Itineraries

3 reasons to visit Iceland in April

8th March 2024Erin Buckingham

One of the main draws to visit Iceland in the winter months is the chance to see the northern lights, but they can actually be seen between September and April, depending how far north you are and how much light pollution there is where you are. Iceland is also one of the most expensive countries to visit, and visiting in more ‘off-peak’ months, offers your wallet a some relief.

Temperature

Me in Thingvellir National park in February with 4 top layers and 2 bottom layers including ski coat and trousers

Sometimes we want to enjoy visiting a country without having to worry about whether we’ve packed enough layers or if we have plenty of suncream. Sometimes you just want to be out all day without stressing about shade or loosing feeling in our extremities. After visiting Iceland several times, once in February, I can confirm the latter is very much a real issue during the winter months. I was wearing at least 4 layers most days and when visiting Kerid Crater and other exposed area’s it really wasn’t fun to stand outside the comfort of the mini bus for too long.

When I visited in April the temperature was still mild, but it was paired with sunshine and not as much wind chill. Most days I wore a fleece or coat and a long sleeve tee and maybe leggings and hiking trousers on top if it was a particularly cold day but generally I didn’t feel cold at all. It was more akin to a spring day in the UK and it didn’t rain nearly as much as I expected, however there’s a saying in Iceland that definitely rang more true in April than February: “Welcome to Iceland! If you don’t like the weather, just wait five minutes!”

Accommodation prices

When visiting out of winter months or the midnight sun months, accommodation can be much more reasonable. Unlike many countries, Iceland’s tourism is much more prominent in the winter months, meaning the cost of certain accommodation types can be extortionate depending on your preferences. Hotels generally range between £200-300 per night whereas in less visited months like April-June, the prices can range more between £100-200. It’s still much more expensive than options like hostel dorms, however it is Iceland which is expensive for most things compared to the UK or USA for example.

If hostels are more your style, in February for example, the average hostel room is about £45 per night, more if you wanted smaller dorm rooms, however in April, most prices on Hostel World are more towards the £30-35 range.

Conditions

Seljalandsfoss Waterfall in April with the walk behind passage accessible (waterfall is also fuller due to snow melt)

Coined ‘The Land of Fire and Ice’, it’s hardly surprising to know that most tourist destinations in Iceland in winter are covered in snow and ice. It certain areas, like Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, some pathways are blocked of from access as it’s simply too dangerous. Similarly, the lower walkway at Gulfoss Waterfall, the one that takes you pretty much to the edge of the falls, is also blocked off for the same reasons. It’s simply just too icy to be safe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still an incredible sight to see both waterfalls surrounded by snow, it’s a shame not to be able to witness the full effect.

In April however, these pathways are usually open (generally towards the end of the month depending on the winter) but there’s still plenty of snow to be seen in some places. You also get the added benefit of being able to see the waterfalls at mostly full capacity as they are fuelled by snow melt making them even more impressive.