The Best Time to Visit Iceland
When is the best time to visit Iceland? What are the best months to enjoy Iceland's road trip? When can you expect to see puffins, Northern Lights, or whales? Keep on reading. We have tips on when to go to Iceland based on our own trip and research.
We all know how weather can be unpredictable. And we all know how notoriously unpredictable the weather in Iceland can be regardless of the season.
Still, this common knowledge does not restrain us all from trying to figure out when is the best time to visit Iceland. We get it.
Everyone wants to choose the best month possible and enjoy rainless days, but sometimes you can opt for theoretically the best time for visiting the country, and a sudden wave of a cold front can hit, and there's nothing you can do about it.
The same thing happened to us on the South Coast, and it was pretty annoying, although the period was pretty short.
If you plan your Iceland trip, we would say that the ever-changing weather is something you must accept to enjoy your trip with all the lows and highs.
Iceland is an all-year-round destination, but there is surely a pattern of weather you can expect in every season that should help you select the best time for visiting Iceland.
Iceland is a specific country because everything is not just about the weather.
Every season in this European country brings different daylight hours that vary a lot, different available activities, but there are a few more things to consider.
Weather affects road conditions and the way how people travel around.
Therefore, before you decide when is for you the best time to travel to Iceland, you should first consider whether you want to see only the top attractions along the Ring Road, or if you would like to visit more off the beaten places such as Westfjords that are almost impossible to reach in the winter.
Hence, we suggest you should write down the list of places you want to visit, ideally have your Iceland itinerary ready, and then you'll see whether you must select a specific time for your trip or if your options are wider.
Then, you should think about the activities you want to do. Do you want to see whales, puffins, or the Northern Lights?
It is surely not possible to see all three phenomena during one visit as they do not coincide, so you'll need to prioritize.
Do you prefer camping? Then you should opt for warmer months.
Do you want to enjoy Iceland without thousands and thousands of tourists and even save money while traveling around Iceland? Then you should probably aim for a shoulder season or offseason.
As you can see, it is necessary to choose the alternative that hypothetically brings the weather that is acceptable for you and the time of the year when you'll have enough daylight for your plans.
At the same time, this season must guarantee that all roads to the places you want to visit are open.
There's certainly a lot to think about.
Therefore, we've created this travel guide focused on the best time to visit Iceland.
What is important to say, regardless of the general tips, it is you who decide what months are the best for your Iceland trip, and you will get the conclusion by combining several factors.
Remember, there's no wrong choice, only a bad prepared traveler.
When to Go to Iceland
Why is Iceland so attractive to travelers? It is one of the most beautiful countries in the world in terms of natural beauty.
Places such as Diamond Circle, East Fjords, or Golden Circle are simply breathtaking.
If your main reason for visiting Iceland is to see the unique landscape and enjoy the dramatic scenery, you can visit the country anytime.
But if you have a particular activity in mind, you might need to research the best time to visit Iceland a bit more closely as your planned activities might have the leading word.
Ring Road
The famous road that encircles basically the whole island is accessible the whole year, and that’s great news for all travelers.
No matter what time of the year you decide to visit Iceland, you should be able to see all the top attractions that are located along Ring Road.
Sure, after heavy snowfalls in the winter, some parts of the road might be closed for a few hours.
But given the fact this road is very important not only for tourists but most especially for locals, the road is always plowed as soon as possible.
Highlands
Even during the summer, it is necessary to have a 4x4 car because most of the roads that lead to the center of Iceland, are F-roads.
This suggests, that driving in this part of the country can be pretty rough.
Only a fraction of travelers decide to explore the highlands.
In case you were caught by the idea to include it in your itinerary, you should plan your trip for the summer, better for the middle or the end of the summer, because the roads during the winter are closed and it takes quite a while for the snow to melt.
You can always check out the current road conditions on this site.
Westfjords
We traveled around Iceland for two weeks, and this amount of time gave us a chance to explore even parts that are very often overlooked by international travelers.
One of these places was Westfjords, a magnificent peninsula that surely deserves your attention.
