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Best time to travel to Iceland, the BEST and the WORST month by month
In this article we help you find which one is The best time to travel to Iceland according to your preferences and dreams.
Iceland is a country full of natural attractions that vary depending on the time of year, The landscape is transformed and the fauna migrates. So depending on whether you want to see the auroras, visit ice caves, go hiking or watch whales, you will have to visit the island at one time or another.
But don't take everything literally, in Icelandic there are more than 20 ways to say that it's windy, a popular saying is "If you don't like the time, wait 5 minutes.” and a widely used expression is “window time» to refer to how bad the weather seems to be, but how cold or windy when you go out.
TRAVEL TO ICELAND IN SPRING
Spring is a beautiful time in Iceland, the landscapes combine a bit of snow from last winter with the intense green of the meadows and the thousands of waterfalls spread throughout the landscape are filled with water thanks to the melting snow.
La temperature is not extreme and it doesn't usually snow either. Although at this time the weather varies very quickly so you need to be mentally prepared and prepared to go through the four seasons in one day with wind, sun, rain, sun again and all accompanied by quite a bit of thermal oscillation.
Travel to Iceland in April
After a long winter finally the chances of blizzards and snowfall are low. Although it is a very unpredictable month.
Thanks to leaving winter behind, many hiking routes are beginning to be accessible and It is the last month in which you can visit the ice caves.
You can still see the northern lights and the last days of April in some nesting areas The first puffins arrive.
It is one of the months with less tourism and prices are generally low, April can be a very good time to travel to Iceland.
- Average temperature: 0-5ºC
- Sunshine hours: 14 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $ Low/mid season
Travel to Iceland in May
This month marks the beginning of the best season to visit Iceland in terms of climate and, Along with June, it is one of our favorite months in Iceland.
The temperatures are mild (to be Iceland), practically all the Access roads to tourist spots and hiking trails are open, except for the highlands which are normally still closed.
There are many hours of light, which will allow you to see everything you want to know, since mid-May there is practically no night anymore.
The first few weeks you might see some aurora, although the chances are low.
The colonies of puffins They are full of life as it is mating season. And not just puffins, the country is beginning to fill with birds that migrate to Iceland to spend the summer.
Although prices are beginning to rise, they have not yet skyrocketed and there are much fewer tourists than in summer.
campings that have been closed are starting to open so between that and the rise in temperatures it is very pleasant to travel in a camper van and it is also possible to do it in a tent.
- Average temperature: 3-9ºC
- Sunshine hours: 18 hours
- Auroras: At the beginning of the month, but very unlikely
- $$ Mid Season
TRAVEL TO ICELAND IN SUMMER
It is the best time to travel to Iceland if you want to enjoy the Outdoor Activities since the temperature is pleasant and you will never lack hours of light. It is also the best time to watch whales in the north of the island, to visit the puffin and seal colonies, in addition to the only months in which you can access the inhospitable center of Iceland, the highlands.
The majority of tourists who visit the country do so during the summer months, so prices skyrocket and accommodations are sold out, so it is advisable to reserve in advance.
Places at the foot of the road tend to become overcrowded, but those a little further away from the main road or hiking trails do not.
Travel to Iceland in June
This is the key month of the phenomenon of midnight Sun, dusk joins dawn and it never gets dark. Throughout the night there is beautiful light for photography lovers and the days are eternal so you can take advantage of them as much as you want.
In June all the landscapes are covered in green with pink and violet tones thanks to flowers such as lupine, which can can be seen in many places in IcelandAnd the thaw is still very present, there are hundreds of waterfalls everywhere.
As for the weather, the temperatures are pleasant, wind alerts are rare and all tourist roads are passable. There is almost no snow left in the mountains so the 4×4 roads in the highlands are beginning to open.
It is one of the best times to travel to Iceland and be able to spot whales, seals and nesting birds. There are many lambs that were just born in May and it is also relatively common to see arctic foxes on the sides of the road.
- Average temperature: 7-11ºC
- Sun hours: 20-22 hours
- Auroras: No
- $$$ High season
Travel to Iceland in July
Because Iceland receives a lot of American tourism July the most tourist month There were crowds at the most famous stops such as the Golden Circle or Diamond Beach.
The campsites are really full, waiting more than half an hour to be able to shower and the hotels have the highest prices of the entire year, selling out months before.
It is the warmest month and if it is good the sun is very hot, but it will hardly be more than 18ºC during the day and 8ºC at dawn. Therefore, it is recommended to bring a variety of luggage and dress in different layers.
Although water is never lacking in Iceland, you notice that there is less flow in the waterfalls during July.
