Iceland is a delightfully unusual vacation spot. In a land best known for its natural beauty, volcanoes, lakes, glaciers and caves complete the gorgeous panoramas that involve vast empty backdrops and sparkling skies. A visit to Iceland should be planned according to what you have in mind for your itinerary. With everything from whale watching to the Aurora Borealis on offer, you must choose your dates with care. Skyscanner suggests a weather wise guide to the best time to travel to Iceland.
What is the best time to travel to Iceland?
Iceland has volatile weather, very often with a wide variety served in a single day. Typically, summer in July and beginning August, is the best season to visit Iceland – given the warmer temperatures and the endless Midnight Sun. This is when prices as well as crowds, are at their highest. Hikers prefer July and August; May to September are whale watching months; while February, March, September and October are great for displays of the Northern Lights. Each weather slot comes with an activity specific to that time of year, regardless of the temperature and weather conditions. So, broadly speaking, Iceland can be visited at any time during the year, as long as you pack correctly!
Find flights to IcelandWeather in Iceland can be neatly divided into 4 seasons – winter, spring, summer and autumn.
Winter: December to February
Winter months in Iceland are cold, snowy and short, with average temperatures of between -3 and 3 degrees Celsius. The shortest days may even see as little as 3 hours of daylight. If it is the Northern Lights you are after, this is the best time to catch a show. You could also keep busy with snow sports like snowmobiling, glacier hiking, visit ice caves and go the Blue Lagoon.
Read more: Iceland Tourism
Spring: March to May
March to May is spring in Iceland, with longer days and melting snow. With average temperatures ranging from -2 degrees to nearly 10 degrees, deal seekers descend for some shoulder season fun. Rainy days, moderate temperatures, lower prices and lesser crowds make exploration easier and activities more fun. Drive around the island and appreciate the beautiful scenery, keep some time for puffin watching, take a dip in the hot baths, go hiking, horseback riding or kayaking. Spring is also festival time in Iceland with multiple festivals crowding the calendar, including some major music festivals.
Read more: December 2018 – Best Winter Holiday Destinations Around the World
Summer: June to August
Summer time in Iceland, the months between June and August, is officially up season. Long days, with up to 21 hours of daylight mean that you can literally make the most of your day. The Midnight Sun and average temperatures between 7 and 13-degree Celsius call out to tourists in droves, leading to big crowds and sky high prices. Road trips, seafood fests, beach trips, waterfalls, geysers, snorkelling, whale watching, volcano hiking, puffin watching, dips in nature baths and a few festivals – it’s all there for you to fit into your itinerary.
Read more: Best Time to Visit Europe
Autumn: September to November
Autumn in Iceland, just before the snow arrives, is pretty and colourful. Though a little chilly – averaging between -1.5 and 10 degrees Celsius – it still makes for a functional shoulder season. Deal seekers can manage the usual activities, including whale watching, though after layering up considerably. You can catch a few festivals as well, and maybe get a glimpse of the Northern Lights, if you are lucky.
Read more: Volcano Tourism: Where to go for Lava Love
How to reach Iceland?
Iceland is well connected to airports around the world with an international airport in the capital city Reykjavik and a number of other airports around the country. Once you detail your Iceland itinerary and figure out which airport you wish to land at, book your flight tickets and hotels on Skyscanner. Set a Price Alert and we’ll let you know the best time to book as well! Looking for picturesque places to holiday at? Read our article Insta-worthy destinations across the world.
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Figure out how ‘far’ your travel budget will take you with our Map Tool.
Now that you know everything about the seasons and weather in Iceland, the best time of the year to visit, and tips and tricks to get your hands on the cheapest tickets; go ahead and book your trip! Book your flights, hotel or rent a car with Skyscanner today. You can do all of these on our mobile app too.
