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Iceland is famed for its incredible panoramas, varied yet pristine natural beauty and a huge host of unique and enthralling activities. The trouble is, it’s almost impossible to know when the best time is to travel there! Summer and winter paint very different pictures to the point where the seasons almost represent different countries. So, we’ve decided to investigate Iceland in the summer and Iceland in the winter to give you an idea of where to go in what season allowing you to take your pick!
Visiting Iceland during the summer
The summer months in Iceland see the Midnight Sun take centre stage. This is a natural phenomenon which affects areas north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle and sees the sun remain visible for 24 hours a day! This will turn your trip in the summer upside down; after all with continuous sunshine, the possibilities are endless and sleep will probably be quite difficult to come by! At the very least, a watch with a 24 hour digital display will definitely come in handy.
You have probably heard that Iceland is a great location for whale watching and it’s the summer months which have given cause to this reputation, for Iceland is one of the most reliable destinations for whale watching in the world during this time. Amazingly, there are 23 different species of whale which can be spotted in the surrounding waters and the best time for viewing is between May and September. Husavik on the northern coast is the best place from which to depart on a tour although it is also possible from Rekyjavik throughout the year.
The summer months open up areas of the island which are otherwise inaccessible during the winter; not only will you find incredible scenery but a whole new range of activities to choose from. You can gaze at the thermal geysers, visit Puffin Island, play a game of golf at midnight, enjoy endless walking and hiking, go snorkelling between tectonic plates in Silfra and of course sample the weird and wonderful cuisine before embarking on a pub crawl until the wee hours. The options here genuinely are as varied as your wildest dreams!
A holiday in Iceland in the winter
Winter months in Iceland are the exact opposite to summer, with the sun barely managing to peep its hat over the horizon and even then, it only lingers for around 2 hours a day. Bad weather sees the closure of some mountain roads and of course with fewer tourists and just a handful of hours of daylight, the number of activities and tours that are offered are significantly reduced.
It’s not all doom and gloom however, for there are many wonderful reasons to visit Iceland during the winter months. The famous Northern Lights probably take priority in this sense! Your best chance at viewing them will be on a very dark night, ideally when there is no moon. That said, it is advisable to go on a specific tour for this to give you the best opportunity to see them.
There is even a hotel in the south of the island whereby staff will come and wake you up when the Aurora Borealis appear in the sky! Reykjanes, in the north-west of Iceland is also a great location, especially for the huge geothermal pool located here, as is Thingvellir National Park. Optimal viewing time is said to be between September and March regardless of your chosen viewing location in Iceland however.
Winter is also a fantastic time to enjoy many of the other fantastic activities available in Iceland. Why not, for example, dedicate one day of your trip to snowmobiling or hiking on Vatnajökull glacier, the largest in Europe? Skiing is naturally another fun activity during the winter with a choice of resorts; Akureyri and Dalvik are located quite close to Akureyri Airport whilst the remaining resorts such as Blafjoll and Skalafell are closer to Reykjavik Airport. The likes of the Blue Lagoon and many other geothermal pools found in Iceland can of course be enjoyed at any time of the year too but there’s something extra special about being in a natural, bubbling hot pool while you know that outside its freezing!
The thing with Iceland is that the season depicts almost an entirely different country! One thing that is certain however, is than in a country as dramatically and impressively diverse and untouched as Iceland and with countless activities, your trip here will be unforgettable whether you visit in summer or winter. It’s really more a question of which order you decide to visit!
