Are you planning a trip and are wondering when the best time to travel to Iceland is? This guide is practical and comes to help you decide the best time you’ll be able to travel. Iceland is the land of fire and ice, Viking folklore, pristine landscape, and of course, Iceland’s Northern Lights.
This stunning country draws tourists to its stunning landscapes all throughout the year. If you’re considering purchasing an excursion, do it. Whether you want to visit Ring Road Iceland or any particular area, give it a try, and you won’t regret it.
While the ocean’s far north location causes a variety of weather, however, summer is the ideal time to travel to Iceland. The months of June and August offer long hours of daylight and low 20° Celsius temperatures, as well as summer festivals. Dry, dry weather in the inland areas makes the perfect hiking season.
May through September is the ideal season to visit Iceland for those who want to observe whales. The snow can be seen from September to October and may last until May.
However, Iceland is stunningly photogenic during the autumn and early winter. The winter is the most difficult time to visit Iceland (November-March) is tough, and roads are closed, making access to certain areas difficult.
However, they provide a greater chance of getting an amazing display of the Northern Lights. It is possible to take advantage of orca observation with the Northern Lights in February and March.
Here is the guide for visiting Iceland, which is for those who want to visit in any particular month because we all know that the Best Time to Visit Iceland can be according to your own preference and time.
January in Iceland
January is among the most peaceful months to travel to Iceland as there are fewer tourists, which means there are fewer crowds at the main attractions. Dark, short days are this month in Iceland in January. This is a great time in the case of Northern Lights watching.
On the last day of January, you’ll have an extra hour of daylight, and horse-riding trips on sturdy Icelandic horses are in full swing.
February in Iceland
It is among the most beautiful months to view the Northern Lights. The climate in Iceland in February can be quite cold, but the Northern Lights will still be visible against snowy landscapes, and on average, temperatures of -6°C, but the coast are always warmer and begin to defrost at the close of February.
Orcas are also a possibility, and our partners provide excursions on boats as well as wildlife photography tours to take advantage of this amazing experience.
March in Iceland
In March, the third week (usually between 21 and 22) will be the time of Vernal Equinox – the transition of the astronomical year of winter into spring. The weeks that follow are characterized by two times as many geomagnetic storms as usual, and this means that there is more activity from the Northern Lights.
Going to Iceland in March offers an opportunity to enjoy winter activities such as snowshoeing and ice caves before soaking up the hot spring. And, of course, orcas continue to chase herring.
April in Iceland
Iceland in April begins to feel like spring. The weather is getting warmer, and the days are getting 14 hours of sunshine. Like all things in Iceland, be prepared for the unexpected. Snow is only a shifting cloud. Small group tours typically begin in April, which is when the roads are open for exploration from the West fjords all the way to the East Fjords.
Chances of being able to view your first glimpse of the Northern Lights recede as the night gets darker.
May in Iceland
Iceland (and people from Iceland) is truly emerging from winter around May. Everybody is out and about, it seems, with bars brimming with people enjoying the sun’s rays and having events such as the Myvatn marathon getting underway.
Late May is the best time to enjoy wildlife; geese overflow rivers, and puffins settling on sea cliffs are accessible for boat tours.
June in Iceland
Are you thinking of visiting Iceland during the summer? It’s the time that brings the midnight sun. Pack an eye mask for uninhibited sleeping. Birds are busy at sea cliffs in the West fjords.
Whale watching tours take you to search for minke whales and humpbacks. The time for hiking and camping starts in June, and also the summer season for sea kayaking.
Iceland in June is one of the ideal times to go on self-drive holidays as the roads are mostly free of ice, and then it is a long day.
July in Iceland
It’s a wonderful time of year to visit Iceland. The long, lazy days last to almost midnight before the sun rises at around 4 am. This makes it ideal for camping or hiking, with all trails being open, including the Laugavegur Trail as well as those of the normally not accessible Highlands.
The night-time light that is eerie is a dream for photographers as well. Tours to see whales are on the rise in Iceland in July, and the roads back home are clear of snow for motorists.
August in Iceland
The Iceland tourist season is peaking in August. This is when festivals, cruise ship departures, and summer break-times are exciting parties for the islands. Get away from the bustle of Reykjavik and take a trip to the beach, hike, or kayaking. It’s your last opportunity before the days get shorter and winter begins to set in.
Take an auto-drive tour of Iceland in August. You needn’t travel far to find empty, endless roads. August is the perfect moment to join Iceland together with Greenland or Spitsbergen to experience a full-on excursion through the Arctic.
September in Iceland
The Northern Lights are more visible during the night in Iceland in September, as the sun sets at 8.30 pm. Due to the increased frequency of geomagnetic storms during the time of the autumnal Equinox (usually 23 September); September is among the most favourable times to observe the Northern Lights in Iceland.
A lot of minor roads – particularly located in mountain areas, will be closed from the end of September until June because of the ice and snow. It is also the last chance you have to connect Iceland with Greenland before the weather renders the crossing insufficiently reliable.
October in Iceland
It is also the months that are reserved for small-group tours. Landscape photographers who visit Iceland in October they’re in the best of their field with a wide range of views that are uncrowded and a weather pattern that changes to bring you sunshine, snow, and thunderous clouds in the span of a week (or at times, even an entire day).
The temperatures are barely below freezing in Reykjavik, and the majority of roads are safe for travel.
November in Iceland
The last two months of November, December, and January are severely deficient in warmth and daylight – it’s not an issue for Aurora borealis enthusiasts.
Iceland during November is the time for winter holidays, with attractions like ice caves, hot spring baths, hot springs in the summer, and glacier hikes being the main attractions on the itinerary.
This is among the quietest months in Iceland and is a nice break before the celebrations of December.
December in Iceland
Although winter is an amazing time to travel, temperatures can drop as low as -10 degrees and even lower in northern Iceland from December through February, being the coldest months.
The wind chill can make temperatures feel lower. Do not avoid Iceland during December. However, make sure you have the right equipment for winter.
New Year’s Eve can be a source of light in a wintery, dark, and cold month when Icelanders gather around bonfires and light displays.
