When’s the Best Time to Visit Iceland? 5 Steps to Planning the Perfect Trip

Planning a visit and want to know when’s the best time to go to Iceland? Read this practical guide complete with a five-step process to help you choose when to travel. 

Iceland: the land of ice and fire, Viking folklore, pristine scenery and let’s not forget the Northern Lights.

Are you planning to visit Iceland? You should be.

I’ve visited Iceland a number of times, and to be frank, it’s always incredible.

I wanted to go to Iceland for-e-ver (no joke, it was on the first bucket list I made when I was seven.  Yes, I was a pretentious child. And no, nothing has changed since) and now I just can’t stop going back.

This spectacular country draws visitors to its otherworldly landscapes year round – if you are considering booking a ticket, just do it. You won’t regret it

Sounds great right? But you want to know when the best time of year to travel to Iceland is. This guide has everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip.

When’s The Best Time to Visit Iceland?: At A Glance

The best time of year to travel to Iceland is during the shoulder season in May and September.

May and September are the best time of year to go to Iceland because they offer lower prices and fewer crowds but without the harsh weather conditions found in the winter.

Many people worry about whether Iceland is expensive. The answer is yes, but travelling in the shoulder season helps to reduce the cost.

Most of the museums and attractions that close during the winter months are open during May and September, so you’re less restricted than in the winter months when it comes to visiting these too.

The weather can still be a bit breezy and it can snow in the country’s interior. Mountain access is more limited than in the summer months. 

However, when you weigh this against the lower number of visitors and cheaper prices, I think it’s worth the (small) sacrifice. 

May vs September

If May and September are the best times of year to visit Iceland, there are still a few distinct differences between them. Here are some of the things you should consider when you’re choosing between them.

Want Longer Daylight Hours For Your Iceland Trip? Visit Iceland in May

You will hear a lot about the midnight sun during the peak summer season, but you still get a lot of daylight hours during May and September.

In May you get between 16-20 hours of daylight. I’m figuring that even the very best of you guys need to sleep, so this is plenty of time to get out and see the bigger attractions (such as those in the Golden Circle, Reynisfjara or Jokulsarlon Diamond Lagoon ) early in the morning or later in the evening when there doesn’t tend to be any crowds.

May is also one of the best times to go for a road trip in Iceland, thanks to a combination of long daylight hours and clearer roads.

In September the days are shorter, with daylight hours descending from 14 to 11 hours in the space of a month (the daylight hours decrease significantly during the month).

Want to See the Northern Lights? Visit Iceland in September

May’s long daylight hours means that the Northern Lights are a no-no. The sky never really gets dark enough to see the aurora borealis in action.

If you want to time your visit for the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland, but want to avoid the cold and sometimes tough conditions of visiting Iceland in the winter, go during September.

It’s not clear why, but the lights are often strongest during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Plus you don’t have to deal with the freezing temperatures of the winter months.

Want to maximise your chances of seeing the phenomena? Stay in one of Iceland’s Northern Lights hotels.

Want to Go Whale Watching? Go in May or September

September also happens to be a good month to go whale watching: it’s a good time to see orcas.

You can see whales in several places in Iceland. Reykjavík offers numerous whale-watching tours departing from the Old Harbor – these will take you to Faxaflói Bay, where you can spot minke whales, humpback whales and sometimes even orcas (if you’re very lucky).

Without a doubt though, the whale-watching capital of Europe is Húsavík, where the Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams movie Eurovision was partly filmed. You can spot humpback whales, minke whales, blue whales and even rare species like the North Atlantic right whale.

Want to See Lots of Birdlife? Go in May

Late May is a good time to see bird life, but birds start to migrate to Iceland earlier in the month, so your chances of bird-spotting are pretty high throughout the whole month.

During my visit in early May, many of the migratory birds had already started to arrive in Iceland. Seabirds nested in rugged cliffs made for some great spotting opportunities.

We even had a chance to see Arctic Terns. Did you know they migrate from the Antarctic to the Arctic and back again every year? It’s one of the farthest annual bird migrations at a whopping minimum distance of 12,000 miles.

Puffins are best seen from mid-May to mid August. You’ll want to plump for May over September if you want to maximise your chance of viewing them.

Want to go Horse Riding? Go in May or September

Iceland is famous for its cute, stocky and rather small horses (warning: don’t talk about their size to their face, it’s a touchy subject. Oh and for heaven’s sake, don’t you dare call them ponies).

Exploring Iceland on horseback is the adventure of a lifetime – you can easily arrange multi-day horse treks in different parts of the country. 

May and September are both good times to go as the weather is cool enough to make longer rides a pleasant experience.

Want to Get off the Beaten Track? Go in September

Crowds at the big attractions may be thinner in both May and September, but some of the more difficult to reach destinations might not yet be accessible in May after the winter months.

