What is the best season to visit Iceland? The answer is entirely subjective: it depends on what you want to do during your stay! Depending on the activities you have in mind, Iceland can be visited all year round. Even though most travellers favour the summer months, Iceland in winter has a charm of its own and is winning over more and more visitors… Choose your season and plan your trip to Iceland well.
What criteria should you consider to decide when to go?
The criteria to weigh up when choosing the time of year for your visit to Iceland are varied. The landscapes change completely between winter and summer, but they remain incomparably beautiful at any time of the year.
Every season has its advantages. That is why you should ask yourself a few key questions to pick the best season for your Icelandic journey:
- What do you want to see in Iceland?
- What activities do you want to do in Iceland?
- How will you cope with the Icelandic weather?
- Do you want to visit Iceland away from the crowds and at a more affordable price?
If you want to know more about the best time to see the northern lights, the whales, the Atlantic puffins or the ice caves, or if you simply want to compare the summer versus winter highlights, read on!
Visiting Iceland in winter
In Iceland, winter brings negative temperatures and a very cold climate, especially in the north. The south of Iceland, however, has a milder winter climate, with average temperatures around 0 °C. You can enjoy beautiful sunny days, but never forget the ever-present wind. The wind chill can drop considerably because of the wind blowing constantly, the snowfalls and the frequent showers. With the cold, you will appreciate all the more a dip in hot springs such as the Blue Lagoon, 30 minutes from Reykjavik. Be aware that many roads close from late September onwards. All the mountain roads (F-roads, “F” for “Fjall”) leading inland are inaccessible. Finally, when visiting Iceland in winter, stay flexible in your plans because of the unpredictable weather. Weather conditions (and therefore driving conditions) on the island can change very quickly.
Despite the relatively short days between October and March, Iceland reveals many wonders to the traveller who comes in winter. It is of course the best period to watch the northern lights. During this time of year, you can make the most of the long dark nights to admire this luminous show. Watching this magical spectacle is an unforgettable experience! Adventure lovers will be delighted by the range of activities on offer in the winter season: exploring ice caves, exploring lava caves and their incredible ice stalagmites, glacier hiking with a guide, ski touring or snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Finally, discovering Iceland’s iconic landscapes wrapped in ice and snow (Mount Kirkjufell, the Golden Circle, the Diamond Beach and so on) is an extraordinary travel experience! On the events side, the Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival takes place in February.
Visiting Iceland in summer
In Iceland, summer runs from mid-June to August. It is an ideal period to discover Iceland, as you can enjoy the very long days offered by the country’s latitude. It is between mid-June and mid-July that you can watch the midnight sun. At the summer solstice, on 21 June, the sun does not set. All summer long, the sun rises very early: around 3 am in July (setting around midnight) and around 4:30 am in August (setting around 10:30 pm). Summer temperatures are mild, between 10 and 14 °C on average. It is the season when all regions of the island are accessible. Summer lends itself to discovering the north of the country, the Westfjords and the Central Highlands (“Miðhálendið” in Icelandic). But it is also the high tourist season…
Summer is the dream season for hiking: Iceland offers magnificent colours and contrasts. In June and July, lupins bloom along the roads, by the lakes and the waterfalls. This surprising flower, introduced from Alaska in 1945, turns Iceland purple, much like the lavender fields of Provence! The summer season is also the ideal time to watch whales on a boat excursion. The waters around Iceland attract a wide variety of whales, including humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales, orcas, dolphins and sometimes even blue whales. For birdwatchers, budding or seasoned, Iceland is a paradise for birds. Birdwatching spots are plentiful on the island. The most frequently observed birds are the Arctic tern, the eider, the guillemot, the famous Atlantic puffin, the fulmar, the northern gannet and several species of gulls. Also enjoy events such as Independence Day or the Reykjavik Arts Festival, held in June, and Reykjavik Pride, which takes place in August.
Visiting Iceland in the shoulder season
Is the shoulder season a good time to travel to Iceland? If you are looking to visit Iceland away from the crowds and at a more affordable price, then aim for the shoulder season: between late May and late June, or in early September. You will be able to make the most of your days, and the tourist sites will be less crowded. In May, as the snow and ice melt, the meadows begin to turn green again. Waterfalls such as Gullfoss and Skógafoss can be particularly spectacular because of the melting snow. As for the Atlantic puffins, they are already there! If you plan to visit the Icelandic Highlands, the F-roads will unfortunately still be closed.
In September, the days get shorter, but they are still long enough to make the most of them: in early September a day still lasts more than 14 hours. Autumn settles in with its blaze of colours! September is also the month of the “Réttir”, the annual sheep round-up. The F-roads start closing from mid-September, and some hikes in the Highlands therefore become inaccessible. Temperature-wise, it already starts getting cooler, and the days are likely to be windy.
What is the best season to visit Iceland?
As I have already told you, the country is magnificent in every season. It depends on what you love and what you are looking for. So here is a series of quick questions and answers to choose YOUR best period:
- When should you visit Iceland to see the northern lights? From October to March. A dark, clear sky combined with very long nights (19 hours in January in Iceland) multiplies your chances of seeing the sky light up!
- When should you visit Iceland to see the midnight sun? From June to mid-August. It is around 21 June, and for about a week, that the days are longest. The sun sets around midnight.
- When should you travel to Iceland to visit the natural ice caves? From November to March. Every winter, ice caves form under the glaciers. And every summer, they melt or collapse…
- When should you visit Iceland to see whales? From May to September. June, July and August are considered the best months of the year to see cetaceans.
- When should you go to Iceland to see the lupins in bloom? From June to July. Your best chances of capturing the fields of purple flowers are during the summer months of June and July. In this period, lupins are in bloom all over the country, especially along the roads, around the lakes and on the coast.
- When is the best season to watch Atlantic puffins in Iceland? From June to mid-August. In April and May, puffin couples are either out at sea feeding, or busy building their burrow. In mid-August, they leave for warmer countries in the south…
- When is the best time of year to hike in the Icelandic Highlands? From late June to September, when the F-roads are open and passable. At this time of year, all regions of the island are accessible.
Finally, you may be wondering what MY favourite period to visit Iceland is? I would answer that my favourite moments are:
- Late February to early March for winter.
- Early September for summer.
And you, what is YOUR favourite time of the year to visit Iceland?