IcelandBest Time to Visit

Iceland does have something to offer in each season, though Icelandic weather is unpredictable year-round, changing unexpectedly and fast. Waterfalls and rainbows are common sights, but rainfall, snowfall, or extreme winds are frequent.

If you are hoping to catch the sky dance during the Northern Lights aurora, activity happens throughout the year but is difficult to observe during the summer. September to April is a popular time for Northern Lights tours. But October to March offers many opportunities too. The best places to see the mesmerizing lights include the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Grótta Lighthouse, and Thingvellir National Park

When is the ideal time to visit Iceland?

Consider visiting Iceland during shoulder season, between mid-May to mid-June and September through mid-October. The weather is good, tourists are fewer, and prices for accommodation are less expensive. Conditions for hiking remain favourable, while September through mid-October the fall foliage adds even more beauty. Also in October is the Reykjavik Food and Fun Festival, a chance to experience top chefs from around the world cooking traditional Icelandic cuisine. The famed Golden Circle drive route is still busy with all amenities open, but does not receive large numbers of summer tourists.  

When is Iceland's peak tourist season?

With long sunny days and mild temperatures, summer is the peak traveller season in Iceland. The midnight sun is out in all its glory, with up to 24 hours of sunlight to be expected. All the attractions are open, and it is an ideal time for hiking, camping, whale, and puffin watching. That said, flights and accommodation tend to run at their highest in price during the summer. If you love exploring outside, and hope to travel to each of Iceland’s corners, summer is the time to visit.

Which is the most affordable time to visit Iceland?

In the winter, Iceland gets a few hours of sunlight. The long twilight before sunlight and sunset, and the sunsets are a sight to behold. Christmas to New Year is pretty packed with tourists. It's calmer in early December and January/February, and a more peaceful time to enjoy the winter scenery and Northern Lights. Flights and accommodation are more reasonably priced, though not all parts of Iceland are accessible by car during the winter as some roads are shut down due to winter conditions. Despite the chill, winter in Iceland is a magical experience.

How long should I plan to visit Iceland?

If you are looking for a short getaway, the highlights of Iceland can be managed in a 5 day trip. You will be able to spend time exploring the capital city of Reykjavik, visit the South Coast and complete the famed Golden Circle drive.

Doing a full trip around Iceland will require a 10 day itinerary, but you may also get to experience a visit to the magical Snaefellsjokull National Park, where the glacier itself covers a dormant volcano that last erupted in 250 AD. Also experience the iconic Godafoss waterfall, sitting between Lake Myvatn and Lake Akureyri.