Iceland in Winter vs. Summer

If you are in the beginning phases of planning a trip to Iceland, you may be torn over when to make the visit. Deciding when to explore Iceland can be a tough choice, as the country offers year-round beauty and fun.

In winter, you can enjoy cold weather and hours of beautiful sunset-like lighting. You can also possibly experience some snowfall and the stunning Northern Lights.

During summer, the weather is warmer, days are much longer, and the landscape is a gorgeous shade of green. However, the crowds are larger, and travel-related costs can be more expensive this time of year.

To help you better visualize what Reykjavík and the countryside will look like in winter vs. summer, here are some photos I’ve taken of the scenery during different seasons.

Reykjavík

Thingvellir National Park

Roadways

More Winter Shots

In Winter, Gullfoss’ water is bright blue and pops against the white snow. You can also see plenty of dazzling blue ice at the glaciers. And, the vibrant sunsets are hard to beat. Of course, the Northern Lights are also epic.

More Summer Shots

It’s easier to cover more ground during the summer months, as winter storms aren’t an issue, and the Midnight Sun provides ample daylight. This means you’ll have plenty of time to stare in awe at the beautiful countryside that sits among snow-dusted mountains and glistening lakes. During the summer months, the famous lupines are also in bloom. This is both a good and bad thing. While they are beautiful to look at (and photograph) and help protect against topsoil loss and erosion, they are invasive to the Icelandic landscape and choke out native plants, including mosses. (There’s your fun fact for the day!)

Rest assured you can’t really go wrong when it comes to visiting Iceland. With that being said, I should admit that winter is my favorite time of year in this magical country. I’m a sucker for the cold weather and smaller crowds. There’s also something I really love about the short days. That’s probably the writer and bookworm in me.

If you want to learn more about my favorite season in Iceland, you can read my article about Iceland in December, here.

Get in Touch

For additional information about Iceland, feel free to reach out. You can comment below or email me at emilykeenphotography@gmail.com.