When is the best time to visit Iceland?

The best time to visit depends on where you go. Akureyri: May & July; Blue Lagoon: July & June; Egilsstaðir: June & May; Golden Circle: July; Gullfoss: July; Heimaey: July & June.

Which month is best overall in Iceland?

Averaged across our 23 destinations in Iceland, the strongest months are July. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.

Which cities in Iceland does bestime.to cover?

We currently score 23 destinations in Iceland: Akureyri, Blue Lagoon, Egilsstaðir, Golden Circle, Gullfoss, Heimaey, Höfn, Húsavík, Ísafjörður, Jökulsárlón, +13 more.

How are the Iceland travel scores calculated?

Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Best Time to Visit Iceland: Weather by Month

01 · Iceland

About Iceland

Iceland is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic, shaped by glaciers, lava fields, hot springs and a treeless interior highland. The Golden Circle, the south coast's waterfalls and glacier lagoons, and the Westfjords and Eastfjords spread its highlights around the island. Summer from June to August brings midnight sun and open highland roads, winter is dark and cold but good for northern lights, and spring and autumn sit quietly between them.

Did you know?

Iceland runs almost entirely on renewable energy, with geothermal heat warming homes and greenhouses and hydro power supplying electricity.
Iceland sits astride the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and at Þingvellir you can walk between the North American and Eurasian plates as they drift apart.
Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Europe outside the polar regions and covers about 8% of Iceland.

Weather

Iceland: weather by month

Warmest month: July (11°C). Wettest: January (166 mm). Best overall score: July (7.1/10).

Month	Avg temp	Rain	Sunny days	Score
January	-1°C	166 mm	0	1.9/10
February	1°C	162 mm	8	3.1/10
March	1°C	146 mm	15	4.3/10
April	4°C	118 mm	17	5.5/10
May	7°C	133 mm	20	5.9/10
June	9°C	106 mm	17	6.4/10
July	11°C	88 mm	19	7.1/10
August	11°C	124 mm	17	6.4/10
September	8°C	147 mm	15	5.4/10
October	4°C	147 mm	12	4.1/10
November	2°C	121 mm	2	3.2/10
December	-1°C	129 mm	0	2.3/10

Travel Tips

01Best time & timing: Target July, June, August — that is where comfort scores peak (7.1/10). January is the weakest month at 1.9/10.
02Weather & what to pack: July averages 11°C with 88 mm of rain and about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Pack a mid-weight jacket and shoes you can walk in all day.
03Budget timing: If budget matters most, June is the cheapest month (6.4/10) — expect weather trade-offs.

Things to do in Iceland

Iceland. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

FAQ

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Iceland?: The best time to visit depends on where you go. Akureyri: May & July; Blue Lagoon: July & June; Egilsstaðir: June & May; Golden Circle: July; Gullfoss: July; Heimaey: July & June.
Which month is best overall in Iceland?: Averaged across our 23 destinations in Iceland, the strongest months are July. Individual places can shift a month or two earlier or later — each destination page lists its own peak.
Which cities in Iceland does bestime.to cover?: We currently score 23 destinations in Iceland: Akureyri, Blue Lagoon, Egilsstaðir, Golden Circle, Gullfoss, Heimaey, Höfn, Húsavík, Ísafjörður, Jökulsárlón, +13 more.
How are the Iceland travel scores calculated?: Every city is rated 0-10 per month using ERA5 climate normals - temperature, precipitation, humidity, daylight, and days with 6+ hours of sunshine.

Climate data: Open-Meteo ERA5 historical archive, the five most recent complete years (2021–2025). Scores are monthly averages for that window, not forecasts, and short-window precipitation can differ from longer-term normals. “Sunny days” count days with at least 6 hours of measured sunshine — they are not dry days.

Curated in Iceland