In the rest of the aspects it is very similar to the month of June.
- Average temperature: 9-13ºC
- Sunshine hours: 20 hours
- Auroras: No
- $$$$ Very high season
Travel to Iceland in August
Is last month of high season, accommodation and rental cars are still very expensive and sell out easily.
Especially during the first half of August, there are large crowds of tourists on the Golden Circle and in towns where cruise ships stop, such as Reykjavik, Akureyri or Seydisfjordur. The second half of August is much quieter, and there are a lot of Spanish tourists at the end of August.
It is also the last month that puffin colonies can be seen since the majority leave the country in the last weeks of August. There begin to be hours of absolute darkness and even with luck you can see auroras in the last week of August.
In terms of weather, the temperature remains pleasant and wind storms are unlikely.
It is the last month with guarantees of being able to access the highlands in 4×4 and carry out all the hiking routes without difficulties.
- Average temperature: 8-12ºC
- Sunshine hours: 16 hours
- Auroras: Last week, but unlikely and of low intensity
- $$$ High season
TRAVEL TO ICELAND IN FALL
The autumn season in Iceland it's very short but also a very good option to get to know the country. The landscapes change to reddish and brown tones with some white peaks, the prices of flights, hotels and rental vehicles begin to drop significantly and most activities such as hiking or whale watching they can still be done.
The weather can change a lot in a few hours and the temperatures are colder and even some snowfall may be seen.
Travel to Iceland in September
The temperature begins to drop, bringing the first snowfalls to the high areas and some wind storms. If it snows, the access to the highlands begins to close.
In the rest of the country the weather is still pleasant If you are well prepared, it is usually a month with a lot of rain.
Most hiking trails are accessible and some ice caves can be visited at the end of the month if temperatures cool enough.
Tourism is reduced and with it so are prices.
Because almost everything you can do in summer is still accessible in September, there is a chance to see the aurora and prices are lower in September. It's one of the best times to travel to Iceland, or at least one of our favorites.
Autumn arrives very quickly in Iceland and from mid-September the mountains begin to take on autumnal tones and you can pick wild red fruits such as currants or wild blueberries. (all Icelandic berries are edible)
- Average temperature: 5-9ºC
- Sun hours: 12-13 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $$ Mid season (especially second half)
Travel to Iceland in October
The mountains have completely changed to brown tones and the peaks are snowy, especially the fjords are very beautiful.
The temperatures drop quite a bit, especially at the end of the month you can find negative maximums. There may be wind and snow storms that cut off some roads and in general it is a month with a lot of rainfall.
The daily light is reduced considerably but it is still enough to visit the country calmly and with the longer nights comes the possibility of seeing more auroras.
As of October 1, rental and accommodation prices drop sharply and winter activities officially kick off.
It depends on the year, but in general it is still possible to do many hiking routes without added difficulty, although it is advisable to check the weather before coming and if you expect very cold weather, bring crampons.
- Average temperature: 2-6ºC
- Sun hours: 9-10 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $$ Mid Season
TRAVEL TO ICELAND IN WINTER
Winter is very special. TBoth mountains and beaches are dyed white, the auroras are common, the light during the day is beautiful, the waterfalls freeze creating incredible shapes, and a long etcetera that includes the possibility of seeing wild reindeer makes us love Iceland in winter. It is the most magical time.
⪼ You can read: What to know before traveling to Iceland in winter
Travel to Iceland in winter It's not as hard as it may seem. Temperatures during the day range from 0/-5 degrees, although during cold waves they can reach -20ºC. (or even less!). Heavy snowfalls and wind storms are also common, increasing the feeling of cold. As we always say, time here is a lottery.
In our opinion it is not so hard because you will rarely spend more than 1 hour outside before returning to the car, maximum 3 or 4 hours one of the days if you decide to take a tour to visit an ice cave.
Travel to Iceland in November
The daylight hours are reduced by leaps and bounds As the days go by, at the beginning of the month there are 8 hours of light and at the end of the month only 5.
In the middle of the month the last passenger ferry of the year leaves from Seydisfjordur to Denmark and the country can only be accessed by plane.
Due to snowfall and frost many Hiking routes are impassable and access to areas such as waterfalls may be frozen, you have to walk with special care not to slip and bring camprones.
Roads may be closed due to weather, but usually highway 1 (Ring Road) remains open. Although there are many sections of snow/ice, with the winter tires that they put on the vehicles you will be safe.
In October some campsites close, but in November they close even more and the options for traveling by camper vehicle are reduced.
