May 17, 2018

Iceland is beautiful year round, but between the long days, warmer temperatures, and an insane amount of festivals, it is no surprise that everyone wants to visit Iceland in the summer! Read on to learn all about what to do in Iceland during its short-but-magical warmer months. 

6 reasons why you should visit Iceland in summer

1. The Midnight Sun
2.  More hiking trails are open
3. Summer festivals
4. Wildlife returns to the island
5.  The Central Highlands are open
6. Camping grounds are open!

The best summer activities in Iceland

There are a plethora of activities in Iceland that can be done year round, but there are a select few - like exploring the Central Highlands- that can only be done in the summer! Some of the most popular include:

• Camping: Iceland has over 150 registered camping sites, and publishes a guide every year to camping in the country that can be viewed online. 
• Hiking: One of the most popular summer activities in Iceland! The country is filled with trails and vistas.  
• Watersports: Kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding, and boat rides 
• Museum-hopping 
• Glacier hikes
• Snowmobiling (yes, even in the Summer -  that is the beauty of Iceland!)
• Festivals: There are so many festivals in Iceland in the summer. Check out our month by month guides below to get information on what is happening every month. 
• Puffin watching: Puffins return to Iceland for the summer.
• Whale watching: Summer is peak whale watching season in Iceland.  
• Party and bar hopping: Iceland's famous nightlife is even more exciting in the summer when daylight stretches into the early hours of the morning! 
• Eat ice-cream: Even if it is cold, eating ice-cream is a national past-time in Iceland. 
• Berry picking (end of summer): We can suggest a site to pick some of Iceland's wild berries. 
• Northern Light Hunting (August only): Check out our Northern Lights Guide for catching the lights in August!

Check out our guides to Iceland for each month in the summer

• June
• July
• August

Iceland Summer Packing List

The summer is peak tourist season in Iceland, and the island is more crowded than usual. Summer is a perfect time to have a local plan your trip. They will be able to suggest spots off the beaten path so you can beat the crowds, and enjoy your time in Iceland. As with any time of year, layers are key when packing to go to Iceland in the summer. Your packing list should include: 

• Swimsuit (always!)
• Thermal layers
• Thin jacket
• Wind breaker
• Gloves
• Hat
• Scarf 
• Hiking boots
• Thick socks
• Thick jacket 
• Street clothes: Jeans, sweaters, shoes
• A nice outfit (if you plan on going to a nice restaurant)