Your Ultimate Guide to Iceland in the Summer
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Iceland in the summer is waterfalls and green mountains. It’s blue lagoons and 20 hours of sunlight daily! In our opinion, Iceland in the Summer is absolutely the best time to visit and to see all this breathtaking country has to offer.
Getting around
Most travelers to Iceland arrive via Keflavik airport just outside of Reykjavik. When we went, we opted to rent a car at the airport and shared the cost with friends we were traveling with. Most of your car options are extremely compact, which can be challenging if you have a lot of luggage 😬. #lessonlearned Driving was similar to driving in the States, except the weather adds a bit of adventure! (More on the weather later 😉) Having a vehicle allows you to drive and see many of the waterfalls and parks that are outside of Reykjavik. Check out this post to learn how we score car rentals on the cheap!
What to see
Reykjavik is a nice city and easy to navigate. Definitely check it out! One of our favorite restaurants was Saegreifinn. They had the best lobster bisque and homemade bread!
If you are ready to get out and see some of the stunning landscapes of Iceland, you can head to The Golden Circle. It is a drive around some of the best sights in Iceland and it’s not too far from Reykjavik! It includes Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. It is a must see!
Gullfoss Waterfall on The Golden Circle in Iceland
Another must see is our favorite waterfall: Seljalandsfoss. You can hike up to it and actually go behind it! It’s truly amazing!
Babes at Seljalandsfoss….We got soaked!!!
One more top sight we 100% recommend is Blue Lagoon. Soak in the silica white, warm waters for the ultimate in spa treatments! (Man, I ❤️ that place!)
Midnight Sun
Maybe you have heard this term before but Iceland gives it new meaning! At one or two in the morning you can look outside and you would think it’s early evening. I don’t remember it actually getting dark while we were in Iceland in July….only like dusk. This is awesome because the National parks are open 24 hours a day, so as long as you want to stay up, you can check them out anytime….even 2 AM! So cool! We know many want to see the Northern Lights and for this reason go to Iceland in the winter months, and it probably is super cool….but in our opinion, nothing beats the MIDNIGHT SUN!
Weather
The weather in Iceland is……interesting! In July, temps were pretty mild. (50’s and 60’s) Rain and clouds are common as well as high winds (there are not many trees to break the wind) so real feel can be chilly. I purchased this packable down jacket in black and wore it every day! Layers with a sweater or sweatshirt are also a good idea….even in July I remember being cold most of our time there! 🥶🥶🥶
We also recommend water resistant shoes/boots. Babes had some awesome duck boots like these that he wore the whole time! I opted for some Asics trail shoes. They worked well, although we didn’t do any serious hikes…just short ones!
Where to stay
Reykjavik offers many options for accommodations. There are hotels, (Hilton and Marriott have properties here) hostels, and our choice for this stay- Airb&b’s! We found a great house in Reykjavik with parking. It was perfect for us and the other couple traveling with us.
Bottom line
Iceland is truly one of our favorite ❤️ places we have ever traveled to! We hope this guide to Iceland in the summer will help you prepare and enjoy your next trip to this amazing country! Happy Travels!
