Iceland is a shocking nation to go to! It’s bought so many unimaginable locations to see, not least due to its mind-blowing waterfalls, fantastic hikes and, in fact, Reykjavik. Not solely that, however you’ve additionally bought a few of the world’s most original landscapes, particularly with this erupting volcano and the Northern Lights that commonly seem.
However what concerning the age-old query of when is the very best time to go to Iceland? Effectively, we’ve bought you coated you with the professionals and cons of travelling to Iceland at particular occasions of the yr. This manner, you may make essentially the most out of your time exploring this unimaginable nation and take advantage of knowledgeable determination that’s best for you.
If you happen to’re something like me, and I’m guessing you’re, you’ll wish to plan your journey to Iceland nicely forward of time. This manner, you may e-book 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 seemingly 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 may be icy, to say the least! It’s sometimes the time of yr when a few of the coldest climate and bigger storms are inclined to make landfall in Iceland. Because of this there may be seasonal highway closures that will influence any Icelandic highway journey you’re on.
If you happen to resolve to journey to Iceland in winter, all the time ensure you think about the acute climate you may get.
We’ve visited in Winter twice. The primary time, we had extreme snow storms, after we generally couldn’t even make out the highway we had been driving on. Though precarious, climate warnings are normally in place, and highway closures are typically opened as quickly as attainable. So, by no means take any dangers in driving throughout a storm, particularly if the native climate service points warnings. You possibly can 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 may be prolonged as you’re within the far north of the Northern Hemisphere. As an example, 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 in the dead of night, but it surely’s much less so if you wish to discover the pure sights of Iceland in sunlight hours.
Execs of travelling to Iceland in Winter:
– There’s extra alternative to identify the northern lights, particularly through the 18-20 dead nights.
– It’s a quieter season to go to Iceland, so some resort and flight costs will likely 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:
– Highway situations may 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 certainly one of my favorite occasions to go to Iceland. Not simply because it’s just a little quieter than the summer time months however as a result of it has a superb combine of sunshine and darkish hours, which is ideal for exploring and hopefully recognizing the Northern Lights.
Execs 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 for those who’ve solely bought a brief journey to Iceland and wish to cram in as lots of the nation’s gorgeous sights as attainable. You possibly can simply wander round waterfalls and hikes within the night. It’s so particular.
– Driving situations are considerably simpler, and there’s much less likelihood of utmost snow storms throughout this time, although it’s by no means unattainable.
– Lots of the nation’s seasonal excursions have a tendency to start out once more in later spring. Nonetheless, 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 might result in climate that we Brits name ‘depressing’.
– Costs for inns and flights are inclined to rise, particularly across the Easter Holidays or throughout faculty holidays.
Summer time: June to September
It’s nonetheless certainly one of my favorite occasions of the yr to go to Iceland; the summer time months are actually spectacular. The nation is awash with daylight, with the solar shining all through the summer time. You get between 21-23 hours of daylight within the peak of summer time – which is phenomenal.
Execs of travelling to Iceland within the Summer time:
– You get an amazing quantity of sunlight hours to discover Iceland. This implies you may simply spend 18 hours exterior and even head out on a few of 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 time months are a good time to go to Iceland for those who plan to drive round the entire nation or go to the north of Iceland to locations like Akureyri and past.
– Highway situations 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 inns 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 likelihood of seeing the Northern Lights. It’s not unattainable by any means, but it surely’s price remembering.
Autumn: September to December
Like Spring, Autumn (particularly the beginning of autumn) is certainly one of my favorite occasions to go to Iceland. You see, it’s technically a shoulder season of Summer time, which suggests you get all the advantages of summer time 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.
Execs of travelling to Iceland within the Autumn:
– You get a superb 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 foremost 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 through the Faculty holidays in October.
– Similar to spring, it might probably get just a little moist.
– Temperatures are fairly nice. It’s nonetheless chilly however not freezing. Nonetheless, all the time remember that the wind in Iceland may be intense and may simply change the temperature you’re feeling while exploring.
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