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When to go · Iceland

Iceland, month by month

The best months for Iceland: Jun, Jul, Aug.

Month by month

  1. 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 · 3 festivals or holidays
  2. 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
  3. 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 · 2 festivals or holidays
  4. 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
  5. MayGoodLong days, puffins, fewer crowds; highlands still closed.Reykjavík and the south-west: fine · South coast: fine · North and east: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  6. 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 · 3 festivals or holidays
  7. 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
  8. 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 · 5 festivals or holidays
  9. SeptemberGoodAutumn colours, aurora season begins, highlands close; great shoulder month.Reykjavík and the south-west: fine · South coast: fine · North and east: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  10. 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 · 1 festival or holiday
  11. 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
  12. 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 · 3 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Iceland, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Jun: Great

    Jul: Great

  • Crowds

    Jun: High

    Jul: High

  • Prices

    Jun: High

    Jul: High

  • Festivals listed

    Jun: 3

    Jul: 0

June: Near-constant light, open roads, National Day on the 17th; highland roads open late in the month.

July: Warmest and busiest; F-roads and Laugavegur trek open; book everything.

Iceland: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Reykjavík and the south-westReykjavík, Golden Circle, ReykjanesStormStormCoolOKOKBestBestBestOKCoolStormStorm
South coastVík, Skaftafell, JökulsárlónStormStormCoolOKOKBestBestBestOKCoolStormStorm
North and eastAkureyri, Mývatn, Húsavík, East FjordsCoolCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBestOKCoolCoolCool
HighlandsLandmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, Askja, KjölurCoolCoolCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestOKCoolCoolCool