Summer vacations in Iceland

Summer is the best time to visit Iceland in a lot of ways. At this time of year, it’s possible to travel to all regions of the country and all attractions are open. The weather is milder than in winter and the countryside is green and lush.

Thanks to the longer hours of daylight, you can also fit more into your trip if you visit in summer over winter.

June, July, and August are normally considered to be summer. Due to the country’s northerly position, summer in Iceland is shorter than you might be used to.

These are the months that see the highest temperatures, averaging 11–13°C (53–55°F). Icelanders take advantage of the fair weather and head into the countryside, going camping and enjoying barbecues.

The shoulder months of May and September also get mild weather, but it is often noticeably cooler, especially in the evenings.

There’s no single month that’s the best. Depending on which one you choose for your trip, you’ll get a slightly different experience.

June offers the longest daylight hours, with the chance to experience the midnight sun. This is the month when the country’s plantlife springs into full bloom, although it might not be as warm as later in the summer.

July is the most popular month to visit Iceland. Although nothing is guaranteed, you’re likely to get sunny days and temperatures will climb noticeably higher than in June.

August is the month where you can start to feel the changing of the seasons. The first half is generally still summery, whereas towards the end cooler autumnal breezes have arrived.

Find out more about Iceland’s weather and climate with our Travel Guide.

The great thing about the Icelandic summer is that it’s ideal for both long and short trips.

If you only have 3 or 4 days to spare, you could go for a long weekend and tour the Golden Circle and south coast.

On a 5-day trip to Iceland, you can go that much further afield to regions like the Snæfellsnes peninsula or Vatnajökull National Park.

Got your sights set on the full Ring Road route? You’ll need at least a week in Iceland, but on a 10-day trip you can slow down and have time to explore each part of the country in more depth.

For the ultimate Iceland summer experience, you could take a trip of 2 weeks or even more. This would allow you to explore every corner of the country in depth, including the Westfjords and central highlands.

Iceland is truly your playground in summertime. There’s a whole host of unforgettable experiences just waiting to be discovered. On your summer vacation you could:

• See gentle giants in their natural habitat on a whale watching tour
• Roam black sand beaches on the jaw-dropping south coast
• Come up close to waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes
• Unwind in naturally heated swimming pools and lagoons
• Venture up to the lesser-explored highlands region
• Admire newly calved icebergs at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
• Dive into adventure activities like snowmobiling and snorkelling
• Spot puffins in the Westfjords region or the Westman Islands
• Watch as hot springs bubble and geysers erupt before your eyes
• Experience the buzzing culture and food scene in downtown Reykjavík
• Visit grassy-roofed turf houses and see how Icelanders lived back in the Viking era

For even more ideas to get you excited, check out this blog on Iceland’s summer must-sees and must-dos.

Technically the Northern Lights are active year-round, but in summertime they’re not visible because of the bright sunlight. If you want a chance to see them, why not take a winter trip to Iceland?

It's also possible to see the Northern Lights if you visit Iceland in spring or late fall. March, early April, and October tend to be the best time to spot the Aurora in the spring and autumn as the nights are still long enough.

Iceland doesn’t experience true darkness from around the end of May to the end of August. Around midnight, you’ll notice the sun dims and there are seemingly endless hours of beautiful twilight.

Many people feel like the longer days give them more energy, so you can turn this to your advantage on your Iceland vacation. You could go for late evening walks or a dip in one of the pools, which in Reykjavík are open till 10 p.m. Check out this guide to the midnight sun in Iceland to find out more.

Most hotels and guesthouses have blackout curtains to help you sleep better. It’s not a bad idea to bring a sleeping mask if you’re sensitive to light when you’re falling asleep.

Traveling to Iceland in summer means you’ve got the full range of transport options to choose from.

A classic choice is a road trip. Take a self-drive tour and you’ll be behind the wheel of your own adventure. Stop when you fancy and go off the beaten path if you feel like it: the freedom is yours.

A twist on the self-drive trip is the camping tour. This combines the benefits of having your own rental car with a tent, allowing you to stay close to nature.

If you’d rather not drive, you could go for a multi-day or guided group trip. On both of these tour types you’ll travel by bus. The main difference is that on a multi-day trip you’ll stay in Reykjavík and join different day tours each day.

Guided tours, on the other hand, will take you further into the countryside. You’ll also stay with the same gang of like-minded travellers – small group or large – for the length of your trip.

For a more intimate experience, there are privately guided trips. Travel with your own knowledgeable driver-guide in a private group and get the inside track on the best places to visit.

Check out this guide to how to get around Iceland for more help deciding how you want to travel.

A great first step is to browse the vacation packages on this page. You can filter by travel style and interest to narrow down the selection.

Once you’ve found the tour package for you, follow the steps on the product page to complete your booking.

If you like, you can customize your trip with extra days and activities. You’ll see all the options available to you at checkout.

To secure your booking, all it takes is a 5% deposit. Your confirmation will arrive by email and we’ll be in touch closer to your travel date to tie everything up.

It’s highly recommended that you book your Iceland summer vacation a few months in advance. Because this is the most popular time of year to visit the country, you’ll want to allow plenty of time to secure your desired dates and tour package.

With Iceland Tours, you can choose any start date you like for most trips. The exception is guided group tours, which have fixed departure dates. Summer slots tend to go fast, so book ahead to make sure you get the one you want.

Even though temperatures won’t climb to the balmy highs seen further south in Europe, it’s still worth taking your summer essentials with you.

Here’s a suggested summer packing list for Iceland:

• Waterproof rain jacket
• Windproof layers
• Sweaters and hoodies
• Sturdy walking boots
• Baseball cap and sunglasses
• Sun lotion
• Swimming gear
• Sleeping mask

If you’re planning to visit towards the start or end of summer, you might want to throw in a beanie and a thicker jacket. This will come in handy for those chilly evening breezes, or if summer is nowhere to be seen!

Top tip: Even though it’s not as warm in Iceland as you might be used to, it’s still easy to catch the sun on bright sunny days. Don’t forget to apply sun lotion.