Is it Best to Visit Iceland in Winter or Summer?

The honest answer to this question is both. Many of Iceland’s fabulous natural attractions can be visited both in the winter and in the summer. But, you come away with a different experience because of the seasonal differences. If possible, you should visit both during winter and during summer to fully appreciate everything there is to see and do in the Land of Fire and Ice. 

There are some unique activities in Iceland you can only enjoy in the winter or in the summer. If you can only visit once, you should choose whether to come in the winter or the summer based on what you most want to see.

The Aurora Borealis

Seeing Mother Nature’s wonderful and surreal skylights is on many people’s bucket list. Because of Iceland’s low population density and close proximity to the Arctic Circle, it is the world’s best location to observe the fantastic Northern Lights.

However, the Aurora Borealis is only visible when the sky is dark. During Iceland’s summer, the night is short and often does not grow dark enough to see the lights. In winter, the nights are long and very dark, providing optimum conditions for admiring the Northern Lights. The Aurora Borealis is most frequently visible between September and April.

Arctic Landscapes

Iceland is an excellent place to explore icy landscapes. Iceland’s largest national park, Vatnajökull National Park, covers 14% of the island nation. It features Vatnajökull Glacier and active volcanoes. You can visit the park both in winter and summer, though the ice and snow are more impressive in winter.

Whenever you go, you must dress for cold weather conditions. If you want to get the full arctic experience, you should visit an ice cave. The play of light through the ice is out of this world. Unfortunately, these are only accessible during the winter months.

Whenever you do go, don’t go alone. In fact, you should only visit the glacier on a guided tour led by local experts such as those employed by Iceland Go Tours. Arctic landscapes are beautiful, but they can be unforgiving.

Just south of the park is Jökulsarlon Glacial Lake, which has featured in many movies, such as Batman Begins and Die Another Day. Icebergs up to 100 feet high float through the lake’s waters creating a surreal scene.

Powerful Water Displays

Iceland boasts the world’s greatest collection of picturesque waterfalls. It is also the place where you can see several of the world’s most famous geysers. If water at its most wild impresses you, come to Iceland.

Icelandic day-trippers flock to scenic Skogafoss waterfall. Nearby Seljalandsfoss features a path that takes you behind the falls and allows access to a hidden cave. Romantics head for Hjálparfoss, where two rivers meet to create a powerful union symbolising the bond of wedlock.

In the Haukadalur Valley, you can visit the two most famous geysers in Iceland. Geysir Hot Springs is the source of the English word “geyser”. It erupts infrequently, but when it does, it throws water up to 230 feet high. Nearby Strokkur Geyser is more reliable because it erupts every six to ten minutes, and its fountain of steaming water sprays 66 feet into the air.

Any of these fabulous water attractions can be visited year-round. In winter, the icicles surrounding the waterfalls make an impressive sight. However, you may need to don snowshoes to explore the surrounding countryside on snowy days. If you go sightseeing anywhere in winter, you’ll see more and stay safe by joining an organized tour run by a reputable tour operator like Iceland Go Tours.

When the ice is melting in spring and summer, the waterfalls are at their most powerful and impressive. Also, visitors have noted that it is not easy to walk behind Seljalandsfoss in winter because ice covers the path. So, summer is perhaps a better time to visit the waterfalls.

Whale Watching

The waters surrounding Iceland are surprisingly warm due to the underwater volcanoes of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This creates perfect conditions for zooplankton and the fish that feed on it. These abundant fish stocks lure thousands of humpback whales to feast off Iceland’s coastline between April and November.

Whales sometimes swim in and out of the Westfjords and can be spotted from the shore in that area. However, the best way to get close to these marvelous mammals is on a whale-watching boat tour from Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Húsavík.

The whales do not completely disappear during winter. You can join a whale-watching cruise from Reykjavik year-round. However, the chances of spotting whales in winter are low. In contrast, during summer, many boat tour companies offer guarantees that if you don’t spot a whale, you get a second trip for free.

Explore Inside A Volcano

Thrihnukagigur is a dormant volcano in the southwest of Iceland. It hasn’t erupted for over 4,000 years, and today it is possible to visit its perfectly preserved magma chamber. This is the only place in the world where you can explore the innards of a volcano to fully understand how it works and to appreciate the vast scale of this natural phenomenon.

You must hike for 50 minutes to reach the open crater and then descend 400 feet in an open cable lift. The crater itself is a prominent landmark in the Blafjoll Country Park. However, you can only visit Thrihnukagigur during the summer.