Best Time to Travel to Iceland Guide

Over the last decade, Iceland has become one of the popular destinations of Europe . People from different parts of the world travel around Europe. Iceland’s weather is quite a fluctuating one because of the location of the country in the north ocean . 24 hours of daylight and warmer temperatures make summer the best season to visit Iceland . July and August are the best time for hikers to visit Iceland because this is the most popular time of the year whereas February, March, September, and October are typically the best time to visit Iceland for Whale watching and the Northern Lights .

Whether you want to visit in summer and enjoy the daylight till night or in winter and experience the northern lights we have it all below.

Reykjadalur, Iceland ( Credits – Unsplash )

Best Time to Visit Iceland for Ideal Weather

Iceland is not a land full of ice as its name may suggest and experiences a temperate change throughout the year. That doesn’t mean there will be four different climatic conditions in a single day. During the summer months like June,July, and August , the country experiences the mildest climate. If you’re looking for maximum sunlight, or to experience the midnight sun (when the sun doesn’t fully set below the horizon), the best period to travel is the summer months .

The summer the most popular time to visit Iceland. This is because the temperature is milder generally, there is more daylight and there is a lot of festivals and events as well. It also to take advantage of when sightseeing, and there are more activities available . Hikers find summer as the best time to visit Iceland when all the mountain roads are open and all the most famous trails are accessible as well . But this comes along with the disadvantage of overcrowded sightseeings and places . If you prefer a quieter time, you could also visit during May and September.

Iceland Weather & Seasons:

Warmest month: August
Driest months: Jun – Jul
Overcrowded months: Jun – Aug
Coldest month: February
Rainiest months: Oct – Feb
Least crowded months: Nov – Feb

Rain in Reykjavík, Iceland ( Credits – Unsplash )

Peak season in Iceland

Iceland has an intense tourist season from mid-June and it goes still the end of August. This is the time when most of the activities get filled very fast . Iceland offers plenty to do in spring, fall, and even in winter.The prices are adequately lower for airfares and accommodations.

The Peak season for traveling to Iceland is during the summer ( June – August )due to the mildest weather, summer holidays, the most daylight, and the most activities available. In recent times, the winter months have also been very popular, with people flocking to Iceland to see the northern lights and ice cave parties.

To be precise, it depends on what kind of things you want to experience on your trip to Iceland :

If you are looking out for a trip with comfortable weather and lesser crowds then Autumn is the best time.
If you want to have the best Northern Lights experience then plan it for winter
Bird-watching and fishing season are something you are interested in? Then springtime is the right time.
And finally, Iceland’s famous hiking routes are accessible during the summer.

Summer in Iceland

Definitely this is the most popular season for visitors !

June : The average daylight in June is 20-21 hours .This is the start of the peak season where most of the time are into day and school breaks for holiday .

July : July is the busiest month of the year with average daylight hours of 21-18 hours . This is the month with warmest temperature and best time for activities .

August : The weather August is still warm with average daylight hours of 18-15 hours, slightly less compared to June and July .

Iceland falls — Iceland ( Credits – Pixabay )

Best Places to Visit and Things to do in Summer

Landmannalaugar valley and Þórsmörk Valley – both these valleys are only accessible during the summer or by tour during the winter .
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall at Sunset – Best during the golden sunsets
Try Silfra fissure for stunning diving and snorkeling experience
River rafting and Chasing waterfalls on a sunny day is more beautiful
Culture Night – The culture night happens in August in Reykjavík

Summer in Iceland has plenty of advantages including the long daylight but few other factors are to be considered as well . Icelandic summer is best for someone who doesn’t mind crowds and ready to make bookings well in advance . Also for someone who is okay with warm temperatures and maximum daylight .

Winter in Iceland

November: With the daylight getting shorter with average of 8-5 hours of daylight activities like snowmobiling and glacier hiking are popular.

December: December is the peak of winter with the shortest days. There can be as small as 4-5 hours of daylight in Iceland during the month of December.

January : With the new year kicking in , there will be a slight increase in the daylight hours as 7-5 hours. People start doing outdoor activities in snow.

February: During this month ,Iceland is completely covered in a white blanket of snowmaking this a beautiful time of the year to explore some of the natural wonders including the northern lights. The average daylight is 7-10 hours.

Snaefellsnes, Iceland ( Credits – Unsplash )

Best Places to Visit and Things to Do in Winter

Snaefellsnes Peninsula – Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall is a good option to experience in winter
Strokkur geyser – This geyser erupts every 10 minutes and makes you feel the warmth and heat in Winter .
Glacial Ice Caves

Spring in Iceland

April: Spring season starts in the month of April with average daylight of 14-16 hours .

May: Sufficient daylight for sightseeing of 16-20 hours and temperatures are beginning to warm up. However, some of the roads remain closed due to winter’s snow and ice cover.

Best places to visit during spring

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Puffins spotting can be experienced
Fishing, whale watching season begins during the spring
Faxa Bay – known for puffins in the month of may

Check some of the best Iceland honeymoon packages or Iceland tour packages at Pickyourtrail and start customizing your itinerary online with the top things to do in Ireland. Also, find our Travel guide to Iceland. It’s never too early to book your dream vacation.
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