The Best Time to Travel to Iceland: By Activity and Season

May and September are the best times to go to Iceland overall, but if you want to focus on a particular season or activity, you should refer to these sections.

Need a few more ideas? Here are ten tongue-in-cheek things people never tell you about visiting Iceland.

Best Time to Visit in Winter

I’m not going to dress this up. Winter in Iceland can be cold. Like, losing extremities cold.

But it can also be a magical time to visit, with the low sun casting a soft light that’s perfect for photography and plenty of darkness to up the chances of seeing the northern lights.

The best time to visit Iceland in winter is either in November or February. The shortest day in December welcomes a rather measly four hours of daylight.

Compare this to eight hours at the beginning of November and ten at the end of February and you get my point.

The lack of daylight can be a blessing or a curse, depending on what you are after. For aurora hunters, the long periods of night sky mean the opportunity to see the northern lights as early as 5pm.

For anyone looking to spend time outdoors or photograph Iceland’s beautiful landscapes, it can be a real challenge to plan around the short daylight hours. 

Still, the sight of the snowy tundra, punctuated by volcanoes, glaciers and hot springs is impressive enough that you might not care.

Road closures on smaller roads can also be a problem if you’re planning on accessing more remote destinations.

Best Time to Visit Ice Caves and Glaciers

You can access some ice caves and glaciers all year round, but some can only be visited during the colder winter months.

The best time to visit ice caves in Iceland is between November and March when almost all of the ice caves are open.

There are a few, like those at Langjokull, that can be accessed as late as June, and others such as the Katia ice cave, that can be accessed year-round. However, to maximise your chances of taking an ice cave tour, you should visit between November and March.

For Skiing

Iceland’s ski season runs between December and April. You’re better off going in February and March as the daylight hours are longer and the conditions are generally better too.

In Summer

Summer is the peak season in Iceland, no doubt about it. Unless you are heading off-the-beaten-track, expect crowds and you can expect high prices across the island.

Thanks to its proximity to the Arctic circle, June and July welcome almost 24 hours of daylight. 

It’s not quite the true midnight sun of the Arctic circle proper (only the Northern tip of Iceland actually falls within the Arctic Circle) but it’s pretty impressive nonetheless.

Early July, before schools break for summer holidays is probably the best time to go to Iceland in the summer. 

The temperatures are warmest during July and August, but the crowds are marginally lower outside of the holidays.

Locals joke about the country’s fickle weather. Fridrik Palsson, owner of Iceland’s prestigious Hotel Ranga most aptly summarised it, saying 

“Ask me about the weather in Iceland and I’ll say ask me in a minute”. 

In short, it changes all the time – this is just as true in the summer months as in the other seasons.

Best Time to Visit the Blue Lagoon (and the other Hot Springs)

Geothermal waters play a crucial role in Icelandic life – perhaps none more so than the public pools and hot baths that form an essential part of everyday life to most Icelanders. 

You can’t go to Iceland and not visit a hot spring or pool.

The most famous of these is The Blue Lagoon, a striking blue geothermal spa near to Reykjavik – but there’s also the stunning Sky Lagoon which recently opened and is completely gorgeous too.

You can visit the Blue Lagoon and most of Iceland’s more accessible hot springs year-round. That said, the best time to visit the Blue Lagoon is during May and September when the temperatures are still warm but it’s a bit quieter.

Looking to bathe like the locals do? Skip the big names and visit the community swimming pools – they’re generally outside, and come with pools of different temperatures. Perfect for a few hours of relaxation without the heaving crowds.

Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

Generally, the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is between September and April. Sightings can begin as early as mid- to late-August, but this varies from year to year.

The equinoxes, in September and March, are particularly good times to see the aurora.

They’re also warmer than the winter months, and the longer daylight hours means you can plan more activities and see more of what Iceland has to offer during your stay.

Remember though, that sightings are never, ever guaranteed, so it’s best not to plan your whole trip around seeing the lights.

For Whale Watching

There are 23 different whale species in and around Iceland’s waters.

Whale watching tours run all year round. However, the best time to visit Iceland for whale watching and other sea life will depend on which part of the country you are visiting and what you are planning to see.

May through September is the best time of year to see humpback whales in Iceland.

In the winter months, whale watching in Iceland becomes challenging due to regularly inclement weather conditions. While this is the best time of year to see a fin whale in Iceland, it’s also the best time of year for gale-force winds and rough seas. 

You may encounter anything from sunshine and blue skies to driving rain, sleet and snow. Go prepared. 

Here are a few pointers to bear in mind when planning your visit:

• Orcas frolic off of Iceland’s west coast during February and March.
• June is the best time to visit Iceland to see blue whales.
• The summer months have the highest proportion of whale sightings overall.

