Iceland in June: Weather, What to expect, Travel Tips, Best places

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Iceland has rugged stunning landscapes and is a haven for outdoor and nature enthusiasts. June or early summer is a great time to visit Iceland. Everything is open, the weather is pleasant, the roads are in good condition, there is never ending daylight to visit the best places and do all adventures all day long.

We went for a road trip to Iceland in June. And if you are looking for weather, travel tips, best places to visit, things to do in Iceland in June, you have come to the right place.

The landscape is so colourful in Iceland in summer months.

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Weather in Iceland in June

Summer in Iceland is quite temperamental. You can expect temperatures of 5 °C to 15 °C in Iceland in June. The average temperature is about 10 °C. It does rain occasionally during summer months and June is no different. We encountered 2 days on heavy rain while visiting the South Iceland attractions in June. The warmest months in Iceland are July and August.

But the good part of Iceland in June is the never-ending daylight hours. Yes, you will encounter the midnight sun and have daylight to do as much sightseeing and hiking as your heart desires. June has the longest daylight hours of the year.

What to wear in Iceland in June

As I mentioned earlier, the weather in Iceland even in summer is unpredictable. So you need to wear layers that you can take off or put on with weather changes during the day. Even in summer months, there were days when the wind chill was high and for outdoor activities, I was wearing an inner layer, T-shirt and then a rain/wind jacket with full-length pants. During hiking, if it got warm, it was easy enough to take off the outer jacket. There were activities like glacier hiking where it was 4 layers including a warm fleece beneath the rain jacket.

Note all the layers during the start of Glymur waterfall hike in June.

And for many adventure activities and tours in Iceland like glacier hiking, visiting an ice cave, hiking, you will need water-proof sturdy shoes, water-proof rain jacket, and decent gloves. Check this post for a complete packing list for Iceland.

Don’t forget your swimsuit and a quick dry towel. You will need it to get into public hot springs and hot pools in Iceland. If you book a pass to Blue Lagoon or the Sky Lagoon, a towel is included with the entry pass.

What to expect regarding crowds and cost

Summer months of June, July and August are peak season for Iceland. So everything is open, road conditions are great, daylight hours are never ending and it is just beautiful everywhere. This also means crowds, especially on the popular routes like the Golden Circle route and the south coast attractions. The cost is the maximum in Iceland in June and other summer months. So it is best to plan 6 months in advance and book everything from flights to accommodation.

Iceland is an expensive travel destination and June is quite expensive. Here is a guide for you to estimate your Iceland vacation cost. You will need to factor in car rental, fuel prices, hotel stays, food and all tours.

Best places to visit in Iceland in June

Iceland is painted purple by lupines that grow wildly in summer months. You can admire fields of lupines in Snæfellsnes Peninsula and on the South coast of Iceland among other places.

All of Iceland is open and accessible in June. The F-roads, or unpaved dirt tracks open up sometime in the middle of June. And that gives you access to drive to the central highlands of the country: Landmannalaugar and Thorsmork.

There are short hikes that are possible only in summer months. Like the Glymur waterfall hike we did in Snaefellsnes Peninsula. You need to cross a river using a log to reach the waterfall, and that log appears sometime in early June.

The rest of the country: Reykjavik and the nearby Golden Circle route, South coast, East fjord towns (we did a day trip to Seydisfjordur), Lake Myvatn and surrounding areas in north Iceland, Westfjords, and Snaefellsnes Peninsula on the western side, are completely accessible and thronging with people.

Kirkjufell in Snaefellsnes Peninsula in June.

Driving in Iceland during June can be an exhilarating experience, with long stretches of open highway and stunning scenery to take in as you go. You don’t even need to rent a 4WD to access the ring road in Iceland in summer. Unless you plan to get on F-roads, a regular car will get you everywhere.

Festivals and Events in Iceland in June

Reykjavik Arts Festival happens in early June. Whitsunday, referred to as Hvítasunnu in Iceland, takes place on the seventh Sunday after Easter.

June 17th is an incredibly significant day in Iceland, as it marks the country’s Independence Day. On this day, Iceland gained its freedom from Denmark, and it is celebrated in a big way throughout the nation.

Hafnarfjordur is a charming harbor town 6 miles (10 kilometers) from Reykjavik and home to Iceland’s longest-running Viking Festival. The Viking Festival usually occurs over a week in mid-June and ends on June 17^th.

Secret Solstice Festival is one of the biggest musical events of the year that takes place in June. It is an event celebrating the longest day of the year. Revelers dance to the light of the Midnight Sun and many stay up all night. During this festival, local and international musicians are invited to play on a huge stage in the middle of Reykjavík over the weekend.

Unique things to do in Iceland in June

Driving is such a pleasure in Iceland in June. Taking a road trip would be one of the best things to do in Iceland in summer.

Remote regions become accessible

You can add Westfjords to your Iceland summer itinerary. The beautiful, remote peninsula of Northwestern Iceland is only open in the summer months. Mid-to-late June onwards is the perfect opportunity to explore this nearly- untouched region.

Wildlife in Iceland

Seeing puffins is another unique summer activity in Iceland. Every year, from May to September, these peculiar penguin-like birds make the island their breeding ground. There are different parts of Iceland where you can see puffins on land and in water.

So is whale watching. The shores of Iceland’s coasts are rich in krill and fish, attracting whales and birds to its dramatic coastline. Husavik on the Diamond Route in North Iceland is the best spot for whale watching.

Hiking trails and waterfalls

Hiking a is huge in summer months. Landmannalaugar and Thormosk become accessible in summer months via the F-roads. And that opens up the best known hiking trail in all of Iceland.

Lots of short and multi-day hike options in Landmannalaugar.

You can chase waterfalls in Iceland all year round. But the force of the water is the strongest in summer months. And some waterfalls that can be accessed only via a hike like Glymur can be visited in June.

Midnight Sun

Experience the midnight sun. Each day boasts 22+ hours of daylight, and even though the sun might disappear over the horizon for a couple of hours, darkness never falls. This phenomenon is known as the Midnight Sun and is one of the most unique things to see in Iceland in June. Unfortunately, you can not see the northern lights in Iceland in June.

Other things to do in Iceland

June is a great time to visit hot springs in Iceland, as the weather will be warmer and the opening hours will be longer than in winter.

June is a perfect month to discover Iceland’s lava caves and tubes. Many lava caves are inaccessible in the winter due to ice, but as it thaws, these underground labyrinths are ready to be explored again.

You can ride the Icelandic horse since all trails and riding schools are open. June offers excellent weather for horseback riding and a chance to experience the beauty of the countryside from a different perspective.

Icelandic horses are gentle, good for even young kids.

Another fabulous activity to do in Iceland in June is take a boat tour at Jokulsarlon Ice Lagoon. You can combine this with glacier hiking at Vatnajokull and a visit to the Diamond Beach on the south coast of Iceland.