Iceland in June: Everything You Need to Know
Are you planning on visiting Iceland in June? Well, after driving the ring road this month, here’s everything you need to know about early summer in Iceland.
Iceland has its best weather between June and August, and, naturally, this is also the most popular time to visit. The Highlands roads are open, the hiking trails are free from snow, and the flowers are in bloom all around the island.
On top of this, the wildlife is back, the daylight is never-ending, and there’s just so much to do during this time of year!
We absolutely loved our trip to Iceland in June. It was the first time we’d visited in one of the summers, as all of our previous trips had been in winter, and we just fell in love with the country all over again.
It truly is like visiting a different country when you visit in summer compared to winter. Everything is green instead of white!
So, if you’re planning on visiting Iceland in June, here’s exactly what you can expect from your trip.
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Iceland June Must-Do’s!
These are 5 bucket-list experiences we recommend to everyone who visits Iceland! ❤️
Where to stay in Iceland in June
This depends on how many days you plan to spend in Iceland.
We’ve taken short 3-day trips (like this trip, which was our first time visiting Iceland) to longer, week-long road trips around the entire island. So, where you stay is entirely dependent on how long you have and whether you would like to drive.
If you’re planning a road trip, you could stay in different hotels all over the island. You could also stay in campsites if you’re planning on using a campervan.
Alternatively, you could try for a few bases, such as one near Reykjavik, another near Vik, and another further east near the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
Personally, if we were to opt for hotels again, we would do it like this and stay in each place for 2-3 nights, as changing hotels every night can be a little stressful.
Another option, if you’d rather not drive at all, would be to stay in Reykjavik and book day trips. This was what we did during our first-ever trip to Iceland, and it’s a really great way of doing things if you’d rather not drive.
There are lots of guided tours that start in Reykjavik, and you could head east to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, or along the south coast all the way to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
It will mean some fairly long driving days, depending on which tours you choose, but this is a great way to see a lot of Iceland if you’d prefer to base yourself in Reykjavik.
🏨 Check out all of our favourite hotels in the South of Iceland.
Weather in Iceland in June
We had a real mixed bag of weather when we visited Iceland in June. Some days we had drizzly rain all day, other days we had sunshine, and some days we had a mix of both and a lot of wind.
June is typically one of Iceland’s warmest months, though it’s far from tropical weather! It’ll most likely be fresh, breezy, and mild rather than hot.
Almost all of the snow in the lower regions has melted, although we still saw plenty of snow in the Highlands, so this is the perfect weather for exploring
You can usually expect an average of around 16°C (60°F) in the southern region and typically colder temperatures in the north. Some days can be hotter, but these are exceptions as opposed to the norm.
During our trip, we had temperatures of around 6°C (42°C) near Myvatn, which was significantly colder than the south. You really need to pack for all weathers if you’re driving the Ring Road!
Compared to winter, June feels like a totally different country: no icy roads, no pitch-black mornings, and storms are much rarer. But, of course, this is still Iceland. Always layer up and be prepared for everything from sunshine to downpours in a single day.
👉 Check out our guide to the best time to visit Iceland for all our top tips!
Daylight in Iceland in June
This is what makes June absolutely magical and the reason we chose to visit at this time of year. We wanted to see the Midnight Sun, and June is the prime time to do this.
Depending on what time of the month you visit, you can have up to 24 hours of daylight. We visited around the 20th of June, which is the summer solstice, because we wanted the longest days possible.
Seriously, it never properly gets dark. It was so bizarre sitting outside at midnight, and the sun still hadn’t set. Instead, you get this soft, dreamy golden light late into the night and an early morning glow that lasts for hours – if you get clear skies, of course!
So, if you want to walk along black sand beaches at midnight, or visit a waterfall with no one else around at 2am, June is your month.
It was pretty bizarre, but it’s ideal for seeing as much of Iceland as possible.
TOP TIP: Bring a sleep mask because hotel curtains don’t always block the light!
The Best Things to Do in Iceland in June
There is so much to do in Iceland in June, and honestly, we could list a whole lot more things than below. However, these are a few of our favourite things to do in June.
Drive the Ring Road
June is one of the best months to drive Iceland’s Ring Road. The days are long, the roads are clear, and wildflowers start popping up everywhere.
