When is the best time to visit Iceland? Here’s your season-by-season guide

Go for views of the northern lights, ice caves, and cultural festivals

Think winter trips aren’t your thing? Get ready to have a change of heart once you see the surreal snowy landscapes. In fact, Iceland has earned a spot on our list of top places to visit in the winter. One of the best parts of traveling to Iceland in December, January, or February is getting a better chance to see the aurora borealis light up the dark winter sky. Our experts can help you figure out where to see the northern lights on tour, but one thing is for sure: You won’t see them during the extra hours of sunlight in the summer months, so a winter trip to Iceland is a must.

Weather in Iceland in December, January, and February

Winter in Iceland feels like you’re on another planet, with shorter days beginning in December as the temperature drops and the northern lights become more prevalent in the sky. When December arrives, the days become brief—with daylight ranging from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.—and are accompanied by heavy snowfalls. This time of year is a peaceful separation from the usual hustle and bustle most of us are so accustomed to. Don’t forget your warm layers when visiting Iceland in the winter, or really anytime—the average temperatures are between 28 F and 38 F.

December

December is an especially cheery time to plan an Iceland tour, thanks to the Christmas spirit you’ll encounter all over the country.

• Try to peep the surreal sight of the aurora borealis—the chances for a northern lights show are pretty favorable across the entire winter season, but December is an excellent time to see them illuminating the night sky.

• Stand in awe of the massive Oslo Tree, all lit up in the heart of Reykjavik for Christmas. (It’s called the Oslo Tree because it was a gift from Norway.)

• Psst... keep your eyes peeled for the 13 Yule Lads! Legend has it that these are the sons of a troll, and they all descend from the mountains during the Christmas season to leave gifts for children.

January

Tourism in Iceland tends to see a dip right after the holiday season, making January one of the quietest months of the year. But there’s still plenty to do—including chasing those northern lights!

• Visit Iceland’s world-renowned hot springs for a warming soak. On our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour, you can add an optional excursion to spend time at the legendary Blue Lagoon. A dip in the mineral-rich water is bound to leave you feeling rejuvenated—it’s said to have healing and anti-aging properties—and you won’t bump into loads of other tourists.
• Take part in the feast at Thorrablot, which runs from mid-January to mid-February. To honor the country’s pagan roots, Icelanders mark the mid-winter festival by eating traditional foods like hakarl (fermented shark meat) and svid (boiled sheep’s head), washed down with strong Brennivin schnapps.

February

It may still be cold and wet, but an Iceland tour in February can be a uniquely memorable experience, especially if you’re a festival lover or foodie. (Of course, your chances of seeing the northern lights will also remain high, which is always a good thing.)

• Attend daytime events like the Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavik, which fetes the start of longer, sunnier days with art and light installations. If you’re on our Iceland: Reykjavik & the Northern Lights tour in February, you’ll be right there to celebrate alongside locals.

• Gnosh your way through various food-based festivals. There are lots of interesting events in February, such as Bolludagur, or Cream Bun Day. Celebrated the Monday before Ash Wednesday, it’s a festival for bakeries and restaurants all over the country to show off their cream-filled bun recipes. If you’re a pastry lover, February is very likely the best month to visit Iceland.

Go to witness thundering waterfalls, wildlife, and the welcoming of summer

While winter and summer are the longest, most distinguishable seasons in Iceland, springtime brings its own charm. Daylight starts to stick around longer, lambs are born (cute!), and bright new blooms pop up as the snow starts to melt. These are just a handful of things that make our Iceland tours so unforgettable.

Weather in Iceland in March, April, and May

Like in many parts of the world, the last few weeks of winter can often be a tricky time to travel due to unpredictable weather. It’s no different if you decide on an Iceland tour in March, when you can expect chilly temps and wet days. But as spring stretches on, temperatures rise and the snow begins to melt as the days get longer. By April, you’ll get to see the wildlife emerge from hibernation and the landscape itself awakening. Still, when traveling to Iceland, it’s always good to pack layers, especially as the temperatures fluctuate between 30 F and 47 F during the springtime.

