Best Time to Visit Iceland: Northern Lights & More

Do you know what the best time to travel to Iceland is? If no, there’s no need to worry. We will guide you when you should visit the “Land of Fire and Ice” in the form of month-by-month guide with average temperatures, activities & more.

No matter whether you are seasonal or professional traveler, Iceland is a dream place for almost everyone. It is estimated that more than one million tourists go to Iceland every year and this is just because of hot springs, northern lights, volcanic mountains and black sand beaches.

Are you planning to go to Iceland but want to know the best time to travel to Iceland reddit? Keep reading this detailed guide till end to get an informed idea.

What is the Best Time to Travel to Iceland?

The beautiful time to visit Iceland generally depends on your travel preferences and what you want to see. There are plenty of things to do in Iceland for tourists but not all activities are available year-round.

Do you want to enjoy water-based activities? Are you more of exploring ice caves or see the Highlands?

No matter what you want to enjoy, we have put together a detailed breakdown of what each month has to offer to tourists.

With this, you can easily decide what is the best time as per your personal needs. Before sharing in-depth information with you, one good news is with these pros & cons, you can plan your tour accordingly.

Iceland Weather in the Form of Table

Here is the weather of Iceland with maximum, minimum temperature with rain.

Understanding Iceland’s Seasons

Each season of Iceland allow tourists to enjoy landscape beauty and activities in a unique way. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect throughout the year.

1. Winter (December to February)

What you can Expect in Winter?

• Beautiful snow-covered landscapes
• Long nights with northern lights
• Traditional celebrations like New Year & Christmas
• Ice cave exploration
• Limited access to natural areas because of road blockage issues
• Short daylight time (only 4-5 hours)

2. Spring (March – May)

What you can Expect in Spring?

• Melting snow and longer daylight
• Fewer tourists with wildlife watching opportunities
• Unpredictable weather
• Not as beautiful as during summer or winter
• Beautiful sunsets
• Affordable time to travel

3. Summer (June – August)

What you can Expect in Summer?

• Midnight sun & warmest weather
• Peak tourist season
• No northern lights
• Longer daylight time
• Soaking

4. Autumn (September – November)

What you can Expect in Autumn?

• Golden landscapes
• Fewer crowds
• Not as exciting as peak seasons
• Beautiful colored valleys & fields
• Increasing chances of Northern Lights

Best Time to Visit Iceland Based on Activities

1. For Northern Lights

Confusing about what is the best time to visit Iceland Northern lights? September to April is the ideal time to see Iceland’s northern lights.

Northern lights are basically a cosmic light show, also known as the aurora borealis. This is considered as a natural event.

For long & dark winter nights, it is recommended to visit in December & January for having chances of clear aurora borealis.

This is a sporadic event so it is not confirmed that you see northern lights on every night from September to March. Equinoxes normally occurs around the 21 & 22 March & September when you can see lights.

2. For Blue Lagoon

Blue lagoon is an Iceland’s natural geothermal pool for geothermal activity that is open year-round. This pool has healing properties and is located between a scenic landscape.

In short, this is a mineral-rich seawater which contains mix of silica, algae and other bioactive elements that can be good for various skin conditions.

While the lagoon is open all the year but the best time to visit Iceland Blue Lagoon is during May to August especially when you want to visit in slightly warm weather conditions.

Some tourists want to enjoy this experience during springs in the winter months because they want to be surrounded by the beautiful snowy hills while relaxing in the outdoor lagoon.

3. For Road Trips & Ring Road Adventures

If you are one who want to enjoy road trip experiences within Iceland, May to September is an ideal time for road trips because of good road conditions.

The road conditions are better for road trip without slippery problems. In spring and winter, you may experience slippery roads, unexpected storm issues and rainy conditions.

4. For Ice Caving & Glaciers

For ice caving and glaciers, November to March is considered as best time of the year with fewer tourists. November is normally a mid-winter weather in Iceland

Because of decrease in temperature, November is the perfect time to transverse the beautiful chilly caves in blue color and stunning glaciers.

5. For Whale Watching

Due to cold waters and beautiful feeding grounds of local marine life, Icelandic landscape is perfect for whale watching opportunities.

