Best time to visit Iceland in 2023 (northern lights, wildlife, roads…)

When is the best time to visit Iceland?  The truth is: anytime of the year. 
However, you may be interested in specific sights, so below are more specific answers:

• best time to visit Iceland for northern lights,
• Best time to see puffins, whales, lupin flowers in Iceland,
• best months to visit Iceland based on driving conditions and crowds.

Content

OVERALL – When is the best time to visit Iceland in 2023?

Conditions – Best times of the year to visit Iceland (weather, daytime, crowds…)

Planning – Best time to go to Iceland

Best time to visit Iceland for NORTHERN LIGHTS

Best time to see WHALES in Iceland

Best time to see PUFFINS in Iceland (and places)

Best time to see ICE CAVES in Iceland

When to go to Iceland to see LUPIN FLOWERS

EVENTS and other things to see & when

Best MONTH to visit Iceland – pros and cons

OVERALL – When is the best time to visit Iceland in 2023?

Visual overview – every year

It really depends on what you want to see.
The article below, gives you explanations about where and how to see all those special sights, but here is an overview picture to help you identify the best time for you to visit Iceland:

Best month to visit Iceland in Summer

I think Beginning of September is the absolute best time to visit Iceland because:

• Roads are in good condition
• The day is long enough to be able to see many Iceland Attractions
• There is enough nighttime to have a chance to see the Northern Lights
• There are less tourists than in Summer, but accommodations are still open
• The Central Highlands roads are normally still open

It is my opinion that it is the best time to see Iceland generally, but it does not take into account your wishes for special sights. So, let’s have a look in more details.

My favorites to plan your Summer Iceland trip:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: Discovercars

My favorite places to stay around Iceland:

• Reykjavik, the capital, of course:  Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel 
• Vik to explore the South Coast: Hotel Vik i Myrdal
• Lake Myvatn, in the north: Hotel Laxa
• Borgarnes, between Snaefellsnes and Silver Circle: Hotel Hamar

My favorite bus tour from Reykjavik (Summer): Amazing Snaefellsnes Peninsula

My favorite activity around Iceland (Summer): Whale watching from Husavik (best) or Reykjavik or Akureyri

My favorite platform to book travel-packages in Iceland: guidetoiceland

Best month to visit Iceland in Winter

I think the end of February is the absolute best time to visit Iceland in Winter because:

• The day is long enough to be able to see many Iceland Attractions
• There is enough nighttime to have a chance to see the Northern Lights
• The natural ice caves are still accessible

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites to plan your Winter Iceland trip:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Iceland: Discovercars

My favorite places to stay around Iceland:

•  
• Reykjavik, the capital, of course:  Reykjavik Konsulat Hotel 
• Vik to explore the South Coast: Hotel Vik i Myrdal
• Lake Myvatn, in the north: Hotel Laxa
• Borgarnes, between Snaefellsnes and Silver Circle: Hotel Hamar

My favorite bus tour from Reykjavik (Winter): Chasing Northern Lights even without guarantee of seeing them

My favorite activities around Iceland: Visiting an ice-cave and Walking on a glacier

My favorite platform to book travel-packages in Iceland: guidetoiceland

Specifics for 2023

Things to consider if planning a trip to Iceland in 2023 (in theory, but check the latest decisions for large gathering due to the virus):

• 3rd to 6th February – Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival
• Late March – Iceland Winter Games (maybe)
• June – Reykjavik Arts Festival
• June 17 – Icelandic National Day
• 8nd to 13th August – Reykjavik Pride
• December – Christmas villages
• Mid-December – Yule Lads Baths in Myvatn

You can see the complete list of festivals and events here

Best time to visit Iceland for Photography

There is no answer to that. There are great opportunities all year long with midnight sun in June, auroras in Winter… I would just recommend avoiding July and August as those are the most crowded months without something extra specific to photograph.

Conditions – Best times of the year to visit Iceland (weather, daytime, crowds…)

Length of the days

Because of its Northern Latitude, sunrise and sunset times in Iceland vary greatly. So depending on when you visit the country, you might be limited in terms of light and can see more or less locations during the day.

