These Are the Best Times to Visit Iceland

Iceland’s ethereal and highly photogenic landscape of ancient glaciers and rugged fjords draws in outdoorsy travelers. But what you want to see and do on your trip will determine the best times to visit Iceland. Some attractions, like the famous hot springs, are open all year, while natural phenomena like the northern lights and midnight sun are best viewed during specific months. Here’s a breakdown of the tourist seasons in Iceland:

• High Season: June to August and late December
• Shoulder Season: September to mid-October and May
• Low Season: November to April, excluding holidays

Read on to learn about the best time to visit Iceland for whale watching, northern lights spotting, and more.

Best Times to Visit Iceland for Smaller Crowds

The busiest months in Iceland are June, July, and August, when most natural attractions are open and easily accessible. For fewer crowds, come in May or September to mid-October: temps are warm enough, (a daytime average of 50°F) and you’ll still have ample daylight.

Iceland is least crowded in the off-season, November to April, but the days quickly get very short: November starts with nearly eight hours of daylight and ends with just five. In December, many days see barely four hours of daylight. If you don’t mind the cold and can work around some road closures, it’s a glorious time to enjoy hot springs, backcountry skiing, and tours by snowmobile or jeep. These are also the months when you can see the northern lights in Iceland. Tourism does tend to pick up again during the holiday season, so avoid late December if you’re looking for a crowd-free vacation.

Best Times to Visit Iceland for Good Weather

The best time to visit Iceland and enjoy good weather is, of course, the busiest time: the summer months. The daytime temperature in Iceland in July and August hovers around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and June sees an incredible 24 hours of daylight. Even during this season, rain and intense wind are not uncommon. The island’s fickle climate often means you can experience all four seasons in a single day.

The weather remains pleasant in September, and May is similar; if you want to explore some of the more remote hills and fjords, though, May is not the best time to visit, as some roads remain closed while they thaw from winter’s snowy cover. For serious hikers, the best time to visit Iceland is during the summer, when all the mountain roads and famous trails are open and accessible.

Best Times to Visit Iceland for Lower Prices

While Iceland in general is fairly expensive, getting there can be relatively affordable, especially compared to other European destinations. Keep an eye out for good deals on Icelandair and low-cost airline Play.

Tours, attractions, and meal prices hold steady throughout the year, but you can save money on flights and accommodations by visiting during the off-season, which is typically late fall through early spring, excluding December. These are also the months when you can best see the northern lights in Iceland.

Best Time to Visit Iceland for the Northern Lights

You’ll need darkness, clear conditions, and a surge in solar activity to see the aurora borealis. The northern lights are often elusive and can easily be marred by transient clouds. To avoid disappointment, travelers should never plan their trip to Iceland solely for the northern lights because the island’s weather is too capricious (statistically, there are more clear nights in Yellowknife, Canada, for example.) The best way to optimize your chances of seeing the northern lights in Iceland is by visiting from mid-October through March — when you have extended hours of darkness — and by getting out into the countryside to reduce ambient light pollution.

Best Time to Visit Iceland for Whale Watching

According to Icelandic marine biologist Edda Elísabet Magnúsdóttir, the peak months to go whale watching in Iceland are June and July. During the summer, Reykjavík sees higher numbers of minke whales and dolphins, while orcas congregate in West Iceland along the Snaefellsnes peninsula during the first half of the year.

In northern Iceland, you’ll have a wider window to enjoy visits from humpbacks, minkes, and dolphins, which ply the Atlantic from May to August; a few humpbacks even stick around until the end of the year. Blue whales pass through in the summer, too. For best results, head to the charming small town of Húsavík, where you can spot more than 20 species of whales on boat tours that leave from the harbor.

Best Time to Visit Iceland’s Hot Springs

Hot springs are intrinsic to Icelandic culture for social as well as wellness benefits. Reykjavík’s public pools are open year-round (and are especially invigorating during the dead of winter), but Iceland also has hundreds of hidden “hot pots” that tap directly into the geothermal activity under its lava-ridden surface.

Expert Icelandic mountaineer and cofounder of Midgard Adventure, Sigurdur Bjarni Sveinsson, offers the following advice for hot water hunters: “Check them out during September or, even better, the first half of October, when they’re all still accessible by mountain road, but the crowds of tourists have significantly died down.”

For travelers who want to visit the Blue Lagoon, the most famous geothermal spa, the best time to visit is during the off and shoulder seasons, when crowds are thinner.

Worst Time to Visit Iceland

Thanks to Iceland’s stunning landscapes and seasonal natural phenomena, there’s really no bad time to visit. Northern lights seekers flock to the country during the darker winter months, while visitors chasing more daylight opt for summer. Those traveling in the spring and fall can take advantage of more moderate weather and daylight, so the best time to visit Iceland depends on what you want to see and do during your trip.

That said, the warmest months of the year are easily the worst time to visit if you’re hoping to avoid the onslaught of tourists. July and August see the highest number of travelers, with big-ticket attractions like the Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South Coast, and Jökulsárlón being particularly overrun. If you’re planning to visit during that time, consider more remote corners of the island like the Westfjords or East Iceland, whose fjords, vistas, and waterfalls are just as impressive as the natural attractions surrounding the capital — if not more.