Climate guide for Reykjavik, Iceland

Best Time to Visit
Reykjavik

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Reykjavik

June-August offers the mildest weather for Golden Circle day trips, Blue Lagoon soaks, and harbor walks under long daylight. Pack layers for wind; use clearer evenings for whale-watching or coastal paths.

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Travel Tips

Timing & weather
Check Reykjavik's monthly climate scores before locking flights - temperate patterns shift comfort for nature trips across the year.
Getting around
In Reykjavik, pair a walkable core day with one transit or transfer buffer - crowds and traffic vary by season in Iceland.
Tickets & access
Reserve popular museums and day trips from Reykjavik ahead in peak months; shoulder seasons are more flexible.
Pack for the profile
Bring broken-in footwear, a rain layer, and offline maps for Reykjavik. Check trail, road, and weather conditions before setting out, because outdoor access can change quickly.

Things to do in Reykjavik

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

When to visit Reykjavik: the short answer

The best time to visit Reykjavik is July, followed by June, May. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: July averages 11°C with 88 mm of rain and about 16 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are January, December. If budget matters more than perfect weather, October is the strongest of the low-rate months at 3.2/10.

Across the year Reykjavik swings from -2°C in December to 11°C in July, a 13-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 88 mm in July to 170 mm in January. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Reykjavik is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 6.4 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: July (11°C). Coolest: December (-2°C). Driest: July (88 mm). Wettest: January (170 mm).

Reykjavik month by month

January in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 1.2/10

January averages -1°C (30°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 170 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 1.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 6.4 points higher on the same scale.

February in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 1.8/10

February averages -1°C (31°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 169 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 1.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 5.8 points higher on the same scale.

March in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.8/10

March averages 0°C (32°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 136 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 2.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 4.8 points higher on the same scale.

April in Reykjavik — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.5/10

April averages 4°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 106 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 12 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 5.5/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 2.1 points higher on the same scale.

May in Reykjavik — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.3/10

May averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 138 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 17 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 6.3/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

June in Reykjavik — reliably good (2nd best month)

Good · 7.1/10

June averages 9°C (48°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 105 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 17 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 7.1/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

July in Reykjavik — the year's strongest window

Best window · 7.6/10

July averages 11°C (51°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 88 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 16 sunny days and 19.3 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Reykjavik at 7.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer, footwear you can get muddy.

August in Reykjavik — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.2/10

August averages 10°C (51°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 127 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 9 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 6.2/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

September in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.7/10

September averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 128 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 4.7/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 2.9 points higher on the same scale.

October in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 3.2/10

October averages 4°C (39°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 130 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 3.2/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.

November in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 2.4/10

November averages 2°C (36°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 110 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 2.4/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 5.2 points higher on the same scale.

December in Reykjavik — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 1.3/10

December averages -2°C (28°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.

At 129 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 1.3/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 7.6/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella, footwear you can get muddy.

If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Reykjavik — 6.3 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Reykjavik, Iceland?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Reykjavik are July, June. July is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 7.6/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Reykjavik year-round?
Reykjavik has a climate profile suited to nature and wildlife travel. Average monthly temperatures range from -2°C in December to 11°C in July, with Ideal Weather scores between 1.2 and 7.6 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Reykjavik?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Reykjavik are January (1.2/10), December (1.3/10), February (1.8/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Reykjavik?
January is the wettest month in Reykjavik, averaging about 170 mm of rainfall. July is the driest, at roughly 88 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Reykjavik?
May sees the most sun in Reykjavik, with about 17 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Reykjavik a good destination for nature and wildlife travel?
Reykjavik is well suited to nature and wildlife travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (July, June) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Reykjavik calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Reykjavik: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for nature and wildlife travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Reykjavik

Tickets & experiences