So, What's The Best Time to Visit Iceland?

The best time to visit Iceland will depend on your personal preferences and a wide variety of other factors. If you have a trip to the island in the pipeline, this article will help you decide when to visit Iceland in order to meet all your expectations and requirements.

We reveal what you can expect from each month and each season, and when the best time to go to Iceland is depending on the attractions/activities you have included on your trip itinerary. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!

Is the Peak Season the Best Time to Travel to Iceland?

If you ask any travel agent when the best time to go on holiday in Iceland is, they are most likely to tell you to come during peak season. Our peak season here on the island is during our warmer summer months, June to August. But our peak season has both pros and cons. Take a look at our short overview below to see whether a peak-season trip will work for you:

Pros

• Our peak season has the mildest weather and warmest temperatures.
• Road conditions are pristine and all roads and routes that are usually closed during the colder months are open (making road trips much easier).
• All attractions, activities, and transport will be up and running at full capacity. During the “down” season, operating hours tend to change, and most will only be open during certain times of the day, only certain days of the week, and ferry rides, flights, etc. might be limited.
• You will have more than enough daylight hours to have a jam-packed trip itinerary. In fact, in mid-summer, the sun literally never sets!

Cons

• Peak season also comes with peak season prices, so your budget might not stretch as far as it will in other months of the year.
• Peak season brings peak season crowds, so there will be a lot of foot traffic at popular local attractions and activities, as well as road traffic on the popular routes around the island.
• 20+ hours of daylight may sound like fun, but many are surprised to find that the nearly complete lack of darkness causes havoc on their sleeping patterns.
• The lack of darkness and warmer temperatures also don’t allow you to experience certain things on the island. For example, you won’t be able to spot the Northern Lights (you need darkness to see the light) and you also won’t be able to go and explore the ice caves in Iceland (ice melts when it’s warmer, remember?).

What is the Best Season for Visiting Iceland?

The best season for you to visit the island is also a very subjective decision based on a few things such as your preferences, your budget, and what items you have on your to-do list.

The Summer Season; When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland in Summer?

Well, if you read our section on the peak season, you’ll know that this pretty much consists of the summer season. If you can deal with the various pros and cons the peak season brings, then a summer trip to the island could be on the cards for you.

If you have to highlight a summer month, many opt for June since it has great weather, and we celebrate the summer solstice around the 21st of June here on the island. For a more detailed breakdown of the summer months, check the section below.

The Fall Season; When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland in Fall?

The fall season is one of the shoulder seasons here on the island and holds various benefits. The biggest of which is affordability. If you’re traveling on an extremely tight budget, one of the months in the fall is a good option.

Plus, pick a month closest to the peak season you prefer (the outdoor summer season or our festive winter wonderland season), and you’ll be able to experience everything the specific peak season has to offer for a whole lot less. But one of the biggest deciding factors will be the weather in terms of rainfall, the possibility of snow, etc. To see which exact month will fit your needs and requirements, take a look at our detailed monthly section below.

The Winter Season; When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland in Winter?

Winter here on the island is from November to March, and if you’ve got some winter activities on your Iceland bucket list such as skiing or exploring ice caves, then winter will probably be your go-to season. But winter activities are not the only perk of visiting the island during this time.

The cold weather actually turns our country into the most spectacular winter wonderland during the festive season. And if you visit before Christmas or after New Year, you will get the best of what the winter season has to offer, but at a fraction of the price. To see an in-depth description of all the winter months, please refer to the section below.

The Spring Season; When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland in Spring?

As another one of the shoulder months, it has very similar perks as the fall season; getting the best of the peak seasons at way more affordable prices. Once again, one of the biggest deciding factors here will be the weather in Iceland. To see a detailed outline of each spring month, check the section below.

When is the Best Month to Go to Iceland?

When looking at a specific month for your trip, it will heavily rely on the weather, your budget, and what you have on your to-do list. Below you will find a detailed overview of each month to help you make your decision:

January

Temperature: -3 to 3 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 4 hours

Road Conditions: Very challenging with certain roads/routes closed

Activities/Attractions: This is the ideal time to explore the ice caves and go hunting for the Northern Lights

February

Temperature: -2 to 3 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: 7-10 hours (depending on the time of the month)

Road Conditions: Challenging with certain roads/routes closed

Activities/Attractions: You can still go and explore the ice caves and hunt the Northern Lights

March

Temperature: -2 to 3 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: 10-13 hours (depending on the time of the month)

Road Conditions: Challenging with certain Iceland roads/routes closed

Activities/Attractions: You can still explore the ice caves in Iceland and spot the Northern Lights

April

Temperature: -1 to 4 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: 13-16 hours (depending on the time of the month)

Road Conditions: Road conditions have started to improve and certain roads/routes have reopened

Activities/Attractions: There’s still a chance that you’ll be able to spot the Northern Lights with the help of a local guide, and it’s a good idea to book those outdoor activities. The migratory whales that make the Icelandic coast their home during breeding season have also started arriving.

