Visiting Iceland in February allows you to witness the stunning winter wonderland landscapes covered in snow and the mesmerizing Northern Lights dancing in the night sky. It also gives you the opportunity to experience the contrasting feeling of soaking in a warm hot spring with the cold air against your face.
Not only do you get to experience all this and more, but catching the tail end of our wintertime with our festive season and New Year in the rearview mirror also holds many more benefits for visitors than you might be aware of. In this article, we dive into everything going to Iceland in February has to offer, why it might be one of the best months to experience our magical winter season, and everything you need to know to plan your trip. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.
Iceland’s Weather in February
As winter is slowly starting to wind down here on the island, but you’ll still be entering our winter wonderland, it can be a bit confusing as to what exactly to expect from the weather in Iceland in February. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
The Temperature in Iceland in February
The temperature in Iceland in February ranges between -2 and 3 degrees Celsius and tends to hover around 0 degrees Celsius on average.
The Wind Speeds in Iceland in February
The winds have already calmed down considerably from the 35+ kilometers one can experience mid-winter. When going to Iceland in February, you can expect an average wind speed of around 25 kilometers an hour.
The Rainfall in Iceland in February
February has a total of around 83mm of rainfall throughout the month, which is the equivalent of about 16 rainy days.
The Snowfall in Iceland in February
Snowfall is guaranteed when visiting Iceland in February, but just like with our winds, things have settled down a bit. You will be privileged to experience regular soft and fluffy snowfall and not our extreme mid-winter blizzards.
The Daylight Hours in Iceland in February
As winter slowly draws to a close, daylight hours are ever-increasing here on the island. By the time you come to visit Iceland in February, they will have increased from the 4-hour average mid-winter to 7 hours each day.
Camping in Iceland in February
Unless you want to star in your own episode of Survivor, we wouldn’t recommend camping in Iceland in February in the traditional sense of the word. In fact, a few campsites are closed during the winter because it’s just not something one should do (or would enjoy, for that matter).
But if you do camping right, there are numerous benefits to camping in Iceland in February. First, you will need to rent a campervan or motorhome so you can go “camping” in warmth and comfort. By doing so, you will get a front-row seat to the incredible Icelandic landscape and some of our most famous natural wonders. But that’s not where the perks of camping in Iceland in February end.
It’s also the most cost-effective way of staying in Iceland, which means that your holiday budget will be able to stretch much further than it would’ve otherwise. If you purchase a Camping Card, you’ll even get more discounts. With all the savings this brings, visitors either have more money to spend on experiences and souvenirs during their trip to the island or they extend their stay.
Driving in Iceland in February
Driving in Iceland in February can get testy at times, especially if you tend to be a nervous driver or who doesn’t have to deal with extreme winds, snow, and ice on the roads during winters back home. We also have roads, such as the F-roads, that are closed throughout the colder months of the year. This might impact any specific road trip plans you might have, especially if you were banking on exploring the Highlands and the Westfjords.
Further to this, the weather can also cause sudden road closures. Needless to say, you’ll be wise to take on the roads in Iceland in February with a 4x4 vehicle, and you’ll need to have a chat with your rental agent about your planned routes so they can give you a few helpful tips on driving in Iceland in winter, provide you with the correct seasonal gear and accessories, give you the right advice around which routes to avoid during this time, and what rental insurance coverage is considered must-haves during the season.
Why Go to Iceland in February?
There are many reasons why visiting Iceland in February can be a great idea, but check out our handy overview of pros and cons below to see if it’s the right fit for you specifically:
Pros
You are essentially getting the picturesque winter wonderland without the usual winter weather drawbacks such as extreme winds, blizzards, etc.
You can participate in a few of our seasonal winter activities, such as ice cave exploring (most caves are closed throughout the warmer months of the year) or skiing (with many saying the snow on the slopes is at its best in the month of February).
The combination of cold weather conditions and the fewer daylight hours make it possible to experience one of our most famous natural phenomena: the Northern Lights.
All our festive season and New Year crowds have left the island, making it much easier to book things such as accommodation and transport, and visit some of our most popular attractions.
Without any peak season crowds, February is also the month where you won’t find any peak season pricing on the island. In fact, you might still get treated to a few “leftover” festive season and New Year sales.
