Iceland in September at a glance
September sits between summer and winter. In Reykjavík the sun is up for 14 hours and 33 minutes on 1 September and for 13 hours and 2 minutes by the 15th. That is about 90 minutes less light in two weeks. Temperatures fall from the August level, and typical rainfall in Reykjavík rises to about 87 mm, against about 65 mm in August.
Two things define the month. The summer highland season ends, so mountain trips need an early start and a plan B. And the nights are dark enough again for the northern lights. You get long days for driving and the first real chance of an aurora in the same trip. This is why September suits travelers who want a bit of both seasons.
September weather and daylight
Typical averages for 1991–2020, rounded. They describe two weather stations, not the whole country, and any single week can differ a lot.
| Station | Typical daily high | Typical daily low | Typical rain in the month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík (south-west) | 11 °C (52 °F) | 6 °C (43 °F) | about 87 mm |
| Akureyri (north) | 12 °C (54 °F) | 5 °C (41 °F) | about 53 mm |
| Reykjavík, 2026 | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September | 6:10 | 20:43 | 14 h 33 min |
| 15 September | 6:50 | 19:53 | 13 h 2 min |
Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset. Twilight comes on top. The north is usually drier than the south-west in September, while Reykjavík is a little milder at night. Pack a waterproof shell, warm layers and a hat. See the weather by month page for all twelve months side by side.
Our picks for September
Northern lights by bus or boat and a day on the south coast.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
South coast day tour: waterfalls, black sand and glacier
A guided ten-hour day from Reykjavík; pickup applies only with the matching option. Food and drinks are extra, and a glacier walk is not listed as included.
Check availability →
Northern lights cruise from the old harbor
A two-hour yacht trip with Wi-Fi, blankets and seasickness tablets. Drinks and souvenirs are extra, hotel pickup comes only with the matching option, and a sighting is not guaranteed.
Check availability →
Northern lights bus tour with hot cocoa
A guide, transport, hot cocoa and photo stops, with a free repeat if no lights show. It runs in the winter months and depends on the weather, so a sighting is not guaranteed.
Check availability →Tours and day trips in September
Glacier hikes, whale watching, Golden Circle and South Coast days and more, with live prices and availability.
What works in September, and what does not
Plan the highlands early in the month and the lights later in it.
Northern lights return
The aurora needs a dark and at least partly clear sky. Visit Iceland gives September to April as the usual window, and another of its pages starts at the end of August. No month and no tour can promise a sighting. Check the cloud and activity forecast of the Icelandic Met Office each evening and be ready to drive to a clearer spot.
The highland season is ending
SafeTravel says highland roads are usually closed from mid-September until June or July, and early winter weather is possible. In 2026 the parking reservation for Landmannalaugar applied to arrivals between 9:00 and 16:00 from 20 June to 13 September. The highland bus ran from 13 June to 20 September, leaving Reykjavík at 7:00 and reaching Landmannalaugar at 11:30. A booking or a timetable does not mean the road is open, so check the road status before you go.
Puffins are gone
Puffins usually leave the coast in mid to late August. The regular puffin boat tours out of Reykjavík end between 15 and 20 August. If puffins are the goal, read the August guide instead.
Whales and glacier boats
Whales and dolphins are present near Reykjavík all year, and the classic tour takes about 3 hours. Nothing is guaranteed. At Jökulsárlón the boat tours run from 9:00 to 19:00 from June to September. The 2026 amphibian boat costs 7,100 ISK for ages 13 and up and 3,500 ISK for ages 6 to 12, and children up to 5 go free. It lasts 30 to 40 minutes. See the Jökulsárlón guide for the lagoon and Diamond Beach.
Roads, costs and crowds
September is still busy. About 224,000 foreign departures were counted at Keflavík in September 2025, compared with about 313,000 in August and about 201,000 in October. These are rounded counts of people leaving the country, not visitors at a single sight, and they say nothing about prices.
| 2025 | Foreign departures at Keflavík, rounded |
|---|---|
| August | 313,000 |
| September | 224,000 |
| October | 201,000 |
Two cost items are new. A distance fee of 6.95 ISK per km applies to cars up to 3.5 tonnes since 1 January 2026, and your rental company may add its own charges. The new Ring Road section at Hornafjörður has been toll-based since 1 September 2026, at 1,500 ISK per passage for cars. If you drive the south-east, road conditions and the South Coast guide explain what to check.
At Þingvellir, parking for a car with up to 5 seats costs 1,000 ISK, and the Heart of Iceland exhibition costs 1,200 ISK for adults. The visitor center is open from 9:00 to 18:00 until the end of October.
Next to read
The months on either side, the season and the topics that matter most in September.
Iceland in August
The last month for puffins and the end of the long summer days.
Iceland in October
The first ice cave tours start, nights get long and the highlands are closed.
Iceland in summer
How the warm months compare, from highland roads to long evenings.
Northern lights
When the dark returns and what a good night needs.
Cheapest time to visit
How crowds and fees change through the year.
Iceland in September: common questions
Is September a good month to visit Iceland?
It is a good month if you want long days and a chance of auroras in one trip. Expect more rain in the south-west than in August, cooler air and a closing highland season. Many travelers choose it for exactly that mix.
Can I see the northern lights in September?
Yes, the season begins. You need darkness and clear sky, and there is no guarantee on any night.
Are the highlands and Landmannalaugar open?
Not reliably. SafeTravel says highland roads usually close from mid-September. Even a reserved parking space or a bus timetable does not prove that the road is passable. Check the current road status and ask your rental company about the route.
How much daylight is there in September?
In Reykjavík about 14 hours and 33 minutes on 1 September and about 13 hours and 2 minutes on 15 September, from sunrise to sunset.
Can I still see puffins in September?
Usually not. The colonies empty in mid to late August, and the regular puffin boat tours end between 15 and 20 August.