March

What makes traveling to this magical country in March great are the off-season deals, smaller crowds, and longer days. In short, you get all the same Icelandic experiences without having to deal with the masses. (Talk about a win-win!)

• Catch a glimpse of the northern lights if you can—March still offers decent visibility.
• Seize your last chance to explore the crystalline ice caves during your free time on tour. (March marks the final month that ice caving is ideal!)
• Wonder at the country’s dramatic volcanos, glaciers, and coastlines on our Landscapes of Wild Iceland tour—without the crowds or the peak season prices.

April

For us, visiting Iceland in April is all about the exciting energy of the thaw, which is celebrated by both the locals and nature. While residents hold festivals gearing up for summer, nature defrosts and comes to life again in a tremendous way.

• Welcome summer like a local by arriving in Iceland on the first Thursday after April 18—you’ll touch down in time to celebrate Sumardagurinn Fyrsti (the first day of summer). This festival got its start in ancient times when Icelanders used the Old Icelandic Calendar. Today, Sumardagurinn Fyrsti is marked by sports matches, parades, and the collective enthusiasm of a country that can’t wait to see the summer days arrive.

• Hear, see, and feel the thundering waterfalls that have melted and are ready to impress nature lovers from all over the world. One of the highlights of our springtime Iceland tours is getting to take in the immense beauty of Gullfoss, which is created by water from Langjokull, the second largest glacier in the country.

Pro tip: If you plan to travel to Iceland in the spring and want to snap a few photos of its waterfalls, take care to keep your camera dry—the mist coming off the cascades can lead to technical difficulties.

May

When is the best time to visit Iceland? Well, if you love wildlife, it’s May. We always talk about the country’s natural beauty, but Iceland is home to some out-of-this-world wildlife viewing, too.

• See how many puffins, Icelandic horses, and golden plovers you can spot on our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour.

• Cruise along the northern coasts of the island searching for whales by adding our optional Akureyri Fjord Whale Watching excursion to your Iceland itinerary. Keep your eyes open—and cameras—ready for minkes, orcas, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises.

Go for the endless sunlight, vibrant landscapes, and whale sightings

Icelandic winters may give the aurora borealis a spotlight, but the country’s summers have sunshine in spades. That’s because the sun never fully sets, thanks to a phenomenon called the midnight sun. Yes, you read that right: Icelandic summers lay claim to nearly 24 hours of daylight. Locals and travelers alike take full advantage of the longer days, and visiting Iceland in June, July, or August means immersing yourself in the sun-drenched outdoors.

Weather in Iceland in June, July, and August

Summer is the warmest time of year in Iceland, but the temperatures never become sweltering, generally fluctuating in a comfortable range of 45 F to 56 F. Expect more vibrant colors in the landscape as flora and fauna fully bloom—they’re also enjoying that midnight sun.

June

June marks the beginning of the midnight sun. The closer you get to the summer solstice (which is in late June), the more hours of sunlight you’ll have. It’s an unusual experience that makes an Iceland tour in June so unique.

• Party like a local, with the locals, who take the summer solstice very seriously. They celebrate the year’s longest day with bonfires and parties—with some even skipping sleep altogether in honor of the sun’s near-24-hour presence.

• Set off on our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour for opportunities to see the iconic purple flowers, called lupines, dotting the landscape.

• Take a dip in Forest Lagoon’s geothermal hot springs. Located in the Akureyri region, you’ll spend two nights near this nature spa on our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour. Use your free time to enjoy their infinity pools, saunas, and swim-up bars.

July

Since Iceland’s temperatures never rise too high, July is yet another mild time of year to visit. Like June, long sunny days are ideal for whale watching and other outdoor adventures.

