Best time to visit Iceland

Are you planning a trip to Iceland, but you don’t know when to travel? Don´t worry. We are here to help you decide when it is the best time for you to visit this otherworldly country in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Hopefully, after reading, you can easily decide when to visit Iceland, depending on your interests, budget, and travel style. One thing we do know for sure is that, no matter what season you choose, Iceland will delight you! Visiting Iceland is always a good idea, but it all depends on what you want to see and do in Iceland. Think about the purpose of your visit before picking the time to travel.

From June to August, days are long and if you are a whale-watching enthusiast or want to hike in the highlands, summer is the best time to go to Iceland.
Keen to experience an ice cave, snowy landscapes on a snowmobile? Then, winter is your best bet, while spring brings the liveliest rivers and is the best time for spotting cute puffins.
Some people prefer autumn since you can still do a lot of outdoor activities before winter arrives and prices are lower than in summer.
If you you want to hunt down the northern lights, the best time to visit Iceland is from October to March.

When is the best time to visit Iceland?

With our infographic, you will get an overview of each month: the daylight hours, the maximum and minimum temperature, the most popular activities, sights and places to visit.

Iceland is an all-year destination

Icelandic horse in Iceland.

Even if some activities are season-related and some off-the-beaten-track sights are only accessible in summer, Iceland is undeniably an all-year destination as there are a lot of things you can do all year round. You can hike a glacier, ride an Icelandic horse, go caving in lava caves, snorkel, or dive between the tectonic plates in the Silfra. Looking for something extraordinary? Go for a helicopter ride. Imagine seeing Iceland's glaciers, black beaches, lava fields, and volcanoes from above. Simply amazing! That is not all. Go snowmobiling on a glacier, visit the filming locations for Game of Thrones, do a Golden Circle self-drive or guided tour, bath in hot geothermal rivers or go on a a super jeep tour.

Along with the season, the landscapes, the light, and the atmosphere change. That's why your experience in Iceland will be completely different each time you visit. It is the beauty of Iceland. It is a destination that you can visit at any time, but also a destination that attracts visitors to come back for a second, third, or even more visits.