When to visit Reykjavík without the crowds
Reykjavík (Iceland) is calmest in January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December: fewer people and better prices. It gets busiest in July and August. Below is every month with crowds, temperatures and festivals. Careful with January, February, November and December: the calm has a reason (see the seasonal heads-ups).
Best months
Sep–Oct & Feb–Mar
When everyone heads home
Late August, once school holidays end.
Tip
Auroras return in September and the Ring Road empties out.
Month by month
| Month | Crowds | Avg. high | Festivals & holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2/5 · calm ⚠ ✦ | 3 °C (37 °F)16 rainy days · ~15 cm of snow | New Year's Day |
| February | 1/5 · calm ⚠ ✦ | 4 °C (38 °F)16 rainy days · ~17 cm of snow | |
| March | 2/5 · calm ✦ | 4 °C (40 °F)15 rainy days · ~10 cm of snow | Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, +1 |
| April | 1/5 · calm ✦ | 7 °C (45 °F)14 rainy days · ~7 cm of snow | First Day of Summer |
| May | 2/5 · calm | 10 °C (50 °F)16 rainy days | May Day, Ascension Day, Pentecost, +1 |
| June | 3/5 · moderate ✦ | 12 °C (54 °F)13 rainy days | National Day (Jun 17), Icelandic National Day |
| July | 4/5 · busy | 14 °C (58 °F)12 rainy days | |
| August | 4/5 · busy | 14 °C (57 °F)12 rainy days | Culture Night, Menningarnótt (August), Commerce Day |
| September | 2/5 · calm ✦ | 11 °C (52 °F)16 rainy days | |
| October | 2/5 · calm ✦ | 8 °C (46 °F)15 rainy days · ~3 cm of snow | |
| November | 2/5 · calm ⚠ ✦ | 5 °C (41 °F)13 rainy days · ~3 cm of snow | Iceland Airwaves festival (November) |
| December | 2/5 · calm ⚠ ✦ | 3 °C (38 °F)15 rainy days · ~11 cm of snow | Dec 24–26: shops closed; New Year’s Eve fireworks, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day |
⚠ = seasonal heads-up. ✦ = something special to see.
Before you go: seasonal heads-ups
- Few hours of daylight (4–5 h in December) and storms that close roads: check road.is.
- Snow (Jan–Feb): about 15–17 cm in a typical month; in 10 years there was 1 day with over 15 cm (the biggest, 18 cm on Feb 26, 2017). Estimated from Copernicus ERA5.
- Storms (Feb): about 7 days a month with gusts over 75 km/h; the strongest in 10 years, 137 km/h on Feb 5, 2025.
What to see, and when
- Northern lights (Sep–Apr), on dark, clear nights.
- Midnight sun: it barely gets dark.
Crowds are a relative index for each place: 1 is its calmest month and 5 its busiest. Temperatures: Copernicus ERA5, 2016–2025 average. Includes official tourism statistics (Eurostat, all of Iceland, 2022,2023,2025). How it works
Frequently asked questions
What is the best month to visit Reykjavík without the crowds?
The calmest month is usually February and April (crowds 1/5). In April the average high is 7 °C (45 °F). All the calm months: January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November and December.
When is Reykjavík most crowded?
The busiest season is July and August. Late August, once school holidays end.
What is the weather like in Reykjavík?
Average highs range from 3 °C (37 °F) in January to 14 °C (58 °F) in July, from Copernicus ERA5 (2016–2025). It rains most in January (about 16 days) and least in July (12). It snows most in February: about 17 cm in a typical month (estimated).
What should I know before going to Reykjavík?
Few hours of daylight (4–5 h in December) and storms that close roads: check road.is. Snow (Jan–Feb): about 15–17 cm in a typical month; in 10 years there was 1 day with over 15 cm (the biggest, 18 cm on Feb 26, 2017). Estimated from Copernicus ERA5. Storms (Feb): about 7 days a month with gusts over 75 km/h; the strongest in 10 years, 137 km/h on Feb 5, 2025.
What is there to see in Reykjavík by season?
Northern lights (Sep–Apr), on dark, clear nights. Midnight sun: it barely gets dark.
What festivals are there in Reykjavík?
The main ones: National Day (Jun 17) (June); Culture Night, Menningarnótt (August) (August); Iceland Airwaves festival (November) (November).
More places in Iceland
- Akureyri calm in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December; busiest in July and August
- Vík calm in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December; busiest in July and August
- Húsavík calm in January, February, March, April, October, November and December; busiest in June, July and August
- Höfn & Jökulsárlón calm in January, February, March, April, October, November and December; busiest in July and August
- Stykkishólmur (Snæfellsnes) calm in January, February, March, April, October, November and December; busiest in July and August
- Ísafjörður calm in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December; busiest in July and August
- Egilsstaðir & Seyðisfjörður calm in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December; busiest in July and August
- Mývatn calm in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December; busiest in July and August