time to experience some of the many natural hot springs that scatter the Icelandic landscape.

Fun Fall Festivals In Iceland

Reykjavik International Film Festival Iceland Airwaves Halloween Best Time to Visit Iceland in Winter Visiting Iceland in the Winter Visiting Iceland In The Winter: November- March( Low Season)

Even with the freezing& snowfall, there are a lot advantages of traveling in Iceland during the winter. With fewer sightseers calling between October and April, you’ll find countless hotels for a fraction of the high season cost.

If you’re visiting Iceland on a budget, wintertime is too the best time of year to find cheap flights, automobile rentals and safaruss. Although camping is a bit more complicated.

One of the downsides of calling Iceland in the winter are icy driving provisions. The main roads are usually plowed instantly though.

There’s much less daylight more, simply 4- 6 hours depending on the month, with exclusively 3 hours of sunlight during the winter solstice( around December 21 st ). Which can be great if you’re hunting Northern Lights though!

Winter Weather Conditions By Month

NOVEMBER Average Rain: 110 mm Average Low: -1. 5oC/ 29 oF Average High: 3.5 oC/ 38 oF

DECEMBER Average Rain: 119 mm Average Low: -3oC/ 27 oF Average High: 2oC/ 35 oF

JANUARY Average Rain: 129 mm Average Low: -3oC/ 27 oF Median High: 2oC/ 35 oF

FEBRUARY Average Rain: 106 mm Average Low: -2oC/ 28 oF Median High: 3oC/ 37 oF

MARCH Average Rain: 116 mm Average Low: -2oC/ 28 oF Average High: 3oC/ 38 oF

Pro’s Of Visiting In Winter

Save coin on hotels, flights, and rental autoes Fewer gathers, little sightseers Best era for the northern lights

Cons’s Of Visiting In Winter

Slippery winter driving cases Many attractions are closed Less daylight hours to explore

Packing For Iceland In The Winter

We’ve all listen the saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing”. Keep this in mind when packing for Iceland in wintertime. Although the temperature might not be as cold as you anticipate, the winter jazzs can make it feel a good deal colder, so you’ll definitely required to dress warmly.

Iceland is famous for its thick-witted handknitted fleece sweaters- so pick one up if you plan to be out in these components. On exceed of this, you should pack waterproof mitts, thermal socks, winter boots and the warmest hat you can find( furry ear-flaps are a plus !)

Everything in your case should adopt measures be thermal, waterproof or windproof when traveling through Iceland in the winter.

Iceland's Blue Lagoon Visit the Blue Lagoon in Winter! Top Iceland Highlights In The Winter

Due to winter weather conditions and fewer pilgrims, you may find that some of Iceland’s attractions are closed during this time of year, but there are still plenty of things to do.

NORTHERN LIGHTS- Winter is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland. While they’re perceptible for 8 months of its first year, the shorter dates of winter give you very good opportunities to witness this natural phenomenon.

CRYSTAL ICE CAVES- Iceland’s blue glacier ice caves can only be explored during the winter months, starting in November, when they become safe to enter. During the outpouring and summer many of these mystical caves often collapse( when you don’t want to be inside !)

EPIC PHOTOGRAPHY- Even though it’s the darkest time of year, the sunshine doesn’t go down without a fight. Winter sunups and sundowns can last for hours, peculiarity a beautiful gilded brightnes over the country’s striking sceneries. Accentuated complexions over the mountains provide the excellent backdrop for scenery photographers.

THE BLUE LAGOON- Winter is the perfect time to visit Iceland’s most famous attraction, The Blue Lagoon, situated about 30 times away from Keflavik Airport. Along with fewer bunches, the steam rising from the warm mineral water during the winter is very cool!

SUPER JEEP TOURS- Iceland has massive 4X4 vehicles called ” super jeeps” with lifted danglings and oversized tires to travel over deep snow and across glacier creeks. The only way to call the remote central highlands during the winter is by traveling in one!

