Hallgrímskirkja Church
Iceland is one of those places where the weather changes almost every hour but by far the best time to visit Iceland is in the summer.
We did a summer in Iceland so I will take you through all the cool things to do in Iceland in July. From where to stay, what to pack, best tours, driving in Iceland and how to to get the most of your holiday in Iceland in July and summer in general.
A holiday in Iceland in Summer gives you almost the full 24 hours in the day to explore if you so choose. We breezed through a list of must-see and things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland in July while days were almost 22 hours long.
The sunset would be around midnight or 1am and you could still walk around and explore the city, regardless of the fact that most places were closed. For more on what to see in Iceland in July, check out my post on top 20 things to do in Iceland.
Also See:
- The Best Areas To Stay In Reykjavik
- A Guide To Exploring Iceland’s Vik
- How To Find Iceland’s Hidden Pool
- A Trip To Diamond Lagoon In Jokusarlon
- What To Pack For Iceland
- Fun Facts To Know about Iceland Before You Visit
CONTENTS
- 1 Why Iceland In July Is The Best Time To Visit At A Glance
- 2 Things To Do In Iceland In July At A Glance
- 3 Summer In Iceland – Iceland Weather In July
- 4 Things To Do In Iceland In July And Summer Months
- 4.1 Explore The Reykjavik Into Midnight
- 4.2 Explore The Waterfalls And Geysers
- 4.3 Hike The Glaciers – Svinafellsjokull Glacier
- 4.4 Camp Next To Waterfalls | Camping At Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss
- 4.5 Explore Fairy Tale Scenery Of Eldharun Lava Fields
- 4.6 Float Away In Iceland’s Thermal Pools At Blue Lagoon
- 5 The Best Iceland Tours In July
- 6 What To Pack For Iceland In July And Summer In Iceland
- 7 Driving In Iceland In July
- 8 Where To Stay In Iceland In July
- 9 Pin For Later
Why Iceland In July Is The Best Time To Visit At A Glance
If you’ve ever dreamt of visiting Iceland, July is the month when this magical land truly shines. Here’s why July is the best time to explore the land of fire and ice:
- Midnight Sun: Experience the phenomenon of the midnight sun, where daylight stretches into the early hours of the morning and the sun barely sets. It’s a surreal experience that allows you to make the most of your day and night.
- Warmer Weather: July brings milder temperatures to Iceland, making it an ideal time for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and exploring the stunning landscapes. Pack your hiking boots and get ready to conquer the trails!
- Lush Greenery: With the arrival of summer, Iceland’s landscapes burst into vibrant green hues. The lush meadows and blooming wildflowers create picturesque scenes that are perfect for photography and relaxation.
- Wildlife Sightings: July is a fantastic time for wildlife enthusiasts. You can spot various bird species, including puffins, as well as seals and even the occasional whale on boat tours.
- Festivals and Events: Iceland comes alive with cultural festivals and events in July. From music festivals like Secret Solstice to local celebrations, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in Icelandic culture.
- Accessible Highlands: In July, many of Iceland’s highland roads and trails become accessible, allowing you to explore the remote and breathtaking interior regions.
- Hot Springs and Geothermal Pools: Enjoy a dip in Iceland’s famous hot springs and geothermal pools. The warmer weather makes the experience even more refreshing.
- Extended Daylight for Exploration: With daylight extending well into the night, you have more time to explore Iceland’s natural wonders, waterfalls, glaciers, and volcanoes.
Things To Do In Iceland In July At A Glance
- Visit the Blue Lagoon
- Explore the Ring Road and visit Icelandic Waterfalls; Skogafoss, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss…
- Whale watching in July in Iceland is the best time to see the creatures.
- Experience mid-night sunsets in Iceland in July
- Explore black sand beaches in Vik Iceland
- See Eldhraun’s lava fields
- See Geysers and bubbling mud pools
- Visit Hallgrímskirkja church and check out the views from the top
- Hike to find the hidden Seljavallalaug Pool in the mountains
- Hike Glacier lagoons
- Walk across black sand beaches in Iceland
- Visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
- Explore Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Summer In Iceland – Iceland Weather In July
Summer in Iceland is pretty beautiful! I am sure the winter is great too but from having friend’s get stuck in winter storms that disrupted exploring options and time, I don’t quite fancy taking that chances.
Visiting during the Summer in Iceland means that especially for those with a short holiday in Iceland in July or during June and August, you can really make the most of your time when the days are super long during this period.
Throughout the summer in Iceland; particularly in Reykjavik, there are nearly 24 hours of continuous daylight, while in the northern areas of the country the sun barely sets at all.
If you are exploring the Ring Road during Summer make sure you read my tips on Iceland by campervan. Below are details of weather in Iceland in July.
- Summer in Iceland: Summer in Iceland is in June, July and August and these months are relatively warm. The regular July temperature in the southern part of the island is 10°C to 13°C, however warm summer days can reach 20°C to 25ºC. The highest temperature recorded was 30°C in the Eastern fjords in August 1939.
- Winter: Icelandic winter is relatively mild but there can be winter storms now and then. The winter temperature in Iceland averages around 0°C in the south of Iceland in winter, while the highlands tend to average around -10°C. The lowest temperatures in the northern part of the isle vary from roughly -25°C to -30°C. The lowest temperature ever recorded was in January 1971 when the climate dropped to a freezing -39.7°C.
- The temperature in Iceland in July : According to Holiday-Weather, July is the hottest month in Iceland with the average temperature in Iceland in July at around 11°C (52°F). Yes, that is pretty cold still considering you will be surrounded by icebergs, glaciers, and waterfalls. We will cover what to pack below.
- Iceland weather in June, July, August: The days are as long 20-22 hours of daylight which means you can explore the waterfalls and other Ring Road sights until you want to sleep. In the evenings it doesn’t get really cold but this is still by far the warmest and best time to visit Iceland.
- Average temperatures in Iceland by July and through the year: Below are some of the average temperatures of Reykjavik during the year. For tips on visiting Iceland in March check out Diana’s Healthy Living post. If you are visiting Iceland for Northern Lights check out tips on things to know about the Aurora Borealis visuals.
Things To Do In Iceland In July And Summer Months
Explore The Reykjavik Into Midnight
When it comes to what to do in Reykjavik Iceland in July, the list is endless as the day is super long meaning that you can explore the Reykjavik colourful spots, you can explore Hallgrímskirkja Church, take in views from Perlan, explore the Sun Voyager.
Sun Voyager
Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik
Midnight sunset in Reykjavik
Explore The Waterfalls And Geysers
You will be amazed at just how many waterfalls Iceland has. Without fail, you will see one almost every couple of minutes driving along the Ring Road. From hidden waterfalls to waterfalls that you can walk behind, to waterfalls that had just so amazing that at the sheer volume of water falling across the gorges they created.
So, when considering whaIceland in iceland in July, you easily fill a whole itinerary with just hunting for beautiful and stunning waterfalls in Iceland. Check out my post on waterfalls in Iceland see more of mother nature’s masterpieces.
Hike The Glaciers – Svinafellsjokull Glacier
Exploring Iceland in July means you can get close to the glaciers without needing much equipment. We explored the area around Svinafellsjokull glacier, during winter the road leading up to the trail is covered in snow making it harder and much more dangerous to get as close as we did without needing additional equipment or a guide.
Hiking in Iceland in July is much more pleasant as you can see a lot more of the country without the need for a special guide. Although, I am not recommending you take to the glaciers on your own. Even walking around the lagoon by Svinafellsjokull requires you to be vigilant as two people died in that spot.
Exploring Svinafellsjokull – See below on what to pack for Iceland.
Camp Next To Waterfalls | Camping At Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss
With Iceland in July and summer months being mild, this is one of the best times to bring your camping gear. It also means you can save money on hotels as you can camp cheaply or freely on public lands. Look out for my next posts on Iceland campsites.