May

Temperature: 2 to 11 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 20 hours

Road Conditions: Road conditions are overall in good condition and certain roads/routes have reopened

Activities/Attractions: The chance of seeing the Northern Lights are slim, but it’s still a great time to participate in outdoor activities and you can now spot both whales and Puffins.

June

Temperature: 9 to 15 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: 20-22 hours (depending on the time of the month)

Road Conditions: Road conditions are pristine and most roads/routes are open

Activities/Attractions: You can experience one of Iceland’s most talked-about natural phenomenons at the end of June; the Midnight Sun, and it’s also a great time to take part in outdoor activities. Plus, you can still spot the whales and Iceland Puffins.

July

Temperature: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 19 hours

Road Conditions: Road conditions are pristine and most roads/routes are open

Activities/Attractions: It’s a great time to participate in outdoor activities, and spot whales and Puffins.

August

Temperature: 8 to 13 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 15 hours

Road Conditions: Road conditions are pristine and most roads/routes are open

Activities/Attractions: It’s a great time to participate in outdoor activities, and spot whales and Puffins.

September

Temperature: 6 to 11 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 13 hours

Road Conditions: Road conditions are overall in good condition and most roads/routes have reopened

Activities/Attractions: September in Iceland is still a good time to participate in outdoor activities, and you might still be able to see the last of the migratory whales visiting the island. The chances of seeing the Northern Lights are also starting to increase again.

October

Temperature: 3 to 7 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 12 hours

Road Conditions: Road conditions are overall in good condition and most roads/routes will remain open ‘till late October

Activities/Attractions: October in Iceland is still a good time to participate in outdoor activities, and the odds of seeing the Northern Lights are increasing further. If you arrive at the end of October, you can also start exploring the ice caves.

November

Temperature: 0 to 5 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: 7-5 hours (depending on the time of the month)

Road Conditions: Challenging with certain roads/routes closed

Activities/Attractions: During November in Iceland, you can go exploring the ice caves and go hunting for the Northern Lights

December

Temperature: -2 to 4 degrees Celsius

Daylight Hours: about 5 hours

Road Conditions: Extremely challenging with certain roads/routes closed

Activities/Attractions: This is the ideal time to explore the ice caves and go hunting for the Northern Lights

When are the Cheapest Times to Visit Iceland?

As you probably already suspect, the cheapest times to visit Iceland are during the “down”seasons. This is usually during the fall and the spring season as well as certain periods of time before the festive season and after New Year, during the winter season.

If you time your trip just right, you’ll be able to get the best of all the peak seasons, but at much more affordable prices. There are also a few other ways to get the most bang for your buck whilst visiting the island, irrespective of when you come to visit:

• Rent a campervan. This way you’ll sort out two major components and expenses of your trip; transport as well as accommodation.
• Go camping. This is another easy way to cut down on accommodation costs and if you don’t feel like roughing it Bear Grylls’ style, a campervan will ensure that you can go camping in comfort.
• Get a Camping Card. You can take your camping savings to the next level by buying a Camping Card. This card will cost you only €179 and grant access to a variety of campgrounds across the country to an entire family of 2 adults and up to 4 kids for 28 nights. When one takes into account that campgrounds normally charge $10-$20 per person per night, this amounts to a staggering amount of savings.

When are the Worst Times to Visit Iceland?

The answer varies, and whether you agree or not relies on your own personal opinion. Some enjoy visiting during the peak summer season when the weather is nice and everything is open, others don’t enjoy it as much since they don’t like the peak season crowds that go along with it.

Some enjoy the winter the most when the entire country looks like a Hallmark Christmas movie, whilst others simply find it too cold. We are all different and (luckily) don’t necessarily want to visit the island at the same time. We personally think the worst times to visit Iceland are when you’re super excited about seeing/doing specific things, only to find that you can’t.

Such as experiencing a Midnight Sun, but you chose to visit in the fall. Or spotting the Northern Lights, but you come mid-summer. That’s why it’s so important to properly do your research and know exactly when what is happening or is possible on the island.