With so much daylight, you can pack in so many stops and literally explore all day long. You can see some of the best waterfalls in Iceland, black-sand beaches, glaciers, hot springs, volcanic craters, coastal villages, and so much more.
We drove the Ring Road in June, and we think it’s one of the best months to visit Iceland. The drives are just beautiful, and there is so much amazing scenery to see. In our opinion, this is an amazing month to drive the Ring Road.
Hike on a Glacier
This is another of our absolute favourite things to do in Iceland. While glaciers are often thought of as a winter activity, you can hike on them all year round.
June still has great ice conditions, and there are beginner-friendly guided tours on places like Sólheimajökull on the South Coast and Skaftafell on Vatnajökull. Our first glacier hike was on Solheimajokull in the south, and we absolutely loved it.
You can choose between gentle walks or more adventurous ice-climbing experiences. Just make sure to book in advance as they’re pretty popular and places can sell out!
❤️ This was the glacier hike we did, and it was amazing!
Explore the Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is one of the most popular routes to explore in Iceland. You could either self-drive or head on a guided tour if you’re staying in Reykjavik.
We’ve visited both in the winter and the summer, and June is a brilliant month for touring the Golden Circle, because everything is lush, green, and alive again after winter.
You’ll see the beautiful Gullfoss Waterfall, the famous Geysir geothermal area shooting boiling water into the sky, and the beautiful rift valley at Þingvellir National Park, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
Plus, if you drive the Golden Circle and you want something a little more unique, you could add stops like the Secret Lagoon, a tomato-greenhouse lunch at Friðheimar, or even snorkelling at Silfra, between the tectonic plates.
❤️ For a truly unique experience, we recommend booking this tour in the Golden Circle.
Go Whale Watching
In some parts of Iceland, you can see whales all year round. However, June is peak whale-watching season, and Iceland is one of the best places on earth to see these giants up close.
The waters around Húsavík (nicknamed the whale-watching capital) are especially famous, but tours also run from Reykjavík and Akureyri.
We went whale watching in Akureyri in winter and saw a humpback. Honestly, it’s one of the best things to do in Akureyri, and we’re pretty confident you’d see more whales in June.
Humpbacks are the most common whales to spot, but if you’re lucky, you might see orcas, minke whales, or even blue whales.
Plus, the long daylight hours mean tours run later into the day than in the darker months, and you could even head out whale watching into the evening.
❤️ We recommend this whale watching tour – it was such a magical experience!
Visit South Iceland
Besides the Golden Circle, South Iceland is another of the most popular places to visit in Iceland. It’s also one of our favourite places to visit, and we’ve spent an entire week exploring just South Iceland before.
Here, you’ll find some of the most famous sights in Iceland, such as Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. You can also spot puffins here at Dyrhoaley.
This stretch of road between Reykjavik to Vik has some of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes, and is well worth exploring in June.
👉 Check out our full road trip itinerary from Reykjavik to Vik.
Head into the Highlands
The Highland roads reopen in June, and if you’re looking to head to some of Iceland’s most remote and beautiful regions, we highly recommend a trip here.
We visited Landmannalaugar and drove to the stunning Kerlingarfjoll region. These were some of the most amazing landscapes we saw on our road trip.
You can find steaming volcanic vents, neon-green mountains, geothermal rivers, and rugged lava fields. If you enjoy hiking and otherworldly scenery, you will love it.
You will need a 4×4 to reach these areas, and some of the roads can be a little sketchy and involve river crossings.
However, if you don’t have a 4×4 or aren’t confident with these kinds of drives, there are plenty of guided day trips into the Highlands too.
🚗 We always use this company to book a car, and it’s great for finding cheap deals!
Go Hiking
In June, most of the hiking trails are open again, and it’s a wonderful time to go hiking in Iceland. There’s a huge range of trails from gentle walks to waterfalls to full-day mountain adventures.
Some of our favourite hikes to consider include:
- Reynisfjall viewpoint above Vík
- Svartifoss Waterfall
- Glymur Waterfall near Reykjavík
- Landmannalaugar (a dream for serious hikers)
- Hverdalir Geothermal Area in the Highlands
Just be prepared for all kinds of weather, pack layers, waterproofs, and wear proper hiking boots.
Go Puffin Spotting
These clumsy little birds were another of the reasons we were so keen to visit Iceland in June! Thousands of puffins return to Iceland in late May, and in certain parts of the island, you can spot them really close up.