April to September is the best time to visit Iceland for whale watching. This is the time when whales make movement north for the summer months. June & July are peak months for whale watching.

You can see different species like humpback, sperm, finke, min and blue whales. Orcas, dolphins, seals and harbor porpoises can also be explored.

6. For Puffin Watching

Puffin watching is an amazing bird watching activity in Iceland that involves exploring puffins in their nesting colonies. You can see puffins preening and feeding.

Iceland is famous for world-renowned puffins. May to August is the ideal time when you consider visiting Iceland for puffin watching. Other than these, you may not enjoy this experience.

7. For Budget Travelers

Budget traveling is not an activity but for budget-travelers, off-peak months like October, November, March & April are best months to visit Iceland.

These months normally falls in spring, fall & winter when crowds are fewer because of lesser-crowds and unusual activities that are not worth the fun.

Month-by-Month Guide to Visiting Iceland

After understanding Iceland’s season with activities and what to expect in each season, now we are going to do breakdown of how each month is favorable for tourists in Iceland.

Let’s get started!

1. January

January is the coldest month of the year with only 4-5 hours of daylight. This super cool month is ideal for northern lights and winter activities like ice caving and glacier hikes. No doubt January comes with fewer crowds and less prices but you may face challenges like snowy roads and storm risks.

In winter, the sun rising around 11 am and setting about 4 pm, definitely a shortest daylight time. When January month is near to end, the days become a little longer and you have few extra hours to go for horse riding trips within Iceland, Reykjavik and Greenland.

2. February

February is the month that comes with northern lights, winter lights festival, food and cultural events. Most food and fun festivals are conducted in Reykjavik. While enjoying festivals and events, do nor forget to spot killer whales and do photography.

The weather is chilly with snow covered landscapes. However, the Reykjavik and coastline is always warmer where tourists can enjoy amazing summer activities. To make the most out of your experience, do not forget to go for wildlife watching.

3. March

March is the time of transition to spring with more daylight and slightly milder temperatures. The northern lights are still visible but not during the whole month of March. The road conditions are returning to original conditions which make Golden Circle trips easier.

Additionally, if you are sports enthusiast, you can enjoy winter sports and Iceland winter games. The annual beer festival is conducted during March in Iceland. Play watersport activities like snowshoeing, paddleboarding, kayaking and more.

4. April

When the half month of April gone, you can expect fewer crowds and lower off-season prices. April is the time when spring season begins to start and considered as less-crowded time of the year because simmer peak season starts after two months.

If you are one who is looking for puffin watching, golden plover migration and golden circle, this month is for you. To stay for more than one month, pack accordingly as sometimes May also comes with snow, hall, rain or sunshine.

5. May

Is May a good time to visit Iceland? Yes, May is a good time of year for whale watching, natural adventures and longer daylight hours with little bit raining. Because of longer hours of daylight, you can enjoy various outdoor activities.

You can enjoy a lot of activities like taking a tour through lava caves, hiking across glacier and enjoy water activities like scuba diving or snorkeling. The pristine waters of Iceland in May is super beautiful and worth-considering for taking photos.

6. June

If you are searching the best time to visit Iceland Reykjavik, June to August is the perfect time for travelers. June comes with midnight sun, warmest weather, hiking, photography and must-attended festivals. Also, there is an opening of some highland roads.

Summer is arrived and you may experience busy attractions with higher prices of accommodation and ticket bookings. The best time to explore natural wonders, cultural history and music/ entertainment festivals. Must attend Secret Solstice Festival and celebrate their national day on 17^th of June.

7. July

Highly peak and over-crowded month of the year but worth visiting because of unlimited outdoor activities. During July, the puffin and whale watching is at its peak because of heavy number of tourists. F-Roads open for Highlands exploration.

If you don’t like crowds but still want to go in July, it is good to make your bookings for month start bonfire the schools are on break. Try to go for discounted booking options from different booking platforms or book your tour prior 2 to 3 months in advance.

8. August

This month is dedicated for Reykjavik because of national festival, Reykjavik culture night & Reykjavik pride. Also, you can do wildlife exploration by taking a guided tour to famous wildlife viewpoints where you will  spot wildlife animals.

