Iceland Travel Weather

April - May

Spring is the time when the sun climbs higher and higher above the horizon and the temperature rises to 3°C - 8°C. Nature is waking up at a stunningly fast pace after a long winter. The landscape is beginning to green up, although one can still encounter stretches of land covered with remnants of snow. The weather can be capricious, with sunshine, rain, snow and a blast of cold winds all experienced in a single day.

May is the month when the tourist season gradually begins, the days are getting longer and more cheerful. A good time for fishing and hiking. Whatever the season, you can enjoy hot baths in geothermal springs (the most famous is the Blue Lagoon near Reykjavik).

In late spring, many cliffs and reserves may be closed to hikers due to the bird breeding season.

In April, the time to observe the aurora borealis ends.

June - August

The summer months, the warmest of the year, with temperatures ranging from 10°C - 15°C. Days are increasingly sunny, but this does not exclude the occurrence of rainfall, which is somewhat more intense in the south of the island.

Due to its location just below the northern Arctic Circle, Iceland experiences a phenomenon similar to polar days, it is bright around the clock, although at night the sun is hidden behind the horizon. For nearly three months, the island becomes a paradise for photographers from all over the world, who take advantage of the beautiful views and amazing lighting that prevail during this time.

Only in summer do we have the entire island at our disposal, with all mountain trails accessible and roads passable. You can easily get deep into the country, to those places that are impossible to see in the other months. Nature at this time is in its greatest splendor, with great stretches of green grass and moss growing over lava fields everywhere. Lupines bloom in the meadows, forming purple hills. Flocks of sheep and horses leave the farms, grazing freely in the pastures. One can observe at will an incredibly large number of birds, including the famous puffins, and go on a whale-watching cruise.

This is the ideal time to climb mountain peaks and explore volcanoes. You can also enjoy a variety of recreation and activities, including scuba diving, glacier skiing and quad bike tours. Unfortunately, glacier cave explorations are not possible in summer, and white nights make aurora watching impossible.

September - October

The autumn months herald shorter days, lower temperatures and an increase in rainfall - October is considered the most abundant in this regard. Fruits ripen, the green hue of grasses and trees begins to fade, the island takes on a variety of colors. Days are cooler (about 3°C - 10°C) and the first snow appears.

In September, you can still traverse many mountain trails, but it is increasingly windy and humid, the tourist season is coming to an end. Regardless of the season, many geothermal pools can be enjoyed.

Starting in October, the time for the aurora borealis slowly begins (it lasts until March). One of the most picturesque places where we can observe it is the Jokulsarlon glacier. Þingvellir National Park will also be a good choice.

November - March

The winter months are usually mild, rainy and not too cold. Temperatures oscillate between -5°C and 3°C. Sometimes the weather can get more annoying, blowing winds and snowstorms turn Iceland into a snow kingdom. The days are getting shorter and last about 4-5 hours. The biggest attraction is the occurrence of the aurora borealis, possible to observe only from October to March. The spectacular different colored ribbons appearing in the sky attract tourists and photographers from all over the world.

Winter is a good time to see ice caves (impossible in other months) and enjoy winter sports. You can also admire half-frozen waterfalls and watch seals on Lake Jökulsárlón (Glacier Lagoon). The capricious weather causes numerous traffic difficulties. Ice-covered roads or buried mountain trails make it impossible to get to some places, especially those in the interior of the island.

Some of the most popular places that will not be seen in winter include: Fjallabaki Nature Reserve, the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range with its numerous geothermal fields, Lakagígar (a row of huge craters), the Thórsmörk mountain area, Askja (50 km² of crater, including the famous Viti), and the geothermal fields with numerous baths in Hveravellir.