08/14/2023 | 10:00 AM
One of the most common questions we're asked is 'When is the best time of the year to visit Iceland?'
Our answer, of course: Any time!
We may be a little biased, but we think there's never a bad time to fly to Iceland. Each season brings with it a unique vacation experience.
Keep reading to find out why our beautiful home is an exciting destination all year round, and discover the best time to go to Iceland for you.
De beste tijd om IJsland te bezoeken hangt sterk af van wat u wilt zien en doen. De seizoenen in IJsland wisselen sterk, wat betekent dat er het hele jaar door totaal verschillende vakantie-ervaringen en tour-mogelijkheden zijn.
De zomer in IJsland is de populairste tijd om te reizen vanwege het mildere weer, de vele buitenactiviteiten en de betoverende middernachtzon. De winter biedt de tegenovergestelde ervaring, met kortere, donkere dagen en koudere temperaturen, maar ook de kans om het betoverende noorderlicht te zien of sneeuwsporten uit te proberen.
De tussenseizoenen van de lente en de herfst mogen ook niet over het hoofd worden gezien. In de lente smelten de witte sneeuwdekens weg en veranderen ze langzaam in levendige groene landschappen. Het is perfect voor natuurliefhebbers dankzij de overvloedige aanwezigheid van wilde dieren. De herfst is in IJsland ook een prachtige tijd van het jaar met de felle kleuren en langere nachten die het begin van het noorderlichtseizoen markeren.
Hoewel elk seizoen in IJsland iets unieks te bieden heeft, zijn veel ervaringen niet afhankelijk van het seizoen.
Onze zwembaden, natuurlijke warmwaterbronnen en de nieuwe generatie ontworpen geothermische baden geïnspireerd op de Blue Lagoon zijn populair, ongeacht het weer. Al die geothermische activiteit geeft ons warm water waar we heerlijk in kunnen baden wanneer we maar willen (en houdt onze gebouwen lekker warm als de temperatuur daalt).
De hoofdstad Reykjavík is ook het hele jaar door de moeite waard. Er zijn eersteklas musea, restaurants, cafés en bars om te ontdekken. Bovendien zijn er in Reykjavik elke maand verschillende festivals die de sfeer verhogen, van vuurwerk op oudejaarsavond tot Iceland Airwaves in november, waar lokale artiesten en bands in de spotlight staan. Reykjavík is perfect als start- of eindpunt voor een roadtrip, enkele korte excursies of als stedentrip.
We begrijpen echter dat het delen van alles wat er het hele jaar door te doen is in IJsland u misschien niet helpt bij het plannen van uw vakantie! Hieronder bespreken we elk van de seizoenen om u te helpen beslissen wat de beste tijd van het jaar is om naar IJsland te gaan.
Don't be nervous about traveling to Iceland in winter. Iceland's winter weather can sometimes pose a challenge, but the temperature doesn't drop as low as in many parts of Europe and North America, often hovering around 0°C (32°F). There's a lot to love about the long nights and northern lights, plus traditional celebrations around Christmas and New Year.
You can walk or snowmobile on a glacier all year round, but if your dream is to visit an ice cave you should plan your trip between November and March.
Skiing is possible from around December to April-May, depending on conditions, but when daylight increases from February is usually best. Easter skiing is popular with locals, and Tröllaskagi in North Iceland is a winter paradise of snowy landscapes.
You might even like to join in the uniquely Icelandic festivities such as Þorrablót, when the local cuisine shows its oddball side.
Don't be nervous about traveling to Iceland in winter. Iceland's winter weather can sometimes pose a challenge, but the temperature doesn't drop as low as in many parts of Europe and North America, often hovering around 0°C (32°F). There's a lot to love about the long nights and northern lights, plus traditional celebrations around Christmas and New Year.
You can walk or snowmobile on a glacier all year round, but if your dream is to visit an ice cave you should plan your trip between November and March.
Skiing is possible from around December to April-May, depending on conditions, but when daylight increases from February is usually best. Easter skiing is popular with locals, and Tröllaskagi in North Iceland is a winter paradise of snowy landscapes.
You might even like to join in the uniquely Icelandic festivities such as Þorrablót, when the local cuisine shows its oddball side.