Below is the amount of daylight to expect for different periods of the year

• March – 10 to 13 hours of daylight
• April & May– 13 to 20 hours of daylight
• June – 20 to 24 hours of daylight
• July & August – 15 to 20 hours of daylight
• September & October – 8 to 14 hours of daylight
• November to February – 4h30 to 8 hours of daylight

It is also important to consider how long nighttime is to see the Northern lights (more on that later).

WEATHER – Best time to travel to Iceland

I don’t recommend using weather as your first criteria for the best time to visit Iceland as it is very unpredictable. In the same day you can see the blue sky, get rain, experience strong windy moments and even get snow! 

You don’t come to Iceland for the weather. Any conditions will render the landscapes magical. Just have a look at Jokulsarlon below:

You should just know that it can be cold in Summer and it is actually not as cold as we imagine in Winter. For example:

• Average temperatures in January are between -3°C and 2°C (not the -20 we were all imagining…)
• Average Iceland Summer temperatures: 8 to 15°C

Check out my complete article with detailed suggestions and tips on what to wear and pack for Iceland

How to avoid the crowds in Iceland

Of course, the Summer months are the more crowded.
Actually the land is so vast that you don’t feel it when driving. You feel the crowds at each of the famous locations e.g. Golden Circle, Jokulsarlon, Seljalandsfoss.

• Therefore, I recommend traveling in April/May or September/October 
• If you really want to travel in Summer, then you either go very early to avoid the crowds (lots of daylight hours) or you go to less visited areas such as the Westfjords.

Planning – Best time to go to Iceland

Driving Conditions

Driving might be one of the most important things to consider when deciding the best time for you to visit Iceland:

• The F roads to the magnificent Central Highlands are open only from Mid-June to September (depending on conditions)
• Apart from Road 1, ice and snow will be your driving partners from November to March 

Check out my articles about Driving in Iceland in Summer and Driving in Iceland in Winter with videos.

Need to rent a car in Iceland?

My tips:

• Compare prices on my favorite platform:  Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
• Prefer a compact car for the narrow streets in villages
• Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind! 
• Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

See available cars

Accommodations

There are more and more accommodations in Iceland so it might change. But keep in mind (at least for a couple of years):

• In Summer there are many tourists and accommodations are full very quickly
• In Winter, there are not many open accommodations, so they also get booked quickly
• The shoulder months of May and September are maybe the easier time to find accommodation in Iceland

In any case, if you plan on visiting remote locations in Iceland, you should book your hotels or guesthouses in advance. Check out my Iceland Accommodations article for general information and 12 suggestions with personal reviews.

Planning a road trip – things to see

It is possible to go on a road trip both in Summer and in Winter. However, in Winter, many points of interest are not accessible.
The places that can be visited in both Summer and Winter offer magical experiences all year round. Below you can compare the waterfall of Skogafoss in both seasons. You can see more example on my Summer vs Winter article.

To plan your itinerary, you can check out:

• My general post about planning an Iceland road trip
• My suggested itineraries for 5 days in Iceland
• My suggested for 7 days in Iceland itineraries
• My 4 itineraries to spend 10 days in Iceland
• And my favorite itinerary for 14 days around Iceland
• or get one of my practical eBooks to help you plan your ideal itinerary:

Plan your dream trip to Iceland with my guides!

• 8 easy-to-plan maps
• 100+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 130+ large photos 

Discover it

• 6 easy-to-plan maps
• 75+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 115+ large photos 

Discover it

Best time to visit Iceland for NORTHERN LIGHTS

The northern lights, also called aurora borealis, are lights (often green) which seem to dance in the sky.
To be able to see them, you need a dark night and a clear sky. So, when is the best time to visit Iceland for Northern lights?

Best time to go to Iceland for Northern lights 

The best months to see the Northern Lights are from late September to March, when there is enough nighttime to be able to see them.
There is nothing specific per year.

Best month to see northern lights in Iceland – can viewing be guaranteed?