Even though you can drive around Westfjords with a 2WD car or campervan, outside the summer season, the roads are often in bad condition; therefore, the best time to visit is between May and mid-October.
Puffins
One of the reasons to plan your Iceland trip for the summer?
Puffins.
These cute birds nest here in Iceland between mid-May and mid-August, and it is a truly amazing thing to see.
We absolutely loved puffins, and if you are a keen photographer or bird watcher, book a flight ticket within these specific three months.
For inspiration, check out our post on the best places to see puffins in Iceland.
Midnight Sun
Without even realizing it, we landed in Iceland only one day before the summer solstice, which is on June 21st.
Days in the summer are long, and you can basically enjoy up to 21 hours of daylight and see with your own eyes a natural phenomenon called Midnight Sun.
During this period, let's say between mid-May and the end of August, the sun sets only briefly.
And you can take advantage of super-long days, which is perfect in case you are ready to see many places in a short period of time, or simply if you like to have a packed schedule.
Actually, because we love when our itinerary is packed, we think summer is the best time to visit Iceland for all active travelers.
If you want to learn more, read this post: Iceland: Things to Know Before You Go.
Whale Watching
One of the best activities in Iceland is to take a whale watching tour. The country is famous for an abundance of underwater life, and places such
The country is famous for an abundance of underwater life, and places such as Husavik, Reykjavik, or Akureyri are famous for boat tours that will take you to the open sea.
And there you can hope to see the giants of the deep.
Whale watching season in Iceland occurs between April and October; the peak months are June to August.
So if you are longing to get this unusual experience, the best time for visiting Iceland for you is between these months.
Northern Lights
To see the Northern Lights, you need to visit Iceland during the months when it gets dark; therefore, summer is out of the question.
Your best chance to see Aurora Borealis is between late September and late April, even though the best conditions are from mid-October until March.
If seeing the Northern Lights is the main reason to visit Iceland, plan your trip accordingly and pack warm clothes.
Camping
Camping in Iceland is getting every year more and more popular.
Although most of the campgrounds in Iceland are only seasonal, running roughly between mid-May and mid-September, plenty of them are open all year round.
That means one thing - camping is possible throughout the year, but for sure, the best weather conditions are between May and September because of warmer temperatures.
Camping outside this season might be really challenging, and we would recommend it only to experienced and well-equipped travelers.
Or for those of you who plan on renting a campervan with a heater.
Tent camping in the winter is not recommended.
Jokulsarlon Lagoon
The South Coast of Iceland is home to many best places, but one of the highlights in Jokulsarlon Lagoon and glaciers nearby and activities such as glacier hiking or ice caving.
The region around this glacial lagoon is popular all year round.
But in our opinion, it is at its best in the winter or early spring because the ice chunks on the water surface are larger than during the warmer months.
Moreover, the activities we've mentioned above are safe and available only between October and April when the surface under your feet will be hardened by cold.
Seasons In Iceland
Now when we have given you the idea of what could be the best time to travel to Iceland based on some activities and natural phenomena, we would like to get a more detailed look at every season you can experience.
Iceland has four distinct seasons. The weather can be harsh, but to be honest, it is not as bad as the name of this country suggests.
Yes, the weather is changeable, and you can be prepared to experience all the seasons in only one day, but winter does not get that cold, and it also does not rain every day.
When visiting Iceland, you should always hope for the best, and just in case, have a backup plan if the weather decides not to play along.
Being said that, the biggest difference in weather can be seen between summer and winter.
And it sometimes seems that travelers have to decide only between these two options, but let's not forget to consider spring and autumn as well.
Because these months outside the main season also outline interesting possibilities as well in terms of weather, prices, and the number of travelers in the country.
Summer: June, July, August
Summer is the best time to visit Iceland. Period.
Well, it is based on our experience, and the truth is that we visited Iceland only once so far, but we liked everything about the summer season, and many others did too. Well, almost everything.
Honestly, we really lucked out the weather on most of the days, which was certainly a huge factor why we enjoyed our travels that much.
