Iceland in summer: long days, busy roads
Summer is the high season. June, July and August bring the longest days, puffins on the coast and the chance to reach the highlands. They also bring the most travelers. The sky is too bright for northern lights, so if the lights are your goal, choose another season.
The weather is mild rather than hot. Reykjavík has typical highs around 13 to 15 °C (55 to 59 °F) in the summer months. Do not expect the same weather in every region. In July 2026, Reykjavík had 103 mm of rain, while Akureyri in the north had only 8 mm. A summer trip needs layers and a plan B.
Summer weather and daylight
Typical averages for 1991 to 2020, rounded to whole numbers. Single years can differ a lot.
| Month | Reykjavík high / low, °C (°F) | Akureyri high / low, °C (°F) | Rain Reykjavík, mm | Rain Akureyri, mm | Daylight in Reykjavík on the 15th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June | 13 / 7 (55 / 45) | 14 / 7 (57 / 45) | 43 | 21 | 21 h 2 min |
| July | 15 / 9 (59 / 48) | 15 / 9 (59 / 48) | 50 | 34 | 19 h 43 min |
| August | 14 / 9 (57 / 48) | 15 / 8 (59 / 46) | 65 | 41 | 16 h 24 min |
July 2026 shows how far a single month can stray. The Icelandic Met Office reported a mean of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) in Reykjavík, below the long-term normal, with 103 mm of rain. Akureyri had 13.3 °C (55.9 °F), warmer than usual, with 8 mm. For the full year, see the weather by month page, or read about the bright nights on the midnight sun page.
Our picks: summer tours
A midnight sun whale cruise, puffins by boat and a highland hike.
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.
Landmannalaugar hike with a hot spring soak
A guided hike with a hot spring, with facility and park fees included. Food, drinks, swimwear, a towel, boots and rain gear are extra; check the option, because transport from Reykjavík is listed but the meeting point shown is in Landmannalaugar.
Check availability →
One-hour puffin boat trip from Reykjavík
A boat trip with a guide and binoculars, and the operator promises a puffin sighting. Transfers, food and drinks are extra, and weather cancellations are refunded.
Check availability →
Midnight sun whale watching from Reykjavík
Warm overalls, a guide, Wi-Fi and a live troubadour performance are included; refreshments are extra. The tour runs in the summer months.
Check availability →Summer tours in Iceland
Boat trips, puffin and whale tours, highland day trips and glacier walks for the long days, with current prices and availability.
Highland roads: when do they open?
Opening dates differ by route and by snow. The table shows history from 2021 to 2025 and is not a forecast.
| Route | Opened in 2025 | Earliest to latest opening, 2021 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| F208 Sigalda to Landmannalaugar | 23 May | 23 May to 23 June |
| F225 Landmannaleið | 11 June | 9 to 24 June |
| F206 Lakagígar | 12 June | 12 June to 1 July |
| F208 Landmannalaugar to Eldgjá | 19 June | 16 June to 6 July |
| F26 Hrauneyjar to Nýidalur | 3 July | 21 June to 13 July |
| F210 Keldur to Hvanngil | 14 July | 23 June to 15 July |
No source guarantees that a route is open at the start of June. A rental car needs approval for the exact route, because not every four-wheel drive is a highland vehicle. Driving off the marked road is forbidden, and river crossings carry insurance risks. The road conditions page has the details.
Landmannalaugar in summer
Landmannalaugar is the best known highland stop. In 2026, arrivals between 09:00 and 16:00 needed a reservation from 20 June to 13 September. Booking opened on 1 April 2026. The vehicle fee was 1,500 ISK for a car with up to 5 seats and 2,450 ISK for 6 to 9 seats. A motorcycle paid 750 ISK. The fee still applies outside the reservation hours, and changes are possible up to one week before arrival.
Without your own car, a seasonal bus ran from 13 June to 20 September 2026. It left Reykjavík BSÍ at 07:00, arrived at 11:30, left Landmannalaugar at 15:45 and reached BSÍ at 19:30. In September the bus timetable and the reservation period end on different days, so a late-season trip is neither automatically open nor free of fees. A booked parking space does not prove that the road is open.
What to book in summer
Season dates come from the operators and can change from year to year.
Puffins
The general coastal window is May to mid-August. The birds often arrive in late April or early May and leave in mid or late August. One Reykjavík operator lists boat trips from 20 April to 20 August, about 1 hour each. Do not plan on puffins for all of August.
Whales
Whales and dolphins are present near Reykjavík all year, and the summer program is bigger. A classic trip lasts about 3 hours.
Glacier lagoon boats
At Jökulsárlón the amphibious boat runs from May to November. In 2026 an adult ticket (from 13 years) cost 7,100 ISK, ages 6 to 12 cost 3,500 ISK and under 6 went free. The trip takes 30 to 40 minutes. The Zodiac runs from May to October for 16,600 ISK from age 13 and 8,300 ISK for ages 10 to 12. Cancellation up to 24 hours before departure is refunded in full.
Tour hours
The boat tour window at Jökulsárlón is 10:00 to 17:00 in May and 09:00 to 19:00 from June to September. There is no guarantee of a particular last departure.
Culture Night
In 2026 Reykjavík held Culture Night on 22 August from 12:00 to 22:00, with fireworks at Arnarhóll at 22:00. Most central streets were closed to traffic from 07:00 to 24:00. Check the date for the year you travel.
Crowds
Foreign departures from Keflavík in 2025 were about 234,000 in June, 302,000 in July and 313,000 in August. December had about 120,000. These are rounded departure counts, not visitors at a single attraction.
Plan the rest of your trip
Match the month to what you want to do.
Iceland in summer: frequently asked questions
How warm is Iceland in summer?
Typical highs in Reykjavík are about 13 to 15 °C (55 to 59 °F) from June to August. A single month can be cooler or warmer and wetter or drier than the average.
When do the highland roads open?
It depends on the route and on snow. From 2021 to 2025 the routes in the table opened between 23 May and 15 July. Check the current status before you go, and do not count on a route being open in early June.
Can I see the northern lights in summer?
No. June is too bright for them. The usual window is September to April.
Do I need to reserve Landmannalaugar?
In 2026, arrivals between 09:00 and 16:00 needed a reservation from 20 June to 13 September. Outside those hours, the vehicle fee was still due.
Is September part of summer?
Not fully. The summer bus timetable and the reservation period end on different days, and the road is not automatically open. See the September guide.