When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland for Certain Attractions and Activities in Iceland?

To help you out, we’ve created this handy overview of the best times to see/do some of the most popular attractions and activities here on the island. See if you can spot yours below to help you to decide when to plan your trip:

When is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?

The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is during the colder and darker months, so from September to April. The Northern Lights only appear under certain conditions, so we highly recommend that you go on a Northern Lights tour led by one of our local guides who know exactly when and where you’ll see them.

When is the Best Time to See the Aurora Borealis in Iceland?

We added this question here since there are still people who are confused. The Aurora Borealis is merely the more scientific name for the Northern Lights.

When is the Best Time for Whale Watching in Iceland?

You will find whales all along the Iceland coast throughout the year, especially in Husavik (the whale capital of Iceland). But if you want an exceptional whale watching experience here in Iceland, we suggest that you visit during our whaling season from April to September. This is when you have a wide variety of migratory whale species also making the Icelandic coast their home.

When is the Best Time for Orca Watching in Iceland?

If you specifically want to see our Orcas, we recommend a visit to the island between March and June.

When is the Best Time to See Puffins in Iceland?

Iceland’s official Puffin season is from May to August each year. This is when they leave the ocean for their breeding season here on the island. Iceland is credited with 60% of the world’s Puffin population, so it makes for quite a sight. And when their little Pufflings start stumbling around, you might get tempted to take a couple home (don’t though).

When is the Best Time to Hike in Iceland?

As in most countries, hiking in Iceland is done during the warmer months, when you don’t have to worry about any of the extreme weather elements such as snow. In Iceland, the best time to hike falls between May and September.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Blue Lagoon in Iceland?

It may sound counterintuitive, but most locals will advise you to visit the Blue Lagoon during the colder months. That’s because the contrast between the cold outside and the warm water makes for quite an experience (and maybe a bit more appreciation for the warmth). So, try to plan your trip for between November and February if you have the Blue Lagoon on your to-do list.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Diamond Beach in Iceland?

Diamond Beach can be visited all year round, but some say they prefer visiting during the winter season because the sun rises a little later, and they don’t need to hit the road so early to catch the light glistening off the ice. Plus, you don’t need to compete with the peak season crowds.

When is the Best Time to go to Reykjavik?

As the capital city, Reykjavik is also accessible to the public all year round, and well-prepared for any type of weather. When recommending the best time to go to Reykjavik, it will merely be from a practical standpoint.

So, many prefer to come during the summer from June to August. This is not just because you enjoy great weather, but also because you’ll have plenty of daylight hours to properly explore the city.

When is the Best Time to Visit Iceland for Photography?

Technically, any time is a good time for photography here on the island, so it all depends on what you want to photograph. If you want to take a few snaps of the ice caves, then winter will be your best bet. The same goes for the Northern Lights.

If you want to take a photo of Kirkjufell and hike up a bit, it’s probably better that you visit during the summer months. The same goes for a photo of one of our magnificent waterfalls (although, when frozen, they also have a magical quality about them).

When is the Best Time to Ski in Iceland?

For skiing, you want to be looking at February, and March. Even though you might be able to go skiing from as early as December to as late as April, February and March are the only months when good skiing conditions are almost guaranteed.

Many make the mistake of thinking that a country that is literally called Iceland will have skiing available all year round, but this is simply not the case, and you don’t want to be left disappointed by arriving too early or too late for your ski trip.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Museums in Iceland?

Many think that the museums should be reserved for those rainy days or colder, winter days when the outdoor activities are less. But this is one mistake we often hear people make. Iceland has incredible museums and it will take you more than just a couple of rainy days to visit all of our most interesting ones.

Some incredibly unique ones such as the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft and the Icelandic Phallological Museum simply cannot be missed. And not visiting Perlan or the Saga Museum during an Iceland trip is like eating cereal without milk. We recommend that you make a list of all the museums you would like to visit and then allocate at least 3 days exploring them – any time during the year.

The Best Time to Visit Iceland Remains Up to You

As you can see, the best time for you to visit Iceland heavily depends on your own preferences, needs, and requirements. So, by comparing your expectations and Iceland to-do list with this article, you should be able to narrow down a month (or even a couple of months) a year that’s prime time for you to come and visit the island.

Just remember to book your campervan rental in Iceland well in advance if you’re planning on coming during our busy summer season or you might be left very disappointed.