Best time to visit Reykjavik
Re-score for me — drag the dial — every chart on the page recolours live for your heat limit 27°C
Default 27 °C is the upper edge of the Holiday Climate Index "ideal comfort" band (Scott, Rutty, Amelung & Tang, 2016). Above this, most warm-tourism travellers report measurable discomfort.
Greyed factors are scored normally — extreme cold overrides them, so a clear sky or low rain can't lift the period.
How is this scored? HCI / Steadman / CCI gate — full methodology and citations below.
Compare with another destination
Add as many as you like — stacked below the main strips above. Each row is just the recent-window score strip and (for beach destinations) sea-temperature strip.
Visit June through August for the long days (18+ hours of light) and the only window when the highlands open, hiking is feasible, and the road into the interior is passable. February and March are peak Northern Lights season — short days, real cold, but the sky is dark enough and the activity is high. September is a defensible shoulder month for both daylight and aurora. November through January is the quietest and the rawest: most outside-the-city activity is dialled down and weather is genuinely difficult.
Tours in Reykjavik
30 top-rated tours via Viator. Booking links earn this site a commission at no cost to you. Map locations are approximate (centred on Reykjavik).
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Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates Pick Up from Reykjavik - 2
Golden Circle, Volcano Crater and Blue Lagoon Small-Group Tour - 3
Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Kerid Crater Tour from Reykjavik - 4
Golden Circle and Kerid Crater Afternoon Tour from Reykjavik - 5
Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik - 6
Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland - 7
Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater - 8
Small-group Golden Circle Classic Tour from Reykjavik - 9
Silfra: Snorkeling Between Tectonic Plates - Meet on Location - 10
Silfra Snorkeling Between Continents Photos Included- Self Drive - 11
Lava Show Reykjavik Admission Ticket - Optional Premium Upgrade - 12
Golden Circle Tales, Tomato Farm & Kerid – Small Group from RVK - 13
Small-Group Golden Circle, Sky Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater - 14
Icelandic Horseback Riding Tour with Pickup Option from Reykjavik - 15
Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon & Kerið Small Group Tour - 16
Snaefellsnes Small Group Tour with Homemade Meal from Reykjavik - 17
Silfra Drysuit Snorkeling Tour with Free Photos - From Reykjavik - 18
Twin Peaks ATV Iceland Adventure from Reykjavik - 19
Icelandic Horseback Riding Tour Including Pick Up from Reykjavik - 20
South Coast Sagas: Small Group Tour with Pick-up from Reykjavik - 21
Glacier Hike, South Coast Waterfalls & Black Sand Beach - 22
Reykjavík Small group Walking Tour - by CityWalk - 23
Silfra Drysuit Snorkeling with Free Photos - Meet on Location - 24
Golden Circle & Snorkeling in Silfra From Reykjavík with Free Photos - 25
Golden Circle & Secret Lagoon Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik - 26
Golden Circle, Kerid Crater & Geothermal Lagoon -Small Group Tour - 27
Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik - 28
Snaefellsnes Peninsula Full Day Tour from Reykjavik - 29
Reykjavik Food Lovers Tour - Icelandic Traditional Food - 30
Reykjavik Walking Tour - Walk with a Viking
Last refreshed 2026-05-25.
Similar climatesSelfoss93% · Hofn90% · Husavik85%
Other destinations with the most-alike year-round climate to Reykjavik (apparent temperature, rain hours, sunshine — matched within the same trip-profile). The ±N chip compares each match's typical score for the current month against Reykjavik's. Based on the 2020-2024 climatology, not this year's actual weather.
