May 17, 2018

They say if you blink, you'll miss spring in Iceland. This brief period of rebirth only lasts momentarily before the country gets swept up in the long days of summer.

Read on to learn all about Iceland's incredible spring.

Many call spring in Iceland the "Goldilocks period" where visitors can have it all - Northern Lights AND daylight, warmer temperatures AND snowy mountains, businesses are open AND they are less expensive. 

Though the season is brief, anyone who catches Iceland during this time is truly lucky. Here are some top tips for exploring Iceland in April: 

Reasons to visit Iceland in April:

• Fewer visitors: prices are cheaper, easier to book accommodations
• Fewer people in the background of your photos 
• More daylight, but still possible to see the Northern Lights
• Catch the tail end of winter activities, and the start of summer activities 
• Migratory animals - like birds and whales - pass through the island 
• Safer road conditions (though snow storms are still possible) 
• Hike in more daylight and warmer temperatures, but still enjoy the beauty of snow-covered peaks
• Budding flowers

Iceland daylight in April

As April progresses, the days get longer. At the beginning of the month, the sun rises around 6:45 AM, and sets around 8:20 PM.  By the end of the month, the sun rises around 5:00 AM and sets around 10:00 PM, adding over 3 hours of daylight to the day. 

Average Iceland temperature in April is usually pretty warm

Weather in Iceland is predictably unpredictable, so it is important to pack for any circumstance, no matter the month.  Check out our Iceland in Spring guide for packing suggestions.

April is characterized by continuously rising temperatures.  At the beginning of the month, the average temperature is around 30°F (-1°C), and by the end of the month, the average temperature is around 37°F (3°C).  

There are plenty of festivities going on in April

One of the most exciting parts of visiting Iceland is the nation's propensity to celebrate - anything!  Every month has a plethora of festivals and events, and April is no exception.  Some of the most popular include: 

• The Icelandic Music Experiments (an Icelandic battle of the bands) - final night, April 1
• Iceland Writers Retreat - April 5-9
• AK Extreme snowboarding festival - April 6-9
• The Reykjavík Blues Festival - April 8 - 13
• "I never went South" music festival - April 13 -15 
• Children’s Cultural Festival - April 25 - 30
• "Week of Joy" traditional arts festival - April 30 - May 7
• Easter - Easter celebrations throughout the country
• The first day of summer - first Thursday after April 18th 

The must-do activities in April

• Northern Lights: Check out our Northern Lights guide for your best chance of seeing these wonders 
• Glacier tours: Snæfellsjökull is popular 
• Visiting Jökulsárlón - a beautiful glacial lagoon 
• Swimming in outdoor swimming pools
• Whale watching
• Bird watching - the famous puffin usually returns to the island in mid-April 
• Skydiving (opens in April)
• Skiing: April is the last full month that Iceland's ski resorts are open (near Akureyri)
• Snowmobiling on Mýrdalsjökull glacier 
• Caving: Last month to explore ice caves before they are all closed the season! Locals recommend Mt Katla.
• Hot springs while the air is still cold  

For more activities, take a look at our Iceland in Spring guide.

Top tips for Iceland in April

• As Iceland's tourism industry grows, a lot of things are changing - and fast. More and more information published on the web is becoming out of date.  It is important to confirm that places like restaurants, guest houses, or museums are open or closed - a lot of things are changing as the number of tourists visiting rises.
• Melting snow = falling rocks... be alert when exploring inclines
• Book accommodations early for the best prices - discounts can be huge on sites like Airbnb and VRBO when booked far enough in advance.

Hiking trails that are open in April in Iceland

While there are many phenomenal and well-trodden hiking trails in Iceland, a lot of exploring in the country could be considered "off-roading," or, to put it less lightly, "do at your own risk."  As tourism grows, this is changing, but it is often less about trails being "open," and more about the safety of those who attempt to wander up mountains in inclement weather.  Additionally, the roads leading to trails can be closed and prevent hikers from reaching the summit.

For this reason, it is important to check weather, and road conditions in Iceland in the days leading up to your hike.  Some popular and usually safe options for April include: 

• Mt. Esja: mountain near Reykjavík with a view of the city 
• Svínafellsjökull: relatively easy hike to a glacier viewpoint
• Seljavallalaug: easy hike to a (luke-warm) outdoor pool, hidden within the mountains 

Driving tips in Iceland in April

• Be prepared for anything (unpredictable)
• For longer trips, bring items like a shovel, rope, and warm clothes
• Plan, but know the limitations of planning too far in advance - weather changes very fast in Iceland
• Use Iceland's road condition website to check for closings 
• 4WD is recommended, especially at the beginning of the month when the weather is more temperamental
• Off-road driving is illegal.