16-08-2024
Iceland is becoming an increasingly popular tourist hotspot, with its icy glaciers, fiery volcanoes, steaming hot springs, cascading waterfalls and majestic mountains offering incredible natural landscapes to explore. But when is the best time to visit Iceland?
If you’re thinking of visiting Iceland in October, you’re in the right place! Our complete Iceland October travel guide will give you a good idea of what Iceland is like in October, what weather conditions and temperatures you can expect and the best things to see and do, plus top travel tips and things to pack – let’s get started!
For those travelers wondering ‘is October a good time to visit Iceland?’, these pros and cons will give you some insights into what October is like on this Nordic island.
See the spectacular Northern Lights – One of the best things you can do in Iceland is watch the incredible dancing light show that is the Northern Lights. Only visible throughout the winter months, the Northern Lights grace the skies of Iceland between September and April, making October a brilliant month for those keen to see the aurorae for themselves.
Explore Iceland without the crowds – As October falls within Iceland’s autumn season, there are less tourists on the island after the busy summer period. This means you can enjoy Iceland’s stunning nature without all the crowds.
Cheaper shoulder season prices – Another benefit of visiting Iceland in October is the cheaper prices for attractions, accommodation, travel and other expenses. As October is shoulder season, prices are generally lower for visitors than they would otherwise be during summer.
Whale tours are operating – Wildlife enthusiasts will love the chance to go see whales in their natural habitat. April to October is whale-watching season in Iceland, with a whole range of guided tours you can take to spot these majestic marine mammals at sea.
Midnight Sun is no longer visible – One amazing natural phenomenon that you can’t see in Iceland in October is the Midnight Sun, as this only occurs during summer when the sun stays above the horizon for almost all hours of the day.
Highlands are inaccessible – If you’d love to hike in Iceland’s remote interior region, keep in mind that the natural wilderness area of the Icelandic Highlands is only accessible during summer. This is due to harsh weather conditions making the roads that lead there unsafe at all other times of year.
Puffins are no longer on the island – For those travelers who’d love to see puffins in real life, you’ll need to visit Iceland between May and August, as they have all left the island by the time October comes around.
So, what exactly is the weather like in Iceland in October? Well, October weather in Iceland is definitely cool and conditions can vary, but there are frequent rain showers and it can also be quite windy.
October is actually one of the wettest months in Iceland, with a total of around 77 millimeters of rain falling throughout the month. There can occasionally be some sleet, but usually no snow, unless you visit the very north of the island.
One of the key things to remember about weather in Iceland in October is that it’s highly changeable, so we definitely recommend wearing waterproof outer layers!
Temperatures in Iceland in October usually range from between 2°C to 7°C (36°F to 45°F), with the average temperature hovering around 4ºC (39ºF). Although the warmer summer months are over, October is still milder than winter in Iceland, with temperatures not yet reaching freezing.
Iceland’s daylight hours in October are around 12 hours of daylight per day, giving you plenty of time to go out and about exploring. Sunrise times vary between about 7:30am at the start of October and 9am at the end of October, with sunset times varying between about 7pm at the start of the month and 5:15pm at the end of the month.
Yes, you can see the Northern Lights in Iceland in October! As October is an autumn month in Iceland, the skies are dark enough to be able to see the Northern Lights. You’ll also need clear skies to view the aurora, so if you’re really keen to see the Northern Lights in Iceland in October, we recommend checking the Aurora Forecast for Iceland ahead of time to see what your chances are of spotting these colorful lights on a particular night.
Here’s a list of some essentials to remember to pack when visiting Iceland in October, in addition to the basics (like underwear, pjs, basic clothes, medication, toiletries etc.):
Swimwear and a towel (for the hot springs)
Waterproof jacket
Hiking shoes
Camera and a waterproof case
Sunglasses (for visiting glaciers)
Wool socks
Hat, scarf and gloves
Driving is by far the best way of exploring Iceland, as you have complete freedom to go wherever you desire, all according to your own schedule. As the winter weather hasn’t hit the island yet, driving in Iceland in October is fairly easy.
Most roads will be open, apart from the mountainous F-roads that lead to the Icelandic Highlands, as these are only accessible in summer. There are certain other F-roads that may be open in October, so it’s worth bearing in mind that these require a 4x4 vehicle to traverse.
Some of the most popular road trips in Iceland are the Golden Circle route near the capital of Reykjavik, the Diamond Circle in North Iceland and the Ring Road that loops the entire island.
Discover some of the best things to do in Iceland in October, including places to visit, sights to see and tours to join!
A must-see during your time in Iceland in October is the awe-inspiring light show that is the Northern Lights. As solar flares reach the Earth and interact with our planet’s magnetosphere, colorful lights are produced, mostly green, red, blue, yellow and purple. Take a look through our Northern Lights in Iceland guide for some top tips for spotting the brilliant aurora.
The gorgeous Snæfellsnes Peninsula in Western Iceland is a highly underrated area of natural beauty. It’s actually nicknamed ‘Iceland in miniature’ because it contains almost all of Iceland’s geological features, including a volcano, glacier, mountains, beaches, cave, lava field, crater, gorge and more!
In fact, one of the most photographed mountains in all of Iceland called Kirkjufell Mountain lies in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. You can also visit Bjarnarhofn Shark Museum, take a boat tour to spot the orcas and whales out at sea, and explore the 8,000-year-old lava tube at Vatnshellir Cave.