Best Time to Hike 

The best time to hike in Iceland is undoubtedly between May and September when daylight is plentiful and there’s less chance of rain or snow. 

June, July and August are the warmest and all the trails and mountain roads are open, making it easier to plan your hiking trip.

Of course, Glaciers are best seen in the winter when they’re covered with deep snow, but they can be hazardous during this time of year due to extreme cold and slippery surfaces.

To Drive the Ring Road 

One of Iceland’s best features is its stunning ring road. When you think of ring roads, chances are you think of a road that circles a suburban town centre, clogged with traffic and that has you choking with fumes.

Nothing could be more different from Iceland’s version, which circumnavigates the island, taking in glaciers, volcanoes, staggering coastal stop-offs, and some of the most beautiful towns imaginable across 822 incredible miles.

The best time to drive the ring road is unquestionably during the summer months when conditions are at their least treacherous. Any time from May to September is ideal, particularly with the long daylight hours helping with good visibility. Once October begins, the long nights really set in and conditions become much more difficult.

While the road is usually driveable during the winter, the weather can change quickly with blizzards approaching from nowhere, and sub-zero temperatures often causing black ice that can prove extremely tricky to negotiate, even if your car is fitted with the right winter equipment.

To Spend Time in Northern Iceland 

I’ll be honest, Northern Iceland is one of my favourite parts of this incredible country. With many parts still undisturbed by over tourism and off the beaten track, it’s possible to get a sense of the real Iceland away from the maddening crowds even during the summer months.

That said, the best time to visit Northern Iceland is either in April to May as the days get longer, or in September when the tourist season is over. 

In September you can still enjoy some of the longer daylight hours (albeit not to the extent of high summer), but still enjoying a wonderful balance of what this stunning part of the world has to offer during daylight and after dark.

While you can visit during the winter, take into account the likely road conditions will be treacherous, particularly on lesser-used roads, so plan to hire a car with all-wheel drive and snow chains as well.  

Is There a Worst Time to Visit Iceland?

The worst time to visit Iceland for the crowds is June to August. Many of the country’s biggest attractions are very, very busy during this time.

On the other hand, the worst time to visit Iceland for outdoors activities is understandably the winter months, when the cold and dark restrict all but the most adventurous of people.

Iceland by Season

High Season

High season runs between June and August. June and July see the midnight sun, but the days are still long during August. This is also the time when Iceland is at its warmest. The weather can still be very unpredictable though.

Pros to Travelling to Iceland in High Season

• Best time for outdoor activities (including hiking and kayaking)
• Long summer days 
• Great for whale watching and birdlife

Cons to Travelling to Iceland in High Season

• Crowds. All of the crowds.

Shoulder Season

Shoulder Season is May, September and the early part of October. This is the best time of year to travel to Iceland for an all-round experience.

You don’t have the same number of tourists as the high season but each month has its own attractions: bird watching in May, northern-lights spotting in September as two examples.

Pros to Travelling to Iceland in Shoulder Season

• Lower prices
• Fewer tourists and still generally good access to attractions

Cons to Travelling to Iceland in Shoulder Season

• Midnight sun (obviously!)

Low Season

Low season runs from mid-October to the end of April. Daylight is pretty much non-existent in December (OK, four hours, but that’s still low) and temperatures can plummet to -30 degrees celsius, and wind chill can make it feel even colder than that.

Pros to Travelling to Iceland in Low Season

• Ice caves and glaciers in their prime
• Low crowds

Cons to Travelling to Iceland in Low Season

• Getting off the beaten track is difficult thanks to road closures
•  Outdoor activities (apart from for the very experienced) and many attractions are closed

Five Things to Consider When You’re Deciding The Best Time of Year to Visit Iceland For You

1. Are you going for an all-round experience? If yes, go in May or September.
2. If you do want to do any activities such as whale watching, bird watching, hiking or skiing? Check the best months for these activities before booking.
3. Do you hate crowds? If yes, avoid busier destinations during the summer months.
4. Do you want to see the Northern Lights? If yes, go between September and April (but remember they’re not guaranteed!)
5. Do you want to keep costs as low as possible? If yes, visit in shoulder season or low season.

Read More Iceland Travel Guides

• Unmissable Things to do in Reykjavik
• Is Iceland Expensive?
• Cool Northern Lights Hotels in Iceland
• Stunning Waterfalls in Iceland
• Beautiful Beaches in Iceland
• Discovering Iceland’s Hidden Gems
• Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon: A Guide
• Gulfoss Waterfall: A Guide
• Brilliant Things to do in Iceland
• Beautiful Iceland Landmarks You Have to See
• Visiting Iceland in Winter

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