Published 1st May. 2025
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With lingering daylight, lush landscapes and adventurous outdoor activities, a summer holiday in Iceland promises to be one for the books. At this time of year, the weather is at its warmest (10°C on average, mind you, so don’t forget your winter knits) and the light barely fades thanks to the Midnight Sun. From hiking and hot springs to whale watching and glacier tours, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Read on for some inspiration on how to spend summer in Iceland...
Experience the magical Midnight Sun during summer in Iceland. Visit from mid-June to witness this natural spectacle, when daylight stretches across the country for nearly 24 hours, especially in the north. With the extra hours, you can pack in scenic hikes aplenty. Some of our favourites are in the Snaefellsnes Peninsula where you can summit the Snaefellsjokull volcano and discover the black sand of Dritvik Cove. For an unmatched photo opportunity, visit the Seljalandsfoss waterfall on the south coast. It’s one of the country’s most famous falls and in summer you can even walk behind the dramatic 197ft drop (just be sure to arrive early to beat the summer crowds).
Image by Galyna Andrushko / Fotolia.com
Keen to relax during your Iceland holiday? The longer summer days offer the perfect conditions for hot spring soaks. Beyond the Blue Lagoon’s geothermal waters, plenty of other hot springs are well worth a dip. Visit the Secret Lagoon in Fludir, which is known as Iceland’s oldest pool and often called Gamla Laugin (Old Pool) by locals. Surrounded by small geysers, the mineral-rich waters are kept at a soothing 38 to 40°C. Or, opt for the Myvatn Nature Baths in north Iceland, where you can soak in the therapeutic waters before a rejuvenating steam bath overlooking Lake Myvatn.
Image by Robert Rozbora / Fotolia.com
Summer in Iceland is all about celebrations, and from June, festival season is in full swing. Kick off your cultural calendar at the Reykjavik Arts Festival where venues across the city become backdrops for visual art installations, and music, dance and theatre performances. Or, if you have youngsters in tow, time your trip to catch the Viking Festival in Hafnarfjordur which has battle reenactments, craft markets and food stalls. June 17th is another key date in the calendar, marking Iceland’s Independence Day, when the country severed centuries-old ties with Denmark. Celebrations include parades with marching bands, markets selling traditional Icelandic food and crafts, and street performances.
And if you’re visiting Iceland in August? Experience Reykjavik Culture Night: think exhibitions, theatrical performances and live music. Or, round off the month at the capital city’s Jazz Festival, founded in 1990, it’s Iceland’s second-longest-running music festival.
Image by Thomas Linkel/LAIF-REA
Summer in Iceland is also prime whale-watching season. A mix of warm and cold ocean currents and long daylight hours brings fish and krill into Iceland’s waters, and the whales soon follow. Visit Husavik, nicknamed the ‘Whale Watching Capital of Iceland’ for the chance to spot minke, humpback and blue whales on a group boat tour. Or, for a quieter experience, head to Holmavik, in the Westfjords, where summer brings reliable whale sightings. Grab your binoculars, hop aboard a boat and watch for splashing tails – humpbacks are the most common species in the area.
Image by gtn / Unsplash.com
Up for an adventure? Start with Iceland’s highlands, which are only accessible during summer. Hop in a 4x4, venture off-road, and enjoy a private day-tour of this remote region’s breathtaking scenery. Expect vast lava fields, crater lakes and huge craggy mountains.
Prefer to explore on foot? Head to Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, the northernmost tip of the Westfjords, for a guided hike along the jagged cliffs and remote wilderness. Home to some of the best hikes in Iceland, plan your visit to Hornstrandir between late June and mid-August, when ferries are running and huts and hotels are open for the season.
Image by Matthieu Ricard
Written by Amy Larsen | Header image by Cécile Rosenstrauch
Using a wealth of experience, our team can help you venture off the well-trodden trail of the Golden Circle to areas such as the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, a microcosm of the ‘land of fire and ice’, or to the Highlands in the country’s centre for epic hiking trips. We plan every experience to suit you, whether you want to snowmobile across a glacier or taste freshly caught seafood on the deck of a fishing trawler. In a country where changeable weather conditions and volcanic activity can quickly disrupt plans, our excellent team of local guides and our helpful Concierges offer invaluable support.
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