They migrate here to raise their chicks, and you can see them nesting on rocky cliffs all around the coast.
Some of the best places to see puffins include:
- Dyrhólaey (near Vík)
- Borgarfjörður Eystri in the Eastfjords
- The Westman Islands
- Látrabjarg cliffs in the Westfjords
You can also book a guided puffin spotting tour from Reykjavik where they’ll take you out on a boat to spot the birds up close.
❤️ A tour like this one will take you to spot the puffins around the coast.
What to Pack for Iceland in June
Even in summer, Icelandic weather loves to surprise you. You’ll still need to pack for both warmth, cold, and rain and bring layers, waterproofs, and sturdy hiking boots.
Here are a few of the things we recommend you pack:
- Waterproof jacket & trousers
- Warm layers (fleece or wool)
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Hat & gloves (yes, even in June!)
- Sleep mask (for the midnight sun!)
- Swimsuit + towel for hot springs
- Reusable water bottle
👉 Check out our full Iceland summer packing list for everything we would bring!
Costs and Crowds in Iceland in June
June is the start of the peak season in Iceland. This means the country can be super busy and also much more expensive.
Hotel prices skyrocket, as do car hire prices, so we highly recommend booking everything at least 6 months in advance.
You might be able to find affordable accommodation at the last minute, but it’ll be rare and you’ll be lucky to get a good rate (or a nice room!) close to the time.
Tours will also need to be booked well in advance as they often sell out. Similarly, places like the Blue Lagoon only have limited spaces, and time slots fill up quickly.
This exact thing happened to us when we visited in June. We didn’t manage to get the time slot we wanted for the Blue Lagoon because it had sold out, so we had to skip it entirely. It’s frustrating, so we highly recommend booking early.
Then, obviously, because it’s so busy, everything can feel a bit more crowded. You’ll likely get larger crowds around the more popular spots like the Golden Circle and the South Coast, like Skogafoss.
To avoid this, we recommend getting there early in the morning or making the most of the midnight sun and arriving later in the evening.
Once you head beyond Vik, however, the crowds do disperse a little, particularly in the more remote Eastfjords, the Highlands, or the North of Iceland.
Ultimately, you’re visiting at a popular time, so expect it to be busier than if you visit Iceland in March or April, for instance. However, it’s still a wonderful time to visit, just be sure to be prepared for crowds and book things in advance.
FAQ
Can you see the Northern Lights in June?
Sadly, no – it never gets dark enough. You need complete darkness to see the aurora, and it’s just too bright in June. However, the Midnight Sun is well worth seeing.
If spotting the Northern Lights is your goal, this just gives you an excuse to return to Iceland in winter.
For the best chance of spotting them, visit between September and March. However, we’ve visited Iceland in December and in January and didn’t see the Northern Lights either time because of cloud cover. So, it’s entirely dependent on the weather.
Is June a good time to visit Iceland?
Absolutely, it’s one of the very best months for outdoor adventures and road trips.
We drove the Ring Road for the first time in June, and we absolutely loved it. It’s a fantastic month for hiking, seeing puffins, experiencing the lupine season, and watching the Midnight Sun.
Do I need a 4×4?
Not necessarily. If you’re only planning on driving the Ring Road and sticking mainly to Route 1, you won’t need a 4×4. You’ll only need to hire one if you plan to go into the Highlands or on F-roads.
🚗 We always use this company to book a car, and it’s great for finding cheap deals!
Final Thoughts: Is Iceland Worth Visiting in June?
1000% YES! Iceland in June is magical: glowing light, roaring waterfalls, blooming wildflowers, puffins by the coast, and nearly endless daylight to explore as much as your heart desires.
You’ll find milder weather, the freedom to road trip almost anywhere on the island, the ideal temperature for hiking and outdoor adventures, the Highland roads are open, and you can still have daylight at midnight.
It’s such a beautiful time to visit, and there are so many unique things you can see in Iceland in June that you just don’t get at any other time of year.
So, if you’re dreaming of summer in Iceland, June might just be your month!
We hope this has answered all the questions you have about visiting Iceland in June; however, if not, you can ask us anything in our Facebook Group.
👉 Planning a road trip? Check out our pre-made South Iceland itinerary and take the stress out of planning your trip!
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