But now we understand why so many people head to this country every year and why this number has been increasing exponentially.
Why is summer considered one of the best times to visit Iceland? Days are super-long, plus the temperatures are higher.
It is windy, so even when the sun shines, you'll find yourself wrapped up in a windbreaker.
When the sun is behind clouds, you will be grateful for packing a down jacket.
We really took advantage of long days, and our two-week Iceland itinerary was super-packed.
We know that we would not be able to visit all these sites in the winter within the same amount of time.
Statistically, the warmest month of the year is August, and the least rainy months are June and July.
These positive stats attract crowds, though.
Yes, you can see puffins and whales, lupins are in bloom, and pastures are still green, but the disadvantage is that you must share it with other travelers.
If you are aware of this fact, everything is fine.
We know that photos can be sometimes misleading, and you might be surprised to share some of the top places such as Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Kirkjufellsfoss, or Thingvellir, with many others.
Other disadvantages that come with crowds are high prices and lack of accommodation options. Here you can check out our Iceland Travel Budget.
Make sure you reserve rooms along the Ring Road and rent a car well in advance, in case you'll opt for this time of the year.
The biggest disadvantage of traveling in the summer is that you won't also be able to see the Northern Lights.
These small lows are compensated by the possibility of camping, and also all the main roads will be open, and all the side roads and F-roads should be already accessible as well.
If looking for What to Pack for Iceland, this article has answers for you.
Winter: November to March
Winter brings the most challenging weather for traveling around Iceland. Days are cold and short; there isn't just enough daylight for typical vacationers.
The number of daylight hours per day varies between four (December) and eleven (end of March).
Obviously, the closer to the spring or autumn you get, the more hours of daylight you can expect.
If you can picture yourself being bundled up in a magical wonderland, admiring frozen waterfalls, and then spending long evenings in front of the fireplace with a book in hand, winter actually might be a great time to visit Iceland for you.
Travel Tip: When visiting Iceland, this book Independent People by Halldor Laxness should be on your list.
When Iceland is crowded during the summer, winter actually brings peace, a slow pace, and a low number of visitors.
Simply put, months such as December and January are ideal for travelers who enjoy slow travel.
The highlights of traveling to Iceland in the winter are chances to see the Northern Lights, eerie landscape, and hot pools such as Blue Lagoon or Myvatn Baths.
Make sure to wear layers instead of one thick layer; this will keep you warmer.
While there are many reasons to travel to Iceland in the winter, there are also a few disadvantages you need to consider.
First of all, some roads are hazardous or even closed. Remote places might be impossible to reach at times.
Also, you might need to spend more money on a rental car, because it is not advised to travel in a 2WD, for safety reasons, you should rent a 4x4.
On top of that, camping is often out of the question, so you need to book a room in hotel, which also does not come cheap.
The weather might be rainy and snowy, but again, you never know.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Shoulder Season: April, May, September, October
Lately, shoulder season is a notion, and many travelers think it is the best time to visit any country, Iceland included.
The coming waves of visitors cease, and the weather is still pleasant.
Also, as the demand lowers, prices usually get back to normal. Well, unless the shoulder season becomes the new main season in the future (not likely).
In terms of weather conditions, spring and autumn are quite similar.
During the spring, the snow begins to melt, and the days grow longer, while during the autumn, days are still long, and winter is yet about to come.
Of course, the closer to the summer you get, the better weather and road conditions you can expect.
April can still be quite cold, and the land is barren, but May is becoming very popular with travelers.
The number of daylight hours is already acceptable for exploring the country, and the cold weather can be beaten with quality equipment.
September is very popular nowadays for visiting Iceland for passable roads and sunny days.
Even though puffins are long gone, and you would be very lucky to spot the Northern Lights, top natural attractions are at their best.
We would say that the beginning till mid-October is still fine to visit Iceland but be prepared that the end of the month can bring snow, bad weather, and the day is getting shorter again, quite quickly.
In a nutshell, Iceland is an amazing country we truly love, and we hope our blog post on the best time to visit the country when it comes to weather was helpful. Feel free to share with us your experience.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
