When to go · Iceland
Iceland, month by month
The best months for Iceland: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Month by month
- JanuaryMixed4–5 h of light, storms, ice caves and auroras; keep buffer days.Reykjavík and the south-west: storm or typhoon risk · South coast: storm or typhoon risk · North and east: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
- FebruaryMixedLonger days, still stormy; Þorrablót food and aurora nights.Reykjavík and the south-west: storm or typhoon risk · South coast: storm or typhoon risk · North and east: coolCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
- MarchGoodBalance of light and dark: auroras plus 11–13 h of day; Easter in late March 2027.Reykjavík and the south-west: cool · South coast: cool · North and east: coolCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
- AprilGoodQuiet shoulder month; snow lingers in the north; puffins arrive late in the month.Reykjavík and the south-west: fine · South coast: fine · North and east: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- MayGoodLong days, puffins, fewer crowds; highlands still closed.Reykjavík and the south-west: fine · South coast: fine · North and east: fineCrowds: Medium
- JuneGreatNear-constant light, open roads, National Day on the 17th; highland roads open late in the month.Reykjavík and the south-west: best weather · South coast: best weather · North and east: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
- JulyGreatWarmest and busiest; F-roads and Laugavegur trek open; book everything.Reykjavík and the south-west: best weather · South coast: best weather · North and east: best weatherCrowds: High
- AugustGreatStill peak; puffins leave mid-month; first dark nights for auroras at the end.Reykjavík and the south-west: best weather · South coast: best weather · North and east: best weatherCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays
- SeptemberGoodAutumn colours, aurora season begins, highlands close; great shoulder month.Reykjavík and the south-west: fine · South coast: fine · North and east: fineCrowds: Medium
- OctoberGoodAuroras and fewer crowds; first storms and snow in the north.Reykjavík and the south-west: cool · South coast: cool · North and east: coolCrowds: Medium
- NovemberMixedShort days, storms; Iceland Airwaves; ice caves open.Reykjavík and the south-west: storm or typhoon risk · South coast: storm or typhoon risk · North and east: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
- DecemberMixedDarkest month, Christmas lights and fireworks; storms can close roads for days.Reykjavík and the south-west: storm or typhoon risk · South coast: storm or typhoon risk · North and east: coolCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
Weather by region
How each climate zone rates each month.
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík and the south-westReykjavík, Golden Circle, Reykjanes | Storm | Storm | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Storm | Storm |
| South coastVík, Skaftafell, Jökulsárlón | Storm | Storm | Cool | OK | OK | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Storm | Storm |
| North and eastAkureyri, Mývatn, Húsavík, East Fjords | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| HighlandsLandmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, Askja, Kjölur | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | OK | Best | Best | OK | Cool | Cool | Cool |