April is spring in Iceland, but spring here still has one foot in winter. Reykjavík averages about 1°C to 7°C, the days grow from about 13½ to over 16½ hours, and the first half of the month still gives you a chance of Northern Lights. It is quieter and often cheaper than summer, so it suits travellers who want a bit of both seasons.
New to Iceland? Read our guide for your first time in Iceland.
Weather in April
Expect a bit of everything. On a single April trip you can easily meet bright sun, drizzle, heavy rain, snow showers and, now and then, a proper blizzard. April is the last wave of winter and the first sign of spring at the same time.
April is usually the first month in Reykjavík where the average temperature sits clearly above freezing. The long-term average high is about 7°C (45°F) and the average low about 1°C (34°F). That makes April a fair choice if you do not cope well with deep cold but still want a chance of Northern Lights. It is still chilly, so bring warm layers. North Iceland and the mountains are colder, and snow is still common there.
Reykjavík gets about 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain in April, spread over roughly 12 wet days. With temperatures this low, it can fall as drizzle, sleet or snow, sometimes all in one day. Wind makes it feel colder than the thermometer says, and a wet day can feel colder than the average suggests. On the plus side, April is often one of the sunnier months, and clear spring days can be bright and crisp.
Daylight in April
Daylight grows fast in April, by more than six minutes a day. In Reykjavík the sun rises around 6:50 and sets around 20:15 on 1 April. By 30 April sunrise is just after 5:00 and sunset about 21:45, giving over 16½ hours of daylight, plus long twilight at both ends.
April is the month when the long nights end. The first day of the month has about 13½ hours of daylight and the last has over 16½, so a trip in late April feels very different from one in the first week: more time on the road, but hardly any real darkness for the aurora.
That means plenty of time for sightseeing and longer self-drive days than in winter. For every month of the year, see our daylight hours guide.
Northern Lights in April
April is the end of the Northern Lights season. The first half of the month is your best chance, because the nights are still dark enough from late evening. By late April the sky no longer gets properly dark, and from May to early August the aurora cannot be seen.
Because it gets dark late, you have to stay up for it. In early April the sky is dark enough from around 22:00 or later, so plan a late night and a slow morning after. Cloud is the other obstacle. The lights can be active above a cloudy sky and you will see nothing, which is why the cloud cover forecast on vedur.is matters as much as the aurora forecast.
You can chase them three ways. Rent a car, ideally a 4×4, and drive out into the countryside yourself. Join a bus tour, which is the cheapest option and good if you like company. Or go with a small group or private guide who reads the forecasts and picks the spot for the night.
In early April you need clear skies, some solar activity and a dark spot away from town lights. Aurora tours leave later in the evening than in winter, and our Northern Lights Private Tour from Reykjavík lets you set the pace with your own guide. Treat the lights as a bonus rather than the main reason for an April trip. Read our Northern Lights guide or see our Northern Lights tours.
Roads and self-driving in April
April is the start of the driving season. The snow is off most main roads, the days are long, and most of the well-known sights along the Ring Road can be reached in your own car.
The Ring Road is generally open in April, and the Golden Circle and South Coast are easy to reach. Remote routes, mountain passes and the north and east can still have snow, ice or closures on some days. Check road.is and safetravel.is before every drive.
The highland F-roads stay closed until summer, so places like Landmannalaugar and Þórsmörk by road are not an option in April. Studded tyres must be removed by 15 April, unless conditions still call for them.
It can still snow, so we suggest a 4×4 for an April trip, especially if you plan to go north, east or to the Westfjords. Keep your daily distances modest and have a plan B for a day of bad weather.
If you would rather not drive in spring conditions, a guided day tour or a guided Ring Road tour takes the worry away. If you want freedom, look at our self-drive tours.
Best self-drive activities in Iceland in April. These are guided activities you drive to yourself and book ahead:
- Katla ice cave: drive to Vík and join a super-jeep trip to the ice cave under Mýrdalsjökull.
