Best time to visit Iceland

It won’t be news to you that Iceland isn’t a warm place (the clue is in the name!). However, its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Warm Gulf Stream ensures that it’s generally a little warmer than most people assume, and this unique island nation welcomes visitors all year round.

For the most part, average monthly temperatures stay on the right side of freezing, even in winter (just about…). In summer months, average temperatures hover around 10°C and individual days can sometimes top 20°C. The other big variable is daylight, which can be as little as 4 hours in winter, but as much as 21 hours in summer.

All of this means that your holiday experience will be very different depending on the time of year you choose to travel. Read on to find out what to expect during each season, including when you can see the famous Northern Lights.

• Average temperatures: 9-11°C
• Average daylight: 15-21 hours
• Northern Lights: Very unlikely

The summer months bring plenty of clear, sunny days, and pretty much all options are on the table in terms of locations and activities. Hikes, horse rides, whale watching… whatever your Iceland bucket list contains, you can probably tick it off during the summer.

Things can get quite busy at popular tourist sites, so this can be a good time to explore some of Iceland’s more remote regions, such as the Westman Islands or the East Fjords.

Some famous highland routes like the Sprengisandur are only open in July and August as these roads are impassable at other times of the year.

• Average temperatures: 2-7°C
• Average daylight: 5-14 hours
• Northern Lights: Yes (sometimes)

The summer crowds begin to disperse, temperatures begin to drop and the nights begin to get longer throughout Autumn. This can be a wonderful time to plan your Iceland holiday, with the weather still pleasant through September and the Northern Lights starting to appear.

Although some of the remote highland roads will close, most of Iceland is still accessible via the ring road. This is a good time for a road trip to some of the lesser-known coastal destinations, such as Snaefellsnes.

Things will also be a little quieter at some of the main attractions, such as the Strokkur geyser and Gullfoss waterfall, so it’s a good time to tick off some of Iceland’s iconic highlights.

• Average temperatures: -1-0°C
• Average daylight: 5-14 hours
• Northern Lights: Yes (frequently)

Iceland’s coldest season brings its own unique charm – you didn’t come for a beach break anyway! Reykjavik can be a wonderful place to spend some of your Christmas break or see in the new year, while glaciers such as Vatnajökull are at their most spectacular with ice caves and gorges.

The big draw is of course the Northern Lights. Nothing is guaranteed, but you’d be quite unlucky not to see one of nature’s greatest shows during a winter holiday in Iceland.

Most travellers do not go further than the southwest during this time of year, but with a 4×4 you can go around the entire island if you wish. The interior of the island won’t be accessible,and we’d recommend adding extra nights to your itinerary in case weather conditions slow you down.

• Average temperatures: 1-6°C
• Average daylight: 10-18 hours
• Northern Lights: Yes (sometimes)

Spring is one of our favourite times to visit Iceland, with temperatures rising and landscapes slowly turning from white to green. Northern Lights viewings are also still possible, particularly in the early part of the season.

This is an ideal time of year for wildlife enthusiasts too. While whale watching and bird spotting are possible for much of the year, this is perhaps the best time to see Iceland’s animals. You’ll also have a good chance of seeing orcas around the coast.

This shoulder season is also great to see famous sites like the Blue Lagoon and the waterfalls of Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss before the big tourist crowds return in summer.