• Try to spot some of the nearly two dozen whale species that swim along the northern coast of Iceland on the optional Akureyri Fjord Whale Watching excursion, part of our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour. This area is nicknamed the whale watching capital of Europe—if you’re lucky, you may even see them breaching or feeding at the surface of the water.
• Put on your adventure pants and traverse the 1,000-year-old Vídgelmir lava tube on our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour. July’s warmer temperatures melt away the snow that blocks entrances to caves like this in the winter, making this month an ideal time to explore.

August

We believe that a European city, like Reykjavik, is at its best when the weather is warm and locals and visitors alike can truly revel in all it has to offer. Filled with festivals and high-energy celebrations, there’s no better time to visit Iceland than August if you’re looking for the ultimate metropolitan experience.

• Experience Reykjavik Pride, which is a six-day festival that highlights, supports, and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. (Check out more of our favorite LGBTQIA+ friendly cities around the world.)

• Get a preview of Reykjavik’s new artistic and creative programming initiatives at the city’s largest festival, Culture Night. Held every August from midday to midnight, much of the city’s downtown hosts theater performances, dance parties, food trucks, and much more.

Go for colorful foliage, cultural traditions, and maybe even northern lights

In the fall, Iceland’s lush green landscapes change to burnt oranges, rustic browns, and light yellows. The iconic autumnal colors, set against thundering waterfalls and black sand beaches, make for a visually stunning trip which, paired with seasonal festivals and yet another chance to see the northern lights, makes fall a fabulous time of year to visit.

Weather in Iceland in September, October, and November

The fall is one of the only times of year when the daylight-to-nightfall ratio is more like what most of us in North America are accustomed to. The days bring sunlight with mixes of rain and snow, and temperatures range from 38 F and 50 F, so don’t forget your rain gear. What did we say earlier? Layers! Always have layers in Iceland.

September

What we love about Iceland most might just be the medley of traditions you can experience throughout the year. Plus, if you join our Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour, you’ll get to see the sprawling fields and crashing waterfalls surrounded by autumnal foliage.

• Witness the annual sheep roundup known as Rettir, when herders bring their flocks from the surrounding mountains back to their farms. It’s a fitting event to celebrate while visiting Iceland, considering the country has more than 800,000 sheep.

• Look up—the darkening nights of September mean you might just have the chance to see the northern lights as winter creeps in.

• Pluck berries in a custom we adore called berjamor. From August to mid-September, Icelanders head out into the countryside to gather basketfuls of wild bilberries and crowberries. During free time on our one of our Iceland tours, maybe you can do the same. It’s one of our favorite end-of-summer Nordic activities.

October

Exploring Iceland’s spellbinding geography is great year-round. What makes it an exceptional experience in October is that the island is still mostly accessible, (winter conditions haven’t crept in yet) but with far fewer tourists.

• Snap pictures of the country’s dramatic landscapes and surroundings. Think: fjord-lined coasts, black lava fields, and green valleys dotted with Icelandic horses and sheep. Photographs are some of our favorite souvenirs!
• Take advantage of our memorable Falljokull Glacier Hike excursion during your Iceland: The Golden Circle & Ring Road tour to hike around the country in the mild daytime weather.
• Peek up at the night sky—you might be able spot the northern lights once or twice.

November

While November is when Iceland’s winter starts, you do still get a healthy amount of daylight, which means if you enjoy outdoor winter adventure, now is the best month to visit.

• Explore the area surrounding the Great Geysir on our Iceland: Reykjavik & the Northern Lights tour. We’ll take you to Haukadalur, a valley teeming with geothermal activity. While the Great Geysir hasn’t erupted since 2016, its nearby cousin, Strokkur, hasn’t stopped, spouting into the air every five to 10 minutes.

• Tour the country’s legendary ice caves during your free time on any of our Iceland tours. These caves are inside Iceland’s ancient glaciers and are only safe to explore in the winter months, when the temperatures are low enough for the ice to remain frozen. Talk about a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

• Dance like no one’s watching at the Icelandic Airwaves Festival. Staged for a few days in early November in Reykjavik, it’s the perfect event to discover fantastic new music, both local and global.