Best Time to Visit Iceland: A Month-by-Month Guide
Midnight sun, northern lights and the months with the easiest roads.
Read the guide →
The Iceland travel guide
Discover
Iceland.
The land of fire and ice.
Reykjavík · Golden Circle · South Coast · Snæfellsnes · North · Westfjords
About the guide
One island.
Every corner.
Iceland is small enough to drive around in a week and wild enough to fill a lifetime. Discover Iceland is a complete travel guide to the island: when to go, how to get around, where to stay, what to eat, what it costs, how to drive safely, and how to read the weather.
874traditional year of the first permanent settlement
930the Althing, Iceland’s parliament, first met at Þingvellir
1944year Iceland became an independent republic
The series
One island. Two seasons.
Iceland is a different country in July and in January. The complete guide covers the whole island all year, and three companion books go deeper: a summer edition, a winter edition and a guide to the northern lights.
The complete guide
Waterfalls, glaciers and black sand.
Mornings at the waterfalls, afternoons on the ice, evenings in a hot pool. The travel guide is built around regions, road trips and easy days out, with maps for each area.
See the regions on the map →- ReykjavíkColourful streets, harbour, pools and Hallgrímskirkja.
- The Golden CircleÞingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss in one day.
- The South CoastWaterfalls, black beaches and glacier lagoons.
- Snæfellsnes & the NorthKirkjufell, Lake Mývatn and whale watching.
The complete guide · Coming soon
Discover IcelandThe Complete Travel Guide
Regions, road trips & maps
- Region by region
- Ring Road & day-trip routes
- Hot pools & where to swim
- Weather, daylight & aurora calendar
Start here
Iceland highlights
Golden CircleGullfossTwo drops into a deep canyon.
Golden CircleGeysir & StrokkurStrokkur erupts every few minutes.
South CoastSeljalandsfossA waterfall with a path behind it.
South CoastReynisfjaraBlack sand and basalt columns.
South CoastSólheimajökullA glacier tongue you can walk on with a guide.
VatnajökullJökulsárlónIcebergs drifting out to sea.
East IcelandHengifossRed stripes in a basalt canyon.
HighlandsCrater lakesBlue water in black volcanic craters.
HighlandsMælifellA green cone on a black desert.
HveragerðiReykjadalurHike to a warm river you can bathe in.
WinterNorthern lightsClear, dark nights from September to April.
SnæfellsnesKirkjufellThe peninsula's much-photographed peak.
Fire & ice
Built by volcanoes. Carved by ice.
Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates pull apart, so it is still being made. Glaciers cover about a tenth of the island, the Reykjanes peninsula near the airport has erupted again and again since 2021, and hot water from underground heats about nine in ten homes.
Read the history →The history of Iceland
An island of sagas.
Norse settlers, a parliament in the open air, centuries under Norway and Denmark, then a republic. The guide opens with the story behind the landscape.
- Settlement and the sagas
- The Althing at Þingvellir, 930
- Norwegian and Danish rule
- The republic, 17 June 1944
Northern lights
When the sky comes alive.
From about September to April, clear and dark nights can light up green over the whole island. You need three things: darkness, a clear sky and solar activity. The Icelandic Met Office publishes a cloud and aurora forecast every evening, and a few nights away from town lights give you the best chance.
When to see them →- SeasonLate August to mid-April, darkest from November to February.
- WhereAnywhere dark: Snæfellsnes, the south coast, the north.
- ForecastCheck cloud cover first, then the aurora activity.
- The guideA full Northern Lights edition is on the way.
From the journal
Tips, maps & field notes
Where to Stay in Iceland: Bases Compared
Reykjavík, the South Coast, Akureyri and more, by route and style of trip.
Read the guide →
Getting Around Iceland: Car, Bus & Flights
Renting a car, the Ring Road, F-roads, and when the bus makes sense.
Read the guide →
The seasonal editions
Midnight sun or winter dark.
In June the sun barely sets and the highland roads open. In December there are four hours of daylight, the roads can close with snow, and the sky comes alive at night. Each season gets its own book, with routes, gear and safety for that time of year.
Get notified when they launch →- Summer editionHighlands, hikes, puffins and the midnight sun.
- Winter editionIce caves, snow driving and short bright days.
- Northern lightsForecasts, dark-sky spots and how to photograph them.
- Shoulder monthsWhich book to take in May, September or October.
The summer edition · Coming soon
Discover IcelandSummer Edition
Midnight sun, highlands & hikes
- The highlands & F-roads
- Hikes & multi-day treks
- Puffins & whale watching
- Camping & hot pools
The winter edition · Coming soon
Discover IcelandWinter Edition
Ice, snow & short days
- Ice caves & glacier hikes
- Driving in snow & wind
- Short-day itineraries
- Christmas & New Year
The aurora guide · Coming soon
Discover IcelandNorthern Lights
When, where & how to see them
- Reading the aurora forecast
- Dark-sky spots by region
- Camera & phone settings
- Tours or on your own
Beyond the postcards
Discover the quiet Iceland.
Past the tour buses the island goes silent: fishing villages in the Westfjords, empty fjords in the east, and highland valleys where the only sound is the wind. The guide points you there too.
The island
Six regions, one Ring Road.
Schematic map, not to scale. The grey line is Route 1, the Ring Road.
The guides
Four guides, every season.
The complete guide and the summer, winter and northern lights editions are in preparation. Leave your email below and we will tell you the day each one launches.
The complete guide
Discover Iceland
Regions, road trips & maps
Coming soon
Summer edition
Discover Iceland
Midnight sun, highlands & hikes
Coming soon
Winter edition
Discover Iceland
Ice, snow & short days
Coming soon
Northern lights
Discover Iceland
When, where & how to see them
Coming soon
Free download
The Iceland Travel Checklist
A free two-page checklist for planning your trip, from landing at Keflavík to your last soak in a hot pool.
One email per new guide. Unsubscribe any time.
- Getting there: Keflavík & transfers
- Schengen entry rules before you fly
- Car hire, insurance & road.is
- Wind, rain & what to pack
- Beach, glacier & road safety
- Emergency number (112)
Part of the Discover series. Independent travel guides, one destination at a time.
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