- Snorkelling in Silfra: the fissure in Þingvellir is snorkelled all year in a dry suit. The water is about 2–4°C in every season.
- Sólheimajökull glacier hike: an easy stop on a South Coast drive.
- Snowmobiling on Langjökull: often combined with the Golden Circle, with a pick-up near Gullfoss.
- Víðgelmir lava cave: a guided walk through a large lava tube in West Iceland.
The Golden Circle in April
The Golden Circle is the classic day route in southwest Iceland and it works well in April. The loop from Reykjavík is roughly 230 km, closer to 300 km with detours, and takes 6 to 8 hours with stops.
It has three main stops. Þingvellir National Park is where the old parliament met and where you walk between the North American and Eurasian plates. At the Geysir geothermal area in Haukadalur, the hot spring Strokkur erupts every few minutes. Gullfoss is often still framed by snow and ice in early April. Paths near the falls can still be icy early in the month, and the lower path is sometimes closed.
You can drive it yourself or join a tour. If you drive, read up on the route and the stops first, and check the road over Mosfellsheiði to Þingvellir on road.is on a snowy morning. Popular combinations in April are the Golden Circle with a snowmobile ride on Langjökull, with snorkelling in Silfra, or with an evening soak in the Blue Lagoon. Kerið crater is an easy extra stop on the way back.
Ice caves, glaciers and lava caves
The natural ice caves in Vatnajökull are a winter thing. They usually open from November and last through March, depending on the weather. In April they may still run early in the month if conditions allow, but do not count on it. Always go with a glacier guide, never on your own.
The ice cave under Mýrdalsjökull, near the Katla volcano, is visited all year, so it is a safer choice in April. Our Private South Coast & Katla Ice Cave Tour combines the cave with the South Coast in a day. See our Katla ice cave tours and our article on the Katla ice cave year-round.
About a tenth of Iceland is covered by glaciers, and guided glacier walks run all year. Walks on Sólheimajökull and in Skaftafell are good in April, with longer days than in winter. See our glacier hiking tours, such as the Solheimajokull Glacier Hike.
Lava caves are a good plan in any weather, and the opposite of an ice cave: red, brown and black rock instead of blue ice. In some, openings in the roof let daylight fall into the tunnel. Popular ones include Raufarhólshellir near Reykjavík (see our Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Tour), Vatnshellir on Snæfellsnes and Víðgelmir in West Iceland. Read our guide to the best lava caves in Iceland or browse lava cave tours.
Wildlife: puffin season starts and whale watching
Puffins start to return to Iceland's cliffs in April, usually later in the month. Sightings are still patchy until May, and most puffin tours begin in May. If puffins are a priority, plan for late April at the earliest, or better, May to August. Our puffin guide covers the best places, including the Westman Islands and Látrabjarg. At Látrabjarg, the westernmost point of Iceland, puffins sit in the grass right at the cliff top in summer. Keep back from the edge: the birds dig their burrows into the turf, so the ground there is loose and can give way. The gravel road out to the cliff can still be in winter condition in April, so check road.is before you go. From May, boat tours are the easiest way to see puffins, and some combine puffins with whale watching.
Whale watching picks up in spring, especially in North Iceland, though sightings vary with the weather and the season. Minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises are the species people see most often. The way to see them is a guided boat tour. You can choose between a traditional oak boat, which is slower and steadier, and a RIB speedboat, which is faster and closer to the water. Most trips last about three hours. Dress warmly, because it is much colder at sea than on land. See our whale watching tours.
Things not to miss in Iceland in April
- Drive or take a tour around the Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss.
- Follow the South Coast to Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Jökulsárlón. See our South Coast tours.
- Snorkel between the continents in Silfra, or ride a snowmobile on Langjökull.
- Walk on a glacier or visit the Katla ice cave.
- Hunt for the last Northern Lights of the season in early April.
- Explore a lava cave, whatever the weather.
- Soak in a hot spring or geothermal lagoon after a cold day out. See our hot spring tours.
- Join a festival: the First Day of Summer, the Children's Culture Festival or, in the years it runs, AK Extreme.
- Head north to Akureyri for late-season skiing on Hlíðarfjall, where the lifts normally run to the end of April, and whale watching in the fjords.
Best day trips from Reykjavík in April
If you base yourself in Reykjavík, these day trips all run in April. Check the road and weather forecast the evening before, and keep the longest days for the best weather.
- South Coast and Northern Lights: Skógafoss, Reynisfjara and Vík by day, then an aurora hunt in the evening. Early April only.
- South Coast and glacier hike: the same waterfalls and black beach, with a guided walk on Sólheimajökull.
- Snæfellsnes Peninsula: Kirkjufell, sea cliffs, fishing villages and Snæfellsjökull National Park. A long day, about two and a half hours' drive each way before you start exploring.
- Golden Circle and snowmobile: the three classic stops plus an hour on Langjökull.
- Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon: sightseeing by day and a warm soak to finish.
- Glacier lagoon sightseeing: Jökulsárlón is about 370 km from Reykjavík, so this is a very long day. Two days is more comfortable.
Iceland festivals and holidays in April
Easter moves each year. In 2027 Easter Sunday falls on 28 March, so the Easter holidays land in late March rather than April. On Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday many shops and services close or keep short hours, and tours book up. Read more in our guide to Easter in Iceland.
Aldrei fór ég suður ("I never went south") is a free music festival in Ísafjörður in the Westfjords, held over Easter. The musician Mugison and his father started it in 2004 in their home town. There has never been an entry fee and the bands play unpaid, which is why it is known as the people's rock festival. The line-up mixes well-known Icelandic acts with local brass bands, rappers, metal bands and accordion players. In 2027 it is on 26–27 March, so plan an early spring trip if you want to go. See our music festivals guide.
AK Extreme is a snowboarding and music festival in Akureyri. Riders compete in jib sessions on rails, stairs and other built obstacles, with events on Hlíðarfjall, the ski area above the town, and a big jump competition in the town centre. Concerts in local venues follow in the evenings. It has usually been held in early April, but there have been years without it, so check that it is on before you plan a trip north around it.
The Children's Culture Festival fills Reykjavík with free events made for children and with children. Most take place where children already are: schools, libraries, museums and cultural venues. Expect workshops, exhibitions, music and dance. In 2027 it runs from 19 to 25 April.
The First Day of Summer (Sumardagurinn fyrsti) is one of Iceland's oldest traditions. It comes from the old Norse calendar, which split the year into just two seasons, winter and summer. It is a public holiday on the first Thursday after 18 April, and in 2027 it falls on 22 April. Expect parades, brass bands and family events, and some closures. Icelanders traditionally give summer gifts on this day, a custom older than Christmas presents. Old folklore says that if winter and summer "freeze together", meaning there is frost on the night before, the summer will be good. Summer is optimistic this early, so still pack for cold weather.
EVE Fanfest, the gathering for players of the Icelandic computer game EVE Online at Harpa in Reykjavík, was often held in April. Recent editions have been held in May, so check the dates if you are coming for it.
Pros and cons of visiting Iceland in April
April gives you a taste of both seasons, which is its main strength and its main weakness.
- Pro: far fewer visitors than in summer, so the famous stops are calm.
- Pro: long days for sightseeing, with a last chance of Northern Lights in the first half of the month.
- Pro: most sights along the Ring Road are open and reachable, and winter activities such as glacier walks, snowmobiling and the Katla ice cave still run.
- Pro: the first puffins and more whales arrive, and Icelanders celebrate the First Day of Summer.
- Con: the weather is unstable. A day of sleet and wind is as likely as a clear spring day.
- Con: the highlands are closed, and the Vatnajökull ice caves are finished or close to it.
- Con: the countryside is still brown and patchy with snow. The green summer landscape, lupins and lambs come in May and June.
- Con: it is too early for reliable puffins and too late for reliable aurora, so do not build the whole trip around either.
Crowds, prices and booking
April is shoulder season. There are more visitors than in the depths of winter, but far fewer than in summer, so popular stops like Gullfoss and the South Coast feel calmer. If you dislike queues and busy viewing platforms, April is a good month to come. Prices for rooms and cars are often lower than in June to August.
Book ahead around public holidays, when Icelanders travel too. If you want a longer trip without the planning, have a look at our travel packages and itineraries. For the month before, see Iceland in March.
What to pack for Iceland in April
Pack for winter and hope for spring. The weather can turn quickly, so think in layers you can add and remove. Our Iceland packing list has the full list; these are the essentials.
- Outerwear: a waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers, plus an insulated jacket to wear under the shell or on dry, cold days.
- Head, neck and hands: a wool hat, a scarf or buff against the wind, and warm gloves.
- Inner layers: thermal base layers, and a wool or fleece jumper as a mid-layer.
- Everyday clothes: T-shirts, comfortable trousers or jeans, and something casual for restaurants and evenings in town.
- Footwear: waterproof walking boots with good grip, warm socks, and a pair of casual shoes. Flip-flops are handy at pools and lagoons.
- Swimwear and a quick-dry towel for hot springs and pools.
- Sunglasses for bright days, low sun on the road and snow glare.
- A torch or head torch with spare batteries for early April evenings and aurora hunting.
- Electronics: phone, chargers and a plug adapter (Iceland uses the European two-pin type). Bring spare camera batteries, as cold drains them fast.
- A reusable water bottle and a thermos. Tap water in Iceland is clean and good to drink.
- A rain cover for your day pack or camera bag.
- Toiletries and medicines: your prescriptions and the basic over-the-counter items you rely on.
Tours to book
These trips suit April well, whatever the weather does.
- Private South Coast & Katla Ice Cave Tour: the year-round ice cave under Mýrdalsjökull and the South Coast with your own guide, a safer bet than the Vatnajökull caves in April.
- Solheimajokull Glacier Hike: a guided glacier walk on the South Coast, with spring daylight to spare.
- Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Tour: a lava cave close to Reykjavík, good on a wet or windy day.
Questions people ask
What is the weather like in Iceland in April?
Cool and changeable. Reykjavík averages a high of about 7°C and a low of about 1°C, with rain, sleet or snow on around 12 days. The north is colder.
Can you see the Northern Lights in Iceland in April?
Yes, in the first half of the month, on clear nights away from town lights. By late April the nights are too bright, and the season ends until late August.
Are there puffins in Iceland in April?
The first puffins return in late April, but sightings are limited. Most puffin tours start in May.
Can you drive the Ring Road in April?
Usually yes. The Ring Road is generally open, but snow and ice are still possible, especially in the north and east. Highland F-roads stay closed until summer. Check road.is before each drive.
Is April a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, if you want long days, fewer crowds than summer and a last chance of Northern Lights. Be ready for cold, wet and windy days.
What should I wear in Iceland in April?
Layers. A thermal base layer, a wool or fleece mid-layer and a waterproof, windproof shell, with a hat, gloves and waterproof boots. Bring swimwear for hot springs and pools.
Is the Golden Circle open in April?
Yes. The Golden Circle roads are open all year, and in April they are usually clear, though snow and ice are still possible on some mornings. Allow 6 to 8 hours for the loop from Reykjavík.
What festivals are there in Iceland in April?
The First Day of Summer, a public holiday on the first Thursday after 18 April, the Children's Culture Festival in Reykjavík and, in the years it runs, AK Extreme in Akureyri. When Easter falls in April, the Aldrei fór ég suður music festival in Ísafjörður does too.