No, there are no guarantees. There is no one month that you can pick and when you are sure you will be able to see the auroras.
It depends on the solar activity and the cloud coverage. When the sky is all cloudy, you will see nothing at all.

Tip

Try not to plan your trip during the full moon. The darker the night the better.

Best places  

• In remote locations away from any light source
• North Iceland is considered to be better as you have more clear nights
• Facing North is also recommended. Although not a rule – so for example, Kirkjufell is a great location

Practical Guide – Interested in hunting and capturing the Aurora Borealis? Learn more on how to see the northern lights in Iceland with tools to use, how to get ready, tips to photograph the Northern Lights…

Northern Lights excursions

If you don’t want to chase them yourself, you should consider organised tours in the evening. There are different options, for example from Reykjavik:

• BUS TOUR – One of the cheapest options is to go on a bus tour. You leave from Reykjavik and the driver takes you to the best spots he knows depending on the forecast – Check out Program, availability and Price
• SMALL GROUP TOUR – This is my favorite option, it is easier to go from one spot to another chasing the Northern Lights because you can gather everyone more quickly  and you can go off the beaten tracks – Check out Program, availability and Price
• NORTHERN LIGHTS CRUISE – A more original option is to go on a boat off the coast of Reykjavik to find the dark and hopefully see the Northern Lights – Check out options
• A Cruise option is also available from Akureyri in the North – Check out Program, availability and Price

Best time to see WHALES in Iceland

Iceland is a great place to observe whales, as they enjoy the cold waters and abundant feeding grounds. Species visiting the island include the orca, minke, humpback and blue whale.

Whale watching Iceland – best time of the year:

• Whales can be seen around Iceland all year
• However, more sightings are reported between April and September
• Killer whales are mostly spotted in April and May

Best places 

Whale watching Boat tours depart mostly from Reykjavik (South West) and Akureyri or Husavik (in the North). The North is considered a better whale watching spot.

Whale excursions options

• Whale watching cruise from Reykjavik, on a boat with heated cabin – Check out program and Book
• Whale watching experience from Reykjavik on a Boat – Check out program and Book
• 3 hours Whale watching boat trip from Akureyri in the North – Check out program and Book
• Or leave from the Traditional fishing town of Husavik – Check out program and Book

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Best time to see PUFFINS in Iceland (and places)

The puffin is a strange looking bird with a black back, white underparts, and a distinctive colorful beak.

Best time to see Puffins in Iceland

• Puffins come to the coast to nest from May to Mid-August, which is the Iceland puffins’ season
• From mid-June to mid-July, the parents fly back and forth from the sea to the nests with food, so it is a great time to observe them

Best places to see them

Iceland is the perfect place to see puffins. Actually it is the best place in the World, because it home to the majority of the world’s population. Love this fun fact? Find out more in this list of 25 fun facts about Iceland.

There are good places to see puffins in both South and North Iceland. However it is way easier to admire them from a boat.
Iceland Mag has a great article and a map with prime locations to observe the puffins in their natural environment.

Puffin Excursions

As I said, they are easier to observe by boat. There are specialized excursions departing from Reykjavik – Check out this tour with great reviews

Best time to see ICE CAVES in Iceland

Ice caves are cavities that form naturally in a glacier and create strange formations.

Best time

November to March. Outside of this period the cave can collapse

Best place

Around glaciers… You should not go visit them by yourself. Always go with an experienced guide. Organized tours are available and should be booked in advance

TIP

Some might notice a cave in Langjokull toured in summer. This is not an ice cave but a man-made tunnel in the ice.

Most beautiful

Know that caves disappear every year. New ones are formed, sometimes similar, others are completely different. Do not expect to see what you see on the professional photos they use for marketing.
If you are on Winter self-drive road trip, I would choose the Jokulsarlon Tour by Guide to Iceland. This may not be the most impressive of the blue caves, but if conditions permit you will get to see both a blue cave and a black cave. In my opinion, black ice caves are even more fascinating – check out program and availability

Check out my article to help you choose your ice cave tour

When to go to Iceland to see LUPIN FLOWERS

Although lupin flowers exist in different colors around the world, they are mostly lilac in Iceland.

