Reykjavik sits at about 64.1 degrees north latitude. The Arctic Circle begins at about 66.5 degrees north, so Reykjavik lies just south of it.

How daylight flips between the two seasons

Near the summer solstice around June 21, Reykjavik gets roughly 21 hours of daylight and the sky never goes completely dark. On the summer solstice in Reykjavik the sun sets just after midnight and rises again before 3 am. Because Reykjavik is south of the Arctic Circle, the sun still technically sets in summer, so it sees bright midnight-sun twilight rather than a true never-setting sun. Near the winter solstice around December 21, Reykjavik has only about 4 to 5 hours of usable daylight. Use the Daylight Calculator to help plan your trip.

What the weather and temperatures feel like in each season

In Reykjavik the summers are short and cool while the winters are long, snowy, windy and overcast. July is the warmest month in Reykjavik, averaging about 12 C. Summer daytime highs in Reykjavik commonly reach about 13 to 16 C. January is the coldest month in Reykjavik, averaging about 0 C.

Experiences that only summer makes possible

Iceland's midnight-sun bright nights run from about May to August, peaking around the June solstice. Atlantic puffins nest in Iceland from about May through August, with colonies fully back by early May. May through August is the best window for whale watching in Iceland, and humpbacks and minkes are the most commonly sighted species. Highland F-roads in Iceland are open only seasonally, usually from about late June to early September, and close in winter for safety. Landmannalaugar in the highlands is reachable only when the F-roads are open, roughly late June through early September. By law a 4x4 vehicle is required to drive Iceland's F-roads.

Experiences that belong to the winter half of the year

Iceland's northern lights season runs from about late August through mid-April, when nights are dark enough for the aurora to show. From about May to late August the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright for the northern lights to be seen. The equinox months of September and March are considered the strongest for aurora viewing in Iceland. The best hours to watch for the northern lights are roughly 9 pm to 2 am. Natural glacier ice cave tours in Iceland run from about November through March, when the ice is cold enough to be stable and safe to enter.

Choosing the season that fits your trip and comparing tours

You can compare Reykjavik tours to see the current options.