Best time to visit Iceland
Iceland's weather changes as much as its turbulent volcanic landscape - you may really get four seasons in a day!
Iceland's far north ocean location makes for fluctuating weather. May-Sep is the best time to visit Iceland if you want to go whale watching; you can combine orcas with Northern Lights in late Sep. Jun-Aug offer endless days, low 20s warmth plus summer festivals. Dry weather inland makes this prime hiking season. Snow comes as early as Sep (and can linger to May) but Iceland can look good too in autumn. Winters can be brutal – but offer the aurora borealis for the long dark hours. Winter road closures make access to some areas difficult.
Iceland Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
-3
2
105
FEB
-2
3
100
MAR
-1
3
105
APR
1
6
80
MAY
4
10
75
JUN
7
13
70
JUL
10
14
67
AUG
8
13
86
SEP
4
11
94
OCT
3
8
119
NOV
-1
4
110
DEC
-2
2
105
Our Iceland Holidays
Northern Lights photography holiday in Iceland, coast & ice
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
From
£3250
10 days
ex flights
Iceland holiday, small group
Delve into the ancient land of Vikings and volcanoes
From
£2135 to £2420
10 days
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Highlights of Iceland self drive holiday
Discover the best of Iceland along the ring road in 11 days
From
£1500 to £2500
11 days
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Iceland birds & landscapes photography tour
Fabulous Birds and Landscapes photo tour Arctic Iceland
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£3450
10 days
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Northern Lights & orca photography holiday, Iceland
Incredible photographic trip in stunning West Iceland
From
£2500
7 days
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West Greenland photography tour
Incredible photographic adventure in stunning West Greenland
From
£3250
8 days
ex flights
East Iceland photography tour, Fjords, puffins & blue ice
Superb photography in beautifully remote Midsummer Icelandic fjords
From
£3400
11 days
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Northern lights and whale watching cruise in Iceland
A cruise and coach journey to see whales & northern lights
From
£1760
7 days
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Iceland northern lights and snowshoeing holiday
Hiking in snowshoes and bathing under the northern lights
From
£2300
8 days
ex flights
Laugavegur Trail trekking holiday in Iceland
Few trekking routes can match the striking vistas on offer here
From
£2349 to £2399
7 days
inc UK flights
Wellbeing holiday in North Iceland
A self-drive tour where you can visit and pamper yourself
From
£1100 to £5000
8 days
ex flights
Camping in Iceland holiday for 18-29s
Unzip your tent to Iceland's greatest geysers and glaciers
From
£990 to £1155
7 days
ex flights
Iceland cruise, Circumnavigation
An unforgettable journey around the island of fire and ice
From
£2265
10 days
ex flights
Myvatn Marathon running holiday, Iceland
Combine a visit of natural sites and a famous run race
From
£1200
5 days
ex flights
Scotland to Iceland sailing holiday
Awe inspiring sailing & exploration, Scotland to Iceland.
From
£2275
16 days
ex flights
Midnight sun photography holiday in Iceland
Photograph amazing landscapes in Iceland's midsummer light
From
£3550
12 days
ex flights
Iceland walking holiday, Laugavegur
Join us for the famous Landmannalaugar - Thorsmork trek
From
£1590
6 days
ex flights
Iceland self drive holiday, whale watching & horse riding
2 days horse back riding and self drive to discover Iceland
From
£1500 to £3000
7 days
ex flights
Iceland walking holiday, West Fjords
Explore Iceland's stunning and preserved West Fjords
From
£1460
6 days
ex flights
Iceland small group holiday
Dip into geothermal pools and soak in the stunning Icelandic scenery
From
£2399 to £2949
10 days
inc UK flights
Iceland walking holiday, East fjords
6 days trekking in the “Kingdom of Elves” in the East fjords
From
£1550
7 days
ex flights
Northern Lights photography tour, waterfalls & landscapes in Iceland
Incredible Winter photography trip to Iceland's remote North
From
£2900
8 days
ex flights
Northern Lights tour in Iceland
Springs, waterfalls, volcanoes and Europe’s biggest glacier
From
£1105 to £1435
6 days
ex flights
Arctic cruise to Greenland and Iceland
Explore the stunning natural beauty of Greenland and Iceland
From
£5480
14 days
ex flights
Thingvellir horse riding holiday in Iceland
Ride in beautiful valleys with unusual volcanic formations
From
£1510
6 days
ex flights
Iceland hiking holiday, Fjallabak
Amazing trek behind the mountains and off the beaten path
From
£2200
8 days
ex flights
Horse riding holiday in Iceland
Ride in a hidden nature reserve surrounded by glaciers.
