Visit Iceland in October – Weather, Tips and Q&A

Are you planning to visit Iceland in October, but are worried about the weather?

Well, let me tell you that the weather in Iceland in October can be pretty much everything in one day. A sunny warmish morning, followed by a howling wind and rain storm only to finish the day with a fresh cover of snow.

We travelled to Iceland in October and although we had to compromise on some things, like the highlands as they were already closed, other things were in our favour such as fewer tourists.

Having said that, Iceland is stunning at any time of the year. And even though we only visited during October (until now), I can see on traveller’s photos that it is different and special during any season.

The Icelandic weather is very unpredictable, therefore even if you visit Iceland during the summer months, be prepared and bring your winter clothing.

You never know when you may need it.

You might find this article useful Best Winter Clothing for children

Everyone says October will be the wettest month of the year in Iceland, despite this statement, I still think it is a great and beautiful month to visit Iceland.

The average temperature for Iceland in October is between 2 degrees (36F) and 7 degrees (45F) Celsius. And remember with the wind and rain that you can often encounter it can feel a lot colder.

And if I remember correctly, the temperature never climbed above that during our stay.

There was one day at The Hvalnes Lighthouse – south coast- where the wind dropped and it actually felt quite warm.

Things you need to know when travelling Iceland in October

The beauty of visiting Iceland in October is experiencing the country in transition.

During our road trip in Iceland, we spent 10 days travelling in October, and whilst doing so we had experienced pretty every possible weather condition a country so far north can throw at you,

Sun, rain, snowstorms, rainbow the northern lights and even some sand storms. But you know what, all of these elements and rough weather conditions made our trip complete.

You need to be prepared for the worst and you will be fine. Plan carefully when putting together your Iceland itinerary, as you may have days where it is not possible to drive and you will be stuck in your Icelandic accommodation.

Car Rental in Iceland

The best way to travel Iceland in any season is by car and self-drive (my opinion). It gives you the freedom of how fast or slow you like to travel and where to stop in Iceland. But when renting a car in October you must make sure that your car rental company in Iceland gives you a car with WINTER TYRES. Simply do not accept one without, especially if you are heading to the area around Vik and further southeast.

Whether you are able to complete the full ring road in October depends on the time you have and if the weather is on your side. But I would say to drive the ring road in Iceland during October you need to make sure you have extra days on hand, and at least 14-16 travel days.

This might even be a push. Of course, this is my opinion but to push it and risk getting stuck because of bad weather is just not worth it.

Better to enjoy the Icelandic south coast and part of the southeast in full.

Best car rental company in Iceland.

In these blog posts below, you will find useful information on planning your trip to Iceland in October.
Read our 10-Day Iceland Itinerary with Kids, to have a good understanding of what we did during this time.

You will also find a more detailed article of the Golden Circle Itinerary and The Best things to see along the South Coast of Iceland.

Where to stay in Iceland

here are some great accommodation in Iceland. Just move the map around and find your best accommodation when travelling in Iceland.

Organised Tours in Iceland

If you visiting Iceland only for a few days and do not really want to rent a car, then these organised tours are the best to discover Iceland. They know where to go and where the best viewpoints in Iceland are. You just book a ticket with GetYourGuide to be prepared for your adventure.

Frequently asked questions when visiting Iceland in October

I guess Iceland is one of these countries where travellers will have so many questions before visiting the country. And quite rightly so. It is not just going to the beach in Mallorca where you can pretty much know what to find there. Iceland needs some preparation and organisation beforehand.

What is the temperature in Iceland in October?

The average temperature in October measured in Reykjavík is 4.8° Celsius (41° Fahrenheit).

Regarding the rain or snow during October, the average precipitation is 77 mm (around 3 inches), slightly higher than the annual, monthly average of 73 mm (2.8 inches). But again, the differences are very small, and this shows that it can be any kind of weather during the month of October in Iceland.

 The weather changes also quickly and it depends on where you will visit Iceland. The area around Vik is well known for bad weather in October, and this is what we experienced.

It is cold in October?

Let’s face it straight away, it is cold in Iceland no matter the month you are visiting. Ok, it might be a bit cooler in October than in July but in general, Iceland is just not a summer beach holiday destination.

Dress appropriately and you will enjoy Iceland no matter the weather. Good clothing and windproof jackets are an absolute must!

We wore our ski gear every single day, and I can honestly say, yes Iceland was cold in October, but we were not cold.

Is October a good time to go to Iceland?

The better question would be “What do I want to see and do in Iceland?”. If your goal is to see Puffins then visiting Iceland in October is not a good time as they are around in the summer. If you would like to see the northern lights, then YES, visiting Iceland in October is a very good time.

Is Iceland snowy in October?

The weather in Iceland in October can give pretty much everything, but mainly windy, wet and cold. It is also in October when the 1^st snowfall will arrive. You definitely need to be prepared for everything.

Is the Blue Lagoon open in October?

Yes, the Blue Lagoon can be visited all your round. Just make sure you are checking the opening hours because during low season the Blue Lagoon will close earlier than during the long summer nights. Tickets to the Blue Lagoon can be bought online which gives you a head start should it be busy.

And by the way the Sky lagoon in Iceland will also be open.

Are the natural hot spots accessible in Iceland in October?

Oh yes, you definitely need to bring your swimsuits and woolly hats.

To seek the natural hot springs has to be on your things to do in Iceland list! Nothing better than after a day of adventuring around Iceland to soak and heat up in a natural hot spring.

Some hot springs are on private land and therefore a small admission is requested before entering. This is perfectly fine as most of these places need to be cleaned and taken care of.

For us so far (we have not visited them all) the best hot spring in Iceland is the Hrunalaug Hot Spring!

I was looking forward to plunge in the Hrunalaug Hotspring ever since I started planning our family trip to Iceland in October 2021.

You can find how to get there on our Iceland Itinerary blog

Can you see the northern lights in October?

If you are wondering what is the best month to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, there is no particular winter month.

We saw the northern lights (Aurora Borealis) six times out of 9 nights in October! We were very happy about this and seeing the northern lights was one of the main reasons why we visited Iceland in October.

The best time statistically to see the northern lights in Iceland is from October to March. There are forecasts predicting visibility at vedur.is, the national weather website.

When the forecast is strong, it’s best to drive (or take a tour bus) to a dark area and look up.

One of the great things when travelling in October to Iceland for the Northern Lights is that you do not need to get up in the middle of the night. We saw them as early as 8pm.

Travel Tip: Download the Aurora forecast app to your phone. You can see the prediction of the nights and also how strong the aurora borealis might be.

When the forecast is strong, all you have to do is go outside and look up! We even saw it during full moon (photo below)

Alternatively, you can book a Northern light guided tour to some of the most amazing places to see the dancing lights.

If seeing the Nothern lights – Aurora Borealis- is one of your goals, then I suggest choosing your accommodation in Iceland wisely.

Do I need a 4×4 in Iceland in October?

When we planned our trip to Iceland, we were talking about this subject many times. We knew we couldn’t drive the highlands as it was already closed to the public due to the weather conditions, but we thought that if we strike snow, at least with a 4×4 we will not get stuck.

So, with this in mind we booked a 4×4, and I am now so happy we did. The 3 days around Vik was 4×4 weather and I could not imagine driving without it

Check our reel on IG (snowstorm in Iceland)

If you are just visiting the Golden Circle from Rejkyavik, then I would say no, you do not need a 4×4, but if you are driving the full South Coast and beyond, then it is definitely a better choice.

Is it safe to drive in Iceland in October?

Like all over the world, you need to use your common sense. If it is stormy with very limited visibility, or a lot of snow on the road and ice, you maybe better stay in your cosy chosen accommodation in Iceland and rest.

In good weather conditions, yes, it is safe!

Can we drive the Icelandic highlands in October?

As already mentioned in this blog article, most F-roads will be closed as of October. Your car rental company in Iceland will also mention it to you again. Maybe during the first week of October they might still be open, but during our trip which was middle of October the f-roads were all closed. The furthest inland we went was to the Haifoss waterfall.

Can we see whales in October?

October is the end of the whale watching season therefore a trip to Iceland in October is still perfect to see these majestic big animals arching through the cold Atlantic waters.

Many villages in Iceland offer whale-watching tours including Rejykjavik. But if you want the best you should head up north to Husavik because it is the “Whale watching capital of Europe”.

You can find tours from different operators in Husavik. One of the better companies which also have an eco-friendly approach to the whole activity is North Sailing.

During an Icelandic whale watch trip in October, you will hopefully encounter species like the humpback whales, mink whale, white beaked dolphins and if you are lucky even the blue whales.

This company also offers tours to see the cute adorable Puffins in spring.

Husavik has such a high success rate in seeing whales that they can nearly guarantee sightings. And if really you do not have any luck in spotting whales on your tour, most companies offer a second whale watch trip free of charge.

Is October busy in Iceland?

Travelling in October in Iceland is for sure less busy than during the peak tourist season of July and August.

As the weather can be quite hard in Iceland during October, quite a lot of families will avoid the trip.

But in general, the time frame from October to April is a less busy period in Iceland. Especially if you are traveling away from the main tourist attractions. In these shoulder months it is quite possible that you will find yourself all alone by a hidden waterfall or by the beach.

How much daylight does Iceland get in October?

That is definitely a factor to take in consideration when travelling to Iceland in October. The days are much shorter than during a summer visit, so the time available to visit attractions will be less.

At the beginning of October there is an average of 11 hours of day light, but this will decrease to a maximum of 9 hours at the end of the month. Sunrise during this month in Iceland is at 07:30 and sunset at 19:00.

Travel Articles from around the world

• Best Photography spots in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
• 8 Best family Activities in Norway – Tromsø
• Iceland – The best things to so on the South Coast
• Gold Circle Iceland – 2 Day Itinerary – The Extended Version
• Canada – Road Trip To Tofino
• South Africa – 20 Day Road Trip along the Garden Route – With Kids
• France – Corsica Road trip Itinerary
• Switzerland – Epic Road Trip Through Switzerland

I hope that the information provided here will prove itself useful and you can make the decision whether Iceland in October is a good month or not for you.

If I have left anything out or you have a question, please ask your questions in the comments below so that other readers can join in the conversation and benefit from your queries also.

Thank you & Never Forget to Travel

If you like it PIN it and tell a friend

Thanks for sharing it!