If you’re dreaming about Iceland, a land in northern Europe rich in natural landscapes, geysers and northern lights, you probably asked yourself when is the best time to visit this small but fascinating country.
Climate and temperature in Iceland are quite different from the temperate ones in Europe. It’s important to know when it’s the ideal period to travel and which clothes and accessories you should bring with you to Iceland.
Climate in Iceland
The climate in Iceland is peculiar, with winds and sea streams coming from the ocean that surrounds it.
Summer is brief and has a good temperature for tourism (the highest is 20 C° in cities and towns, and the lowest is 7 C°), with very warm days ideal for travelers who aren’t used to the typical northern Europe climate.
Contrary to some popular beliefs, winter in Iceland isn’t very rigid, especially in cities and in the southern area: the coldest regions are in the north, where the lowest temperature can reach -30 C°. Usually, the temperature is 0 C°.
Organize a trip to Iceland: best periods
Choosing the best period to travel to Iceland is fundamental. We asked our local expert Emanuela Grieco to give us some tips for a unique holiday in Iceland.
When is the best period to see the northern lights in Iceland
If you want to organize a trip to Iceland to see the famous and wonderful northern lights, there are ideal periods to visit.
Polar lights can be seen from September to April: these are the best months to admire them. The best places to see the lights are Rejkjavik (the capital city), Westfjords (western fjords in the northern region), Vik (on the southern coast), Jökulsárlón (south-eastern iceberg lagoon) e Landmannalaugar (a mountain region in the south).
Iceland in winter
Although it’s not a very popular period,travelling in Iceland during winter is a choice considered by many tourists. If you love winter landscapes, in Iceland snow starts to fall in December.
It’s important to remember that the Ring Road and the Westfjords are closed, and you’ll be able to travel around the island from January to March.
In Iceland the hours of daylight in winter are just a few: in fact, during December and January there are usually only 4-5 hours of light during the day.
If you’re wondering what to wear in Iceland in winter, it’s important to dress up in layers.
It doesn’t matter if you want to explore nature or just walk about the cities, there are some clothes you must put in your suitcase:
- Warm and insulating clothes
- Scarf, gloves and hat
- Waterproof boots and insulating socks (if you want to make excursion in the nature, choose trekking shoes)
- Thick sweaters, especially made of wool
- Insulating and waterproof jacket for low temperatures, like Gore-Tex jackets
- If you want to try some of the icelandic thermal pools (like the Blue Lagoon), don’t forget to bring a swimming suit!
The prices for winter tours are lower than the summer ones, except during Christmas time.
Iceland in summer
Travelling in Iceland during summer is the best time concerning temperature; in Rejkjavik, capital of Iceland, the average temperature is about 20 C°, the lowest 7 C°.
Furthermore, the eastern coast and the northern region definetely have a better climate compared to the rest of the year.
If you travel in August the climate will be warm, but this is also the period when there’s the greatest number of tourists. If you don’t like crowds, especially when visiting geysers, waterfalls or the capital Rejkjavik, August is not the month for you.
June and July are both good options to travel in Iceland, but there is still a consistent number of tourists during this period. In July, the southern coast is already full of visitors.
On a positive note, there are many daylight hours: this will allow you to travel during the icelandic “night”: you’ll never be alone on the streets, but they will be less crowded.
The prices for a trip to Iceland during summer are quite high, especially in August (peak period). If you want to save some money, you should travel during the night.
You should also pay attention to which clothes you should bring in the summer. The golden rule is always to wear clothes in layers, even though you can dress up a little lighter:
- Sunglasses, even for the midnight sun
- Sunscreen lotion
- Trekking shoes or waterproof boots
- Parka or insulating jacket
- Scarf and hat
- Thermal leggins and shirt
- A few t-shirts for the warmest days
- A swimming suit to enjoy the natural icelandic thermal pools
Tips for an alternative travel
Even though the most popular time to travel in Iceland is summer, our expert suggests you to find a few alternative periods to travel in Iceland.
A great chance to enjoy the natural beauty of Iceland during off season is to travel in the months of September (especially the second half of the month) and March. During September there are fewer tourists, but you can still admire polar lights with a nice climate.
From the end of March to April the days are much longer, and you can still see polar lights.
During these months the prices of the tours in Iceland are much lower compared to high season in summer. Temperatures are still warm but the cost is lower.
Guided tours in Iceland
If you want to travel safely to Iceland and enjoy your trip, relying on a good organized trip is the best option.
Vivitravles offers many private and group tours with exclusive tourist guide, or with 24/7 customer support for your every need.
There is also the chance to travel to Iceland with a self drive tour, and the car rental is included in the price.
Find out more about our tailored guided tours to explore this magical land.
