The days are short and the nights are long, which improves your chances of seeing the northern lights in the dark, unpolluted skies. Festive lights continue to illuminate towns and cities — a welcome remedy to the wintry darkness. Daytime sightseeing needs to be planned carefully to coincide with the limited hours of sunlight.
The days grow longer at a surprisingly rapid pace, which gives you more time for sightseeing and makes it easier to travel farther into the Icelandic countryside. At this time of year, you can take trips to see orca in the waters surrounding the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and there are still good opportunities to witness the northern lights strobing across the sky.
The Spring Equinox officially marks the end of winter in Iceland, when daytime lasts as long as night time. This means you can spend longer each day exploring Iceland’s geothermal landscapes and natural landmarks. There’s still a chill in the air, and winter activities such as ice caving are still popular. Although the nights are shorter, it’s still possible to see the aurora borealis late in the evenings.
April is one of the quieter times to travel, so you’re better able to enjoy sights away from the crowds. Although the Icelandic summer has officially begun, it might not feel like it — rain and snow are still common and lots of summer activities, including puffin viewing, cycling tours and many boat trips, are not yet in operation. As the snow begins to clear, the grassy landscape turns pale yellow.
The summer season officially begins, with temperatures becoming milder and more activities opening up throughout the country. The main road around the island — sections of which are often closed during winter storms — is usually fully accessible. Seabirds, including puffins, return to Iceland and you can see them nesting in large numbers on the rugged coastline. Towards the end of the month, lambs seem to be everywhere you look and lupine flowers bloom lilac across the countryside.
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, bringing 24 hours of daylight to Iceland as the sun barely dips below the horizon. By now, the landscape is a vivid green, which contrasts sharply with the country’s dark volcanic rock, making for some excellent photography opportunities. Some activities, including quad biking tours and whale watching, take advantage of the midnight sun and are available late into the evening. Plenty of festivals take place in the summer throughout the country, celebrating local arts, food and culture.
Snow in the highlands has thawed and roads through Iceland’s wild interior are now accessible, offering opportunities to explore inland by 4x4. One of the most popular times to travel, visitors come to experience the midnight sun and Iceland’s vast array of outdoor activities. You can expect larger crowds at major attractions such as the Golden Circle, Lake Mývatn and along the south coast.
The weather is mild and rainfall remains comparatively low. Visitors to Iceland reach their peak, so hotels should be booked well in advance and you can expect the country’s well-known landmarks and attractions to be busy. Many seabirds begin their migration south from the middle of August, so plan your travel at the beginning of the month if you’d like to see them.
As the peak summer season winds down, this is a quieter time to travel in Iceland while the whole island is still generally accessible. September is usually cooler and wetter than July and August, but many summer activities and attractions are still available. As you drive through the countryside, look out for the annual réttur taking place, when farmers round up the 800,000 sheep that have been roaming the land during the summer.
October is typically the wettest month in Iceland, but there are noticeably fewer visitors compared to the summer months. Many summer activities are no longer available and adverse weather increases the risk of road closures, so travel is now generally limited to the south coast, north and west Iceland.
As the nights draw in, the northern lights often appear in the sky. Seasonal winter activities, such as ice caving, are also now possible. Temperatures are cool, but there’s still plenty to do to lure you outdoors and the cold air makes the geothermal steam rising from hillsides become more pronounced.
A wonderful time to visit Iceland, when festive lights illuminate towns and cities. Towards the end of the month, the sun lingers on the horizon for just four hours, creating a strange, ethereal twilight. Tours need to be planned carefully to make the most of the limited daylight hours, and, weather permitting, the northern lights frequently make an appearance.
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