Month-by-month
| Month | Temp °C | Feels °C | Rain days | Rain h | Rain h/day | Humidity | Wind km/h | Sun h | UV | Interest | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -3–2 | -4 | 18 | 281 | 15.6 | 77% | 28 | 32 | — | Quiet | 2 |
| Feb | -2–2 | -3 | 17 | 239 | 14.1 | 77% | 27 | 66 | — | Quiet | 2 |
| Mar | -2–3 | -2 | 15 | 223 | 14.9 | 70% | 24 | 134 | 1 | Quiet | 3 |
| Apr | 1–6 | 2 | 15 | 240 | 16.0 | 73% | 21 | 155 | 2 | Quiet | 3 |
| May | 4–9 | 5 | 20 | 281 | 14.1 | 71% | 21 | 206 | 2 | Quiet | 2 |
| Jun | 7–11 | 8 | 17 | 260 | 15.3 | 75% | 20 | 185 | 3 | Quiet | 3 |
| Jul | 9–13 | 11 | 14 | 219 | 15.6 | 77% | 18 | 205 | 3 | Quiet | 4 |
| Aug | 9–13 | 11 | 16 | 248 | 15.5 | 78% | 19 | 177 | 2 | Peak | 4 |
| Sep | 6–10 | 6 | 17 | 246 | 14.5 | 78% | 22 | 134 | 1 | Moderate | 3 |
| Oct | 2–6 | 2 | 16 | 224 | 14.0 | 80% | 22 | 105 | 1 | Moderate | 3 |
| Nov | 0–4 | -1 | 16 | 207 | 12.9 | 80% | 26 | 49 | — | Peak | 3 |
| Dec | -3–1 | -4 | 16 | 206 | 12.9 | 77% | 24 | 17 | — | Busy | 2 |
UV Index in Reykjavik by Month
UV index in Reykjavik peaks at 3 (low) in July, dropping to 0 (low) in January.
Best months in detail
July
4/109–13°C (feels 11°C) · 14 rain days (219h) · 205 sun hours · 77% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
August
4/109–13°C (feels 11°C) · 16 rain days (248h) · 177 sun hours · 78% humidity · Peak crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 3 (moderate)
June
3/107–11°C (feels 8°C) · 17 rain days (260h) · 185 sun hours · 75% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 3 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
Every month
Show the other 9 months in detail
January
2/10-3–2°C (feels -4°C) · 18 rain days (281h) · 32 sun hours · 77% humidity · Quiet crowd
February
2/10-2–2°C (feels -3°C) · 17 rain days (239h) · 66 sun hours · 77% humidity · Quiet crowd
March
3/10-2–3°C (feels -2°C) · 15 rain days (223h) · 134 sun hours · 70% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 1 (low)
April
3/101–6°C (feels 2°C) · 15 rain days (240h) · 155 sun hours · 73% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low)
May
2/104–9°C (feels 5°C) · 20 rain days (281h) · 206 sun hours · 71% humidity · Quiet crowd · UV 2 (low) · sunniest 1 in 10 days reach 4 (moderate)
September
3/106–10°C (feels 6°C) · 17 rain days (246h) · 134 sun hours · 78% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 1 (low)
October
3/102–6°C (feels 2°C) · 16 rain days (224h) · 105 sun hours · 80% humidity · Moderate crowd · UV 1 (low)
November
3/100–4°C (feels -1°C) · 16 rain days (207h) · 49 sun hours · 80% humidity · Peak crowd
December
2/10-3–1°C (feels -4°C) · 16 rain days (206h) · 17 sun hours · 77% humidity · Busy crowd
Comparisons people search for
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Frequently asked questions about visiting Reykjavik
When is the best time to visit Reykjavik?
July is the highest-scoring month (4/10 on the Holiday Climate Index). Typical conditions: 9–13°C (14 rainy days). The top three months by score are July, August, June.
What is the worst time to visit Reykjavik?
January is the lowest-scoring month (2/10). Typical conditions: -3–2°C (18 rainy days).
When are crowds lowest in Reykjavik?
Search-interest seasonality (Google Trends 2021-2025) is lowest in April and peaks in November. Interest tracks both in-trip visitors and lead-time planners, so treat it as a "destination is on people's minds" signal rather than literal arrivals.
What is the UV index in Reykjavik by month?
UV peaks at 3 (low) in July and is lowest in January at 0 (low). Monthly peak values: Jan —, Feb —, Mar 1, Apr 2, May 2, Jun 3, Jul 3, Aug 2, Sep 1, Oct 1, Nov —, Dec —.
What is the UV index in Reykjavik in July?
July is the peak UV month in Reykjavik, with a daily-peak UV index of 3 (low). Standard sun protection — sunglasses and light SPF — is recommended.
How high can UV get in Reykjavik on the sunniest days?
Most days look like the monthly average, but on the sunniest ~1 in 10 days UV climbs higher than the mean suggests. July is the worst case: typical days average UV 3 (low), but the top 10% of days reach UV 4 (moderate) — and even higher. Months where the sunniest days routinely exceed the typical reading: May, June, July, August. Plan sun protection for the worst case, not the average.