Best time to visit
Best time to visit Iceland
June to August has the midnight sun, open highland roads and the highest prices. September to April is northern lights season. September and March are the sweet spot: dark enough for the aurora, with roads mostly open.
- Best value
- Busy and pricier
- Quiet
Winter days are short, with only around four hours of daylight in December, and storms can close roads. In summer it never gets properly dark.
Where timing differs
- Ring RoadBest value
Open all year but can close in winter storms.
- Highlands (F-roads)Busy and pricier
Open only from late June to early September.
Month by month in Reykjavík
- J0°
- F0°
- M1°
- A3°
- M6°
- J9°
- J11°
- A10°
- S8°
- O4°
- N2°
- D0°
Best valueBusy and pricierQuiet
Average temperature each month (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2025), coloured by season.
Month by month in Iceland
- December and January: Only 4 to 5 hours of daylight. Northern lights, Christmas lights and ice caves.
- February and March: Longer days, still dark enough for the aurora. Good value.
- April and May: Quieter, with migrating birds and lower prices. Some roads still closed.
- June to August: Midnight sun, open highlands, puffins. The busiest and priciest time.
- September and October: Autumn colours and the first aurora nights.
Seeing the northern lights
You need dark, clear skies and some solar activity. Check the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast each evening and drive away from Reykjavík's lights. Allow several nights, as cloud is common, and dress for standing still in the cold.
Before you go
- The aurora needs clear, dark skies. Allow several nights.
Stay and do
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