When is the best time to visit Iceland?
Maybe I am not exaggerating when I say Iceland is a good idea, no matter the season. If you don’t have a plan and want to discover Iceland, you will find something beautiful to see and something unique to do, no matter what time of the year you are travelling.
If you are coming to Iceland to see or do a sure thing, then you should plan your trip carefully and consider some limitations that might appear depending on the season.
For example, if you want to see the Northern Lights, you should come in the winter season, but if you’re going to see the puffins or explore Iceland during the midnight sun, you should come during summer.
If you need help planning your trip to Iceland, contact our travel designer and plan a memorable trip.
I saw many people asking when the best time to visit Iceland is, but the answer can not be black or white; everything depends on what you want to see or do in Iceland.
In this blog, you will find what activities you can do depending on the season, and then you will decide when the best time to visit Iceland is.
Summertime
If you don’t like cold weather, summer in Iceland is the perfect time to visit because the weather is warm and less moody. Also, there are many activities that you can do during summer in Iceland.
Icelandic summers are known for being the best time to travel as there is so much daylight that gives you extra hours to explore this beautiful country.
If you want to come to Iceland during the summertime, you have to know that this is the high season here in Iceland, and your trip can be slightly more expensive than the offseason.
An advantage of visiting Iceland during summer is that you can do some activities that are not available during winter, such as hiking in the Highlands, puffin watching, whale watching, snow-cat tours, fishing, enjoying the midnight sun, enjoying a zip-line adventure, going on boat tours on the glacier lagoons, going for ATV or Buggy tours.
So if you want to do those activities in some stunning Icelandic places, you must come during summertime.
As I already mentioned, the weather during summer is more friendly to travellers, meaning that you won’t face snowstorms or dangerous winds while travelling.
Wintertime
If the cold doesn’t bother you and you want memorable experiences in the Land of Fire and Ice, you can come during winter.
You will forget about the cold weather once you see how many exciting activities you can do there.
The Winter season is the season of hunting the Northern Lights and exploring the ice caves, as well as snowmobile tours, glacier hiking, dog sledging tours, and snowmobile tours.
Travelling during winter may be a bit difficult because of the moody weather, and if you venture alone, you should keep in mind the weather conditions in Iceland, and you have to be careful when driving.
I recommend you check our blogs about the weather in Iceland and about driving during winter before going by yourself on a self-drive tour. Also, there are places like Landmannalaugar or Hornstrandir Nature Reserve that are not available during winter.
Despite the lousy weather that sometimes changes your travel plans, winters are beautiful here in Iceland. The Northern Lights are dancing in the night sky, and the cold weather makes some places like ice caves accessible for exploring.
A dog-sledging tour is not the same if there is no snow, so this will be a memorable adventure during the winter. Also, a snowmobile tour is filled with adrenaline once more snow is on the mountains.
The advantage of travelling during winter is that the prices can be lower than in the high season, and stormy weather can bring you closer to the locals if you decide to stay inside more.
Shoulder seasons
Travelling during shoulder seasons can be cheaper than during the summer or winter. Still, the weather is very moody, and this is like a transition period when many activities can not be available either because it is cold outside or not warm enough.
Many activities are available all year round, like dog-sledging, enjoying a geothermal bath, snorkelling, enjoying museum exhibitions and many more. If you travel just for sightseeing, this period is reasonable.
Plan your trip accordingly with what you want to do or see, and you won’t be disappointed. Do not hesitate to talk with our travel designer if you don’t know how to plan your trip to see as much as you can.
Iceland is waiting for you!
