Season by season
Winter (November–March). Snow on the ground, short days and frequent aurora. Skiing above Akureyri, whales in the fjord and steaming lagoons. Highland and some coastal roads close.
Spring (April–May). Longer days, migrating birds and the first whale boats from Húsavík. Puffins return in late April. Snow lingers on passes and trails.
Summer (June–August). The main season: 24-hour daylight around the solstice, the best whale sightings, all roads open and temperatures of 10–15°C, sometimes 20°C inland.
Autumn (September–October). Autumn colours at Mývatn, the annual sheep round-ups, returning darkness and aurora, and far fewer visitors. Puffins have gone by mid-August.
Month-by-month
| Month | Avg. high | Avg. low | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2°C / 36°F | -4°C / 25°F | Quiet |
| February | 2°C / 36°F | -4°C / 25°F | Moderate |
| March | 3°C / 37°F | -3°C / 27°F | Moderate |
| April | 6°C / 43°F | -1°C / 30°F | Moderate |
| May | 10°C / 50°F | 3°C / 37°F | Busy |
| June | 13°C / 55°F | 7°C / 45°F | Peak |
| July | 15°C / 59°F | 9°C / 48°F | Peak |
| August | 14°C / 57°F | 8°C / 46°F | Peak |
| September | 11°C / 52°F | 5°C / 41°F | Busy |
| October | 6°C / 43°F | 1°C / 34°F | Moderate |
| November | 3°C / 37°F | -2°C / 28°F | Quiet |
| December | 2°C / 36°F | -4°C / 25°F | Quiet |
Figures for: Akureyri. Temperatures are rounded long-term averages for the place named above; real days vary widely, and wind makes it feel much colder. Crowd levels are our own estimate.
Events & festivals
- March–April: Ski season at Hlíðarfjall above Akureyri, including Easter
- Around 21 June: Summer solstice celebrations on Grímsey
- June: Arctic Open, a midnight golf tournament in Akureyri
- July: Húsavík’s town festival, Mærudagar
- Early August: Herring festival in Siglufjörður and the bank-holiday weekend festival in Akureyri
- September: Sheep and horse round-ups in the valleys