Because of highest temperatures, you can easily explore the rugged and idyllic terrain of glaciers, hot springs, volcanoes and waterfalls. But if you are one who do want to try these things, you can attend cultural and musical festivals.

9. September

The weather begins to change during the month of Septemeber. Temperature turns from hot to mild. September marks the end of busier summer months. Many of the tourists go to home so you can easily find lower prices and small number of lines at famous places.

If you want to enjoy Icelandic music or entertainment activities, you should go in September. By the end of September, few highland roads start to closing for winter as road conditions are not good during winter months.

10. October

October is the month of increasingly dark nights, better for northern lights. The temperatures are cooler but still tolerable. For budget travelers, October is the prime month of year because of less crowds and low prices.

What you can do in Iceland in October? Berry picking, enjoy amazing colors of autumn and watching northern lights. There’s no other month perfect for northern lights other than October so make this month’s tour as exciting as you want.

11. November

For northern lights, winter activities and hot springs, go to Iceland in November. You can go for activities like hiking, skiing, glacier hiking and ice caving because the temperatures in December are extremely cold that make it difficult for tourists to enjoy these activities.

Before the festivities of December starts, November is the quietest months of the year with fewer crowds. Try to leave Iceland during last week of the November because the road conditions in December gets challenging.

12. December

As per our recommendations, December is not the favorable time of the year to explore Icelandic beauty. In December, the temperatures are getting colder that make it difficult for tourist to enjoy outdoor activities like nature exploration and whale watching etc.

For Christmas and New Year celebrations, you can visit Iceland during December. There are beautiful Christmas villages that you can explore with frozen waterfalls. Many attractions get closed in December because of winter.

Best Time to Travel to Iceland Based on Budget

Here is a list of best times to travel to Iceland based on budget needs.

What is the Worst Time to Visit Iceland?

The worst time of the year to visit Iceland is during mid-winter months like December, January, and February due to:

• Cold weather
• Difficult road conditions
• Harsh snowy weather
• Limited daylight hours
• Limited accessibility

This is our perception. However, the worst time totally depends on your travel and budget preferences as summer months comes with heavy number of tourists and expensive prices. You can decide on what you can do in Iceland and after finalizing this, choose the right time of the year to go.

What is the Best Time to Visit Greenland?

Like Iceland, summer months i.e., June to August are ideal for visiting Greenland. In these months, the weather is mild, days are long and most areas are snow-free, perfect for activities like hiking, skiing, boat tours and wildlife viewing.

Is there Any Need to Follow Safety Tips in Iceland?

It is hard to find any other safer country on earth than Iceland. The crime rate in Iceland is extremely low with no petty theft crime issues and any other major crime. The only real danger about this natural piece of land is frequent changes in weather.

To avoid this issue, you should always prepare yourself to face frequent weather change issues. In case of blizzards and snowstorms, do not go anywhere especially into wilderness without a guide and proper equipment. In winter, be sure to check road conditions before go anywhere.

Where to Stay in Iceland?

Different cities or regions of Iceland comes with budget, mid-range and luxury hotel options. Let’s take a look.

Where to Stay in Reykjavik?

Budget

• KEX Hostel
• Reykjavik Loft HI Hostel
• Bus Hostel Reykjavik

Mid-range

• Alda Hotel Reykjavik
• CenterHotel Plaza
• Hotel Reykjavik Saga

Luxury

• The Reykjavik EDITION
• Hotel Borg by Keahotels
• ION City Hotel

Where to Stay on the Golden Circle Route?

Budget             

• Skálinn Hostel
• Árhús Cottages
• Guesthouse Fludir

Mid-range

• Frost & Fire Boutique Hotel
• Hotel Geysir
• ION Adventure Hotel

Luxury

• The Greenhouse Hotel
• Torfhús Retreat
• Hotel Rangá

Where to Stay in the Westfjords?

Budget

• Korpudalur HI Hostel
• Litli Bær Guesthouse
• Patreksfjörður Hostel

Mid-range

• Fosshotel Westfjords
• Guesthouse Stekkaból
• Hótel Flókalundur

Luxury

• Hótel Ísafjörður
• Malarhorn Guesthouse
• Tálknafjörður Luxury Lodges

Frequently Asked Questions