When you’re traveling to Iceland, you might have different factors in mind. One of them will be the question - what is the best time of year to go to Iceland?
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO TO ICELAND?
We decided to make the entire process slightly better and got together the different times that are perfect for different travelers!
See Northern Lights
Most of the time when you’re discussing Iceland, you’ll want to make sure you are visiting during a time you can see the Northern Lights.
Even though there are different conditions that need to be met for the lights to appear, you can still time it well to enjoy the lights. Since one of the conditions is proper darkness, you can visit between late September to late March.
Moreover, the temperature needs to be cold with clear nights. These are the best times to witness the fascinating lights that almost everyone has on their bucket list.
For Sightseeing
Now, there’s no doubt that Iceland comes with spectacular views. Therefore, you’ll always want to visit this destination to bring back some great photographs and memories of the trip.
So, for sightseeing purposes, you need to make sure you visit when the days are longer and there are fewer crowds around town. This typically means any time of the year that is not high season. Usually the time is from the last week of May and lasts up to mid-June. There are times when it reaches September as well.
Whale Watching
The best time to go whale watching in Iceland is typically during the summer months. If you should pick up months from the year then it will be April to October. Among these months June, July, and August are the top picks.
Even if you go during the winter season you’ll be able to go for whale watching. Unfortunately, this will not be the case if there is a storm.
However, make sure you call and ask about the places that are continuing whale watching tours during the winter months.
For Good Weather
If you want to travel when the weather is great, then you’re looking to travel during the high season. The reason being that tourists flock to a destination when the weather is optimal.
When it comes to Iceland, the best time to visit for good weather is during July and August. On the other hand, if you’re worried about rainfall, then the suggestion is you visit during the months of May and June.
Visit Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is definitely one of the best attractions of Iceland throughout the year. Therefore, you will want to time your visit so that you can make the most of your visit.
Now, if you want to visit when there is a huge crowd then the suggested months are between May and September. This peaks during the months of July and August.
On the other hand, if you want to visit Blue Lagoon during the time when it’s calmest, then the recommended months for this are December and January. These months are usually out of the vacation range.
Now, you’ll want to take a look at the days as well. This is because there are specific days of the week the The Blue Lagoon is quite crowded.
For example, if you visit on Tuesday or Wednesday (mid-week), then you’ll witness a lower crowd.
Save Money
There are times when we want to visit a destination but find ourselves short of money. Now, there is a time range when you can visit Iceland and save money.
Typically these months are during winter. The reason being that the high season in Iceland is during the summer months. Hence, the summer months come with increased airfare, accommodation, and even activities.
As a result, the winter months witness a significant drop in prices. You should take a trip in winter if you absolutely want to visit Iceland but find yourself short of money. The downside is that you’ll find yourself with a rather shortened daylight, if any.
Avoid Crowds
Yes, we understand why some of you don’t want to visit when there is a huge crowd. While some of us love crowds, there are a bunch who would rather visit when the area is secluded. So, what is the best time of year to go to Iceland to avoid crowds?
Therefore, if you want to absolutely avoid crowds, then like always you need to visit when high season is over.
So, for the relaxed experience, your target months will be in April or May. Otherwise, for the latter half of the year, the recommended months are September or October.
During these months you’ll be encountering fewer tourists but will be able to enjoy ample sightseeing. Moreover, the chances are you’ll experience great weather.
Now, if you move to the winter months, then again you’ll be encountering lessened tourists. Unfortunately, the shorter and darker days can put a spanner to your plans.
Festivals
One of the best times to visit Iceland for festivals is throughout the year! Why? This is because Iceland has at least one festival every month.
All you have to do is make sure the time you’re visiting collides with the dates of the festival. Iceland festivals are quite jazzed and it’s a guarantee you’ll be having significant fun regardless of which festival you are attending.
Christmas and New Year’s Eve
These are two holidays that are celebrated by everyone across the globe! So, if you’re planning to visit Iceland during the winter months then you should highly consider visiting during this week.
Even though the daylight lasts for about four to five hours, it’s still quite the lit holiday. The reason being that the holiday lights brighten up the streets like never before. On top of that, since these celebrations are important ones, the Icelanders take pride in the way they decorate the entire place!
The New Year’s Eve celebration is one of the impressive ones all over the world. The only time of the year when private use of fireworks is legal at Iceland is on this day.
The skies light up with fireworks. Every neighborhood, every individual, everyone comes with their unique set of fireworks. The blaze from the fireworks brings alive a different environment altogether.
Therefore, if you ever find yourself wondering what is the best time of year to go to Iceland for celebrations, you know the answer!