From
£1375
5 days
ex flights
Arctic cruise holidays
Explore the Arctic: Greenland, Spitsbergen and Iceland
From
US $5050 to US $37995
10 days
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When to visit Iceland & when not to
PLAY
What happens when in Iceland
Tom Wilkinson of our supplier Exodus speaks up for winter as the best time to visit Iceland:
“The weather in Iceland is fickle throughout the year. Midsummer for 24-hour daylight is an experience, but the drama of a snow-covered volcano or a waterfall encased in ice makes winter pretty special too. There are also far fewer tourists in winter so the main sites are less crowded.”
Emmanuelle Bluman from our Iceland based supplier Alkemia offers insights into the best time to visit Iceland for different kind of activities – and different kinds of people:
“Iceland is unpredictable for its weather so there is no good or bad time. In winter you have the Northern Lights - but there is likely to be snow on the road. In summer, there's midnight sun and the temperature gets a little hotter! But if you want to hike, the best season is July and August.”
David Philips of our supplier Astronomy Tours shares his tips on the best time to visit Iceland:
“February, March, September and October are typically best for the Northern Lights. Late May/June is great for bird life, with lakes and rivers filled with wildfowl and sea cliffs full of nesting sea birds. And in December, although the days are short, for those few hours the low angle sun bathes the snowy landscape in a beautiful pinky-blue light.”
Our top Iceland Holiday
Northern Lights photography holiday in Iceland, coast & ice
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
From
£3250
10 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2020: 9 Feb, 21 Feb, 1 Mar, 30 Sep, 30 Oct
2020: 9 Feb, 21 Feb, 1 Mar, 30 Sep, 30 Oct
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Iceland or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Festivals & events in Iceland
Did you know about...?
Sjomannadagurinn
Sjomannadagurinn (Seamans' Day) on the first weekend of June celebrates the importance of fishing to Icelandic life. Every boat remains in harbour so the island's sailors can have the day off to take part in maritime festivities, turning harbours into a melee of rowing and swimming contests plus mock sea rescues. Shore fun includes herring and mackerel feasts plus traditional fishing songs – and plenty of drinking, of course.
How to avoid the crowds in Iceland
When Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull Volcano exploded in 2010, chaos reigned due to the ash cloud affecting flights just about everywhere. A similar explosion has taken place in tourism in Iceland ever since, with visitor numbers increasing by 30 percent in 2016 alone. The government is looking into ways of curbing numbers, redirecting people away from the honeypots and even considering a tourist tax. However, there is no sign of tourism abating, with a new flurry of film buffs also heading there to see the sites of Star Wars and Game of Thrones. The good news is that Iceland’s tourism highlights are still glowingly gorgeous, crowds or not. There are ways to put your holiday into crowd control mode, however, and here are a few of our pointers:
Reverse your clock
Reverse your clock
There are virtually 24 hours of daylight in Iceland during summer season months, yet tourists still tend to stick to the 9-5. Think about doing the hotspots early in the morning or late in the evening. More easily done on a tailor made holiday, but you can also chat with your fellow travellers on a small group holiday to see if you can get an agreement to do early starts or late night visits, particularly in places such as the Blue Lagoon.
Other lagoons
Other lagoons
The Blue Lagoon is stunning, but there are other lagoons to explore and bathe in, such as the Secret Lagoon also in the southwest and Mývatn Nature Baths in the north. The former, although far from being a secret nowadays, is still a lot quieter than the Blue Lagoon, and Mývatn is a must.
