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Best time to visit Reykjavik: month by month
Short answer
June to August is best for midnight sun, open roads and the mildest weather, with highs of about 11-14°C. September to March is the northern-lights season, with fewer visitors but very short days in December and storms that can close roads; September and early October combine aurora chances with milder weather (7-11°C).
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1°C | -3°C | 17 | medium |
| Feb | 3°C | -1°C | 18 | medium |
| Mar | 3°C | -2°C | 16 | medium |
| Apr | 6°C | 2°C | 17 | low |
| May | 9°C | 4°C | 20 | medium |
| Jun | 11°C | 7°C | 19 | high |
| Jul | 13°C | 9°C | 13 | very high |
| Aug | 14°C | 9°C | 15 | very high |
| Sep | 11°C | 6°C | 17 | high |
| Oct | 7°C | 3°C | 16 | medium |
| Nov | 5°C | 1°C | 16 | low |
| Dec | 0°C | -4°C | 14 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Highs rise from 3°C in March to 6°C in April and 9°C in May, with 16-20 rainy or snowy days a month and fast-lengthening days.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Highs of 11-14°C and lows of 7-9°C, almost 24-hour daylight in June, and 13-19 wet days a month; the busiest season.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September (11°C) and October (7°C) bring aurora season and autumn colours; November cools to 5°C with about 16 wet days.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cold and dark, highs of 0-3°C and lows of -4 to -1°C, with 4-5 hours of daylight in December, snow and storms; aurora season.
Events worth planning around
- Reykjavik Culture Night (Menningarnótt), in August
- Reykjavik Pride, in August
- Iceland Airwaves music festival, usually in November
- Winter Lights Festival, usually in February
- New Year's Eve fireworks across the city
When to avoid
July and August are the busiest and most expensive, and mid-November to January has very short days and the highest chance of storms closing roads.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Reykjavik?
June to August for long days and open roads, or September for aurora chances with milder weather.
When can I see the northern lights?
From about September to April, on dark, clear nights; check the aurora forecast on vedur.is.
How much daylight is there in winter?
About 4-5 hours in December, rising quickly from February.