Iceland is a surprising nation to go to! It’s bought so many unbelievable locations to see, not least due to its mind-blowing waterfalls, great hikes and, in fact, Reykjavik. Not solely that, however you’ve additionally bought a few of the world’s most unusual landscapes, particularly with this erupting volcano and the Northern Lights that commonly seem.
However what in regards to the age-old query of when is one of the best time to go to Iceland? Properly, we’ve bought you lined you with the professionals and cons of travelling to Iceland at particular instances of the 12 months. This fashion, you can also make probably the most out of your time exploring this unbelievable nation and take advantage of knowledgeable resolution that’s best for you.
Should you’re something like me, and I’m guessing you’re, you’ll need to plan your journey to Iceland effectively 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 doubtless 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 usually the time of 12 months when a few of the coldest climate and bigger storms are inclined to make landfall in Iceland. Which means there may be seasonal highway closures which will impression any Icelandic highway journey you’re on.
Should you determine to journey to Iceland in winter, at all times be sure to contemplate the intense climate you may get.
We’ve visited in Winter twice. The primary time, we had extreme snow storms, after we typically 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’ll be able to at all times watch these on the Icelandic Met Workplace web site, which is up to date hourly.
One other factor to contemplate 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 illustration, the shortest daytime in Iceland in December is round 4.5 hours. That is nice in case your sole purpose is to catch the Northern Lights in the dead of night, however it’s much less so if you wish to discover the pure sights of Iceland in daytime.
Execs of travelling to Iceland in Winter:
– There’s extra alternative to identify the northern lights, particularly throughout the 18-20 nighttimes.
– It’s a quieter season to go to Iceland, so some resort and flight costs will likely be cheaper.
– It’s an incredible 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 circumstances may be precarious.
– Extra minor, lesser-used roads and tracks are usually 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 in every of my favorite instances to go to Iceland. Not simply because it’s slightly quieter than the summer season months however as a result of it has 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 daytime in Spring. This implies it’s excellent in the event you’ve solely bought a brief journey to Iceland and need to cram in as lots of the nation’s beautiful sights as doable. You’ll be able to 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 unattainable.
– Lots of the nation’s seasonal excursions have a tendency to start out once more in later spring. Nevertheless, because the climate can change, at all times be prepared for last-minute cancellations.
Cons of travelling to Iceland in Spring:
– It may be a moist time of the 12 months 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 motels and flights are inclined to rise, particularly across the Easter Holidays or throughout faculty holidays.
Summer time: June to September
It’s nonetheless one in every of my favorite instances of the 12 months 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 peak of summer season – which is phenomenal.
Execs of travelling to Iceland within the Summer time:
– You get an incredible quantity of daytime to discover Iceland. This implies you’ll be able to simply spend 18 hours exterior and even head out on a few of the nation’s beautiful 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 the event you plan to drive round the entire nation or go to the north of Iceland to locations like Akureyri and past.
– Highway circumstances are excellent, 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.
– It’s essential to plan your lodging earlier than your journey, particularly if travelling past Reykjavik. There are restricted motels and lodgings in some areas, and their availability can change considerably in Summer time.
– As a result of longer daytime, there’s a smaller probability of seeing the Northern Lights. It’s not unattainable by any means, however it’s price remembering.
Autumn: September to December
Like Spring, Autumn (particularly the beginning of autumn) is one in every of my favorite instances 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 at all times advise you to journey in spring or autumn.
Execs of travelling to Iceland within the Autumn:
– You get 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 simple to drive presently of 12 months, with just some durations of closures, particularly for 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 throughout the College holidays in October.
– Identical to spring, it might get slightly moist.
– Temperatures are fairly nice. It’s nonetheless chilly however not freezing. Nevertheless, at all times bear in mind that the wind in Iceland may be intense and might simply change the temperature you are feeling while exploring.
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