Spontaneously Travel to Iceland in Summer

If you’ve done any research about a peak season trip to Iceland, chances are you’ll have picked up on a strong message: plan ahead. Yet social media forums can be misleading and for travelers that prefer to commit weeks rather than months ahead of time, we can reassure you that it’s perfectly possible to spontaneously travel to Iceland in summer. In this article, we’ll help you figure out how your vacation might look, show you how to tailor your plans around flexible itineraries and share some of our favorite road trip ideas. We’ll throw in some last minute travel tips so that your visit to Iceland in summer runs smoothly and shapes up to be an adventure you’ll remember for years to come.

How to build a flexible itinerary for summer in Iceland

One of the big advantages of spending part of your summer in Iceland is just how much variety there is within a two- or three-hour drive of the capital. These diverse yet striking landscapes ensure you can truly get a feel for what the countryside is like without having to pack up your stuff every few days.

Plentiful daylight, an increased chance of fine weather and well-maintained roads make summer sightseeing trips easy. If you’re keen to find out more about what it’s like to travel to Iceland at different times of the year, why not check out our facts about summer and winter in Iceland?

By opting for Gray Line’s guided tours, you can concentrate fully on what’s outside the window between stops, meaning you won’t miss a thing. If fatigue starts to niggle, you can always have a power nap, though you’ll find it hard to close your eyes when the scenery is this compelling.

Leaving the driving to someone else also means you can be more ambitious with your plans as you won’t need to be concerned about feeling tired behind the wheel. This is really important at the start of your trip if you’ve an early morning arrival after a mid or long-haul flight. You can kick off your sightseeing right from Day 1 with no worries about jet lag.

Practically speaking, when planning a summer in Iceland vacation, you should aim for one full day tour or a couple of shorter activities each day. Overstuffing your itinerary is counterproductive as you’ll lack the time to absorb everything and run the risk of your days becoming tick box exercises.

Our tours have been carefully curated so that you can enjoy these special highlights and savor the experience. Instead of dashing from place to place to grab hurried selfies, you’ll have the time to take in your surroundings and appreciate their natural beauty. By trusting your plans to local experts, you take the uncertainty out of planning each stop – we know where it’s worth lingering and where a briefer visit won’t leave you feeling short-changed.

What can you do in Iceland in summer?

Alongside some summer-only activities, getting outdoors during the warmer months is what draws many overseas visitors to Iceland. Here are a few ideas about how you might spend your time.

• Watch Puffins

These cute little birds with their brightly colored beaks and orange feet are fun to watch, with their rapidly flapping wings and clumsy antics. No wonder they’re a perennial favorite. It’s easy to find them if you know where to look. The largest colony is located on the rugged cliffs of the Westman Islands, while another sizeable concentration can be found at Borgarfjörður Eystri. Catch them between April and August, as they spend the rest of the year out at sea.

However, if you’re keen to see them closer to the capital, then perhaps take a tour such as Gray Line’s popular South Coast Wonders excursion. Often puffins are sighted on the cliffs that back Reynisfjara Beach near Vik – you know, the black sand beach that’s known for its sneaker waves. Another option is to hop on a whale watching boat in Reykjavik and keep your eyes peeled as you head out into Faxaflói Bay.

• Experience two of Iceland’s most jaw-dropping views

It’s a long day trip to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach from Reykjavik along the country’s ring road but in summer you get to experience the journey in daylight both ways which is a major plus. Along the way you enjoy standout views of waterfalls like Seljalandfoss and Skógafoss, striking lava fields and some of Iceland’s most impressive glaciers.

When you reach the lagoon, there’s the option to take a boat out onto the water to get a closer look at the icebergs which have calved from the glacier. Look out for seals playfully popping up near the ice. Take a stroll down to Diamond Beach where the icebergs are washed up onto the black sand beach by the waves. If you’re here in fine weather, the icebergs will glisten in the summer sunshine.

• Soak in a geothermal lagoon

The naturally heated waters of Iceland’s geothermal lagoons are blissful at any time of year. In bad weather, though, you may find the sensation of rain, hail or even snow on your face, head and neck isn’t pleasant when the rest of your body is luxuriating in all that warmth. It’s all part of the experience, of course.

Nevertheless, summer visitors can take advantage of long hours of daylight to add a spa session onto a day’s sightseeing as the baths remain open late into the night. Time your session for sunset for an even more memorable soak. Each lagoon has its own distinct personality: newcomer Laugarás Lagoon’s exquisite sophistication, Secret Lagoon’s tradition and history, Sky Lagoon’s pampering rituals and Blue Lagoon’s iconic milky-blue water.

• Hike amid Iceland’s other-worldly landscapes

Iceland’s extraordinary scenery deserves proper consideration rather than a hurried stop for a selfie. Capitalise on the increased chance of fine weather as well as dry ground underfoot as you hike through some of Europe’s most delightful valleys. It’s the only time of year you can access the Highland region of Iceland without a specialist vehicle such as a super jeep.

On Gray Line’s Into the Upside Down: Háifoss & Þjórsárdalur tour, you’ll have the opportunity to see a part of Iceland relatively few overseas visitors experience. Traveling as a small group, you’ll visit a pair of impressive waterfalls, Háifoss and Hjálparfoss, as well as the reconstructed Viking farm, Þjóðveldisbærinn. If you like your summer vacations to be a little different, this is the tour for you.