Camping in Iceland in July, although it does rain a little bit, camping during this time of year means you can enjoy the experience far more than when the weather is cold and wet like it is in the winter.
Iceland In July – Skogafoss waterfall camping
Explore Fairy Tale Scenery Of Eldharun Lava Fields
Explore the moss-covered lava fields of Iceland. Eldharun can be seen from the Ring Road. Although it’s not totally obvious in the shots below, we didn’t walk too far into the fields as I explain in my post on Eldharun, the stones below are unstable so we only explored to edges by the road.
It is advisable not to go too far onto the moss fields as firstly you don’t know how stable the earth is underneath also so as not to destroy the moss fields which takes a long time to form.
Exploring the beautiful moss lava fields of Eldharun
Float Away In Iceland’s Thermal Pools At Blue Lagoon
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The Best Iceland Tours In July
Match of our exploring in Iceland was self-guided but we did, however, do the whale watching tour from Reykjavik, you can also do Akureyri whale watching if you are going to be in the Northern side of Iceland. If you are self-driving in Iceland then you won’t really need to do the Golden Circle tour but if you are short on time or not driving then definitely check out the tours below.
Also tours for glacier walking, ice climbing, boat cruise on the glacier lagoons, for those you need a guide as they require special equipment and knowledge of the area. However, if you want to hike near(not on) a glacier then check out our exploration near Svinafelljokull Glacier Tongue.
For tours in and around Iceland check out Viator Tours, a Tripadvisor company, that also offer 10% off when you sign up to newsletters. Also check out Get Your Guide Tours below and on their site for an extensive list of tours and 1000s of reviews from tour guests.
What To Pack For Iceland In July And Summer In Iceland
This is summer in Iceland! – Thermals, knitted dress, wool coat and fur boots and all.
When considering what to pack for Iceland in July, don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is the type of location to pack your flip-flops, unless they are for the Blue Lagoon.
Also, definitely leave the summer maxi dresses behind unless you are doing one of those instagram shoots. Packing for Iceland in July, will still very much consist of warm thermals, wool coats, scarves and warm walking/hiking boots.
For a detailed look at clothes for Iceland in July check out my post on what to pack for Iceland. In the meant time make sure you pack:
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Pack thermals:
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Pack decent pair of walking shoes:
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Pack a warm coat:
Driving In Iceland In July
Driving in Iceland in July and the summer months is by far the best time to explore the island on a self-guided tour using rental cars. Although you will have rain at least you don’t have to contend with too radical weather patterns.
There isn’t a lot of snow to contend with on the roads making it easier to drive around Iceland’s Ring Road and get the most of your exploring the country. We did quick a lot of driving around Iceland around the Rind Road. Other than the whale watching tour, the majority of the exploring we did around Iceland were all self-guided while we explored in our campervan and our other rental car.
My only advice to you when planning a trip to Iceland in July is to consider booking your rental car or campervan in Iceland well in advance as summer in Iceland is popular with visitors, considering this is the best time to visit Iceland, in addition to the fact that Iceland isn’t that big so options do run out fast in which case you will be left with more expensive options that you didn’t factor in when planning you Iceland trip.
For car rentals check out Europcar (US/CA and UK/EU)
Our campervan rental while exploring parts of the Ring Road
Where To Stay In Iceland In July
We were in Iceland for nearly two weeks so we stayed in a variety of accommodation options. We used Airbnb, hotels and Campervan which I have written about extensively on the blog with plenty of tips for both guests and host who want to use Airbnb to earn a second income.
For a guest, you can also have $35/£25 towards your accommodation. We also drove around Iceland and camped under waterfalls as well as staying in our rented Iceland Campervan which I shared tips on a while back.
Once we had done a few days around the Ring Road in our campervan, we returned to stay in Reykjavik and book a comfortable bed in a hotel after camping and sleeping in a campervan for over 5 days on the road. To see the full list of Iceland hotels, apartments, and hostels in Reykjavik click here. and for the rest of Iceland, covering Akuyreri, Selfoss, Vik, Hofn and beyond, click here.
