When to go · Reykjavik, Iceland
Best time to visit Reykjavik
The sweet spot is July, August and June — averages 12°C, 11 rainy days, peak-season crowds and peak prices.
June – August (midnight sun); February – March (Northern Lights)
Subarctic but milder than the name suggests, thanks to the Gulf Stream. Cool summers (10–15°C) with near-endless daylight; cold, dark, windy winters (around 0°C) with the aurora. The weather changes by the hour — pack layers and waterproofs.
The short answer
12°C · 11 rainy days · high season
11°C · 12 rainy days · high season
10°C · 11 rainy days · high season
Hardest months: March and December. averages a raw 1°C, 14 rainy days, moderate crowds.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0°C | 13d | low | Wet |
| February | 1°C | 12d | mid | Wet |
| March | 1°C | 14d | mid | Wet |
| April | 4°C | 12d | mid | Wet |
| May | 7°C | 10d | mid | Cold |
| June | 10°C | 11d | high | Chilly |
| July | 12°C | 11d | high | Chilly |
| August | 11°C | 12d | high | Wet |
| September | 8°C | 13d | mid | Wet |
| October | 5°C | 14d | low | Wet |
| November | 2°C | 13d | low | Wet |
| December | 0°C | 14d | low | Wet |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January, October, November and December are low season in Reykjavik — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $60–100 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.