,Nature gets a boost in spring, when white turns to green around the country. Temperatures are varied, from cold in March (an average of 0.3°C / 33°F) to relatively mild in May (averaging 6.3°C / 43°F). As the months progress, the increasing daylight is noticeable, from 10 hours of daylight in early March to 20 hours in late May. Visiting Iceland in May offers generally good conditions for outdoor activities while being less busy than the summer peak.
Easter festivities fall in spring, too, and the onset of Lent brings some fun, food-centric celebrations. Not long after, nature brings some of our favorite seasonal visitors.
The irresistible puffins come to nest in Iceland from late April to August. Viewing puffins is great throughout the summer, including in June and July when they're active and feeding their chicks.
Whales have a similar schedule. From about April to September is the best time to go to Iceland for whale watching. You can see them on boat tours, but also from the shoreline if you're lucky.
,Iceland's summers are glorious. Warmer weather and near-endless daylight mean that summer is one of the best times of year to go to Iceland. It may be peak season, but it’s worth it for the popular adventures on scenic highland roads and hiking trails. Puffins and whales are also reliable summer visitors, keeping animal lovers happy, and the phenomenon of the midnight sun is sure to delight. The purple lupines are in bloom around the country in June and July, making this a boom time for photographers!
In terms of the best months to go to Iceland, June and July are perfect for exploring outdoors. Hiking and horseback riding trips are most fun in Iceland's summer weather, so any time from July to September is recommended. Late May and June can work for some parts of the country, but after the snow has melted is best for exploring the highlands and mountains.
Summer is the ideal time for road trips around Iceland, too. The long daylight hours allow for endless exploration on the open road, letting you take in breathtaking views as you venture off the beaten track. We offer flight and car rental packages to make the process even easier.
The summer season in Iceland also brings a fantastic range of festivals. Locals and visitors delight in events centered on live music, sport, the arts, and more. Visiting Iceland in August means you might catch Pride festivities in Reykjavik. The city is alive with color and celebration of diversity, and it’s a joy to witness.
,Dark nights return (and the locals can catch up on sleep) when fall rolls in. The temperature also drops (average temperatures range from 7.5°C / 46°F in September to 1.3°C / 34°F in November). Fall also marks the time when the northern lights begin their dark-sky appearances, and things get cozy and colorful before winter sets in.
Many outdoor activities and excursions are still offered throughout the fall season in Iceland, and you’ll likely find that tourist attractions such as geothermal pools are less crowded than during the summer.
Photographs captured at this time of year are particularly striking, with bold autumnal hues creating the ideal backdrop for any shot. Photographing the northern lights in fall is also best as the weather is much less harsh than in the depths of winter.
Fall festivals are exciting to get involved in, too. The annual sheep round-up, known as the réttir, is held around the country in September. It gives great insight into rural Icelandic life, plus some context to all those lovely lopapeysas (woolen sweaters) you see.
Other festivals include Reykjavík's jazz, literature, and film fests, including the Reykjavík Film Festival (affectionately known as RIFF) and Iceland Noir, which celebrates darkness in all its literary forms – it began with a focus on crime fiction but has spread its wings. One of our favorite times of the year is November, when Reykjavík hosts the annual Iceland Airwaves festival: 3 days of incredible music from homegrown and international artists.
With all this to enjoy, fall is undeniably one of the best times of year to visit Iceland if you’re hoping to have a magical experience while beating the high-season crowds.
,We hopen dat deze gids u geholpen heeft bij het plannen van de beste tijd voor uw ideale vakantie naar IJsland. Als u het echter nog steeds niet weet, bekijk dan meer informatiebronnen over reizen naar IJsland:
visiticeland.com – de beste plek om volledig geïnspireerd te raken door IJsland.
safetravel.is – een project van de Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue.
vedur.is – de website van het IJslandse weerstation biedt alles van weers- en noorderlichtvoorspellingen tot meldingen van aardbevingen.
road.is – de beste bron voor informatie over wegomstandigheden.
timeanddate.com – een handige plek om de tijden van zonsop- en -ondergang te zien, evenals het aantal uren daglicht per dag.
Festivals in Iceland – wat is er te doen en wanneer, een handig hulpmiddel voor het maken van moeilijke beslissingen!