• Get up close to the ice

In summer, there’s a much better chance the wind will ease and the waters of the glacial lagoons found along Iceland’s south coast will be much calmer. That’s the perfect excuse to book a summer kayaking trip. Slide out onto the water and experience the stillness and tranquility that’s associated with this kind of environment.

Iceland’s glaciers are permanent fixtures year-round so it’s possible to hike or snowmobile on the ice year-round. Pull on your crampons and don a helmet for an adventurous hike during which you can peer into crevasses and admire the striations in the ice left by volcanic ash. If you’re hoping for an adrenaline rush, then nothing beats feeling the wind on your face as you zoom across the surface of the ice on a snowmobile.

Plan a summer road trip

Let’s point out something important: a road trip doesn’t have to equate to a self-drive vacation. On our organized excursions, you’ll leave the city suburbs behind you as you follow roads that meander through some of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes, nature reserves and national parks.

For travelers based in Reykjavik, the easiest road trip is the Golden Circle. But just because it’s the most popular doesn’t mean you should dismiss it for being too touristy. The trio of key attractions – Þingvellir National Park, Geysir Geothermal Area and Gullfoss waterfall – distil some of the most enticing elements of Icelandic nature, geology and cultural heritage into one attractive package. From tectonic plates to (greenhouse-grown) tomatoes, the tour with Friðheimar has it all. Take advantage of summer daylight by booking the evening tour and skip the crowds.

Travel tips for a last-minute adventure

·       Base yourself in Reykjavik

The Icelandic capital is your best bet at this time of year as it’s where the largest concentration of accommodation can be found. In contrast, you’ll find slim pickings in smaller settlements such as Vik, where supply outstrips demand; there, hotels and guesthouses often fill up well ahead of time.

Reykjavik, on the other hand, usually has plenty of accommodation to go around even if you’re visiting in summer and you’re likely to find something to suit your taste and budget, even right at the last minute. You may need to compromise on location, staying further away from downtown. However, tours pick up conveniently from stops across the city and the public bus network is extensive.

·       Check for summer celebrations in Iceland such as festivals and national holidays

Throughout the Icelandic summer, locals and travelers celebrate special events. For instance, take Verslunarmannahelgi (Merchants’ Weekend): though its most significant events are held outside the capital – such as in the Westman Islands – it can still have an impact on transportation costs. Other festivities such as Reykjavik Pride (August 4 thru 9) and Culture Night (August 22) are also likely to make the city busier than usual.

This year, peak season is expected to be especially busy as the total solar eclipse will plunge western Iceland into total darkness on August 12. Icelanders as well as overseas visitors have made bookings well in advance and accommodation is scarce, even in Reykjavik. However, being flexible helps a lot: there’s comparatively good availability before and after that landmark date.

·       Once you do decide on your dates, lock in your plans

If you’re happy being spontaneous but still have some must-sees that you’d be disappointed to miss, then as soon as you figure out when you’re coming, it pays to lock in your plans ahead of your arrival. Whether you’ve always dreamed of spotting humpbacks on a whale watching boat tour, wriggling your shoes into Reynisfjara’s black sand beach or gasping as icebergs bob right in front of you at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland’s summer highlights will create a lasting impression.

Though certain dates and times may sell out, tour operators increase capacity at this time of year. The characteristically long hours of daylight also give you some flexibility, as you can opt for an afternoon or evening slot instead of day trips that depart in the morning. For instance, from mid-June to late August, there are four daily departures for our Golden Circle Direct tour, ranging from 8am to 3.30pm  

• Don’t rule out a last-minute deal

If you find yourself with a spare day, even at the last minute it’s well worth scouring the Gray Line website for deals and special offers. Plans change and cancellations can free up places, so even if a tour was previously unavailable you might find that your luck’s in. Securing a lucky discount is an added bonus for travelers on a budget.

It’s worth noting at this point that even in June, July and August, many visitors like to leave their excursion bookings until they get a feel for what the weather might be like during their trip. If you plan to visit Iceland in the summer, know that conditions can still be changeable but the weather’s far more predictable at this time of year. That means you can swoop in and grab those last remaining spots while others are still procrastinating.

• Plan accordingly for the Midnight Sun and the Northern Lights

There’s one sacrifice you’ll need to make during a summer visit to Iceland and it’s all to do with the amount of light. Come to Iceland in June or early July if you’re keen to experience the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun, where Iceland’s position (the mainland sits just shy of the Arctic Circle) means the sun barely sets and the sky never fully gets dark.

That’s not ideal for anyone who’s on a mission to witness the Aurora Borealis. If it’s always been your dream to see the Northern Lights, then it’s important to time your trip for as late in the Icelandic summer as you can. From the middle of August, there’s enough darkness to make a sighting possible and let your jaw drop as the purple and green lights dance across an Icelandic sky. 

Summer most certainly is the best time to visit and as we’ve demonstrated, even if you’ve left your planning a little late, it’s still possible to enjoy a memorable and meaningful vacation. If you’re the kind of traveler that loves to be spontaneous, don’t rule out a summer trip to Iceland.

To sum up

Summer’s a super time for an Iceland vacation, with better weather and long hours of daylight. Spontaneous bookers will need to be flexible with their itinerary but with Gray Line’s help can still pull off a magical and memorable trip.