In the heart of summer, July is also the beginning of the school vacations, so logically you may go to Iceland during this period! Find out everything you need to know about traveling to this country in July to get organized and see what you can do there.
Iceland in July: and why not?
Iceland is not known for its heat, but leaving in July can be the opportunity to enjoy a little coolness, especially when the heat threatens our more temperate countries.
The advantages
- Thanks to its proximity to the Arctic Circle, Iceland has a long daylight period, especially during the first two weeks of July. You can then have between 19h and 24h of daylight and enjoy the midnight sun for example!
- The weather is quite mild in July and you can enjoy often sunny but cool weather. Not bad when it’s over 30°C in France!
- All the tourist sites are open, as well as the campsites and the F-roads which will allow you to cross the land.
Negative points
- Unfortunately, the tourist traffic is important, especially in Reykjavik, in the Golden Circle and along the south coast.
- Prices are higher for airfare, hotels and car rentals.
What is the weather like in July?
The Icelandic climate being sub-polar or oceanic, you should not expect heat, even during a trip in summer. The Icelandic weather is often capricious with, as the saying goes, “all the weather in one day”.
July is therefore the hottest month of the year with, for example, an average maximum temperature of 13 to 15°C (13.3°C in Reykjavik and 14.5°C in Akureyri) and minimum temperatures around 7 to 9°C depending on the region. The temperature records are 1.4°C minimum and 24.3°C maximum in Reykjavik. In Akureyri, the records vary between 1.3°C and 27.6°C.
In terms of rainfall, it rains on average 7 days in Akureyri for 33 mm, which is quite low. In Reykjavik, it takes 10 days of precipitation for 51.8 mm.
How to organize your stay in Iceland in July
Before leaving for this North Atlantic island, it is important to be well prepared.
Book your plane tickets
To get to Iceland, you have to fly and the country is fairly well served. You will have flights:
- From or to France with Icelandair (Paris), Easy Jet (Basel Mulhouse) or Transavia (Paris).
- From and to Belgium with Icelandair in Brussels.
- From and to Switzerland with EasyJet in Geneva and Basel-Mulhouse.
- From and to Quebec with Icelandair which offers flights between Montreal and Keflavik.
Car rental
When you go to Iceland, you often want to visit a part of the country or the whole, not only Reykjavik. In this case, it is essential to rent a car to discover the island. Several types of vehicles are available, but a 4×4 can be useful, especially if you want to discover the interior.
Which accommodation to choose in July?
Accommodation is one of the most expensive items on a trip to Iceland. You will mainly have the choice between :
Packing your suitcase
Important step in the preparation of its trip, it is of course to know what one is going to put in its suitcase during a trip in Iceland.
What to do in July in Iceland?
Discover the activities and also the cultural planning of July:
- This is one of the last months to see puffins, so take advantage of it. There are also many other birds.
- Discover the Highlands (Landmannalaugar, Askja, etc.) and go on an adventure on the F-roads.
- Stroll through Reykjavik, Iceland’s sparkling capital, and discover its museums, monuments, beautiful streets and restaurants.
- Go for a horseback ride.
- Take a trek in the beautiful Icelandic countryside.
- For a luxurious and unforgettable cruise on a beautiful boat
- The agenda of events is quite rich in Iceland with three events:
- Horse festival (Landsmót) in Hella: from July 6 to 12, this small town in the south of the country organizes an event where you can discover the best Icelandic horses and see them compete.
- LungA Festival in Seyđisfjörđur: July 11-19, 2020, this festival aims to bring understanding and discovery of art and culture to youth.
- Chamber music festival in Reykholt: from July 26 to 28, 2020, in the church built on the site where Snorri Sturluson lived, you will be able to discover learned music, classical and therefore chamber music, as well as Nordic songs.
- Vestmannaeyjar National Day: from July 31 to August 02, 2020, you can discover on the island of Hemaey the music festival and also find local food, fireworks, all in a typical local celebration.
If you don’t go in July, you can also discover Iceland:
