Iceland in September – Why You Should Visit in the Fall

Why Visit Iceland in September?

I love Fall. Summer gets all of the adoration, but I have always been living my best life like a senior citizen, going for scenic Sunday drives to see the cornucopia of warm autumn colors take over the mountains and forests. I was a little nervous going to Iceland in September because I didn’t want to miss one of my favorite seasons back home. But I am happy to report that Iceland in September is even more stunning than I thought it would be.

Beyond the weather, September in Iceland is great for driving, hiking, avoiding crowds and even seeing the Northern Lights! It is also a great time to rent a campervan and see Iceland on your own terms and timetable.

Iceland Weather in September

Being from the northeast of the United States, I am very used to autumn being very unpredictable, and Iceland in September is really no different. That being said, when we visited Iceland in September, temperatures only ranged from 40 to 55° F so it was never uncomfortable.

Of course, it did occasionally rain and on certain days the wind picked up. On those days it did feel colder, but with the right rain gear, it was tolerable. The weather in Iceland in September was perfect for hiking and being outside. As you can see in the photograph above, we also had plenty of sunshine which we loved!

Driving in Iceland in September

Driving in Iceland in September did genuinely worry me before I did my own research. I suppose I just sort of assumed that there could be a freak, early winter storm. Or the roads in Iceland would be narrow and difficult to navigate. 

I’m happy to report that neither is true! Yes, some roads were a little less paved, or more narrow, but overall driving was super easy. And especially as we headed north from Reykjavik, we shared the road with fewer and fewer vehicles.

 The biggest challenge we faced driving in Iceland was staying under the speed limits, which were lower than we were used to back home. Iceland does not mess around. Their speed cameras will catch you and send you home with an unexpected, expensive souvenir (i.e. a ticket). 

With that, my biggest advice is to budget extra time from stop to stop on your road trip.  You also never know when you’ll pass by an unexpected waterfall or historic site. You’ll appreciate the extra time you allow yourself.

Renting a Campervan

At the start of my Iceland trip planning, I planned on renting a car and staying in hotels. My dad has a camper and that level of camping is glamping, and where my “camping” skills begin and end. After looking at car rental prices and getting a bit of sticker shock, I started to look into campervans.

There are a number of options but in the end, I chose Cozy Campers based on price and what their fleet had to offer in terms of features and amenities. Every step of the process was super easy, from making the reservation online to picking up our campervan just outside of Reykjavik. (They are also located very close to Sky Lagoon, which you should also visit!)

Will we get cold in a campervan in September?

Exploring Iceland via campervan helped us fall in love with the country hard, and quickly. We loved the freedom it gave us to come and go from sights as we pleased. When they say cozy, they mean it. Although it was September in Iceland, the heater gave us just the warmth we needed on the chillier nights.  The cooler kept all of our supplies and snacks (and adult beverages) nice and cold. The gas stove and countertop was the perfect place to cook up some hot dogs and pasta after a long day, make a cup of tea, or slap together some sandwiches before a hike.

My other concern going in was that campsites would be closed or full due to the season. We found MANY options that were not only open but had plenty of space. We never had an issue getting a spot for the night whether we were up on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, near the Golden Circle, or along the south coast. 

Our Cozy Camper had everything we needed, and the staff was quick to respond to any questions or concerns we had along the way. I truly cannot recommend them enough. This also brings me to my next point about visiting Iceland in September. A campervan is a really good option for seeing the Northern Lights. The campsites we stayed in were away from light pollution and we could pop in and out of the camper to intermittently warm up while watching for the aurora.

Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland in September

It’s not guaranteed that you will see the Northern Lights in September, but your chances become much greater as you get closer to October. We went in the third week of September and we saw them on two separate nights within a nine-day period. 

I debated long and hard about booking a Northern Lights tour in Iceland. I loved that they had the expertise to find the aurora and also take fantastic photos. Honestly, I may book something like that next time we visit.

However, I did enjoy searching the night sky, peeking out of our campervan door to see what Mother Nature had in store each evening. I used a variety of apps to see which nights were most likely, but it ended up being a crap shoot.  

The best thing I did by far though, was to bring my GoPro and set up a time-lapse so that the Northern Lights could be captured in greater detail. Without that, the Northern Lights in Iceland in September are not the most exciting to the human eye as they’re a bit more muted than they are later on in the season.

Best Places to Visit in Iceland in September

Because the weather can be quite temperate in Iceland in September, you have the freedom to explore the vast majority of the island. This includes the metropolitan areas surrounding Reykjavik and Akureyri, plus the stunning south coast and the majestic eastern region. The only areas that become off-limits are those accessed by F roads. 

This area is known as the highlands and includes places like Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk, Askja, and Hveravellir. You need a 4×4 to get out there, so once the weather starts to turn, it’s not safe to travel inland. But luckily, you can add this to your summer itinerary. So honestly, the best places to visit in Iceland in September are most places, outside of the highlands.

Hiking in Iceland

I love to hike. But hiking in snow and ice is not my first choice. This made hiking in Iceland in September a perfect time since the temperatures are cooler, but the snowy weather hasn’t hit yet. 

Probably one of the most surprising things was the foliage. I expected Iceland to feature a much more muted color palette, but I was in awe of how stunning and colorful the landscape was for early autumn. Especially while hiking in Skaftafell National Park, the orange, yellow, and brown leaves were striking against the dark basalt columns of Svartifoss. 

We also hiked to Bruarfoss which was absolutely worth it. We weren’t totally ready for the mud that we encountered, but we fared better in our hiking boots than the French tourists we found wearing bright, white sneakers.

Overall, I found the experience of hiking in Iceland in September very reminiscent of hiking back home in Connecticut or Vermont. With layers of clothes and appropriate footwear, you’ll be in great shape for any hike you choose in Iceland.

What are Crowds like in Iceland in September?

I have not visited Iceland in peak tourist season, but everyone we spoke to said that it can be extremely busy during the summer months. In Iceland, in September we found that we could get into bars and restaurants in Reykjavik easily, and only made one reservation for brunch which we probably did not need. 

We found places like the Sky Lagoon and the Secret Lagoon to be busy but not overly so. Everywhere we went along the Golden Circle we encountered a small amount of other visitors and hikers. Some trailhead parking lots were full by the afternoon but that’s typical of any popular spot. Diamond Beach (pictured above) was one of the most crowded places we visited. It’s not super surprising as the ice strewn across the beach at sunset is picture-perfect, but we definitely had to dodge other tourists in order to capture it ourselves.

There were certainly other tourists there but we never felt crowded or overwhelmed by it. One morning I woke up to watch the sunrise and hike to the top of Skogafoss and I had the entire waterfall to myself for over an hour. That alone gets my vote when it comes to deciding on a time to visit Iceland.

Festivals and Events in Iceland in September

If I haven’t convinced you yet that September is a fantastic time to visit Iceland, there are also a few festivals and events during this month that are worth hopping a plane over.

South of Reykjavik, in Reykjanesbær, they host the Night of Lights festival during the first weekend of September. It is a cultural and family festival with events extending from Thursday to Sunday. Icelandic musicians perform at venues around town and galleries are open to showcase work from local artists. If you attend, be sure you don’t miss the main event on Saturday night, when the townspeople illuminate the cliffs and put on a huge fireworks show.

Also in Reykjavik, the Extreme Chill Festival is in its 14th year, bringing foreign artists and Icelandic artists together to celebrate the arts. A day pass will set you back roughly 44 USD while a three-day music festival pass is a steal (especially compared to American festival prices) at only 111 USD.

Towards the end of the month, you can experience Iceland’s film scene during Reykjavik’s Film Festival. You can choose from single-screening tickets, which cost around USD 15 each, or different festival passes for multiple screenings.

Réttir is one of the oldest traditions in Iceland. In Iceland in September, farmers invite locals and tourists to help herd horses and sheep back to the farm. Sheep are rounded up throughout Iceland, while horse rounding takes place mostly in the North.

Daylight Hours in September

In summer, Iceland experiences almost 24 hours of daylight. But in September, the daylight hours lessen, and on average they see daylight for an average of 12.5 hours per day. As they do in the United States, the days get shorter as the month goes on. 

At the start of the month, the sun rises at 6:09 a.m. in Reykjavik and the sun sets at 8:44 p.m. By the end of the month, that sunrise occurs at 7:32 a.m. while the sunset has crept up to 7:01 p.m.

What to Pack for Iceland in September

Are you wondering what to wear in Iceland in September? I can’t stress enough how important layers are when packing for a trip to Iceland, especially in September. We did spend a few days in Reykjavik but even then, I lived in black leggings, boots, sweaters, and my rain jacket. Those staples were perfect for exploring the city, driving the Golden Circle, and sightseeing along the south coast.

The following items were my go-to’s during my September Iceland trip:

• Amazon Essentials Women’s Lightweight Water-Resistant Hooded Puffer Coat
• Columbia Rain Jacket
• Vessi Weekend Chelsea Boots
• Tek Gear Lightweight Turtlenecks
• Leggings (various brands)

Cheaper Flights to Iceland

We ended up deciding to travel to Iceland in September for one last reason. We found roundtrip flights for $450! These seats on PLAY Airlines included our baggage and extra legroom. Even though it’s known as a budget airline, we found it to be a very quick and comfortable 5.5-hour flight to Iceland.

In Summary – Is September a Good Time to Visit Iceland?

Yes, September is a terrific time to visit Iceland. In summary, there are many reasons why I’d recommend you visit Iceland in September including:

• Fall Foliage & Weather
• Cheaper Flight Prices from the US
• The Northern Lights
• Fewer Crowds
• Great Time to Camp & Rent a Campervan

More on Iceland…
What to Do with an Early Arrival in Iceland
Sky Lagoon vs Blue Lagoon – Which Iceland Spa is Best?