Go in winter
Go in winter
Yes, the days are shorter and yes, it is colder. But this is the best time to see the Northern Lights. You will also have snowy terrain, adding a whole other dimension to your trip. Few other countries frame the Aurora like Iceland does, with shimmering glaciers, black lava fields and dramatic mountains opening up a box of delights for photographers in particular.
Follow the whales
Follow the whales
Cetacean numbers are also exploding, particularly between May and September when over two dozen species enjoy Iceland’s waters. Avoid the crowds by going whale watching in the shoulder month of May and September, and by seeking out small, responsible whale watching companies that use quiet wooden boats to get close to these marine mammals.
Photography
Go on a photography holiday
Tour leaders on photography holidays know where to find the spots where glaciers outnumber people or the locations of secret ice caves. Far from a whistle stop tour, you stop, look, learn and have time to fall in love with everything that makes Iceland so special – without the crowds.
Do a grand tour
Do a grand tour
There are a lot of myths in Iceland but one of the greatest is that you can see it all in a weekend. If you commit to Iceland for a longer period and even circumnavigate it, you will really start to understand its culture, have superb hiking experiences, explore extreme peninsulas and remote islands, and escape the crowds. Do this on land with a guided small group tour, or from the sea, on a small ship cruise with up to 34 passengers with whom you discover tiny fishing communities, islands and rugged, near-Arctic landscapes.
More about Iceland
Iceland's landscape could double for a Tolkien fantasy, and its culture is fed by this unique geography. This travel guide explores a place that is truly unique...
The Westfjords and Snaefellsnes score in the 'wildest' stakes, while the Golden Circle is an enclave of geysers, glaciers, hot springs and history...
Whale pods, wild photography and wilder landscapes provide plenty of daytime activities, with the Northern Lights thrilling travellers during long winter nights...
Iceland's landscapes hit you with an onslaught of natural wonders, from waterfalls to fjords, uninhabited peninsulas to glacier topped volcanoes...
Iceland has been shaped by nature's powerful forces and the Northern Lights add their dramatic paintbrush to its already colossal canvas...
With its lunar-like terrain, black beaches, steep volcanoes and glacial lagoons, Iceland could have been designed for a photography holiday.
Iceland's remote location, its wild landscapes and its folklore weave their way through its books, poems and music, now as much as ever...
Iceland's capital Reykjavik is home to colourful homes and modernist architecture, with the sea and the mountains as its nearest natural neighbours...
Self driving in Iceland lets you follow nature, not crowds. In summer, follow the midnight sun. In winter, head for the hills to spot the Northern Lights...
With tourist numbers swamping local residents, we look at overtourism and explore how travellers can visit Iceland without contributing to this problem...
Booking a holiday to Iceland, rather than travelling independently is more enjoyable for you and beneficial to the country, its environment and people...
Iceland doesn't offer many activities especially aimed at children, but its magical appeal is so evident it doesn't have to...
These tips come directly from our friends in Iceland who have shared their wisdom on all things hot, from geothermal pools to contemporary culture...
Avoiding places clogged with day trippers, and months when visitor numbers shoot up like a spouting geyser, is the responsible way to visit Iceland...
Despite being hugely controversial, whaling still occurs. We look at the justifications for whaling and what visitors to Iceland can do in response...
Find all of our Iceland guides in one place for more information on the different types of holidays such as walking or cruising in Iceland...
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Moyan Brenn] [Top image (Skorradalur): Axel Kristinsson]
[Northern Lights: Ben Husmann]
[Puffins: Anita Ritenour]
[Sjomannadagurinn: jenny downing]
[How to avoid the crowds (Hverfjall): Michal Huniewicz]
[Reverse your clock (Jökulsárlón): O Palsson]
[Other lagoons (Mývatn nature baths): MindsEye_PJ]
[Go in winter (Glacier Lagoon): Jim]
[Follow the whales: MindsEye_PJ]
[Photography holidays: Kitty Terwolbeck]
[Grand tours (Husavik): Nick]
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