Cons
The weather has already greatly improved since mid-winter, but you’ll still be dealing with winter in Iceland in February. This can be quite challenging, especially for those generally coming from warmer climates.
As with any seasonal activity, while the winter makes some possible, it also makes others impossible. For example, we would not recommend you take on one of our popular hiking trails during this time.
In the same way, the ratio of daylight to darkness that makes the Northern Lights possible makes one of our other natural phenomena, the Midnight Sun, impossible.
It might not be the best time if you’re planning on properly road-tripping around the island when you take the road conditions, our annual road closures, and sudden road closures, that can occur into account.
Spending Iceland in February has its drawbacks when it comes to our wildlife. Although you may still spot a few interesting bird species, a lone ranger whale or two, and our elusive Arctic Fox, you’ll be too early for our official whale season that sees many migratory whale species coming to the island, and you also won’t get to see the Iceland Puffins who only return from the sea around the end of April.
Helpful Tips When Visiting Iceland in February
If this is your first visit to Iceland or just the first time you’ll be visiting in February, you may find the following advice and tips helpful:
To always stay on top of the weather and the road conditions, keep an eye on the Icelandic weather forecast and the Iceland road conditions status.
The best way to combat the winter weather in Iceland is to wear layers. The contrast between the indoors and the outdoors can be pretty huge, so by wearing layers, you’ll always be able to put something on or take something off based on the situation.
Plan your trip itinerary carefully, taking special note of the number of daylight hours and sunrise and sunset times. You’ll also need to ensure that your itinerary is flexible enough so it doesn’t get completely derailed when you hit a snag such as a sudden road closure or a bad weather day.
If you’ve got your heart set on road-tripping Iceland in the wintertime, we recommend you stick to our main roads and road trip routes, such as the Ring Road or the Golden Circle. These are paved and well-maintained roads which promise the smoothest journey.
Packing for Iceland in February
Still wondering what to pack for Iceland in February? Well, besides the obvious (undies, etc.), below are a few must-remember (and please-forget!) items and clothes for Iceland in February:
Bring a raincoat to counter the rainfall, but leave the umbrellas at home. Our wind will ensure it’s completely destroyed even before properly exiting Keflavik Airport.
It may feel counterintuitive, but pack your swimwear. You do not want to miss out on our hot spring experiences.
In the same vein, bring a quick-drying towel. Bringing a regular towel will only ensure that you schlepp around a bunch of wet stuff all day.
Another must-bring item that may feel counterintuitive is sunglasses. Ensure that you have these with you at all times. During those daylight hours, the light reflecting off the sun and ice can be a killer on the eyes.
Bring plenty of moisturizer and lip balm. You’ve not known real dryness until you’ve visited Iceland in February.
Things to Do and See When Traveling to Iceland in February
When you’re busy compiling your trip itinerary for Iceland in February, please don’t forget to add the following:
Check out Iceland’s national parks. You may not be able to take on many of the popular hiking trails, but there are still plenty of exciting sights and activities, such as diving the Silfra.
Turn yourself into a temporary Viking by sailing on a traditional Viking ship or joining in on a traditional feast at the Viking Village.
Go horseback riding on the island’s own breed of horse, the Icelandic Horse. In February, these cuties will also be sporting their thick, fluffy winter coats.
Check out some of our most famous waterfalls, such as Seljalandsfoss and Dettifoss (the latter is the 2nd largest in Europe).
Take a dip in our natural hot springs, such as Reykjadalur, or soak in one of our geothermal pools, such as Sky Lagoon.
Visit our interesting museums like The Icelandic Phallological Museum and The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery and Witchcraft.
Explore the capital city via the Reykjavik Food Walk, which features a knowledgeable guide at the helm and plenty of stops along the way to feast on delicious local dishes and craft beers.
Traveling to Iceland in February: Perfect for Those with a Sense of Adventure and a Tight Budget.
Visiting Iceland in February is ideal for anyone who wants to experience our winter wonderland landscape without most of our winter season drawbacks. With the festive season and New Year in the rearview mirror you also won’t need to worry about peak season crowds or peak season prices.
And that’s just the start of all the perks of Iceland in February offers visitors. By using this helpful guide, it’s now you’re turn to Travel to Iceland in February and come experience all the magic the month brings for yourself!
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