Wondering when is the best time to visit Iceland? In this post, we’ll go over each season’s pros and cons to help decide which months are the best for YOU to visit Iceland.
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Most people believe that the best time to visit Iceland is during the summer but there are many factors to consider depending on your interests. Do you want to see the Northern Lights and mesmerizing ice caves or do you want to experience the midnight sun and have plenty of daylight for activities?
No matter how you want to spend your time in Iceland, we’ll go over each season’s benefits to ensure you make the right choice for which month is best for YOU to visit.
Best Time to Visit Iceland Summed Up
Ultimately, this depends on the kind of person you are and what you’re looking to get out of your trip. The main factor to consider is that Iceland is far up north near the arctic circle so the weather can be more extreme than what you’re used to.
This means that during the summer months, there is a polar day aka midnight sun where it is daylight for 24 hours. Oppositely, there is a polar night in the winter where it’s mostly dark for 20 hours a day.
It is important to consider this natural phenomenon when planning your trip to Iceland. If you want to have the most daylight for activities, visit in summer. If you want to have mainly darkness for the chance to see The Northern Lights, visit in autumn/winter.
Iceland in October (When I Visited)
I visited Iceland the first week of October in 2021 and I was so content with my experience and the weather. It tends to rain more on the island between October through February but we got lucky and did not have a ton of rain.
It was also the start of the slower season so we had way fewer crowds than summer but yet a good balance of daylight and darkness. We even got to see The Northern Lights two of the nights we camped out.
Prices were cheaper than in summer and my overall experience was great. I believe we picked a great time to visit as I like the cold and dislike huge crowds.
Best Time to Visit Iceland by Season
SPRING (MARCH, APRIL, MAY)
It doesn’t really start to feel like spring in Iceland until the last weeks of April and into May. Iceland’s weather is ever-changing and unexpected so snow is still a possibility during these months.
However, March is one of the best months for Northern Light activity. The last few weeks of this month tend to have twice as many geomagnetic storms in the atmosphere which means higher chances of seeing them.
Overall, the weather starts to warm up during April and daylight increases up to 14 hours a day which is a nice change from the 4-5 hours in winter.
YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS SEASON IF: Your goal is to see The Northern Lights, you want to go whale watching, you don’t mind the cold or snow, you want to do some winter activities like ice climbing, or ice caving, you want to have fewer crowds.
SUMMER (JUNE, JULY, AUGUST)
Summer in Iceland is certainly the most popular season and for good reason. The weather is much warmer and the days are much longer. Midnight Sun is in June when you have almost 24 hours of sunlight.
Greener landscapes make for the best conditions to go camping and hiking. This is also the best season to rent a campervan as the mountain roads are open and free from ice/snow. Fewer roads to avoid and more to explore.
August is definitely peak tourist season as it’s one of the warmest months to visit and most people are on vacation. This will mean more people at all the major attractions and busier hiking trails. Peak season also means prices are higher for attractions/tours, rentals, and accommodations.
YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS SEASON IF: you want to experience the best weather in Iceland, you want to have as much daylight as possible, you want to go bird watching to see puffins, you don’t mind a ton of other people and tourists, you don’t mind spending more money, you want to spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities.
TIP: If you do visit in the summer, reverse your days. It’s daylight almost all of the time so instead of going out during the day, go out and explore at ‘night’. You are less likely to experience as many crowds this way.
AUTUMN (SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER)
As daylight begins to shorten and temperatures begin to drop again, autumn is a calmer time to visit. Remember those geomagnetic storms we talked about, they happen again during this season, making September a great month to chase Northern Lights.
As the busy summer season dies down, higher prices die down with it as there are fewer tourists. Fewer people always mean a higher chance of having main attractions all to yourself.
Non-year-round campsites begin to close during this time but winter activities began. Activities such as ice climbing, glacier hikes, snowshoeing, hot springs, etc. become available and more prominent this time of year.
YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS SEASON IF: You don’t mind the cold/possible chance of snow, you want a higher chance to see The Northern Lights, you want to go ice caving or climbing, you prefer fewer tourists, you like off-season travel, you want to enjoy different hot springs.
TIP: Mountain roads (F roads) begin to close this time of year due to heavy ice and snow activity. Be mindful of shortcuts if you rent a non-4×4 vehicle. They normally don’t open up again until May or June.
WINTER (DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY)
Winter in Iceland is cold and dark. During the dead of winter, the daylight hours hardly reach over 5. There’s less daylight for outdoor activities like hiking or sightseeing but more darkness increases your chances of spotting Aurora Borealis activity.
Winter activities, especially glacier hikes and ice cave tours are in full swing this time of year. This is also a great time to visit different hot springs available. The snow-covered landscapes and frozen waterfalls are also something to be admired.
These months are some of the quietest times of the year in Iceland, specifically November and January; before and after the holiday season. The weather is also much more unpredictable (windy, wet, and cold) this season.
YOU SHOULD VISIT THIS SEASON IF: You prefer/don’t mind unpredictable weather, you want to see snow-covered landscapes, you came to Iceland to see The Northern Lights, you want to enjoy different hot springs, you don’t mind long and cold days, you want to tour an ice cave, you want to experience the holiday season in Iceland.
That pretty much sums up the best time to visit Iceland! I hope this post gave you some insight and a brief overview of each season’s pros and cons. Ultimately, the best time to visit depends on your interests and preferences. Although most would say summer is the best season to visit, I think there’s hidden beauty in the slow, snowy winter season.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Iceland for The Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights are visible in Iceland from September to April – with September and March being the best months. There are twice as many geomagnetic storms in the atmosphere during these months increasing your chances of seeing these lively lights.
What are the cheapest months to visit Iceland?
The cheapest months to visit Iceland are from September through May. Summer is pretty much the only peak season, so the off-season (autumn-spring) is going to be the cheapest. With fewer tourists, car rentals, accommodations, and flights are at their lowest.
What is the quietest month to visit Iceland?
The quietest months to visit Iceland are going to be November and January – right before and after the holiday season. These are typically the darker and colder months in Iceland, therefore also the quietest. There are several perks of visiting in the off-season with the main one being higher chances to see The Northern Lights.
For more Iceland information, you may also like:
- Iceland Basalt Columns: 8 Astonishing Places to See Them
- Easy, Epic, & Best Iceland Ring Road 5 Day Itinerary
- Ice Climbing Iceland: Beginner’s Guide & Everything You Need to Know
