Iceland is a surprising nation to go to! It’s received so many unimaginable locations to see, not least due to its mind-blowing waterfalls, fantastic hikes and, after all, Reykjavik. Not solely that, however you’ve additionally received among the world’s most unusual landscapes, particularly with this erupting volcano and the Northern Lights that usually seem.
However what concerning the age-old query of when is the very best time to go to Iceland? Properly, we’ve received you coated you with the professionals and cons of travelling to Iceland at particular occasions of the yr. This fashion, you may make probably the most out of your time exploring this unimaginable nation and take advantage of knowledgeable choice that’s best for you.
When you’re something like me, and I’m guessing you might be, you’ll wish to plan your journey to Iceland properly forward of time. This fashion, you’ll be able to ebook the greatest Icelandic excursions and scout the important thing spots you like most. We do that for each journey to Iceland, and it’s truthfully so important, primarily since you’ll possible be overlaying a good distance when you arrive in Iceland.
Winter: December to March
Let’s begin with the winter months. Travelling to Iceland in Winter will be icy, to say the least! It’s sometimes the time of yr when among the coldest climate and bigger storms are inclined to make landfall in Iceland. Which means there will be seasonal highway closures that will influence any Icelandic highway journey you’re on.
When you determine to journey to Iceland in winter, all the time ensure you think about the intense climate you may get.
We’ve visited in Winter twice. The primary time, we had extreme snow storms, once we generally couldn’t even make out the highway we had been driving on. Though precarious, climate warnings are often in place, and highway closures are usually opened as quickly as doable. So, by no means take any dangers in driving throughout a storm, particularly if the native climate service points warnings. You may all the time watch these on the Icelandic Met Workplace web site, which is up to date hourly.
One other factor to think about when travelling to Iceland in winter is the longer nights you’ll have. Winter nights will be prolonged as you’re within the far north of the Northern Hemisphere. As an illustration, the shortest sunlight hours in Iceland in December is round 4.5 hours. That is nice in case your sole aim is to catch the Northern Lights at nighttime, but it surely’s much less so if you wish to discover the pure sights of Iceland in sunlight hours.
Professionals of travelling to Iceland in Winter:
– There’s extra alternative to identify the northern lights, particularly in the course of the 18-20 dead nights.
– It’s a quieter season to go to Iceland, so some lodge and flight costs will probably be cheaper.
– It’s a tremendous time to go to cities like Reykjavik, as so lots of the metropolis’s actions are naturally indoors.
Cons of travelling to Iceland in Winter:
– Street circumstances will be precarious.
– Extra minor, lesser-used roads and tracks are sometimes closed within the winter months, which makes some sights, like Haifoss Waterfall, inaccessible.
– Some excursions solely function within the Summer time months. That is very true for ice cave explorations just like the one we did right here.
Spring: March to June
Spring is one among my favorite occasions to go to Iceland. Not simply because it’s somewhat quieter than the summer season months however as a result of it has a great combine of sunshine and darkish hours, which is ideal for exploring and hopefully recognizing the Northern Lights.
Professionals of travelling to Iceland in Spring:
– You’ll have round 17 hours, if no more, of sunlight hours in Spring. This implies it’s good in case you’ve solely received a brief journey to Iceland and wish to cram in as lots of the nation’s gorgeous sights as doable. You may simply wander round waterfalls and hikes within the night. It’s so particular.
– Driving circumstances are considerably simpler, and there’s much less probability of maximum snow storms throughout this time, although it’s by no means not possible.
– Most of the nation’s seasonal excursions have a tendency to start out once more in later spring. Nevertheless, because the climate can change, all the time be prepared for last-minute cancellations.
Cons of travelling to Iceland in Spring:
– It may be a moist time of the yr to go to Iceland. Though that is the case in Winter, the freezing temperatures have considerably thawed, which may result in climate that we Brits name ‘depressing’.
– Costs for resorts and flights are inclined to rise, particularly across the Easter Holidays or throughout college holidays.
Summer time: June to September
It’s nonetheless one among my favorite occasions of the yr to go to Iceland; the summer season months are really spectacular. The nation is awash with daylight, with the solar shining all through the summer season. You get between 21-23 hours of daylight within the top of summer season – which is phenomenal.
Professionals of travelling to Iceland within the Summer time:
– You get an amazing quantity of sunlight hours to discover Iceland. This implies you’ll be able to simply spend 18 hours exterior and even head out on among the nation’s gorgeous hikes at midnight. We did this, and we had been bathed in superb sunshine.
– It’s a lot simpler to journey the size and breadth of Iceland. This implies the summer season months are a good time to go to Iceland in case you plan to drive round the entire nation or go to the north of Iceland to locations like Akureyri and past.
– Street circumstances are good, apart from the occasional day or rain.
– Speaking of rain, the driest month in Iceland is June.
Cons of travelling to Iceland in Summer time:
– Costs can rise for flights as demand will increase.
– You need to plan your lodging earlier than your journey, particularly if travelling past Reykjavik. There are restricted resorts and lodgings in some areas, and their availability can change considerably in Summer time.
– As a result of longer sunlight hours, there’s a smaller probability of seeing the Northern Lights. It’s not not possible by any means, but it surely’s value remembering.
Autumn: September to December
Like Spring, Autumn (particularly the beginning of autumn) is one among my favorite occasions to go to Iceland. You see, it’s technically a shoulder season of Summer time, which implies you get all the advantages of summer season journey with a heap of the advantages of winter journey. Because of this, if it’s your first journey to Iceland, we all the time advise you to journey in spring or autumn.
Professionals of travelling to Iceland within the Autumn:
– You get a great mixture of daylight and darkness hours, which is ideal for exploring and seeing the Northern Lights throughout clear skies and better photo voltaic exercise.
– Roads are nonetheless fairly straightforward to drive at the moment of yr, with just some intervals of closures, particularly for most important artery roads.
– Most actions nonetheless run on the very begin of Autumn.
Cons of travelling to Iceland within the Autumn:
– It may be a busy time to go to Iceland, particularly in the course of the College holidays in October.
– Identical to spring, it might probably get somewhat moist.
– Temperatures are fairly nice. It’s nonetheless chilly however not freezing. Nevertheless, all the time remember that the wind in Iceland will be intense and may simply change the temperature you are feeling while exploring.
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