Hostels In Iceland
Budget Hotels In Iceland
Mid- Range Hotels In Iceland
Luxury Hotels In Iceland
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I definitely want to plan my trip to Iceland during the summer months. I want to be able to see all of Iceland’s waterfalls and geysers without having to worry about winter weather. Trying to travel or hike through snow would probably be pretty limiting. I am looking to plan a trip to Iceland In July next year as well. I have been trying to figure out just what the average temperature in Iceland in July or June is. This definitely gives me an insight as well asa what to do in Reykjavik Iceland in July and summer months. Thanks so so much!
Thank you so much for your comment, Sam. I would definitely recommend a visiting Iceland in July or during summer as the where is a lot milder. With the weather being good you can also see a lot among the many things to do in Iceland in July. For tips on what to do in Iceland in July I have a post on all the activities we got up to as well as what to pack for Iceland. Safe travels.
I feel most people forget how beautiful Iceland is and how much more it has to offer apart from the Northern lights. It really seems like a fantastic place worth visiting all year round. We are hoping to an Iceland honeymoon in July next year. We will be working our way through Europe next year and thought we could do a couple of days in Iceland. We have been in the winter but just weren’t sure what weather in Iceland in July looks like or packing for Iceland in July. You have certainly hit the nail on the head with details as between your words and pictures of what you wore we have an idea of what Iceland in July and August kind of look lit.
Yes, that was the trick for us too when doing research for packing for Iceland in July but I am certainly glad you found the post useful!
Man, Iceland is so beautiful. I want to visit Iceland for the northern lights but not sure you can see them while visiting Iceland in July. I want to visit during this time as the temperature of Iceland in July is mild enough for me but also not sure if later in the year would be the best time to visit for Northern lights. What are your thoughts.
Yep I totally understand, visiting Iceland in July allows you to explore for a long a possible because of the long days and while this is good, I don’t think the weather in Iceland in July allows for northern lights because its just too bright but then again weather in Iceland can be unpredictable so perhaps the northern side of the island might provide suitable environment to see them otherwise I think you may have to either pick one of the other or visit Iceland in both the summer and the winter when the weather is best to see the Northern lights. Hope that helps. Whatever time you visit I am sure you will have an amazing time.
Great guide! Iceland has been on my bucket list since ever, amazing country! I don’t like cold weather that much so I don’t think I could visit it any other time than during summer #toocold. I know people want to hit Iceland for its Northern Lights but I for one will have the thermal pools any day. Love that you covered everything from what Iceland in July weather and temperature to what to do in Iceland in July and packing for Iceland in July. You have covered all bases and then some. I would love love love to visit Iceland in July and see all these cool things to do in Iceland in Summer that you go up to.
Yes, so many things to do in Iceland during the summer. I am glad you enjoyed the post hopefully useful in planning a trip to Iceland in July and summer.
I didn’t imagine how beautiful Iceland in July and in summer is. I’ll definitely plan my next trip from now on. It seems a place that besides spectacular, has a kinof magic that attracts. Can you give some recommendations of places to eat or show some of the local food? Thank you.
Yes, July in Iceland is one of the best months to visit the country as you get the long days where you also get to enjoy midnight sunsets and explore until your heart is content. It is such a beautiful country.
amazing pictures . I would be happy to spend a week at Iceland Thanks!
Such a great article, I loved how you went in depth on everything you did in Iceland. It gave me some great ideas on what my family should do when we visit this March. As for the days, I’m really interested in how the 22 hour long days affect sleep cycles etc.
Hi Bob, it just simply means you can wake up late which is not that bad as a tourist in Iceland but for Icelanders. They sleep at the same or normal time as us but have shades around the house to keep the light out.
You packed so much information into this post! It’s perfect! Such an amazing Iceland travel guide!
I have been to Iceland for 5 days, and now I realized that I have to get back as soon as possible. There are still so many things to do and to see there, thanks to your post for inspiration! 🙂
Awesome and very informative post! We’ll save this for later when we finally fly to Iceland. So, would you not recommend going in winter at all then?