When visiting Iceland in October, you’ll have the unique opportunity to see whales up close by taking a Whale Watching Boat Tour. Watching these massive mammals glide and jump in the sea is an unforgettable sight to behold. Make sure to bring your camera and a case to protect it from any spray from the sea.
Soaking in Iceland’s hot springs is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing experiences you can have on our Nordic island. From the world-famous Blue Lagoon near the capital, to lesser-known geothermal lagoons and hot springs, such as Hrunalaug and Gudrunarlaug, Iceland has no shortage of mineral-rich natural waters you can bathe in.
The amazing Kerid volcanic crater houses a lake of milky blue-green water surrounded by red and black rock. Part of the Golden Circle road trip route in Iceland, Kerid crater can be found in the Grimsnes area in South Iceland and is part of the Western Volcanic Zone. Formed by a volcanic eruption around 6,500 years ago, this epic natural wonder is a breathtaking sight you won’t soon forget!
Although it’s known as the Land of Ice and Fire for its glaciers and volcanoes, Iceland is also famous for its incredible waterfalls. With over 10,000 waterfalls dotted across the island, it takes a special something to make it into the list of the top 20 waterfalls to visit in Iceland.
Among these flowing falls are the double-drop Gullfoss Waterfall, also known as ‘the Golden Falls’, and Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, which you can actually walk behind! Also included is the mighty, horseshoe-shaped Godafoss Waterfall, or ‘the Waterfalls of the Gods’.
With its accessible harbor, Reykjavik is the perfect place to take a boat tour during your visit to Iceland in October. Glide along the water during the day to admire the city from the sea, or even take an evening boat tour to see the Northern Lights away from the light pollution. For example, this Horses and Northern Lights Boat Tour gives you the chance to ride the unique and beautiful Icelandic horses during the day, then take to the water at night to spot the aurora – amazing!
Lined with striking basalt rock columns, the dramatic Reynisfjara black sand beach is another unmissable natural wonder to visit when in Iceland in October. Walking onto the black volcanic sand, it almost feels like you’re on another planet! Just be sure to stay far away from the shore as this beach is famous for massive and dangerous sneaker wakes that seemingly come out of nowhere.
While you’re at Reynisfjara, you can also visit the picturesque fishing village of Vik, which lies just behind the beach. With colorful houses and a quaint red and white wooden church atop a hill, this small Icelandic village of only around 300 people is well-worth a visit to get a taste of authentic Icelandic village life.
We’re sure you’re going to want to see a glacier at some point during your time in Iceland in October! Why not explore a glacier by actually hiking on it or taking an ice cave tour? There are loads of fun and exciting ways to explore glaciers in Iceland, including this amazing Glacier Hike Experience on Solheimajokull Glacier and this epic Ice Cave Tour at Vatnajokull Glacier. Remember that you always need an experienced guide when exploring glaciers in Iceland for safety reasons.
The beautiful coastal city of Akureyri on the northern coast of Iceland is home to loads of interesting museums and galleries, a port, and amazing natural spaces (including botanic gardens, a forest and mountains). One of the best places in Iceland to spot whales, the waters around Akureyri are home to a diverse range of marine wildlife.
While you’re in North Iceland, definitely take the chance to visit the spectacular Lake Myvatn and the surrounding hot springs, lava field and wetlands.
With a whole range of museums and galleries to visit and amazing architecture to see, Reykjavik is the perfect place to discover Iceland’s cultural heritage. From the tallest church in Iceland (Hallgrimskirkja), to one of the world’s oldest parliaments (the Althing), the spectacular Harpa concert hall and the wonderful harborside, you’ll be spoilt for choice for what to see in Reykjavik.
As for museums and galleries, we highly recommend Perlan, which houses the world’s first indoor ice cave and a realistic Northern Lights simulation. The open-air Reykjavik City Museum takes you through the story of the island’s Viking past, the National Museum of Iceland teaches you all about famous, notable Icelanders, and the Whales of Iceland Museum guides you through fascinating facts about these majestic sea creatures.
Now we know all about the top things to see and do in Iceland in October, let’s take a look at special festivals and events you might want to attend on the island at this time of year.
Reykjavik in October plays host to movie lovers from all over the world as they flock to join RIFF (Reykjavik International Film Festival). Showing over 200 films from 40 countries, RIFF highlights independent films and also features a range of engaging talks, events and even a swim-in cinema!
Each year in October, the Imagine Peace Tower, which is located on Videy island just off the coast near Reykjavik, is lit up. Shining a tower of light 4000 meters into the sky, the Imagine Peace Tower was built to commemorate John Lennon and has the words ‘imagine peace’ carved into it in 24 different languages. Easily visible from Reykajvik, the tower remains lit between Lennon’s birthday, October 9th, and the anniversary of his death, December 9th.
As it’s October, we can’t forget about Halloween! Although Halloween is newer to Iceland than other countries, more and more Halloween-themed events are popping up each year. Whether you fancy heading out at night to a Halloween-themed party in the local bars or clubs, or you want to visit the Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft, you’re welcome to join in the festivities!
Inspired to visit Iceland for yourself? If you need a place to start when planning your own dream Iceland vacation, why not take a look through our range of affordable and reliable cars to rent in Iceland? Perfect for the trip of a lifetime, our tried and trusted rental cars will take you from glacier to volcano to hot spring, offering you complete freedom along the way. We look forward to welcoming you to our magical island very soon!