Best time 

Lupin flowers normally bloom mid-June, perfect to catch them under the midnight sun

Best locations

• Driving along the South Coast you will see many fields full of them
• Vik is often surrounded by those flowers 

EVENTS and other things to see & when

Best time to see FROZEN WATERFALLS

Iceland is full of various amazing waterfalls but not all freeze during Winter and they are partially frozen mostly in January and February.

Just be careful driving and walking. If the waterfall is frozen, then everything around it also!

Note: the famous Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls get surrounded by ice and snow but do not freeze completely.

Want to see a VOLCANO eruption?

Best time: … when they erupt

Best place: you never know which one will become active. Although Icelandic people fear that Hekla will erupt soon.

As I visited Iceland, Bardarbunga was active. I could not take a helicopter tour to get closer but on my flight from Reykjavik to Akureyri I spotted the smoke coming from it!

Where to stay in Iceland?

My favorites:

• Reykjavik, capital city: see best rated accommodations – or my article on where to stay
• Selfoss, between Golden Circle and South Coast: see best rated accommodations
• Vik, near waterfalls and glaciers: see best rated accommodations
• Höfn, gateway to the East fjords: see best rated accommodations
• Egilsstadir, between fjords and North Iceland: see best rated accommodations
• Reykjahlid, for the wonders of Lake Myvatn: see best rated accommodations
• Akureyri, capital of the North: see best rated accommodations
• Grundarfjordur, on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula: see best rated accommodations

See our article on where to stay

Best MONTH to visit Iceland – pros and cons

Let’s summarize month by month to help you decide the best time to visit Iceland for you.

Iceland in Winter – November to February

• Pros – Winter magic, snowy landscapes, frozen waterfalls, ice caves, less tourists
• Cons – Short and colder days, Difficult driving conditions, lower number of open accommodations, no access to Central Highlands

Iceland in March

• Pros – Still snow on landscapes, ice caves are often still accessible, less tourists, some years the weather is beautiful, good balance of night and day
• Cons – Sometimes difficult driving conditions, lower number of open accommodations, no access to the Central Highlands

Iceland in April

• Pros – landscapes on transition (less snow), less tourists, good balance of night and day, higher number of Whales, partly frozen waterfalls
• Cons – Unpredictable driving conditions, lower number of open accommodations, no access to the Central Highlands

Iceland in May

• Pros – a lot less snow, more roads open, flowers start popping up, less tourists, higher number of Whales, puffins arrive towards the end of the month
• Cons – no access to the Central Highlands

Iceland in June

• Pros – Midnight sun, high flow from waterfalls, puffins, whales, lupin, the F-roads to the Central Highlands should open, during the month
• Cons – Many tourists, no more snow on the landscapes, no chance of seeing the Northern Lights

Iceland in Summer – July and August

• Pros – warmer weather, long days, puffins (until end July), whales, high flow from waterfalls, access to the Central Highlands
• Cons – Many tourists, no more snow on the landscape, hardly any chances of seeing the Northern Lights

Iceland in September

• Pros – good balance day-night, higher chances to see Northern Lights, whales, high flow from waterfalls, roads to the Central Highlands should still open, Autumns colors
• Cons – Less greenery, getting colder

Iceland in Autumn – October

• Pros – good balance day-night, higher possibility of seeing the Northern Lights, Road conditions still OK, autumn colors, snow appearing on some landscapes
• Cons – No access to the Central Highlands, rainiest month, getting colder

Planning a road trip in Iceland? Check out my travel guides to save you time:

Plan your dream trip to Iceland with my guides!

• 8 easy-to-plan maps
• 100+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 130+ large photos 

Discover it

• 6 easy-to-plan maps
• 75+ pre-selected locations
• GPS coordinates 
• Useful planning tips
• 115+ large photos 

Discover it

And keep track of your own trip!

Want to see more of Iceland’s beauty?

All articles about Summer and Autumn:

All articles about Winter:

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