- Average temperature: 0-5ºC
- Sun hours: 5-8 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $ Low season
Travel to Iceland in December
Reykjavík streets and towns are decorated with some Christmas lights. The landscapes are white and the smallest waterfalls freeze Almost completely.
The hours of light in December are minimal, between 4 and 5 hours depending on the area and the date. You have to select very well what you want to visit to make the most of the day, although with so much darkness it is easier to see auroras.
The situation on the roads is similar to November.
- Average temperature: -1 to 4ºC
- Sun hours: 4-5 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $ Low season
Travel to Iceland in January
Very similar to December, a mid-winter month and this means very few hours of light and temperatures that never usually exceed 0 degrees.
Regarding the weather It is normal for snowfall to fall and there may be periods of strong winds., However Highway 1 around the island is well maintained and is usually open most days. Even if the road is open to traffic, it may be snowy or frozen, so you should drive with greater caution.
The country receives very little tourism at this time, so the prices for flights, car rentals and accommodation are much lower than usual.
- Average temperature: -3 to 3ºC
- Sun hours: 4-6 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $ Low season
Travel to Iceland in February
The conditions in February are practically identical to those in January and December, The biggest difference is that there are already more hours of daylight. This allows you to visit many more places in the same day.
Because there are still many hours of night, February is one of the best times to see the auroras. If you are looking to see the winter side of Iceland and take advantage of the days, the second half of February is a very good choice to travel to Iceland.
- Average temperature: -2 to 2ºC
- Sun hours: 8-9 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $ Low season
Travel to Iceland in March
March is the last month of winter so the weather is no longer so harsh and there are many hours of daylight. Although it is a bit of a lottery and it would not be unusual to catch a big storm.
With somewhat milder temperatures, snowfall is less frequent and some landscapes begin to lose their white tones. It is the last month in which it is still easy to see auroras.
The ferry from Denmark is operating again although it is a month in which it hardly receives tourism. Prices, like the rest of the winter months, are noticeably lower than the rest of the year.
- Average temperature: -1 to 4ºC
- Sunshine hours: 11 hours
- Auroras: Yes
- $ Low season
BEST TIME TO SEE AURORAS IN ICELAND
Winter is characterized by many hours of darkness, clear skies and high KP rates. If the ideal conditions are met you will be able to see many auroras.
However, the auroras can be seen from the last week of August to the first week of May. Although during the winter months they have higher intensities, we could say that basically whenever there is night you can see auroras and the more hours of darkness, the more possibilities.
In our opinion, from mid-September to the end of October and the month of March are a very good time because there are enough hours at night to see them, but the temperatures are not so cold. Which allows you to spend more hours outdoors enjoying the show without freezing. And leaving aside the auroras, there are enough solar hours to take advantage of the day.
If you travel during the aurora season but do not rent a vehicle, I would recommend consider the option of hiring a specialized tour to take you to dark areas with good visibility.
WHEN SEE WHALES IN ICELAND
It is possible to see whales all year round in Iceland, but it is from May to the end of September when there are more whales feeding in the fjords before going to warmer waters to breed.
In the guide that we have left you linked, you have the best places to see, our experience in several of them and what type of whales can be seen in addition to the humpback, which is the easiest to see in Icelandic waters.
BEST TIME TO SEE PUFFINS IN ICELAND
The months in which you can see puffins in Iceland are from april to august when these fun little birds make landfall for their mating season. It's very easy to see them up close in the different nesting areas spread along the Icelandic coast.
To have encounters with wildlife, the best time to travel to Iceland is from June to August.
At the end of August, hatchlings and adults leave for the sea to spend the entire winter floating in icy waters.
They are very peculiar birds, that is why we could not resist writing an article with Interesting Facts about them.
WHEN VISIT THE ICE CAVES
Ice caves in Iceland They can only be visited during winter. Because these natural wonders are formed thanks to streams that shape the interior of the glaciers during the warmer months. That is why it is only safe to visit them in winter when everything is already frozen.
These melting rivers leave some parts of the glaciers like Gruyere cheese, full of holes and caves that can be explored. Furthermore, each year they are different, you will never see the same cave two winters.
As I told you, ice caves depend on the temperature, so They open to the public approximately from the end of September or the beginning of October until early April.
If you want to be 100% sure that you can visit an ice cave, the best time to travel to Iceland is from November to March.
This was the one we visited →Blue Ice Cave
In conclusion, Iceland is always special. There is no best time to travel to Iceland. because vThe month you go you will be right and you will return in love.
What we do hope is that with the help of this article you can choose which month to travel to Iceland based on what type of landscapes and activities you are most excited to experience.
To continue organizing your trip to Iceland, here you have all our articles!
