How many hours of daylight does Iceland get in summer and winter?

Around the summer solstice Reykjavik gets about 21 hours of daylight, and around the winter solstice about 4 hours. The exact figure depends on the date and how far north you are, which is what the calculator shows.

Does Iceland have a midnight sun?

Yes, in the far north around midsummer. Iceland's mainland sits just south of the Arctic Circle, so places like Isafjordur see the sun stay up around the clock near the summer solstice.

What time zone is Iceland in?

Iceland stays on GMT (UTC) all year and does not use daylight saving, so the sunrise and sunset times shown here are already local Icelandic time.

Seasonal planner

Iceland Daylight Hours Calculator

Daylight in Iceland swings further than almost anywhere people visit. Pick a location and date to see the sunrise, sunset, and how long the day lasts.

Location

Date

Sunrise: 04:05
Daylight: 18h 58m
Sunset: 23:03

Times are in Icelandic time (GMT), which Iceland uses all year. Sunrise and sunset use the standard horizon, so twilight lasts a little longer at each end.

Why the daylight here is so extreme

Iceland sits just below the Arctic Circle, which runs at about 66.5 degrees north, so the length of the day changes dramatically with the season. Around the summer solstice, Reykjavik gets roughly 21 hours of daylight and never truly goes dark; around the winter solstice it drops to about 4 hours. The further north you go, the more extreme it gets: the far northwest and the island of Grimsey, right on the Arctic Circle, see the midnight sun in midsummer.

One thing that trips people up: Iceland stays on GMT all year and does not change its clocks, so the times above are already local time, with no daylight-saving offset to apply.

Planning around the light

The short winter days are the trade-off for the reason many people come in that season: long, dark nights are what make the northern lights visible. If you are visiting between autumn and spring, plan sightseeing for the daylight window this tool shows, and keep the dark hours for aurora watching. Compare guided northern lights tours if that is on your list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours of daylight does Iceland get in summer and winter?: Around the summer solstice Reykjavik gets about 21 hours of daylight, and around the winter solstice about 4 hours. The exact figure depends on the date and how far north you are, which is what the calculator shows.
Does Iceland have a midnight sun?: Yes, in the far north around midsummer. Iceland's mainland sits just south of the Arctic Circle, so places like Isafjordur see the sun stay up around the clock near the summer solstice.
What time zone is Iceland in?: Iceland stays on GMT (UTC) all year and does not use daylight saving, so the sunrise and sunset times shown here are already local Icelandic time.