Spring Wildflowers in Iceland Purple Lupine Flowers in Vik Visiting Iceland In The Spring: April- June( Shoulder Season)

The spring season is short and sweet, arriving later than countless parties anticipate. While your chances of catching the Northern Lights starts to diminish in early April, you’ll be arriving time in time to witness the bloom of some of Iceland’s most beautiful flowers.

The most famous of which is the violet Lupin blooms, which come to light in late May and spread across the Icelandic landscape, making the excellent backdrop for the many travel photographers who call every year.

This is also the best time to visit some of Iceland’s many cascades, as the evaporate blizzard and frost start brand-new series of liquid through the rocky landscapes.

Springtime Weather Conditions By Month

APRIL Average Rain: 70 mm Average Low: 0.5 oC/ 33 oF Average High: 5.5 oC/ 42 oF

MAY Average Rain: 63 mm Average Low: 3.5 oC/ 39 oF Average High: 9.5 oC/ 49 oF

JUNE Average Rain: 36 mm Average Low: 7oC/ 44 oF Average High: 12 oC/ 53 oF

Pros Of Visiting In Spring

Affordable housing and rental cars Daylight hours increase after the winter months Wildflower season begins

Cons Of Visiting In Spring

Winter brave were not able to be brought to an end yet Long eras of sunlight represent no northern lights

Packing For Iceland In The Spring

Similar to the autumn months, you can expect to find all 4 seasons in one day during the spring, so you need to be prepared for whatever the weather propels at you.

Comfortable footwear and warm invests are a must, and they should also be windproof and waterproof. No matter what time of the year, I ever recommend compressing beds for Iceland.

Best Iceland Activities in Spring The Famous Iceberg Lagoon! Top Iceland Highlights In The Spring

As the winter weather dies down and the nights become brighter, many of Iceland’s most popular lures reopen for outpouring and summer.

If you are a nature lover, this is also a incredible time of year to visit as Iceland’s countrysides come into full bloom with wildflowers!

JOKULSARLON GLACIER LAGOON- The massive glacier at the top of this cold lake begins to melt as the temperature increases, developing in huge icebergs breaking off into the water. Spring is the best time to see all the fresh icebergs floating out to sea.

PURPLE LUPINE FLOWERS- Nootka Lupine, also known as Alaskan Lupine, is an invasive genus of violet wildflower that has taken over Iceland. Subjects of purple lupine make for some amazing photos when they bloom in mid-June.

PUFFIN SPOTTING- Summer in Iceland is the best time of year to see some of the 8 million Puffin birds which nest in the sea cliffs. Many settle in Vestmannaeyjar and the Latrabjarg Cliffs in Westfjords from late April until mid-August.

SNORKELING BETWEEN CONTINENTS- Snorkeling this water-filled crack called Silfra between the North American and Eurasian continental plates during outpouring is a great time to avoid the larger time crowds.

Merriment Spring Festivals In Iceland

First Day Of Summer Festival Reykjavik Art Festival Festival Of The Sea

Enjoy Your Trip To Iceland In Any Season!

Well, I hope this guide to Iceland’s weather and seasons will help you better plan your outing to the land of fire and ice. However, I actually think that no matter when you decide to visit Iceland, you’ll have an amazing event!

Travel Planning Resources For Iceland Packing Guide

Check out my travel gear guide to help you start packing for your errand. Pick up a travel backpack, camera gear, and other beneficial movement accessories.

Bible Your Flight

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find agreements on airlines. Too make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.

Lease A Car

Discover Car Hire is a large locate for comparing vehicle rates to find the best deal. They probe both local& international rental companionships. Likewise spoke my tips for driving in Iceland.

Book Accommodation

Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or fee apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read more about how I record cheap inns online.

Protect Your Trip

Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term errands. Protect yourself from possible trauma& stealing abroad. Read more about why you should always carry trip assurance.

Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Iceland Suggested Reading: The Little Book Of Hidden People

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