Iceland in May: What to Expect, Things to Do, & Travel Tips

After seven trips to Iceland, I can confidently say that I have visited the country in more than half of the months and within every season.

Almost every other month fulfilled my expectations and didn’t surprise me. May, on the other hand, kind of threw me for a loop. And while it defied my expectations, I enjoyed visiting Iceland in May!

I visited toward the end of the month and a time that would have spanned Memorial Day weekend in the United States, so I was expecting a lot of Americans to be about on their long weekend. I didn’t arrive at that, and Reykjavík was the quietest I had ever seen it from a tourist perspective.

May is nestled between the northern lights season and the summer vacation season, leaving it a kind of interesting time to visit the country.

In this guide, I will share some of the things to do in Iceland in May, what to expect on a trip there, the things to bring with you, and a few tips for your trip.

This guide is mainly targeted at those basing themselves in Reykjavík. If there is anything you’d like to know about spending May in Iceland, please reach out in the comments. Thanks!

May Weather in Iceland

Iceland has a lot of microclimates, which can vary from one place to another, but I assume most of you are basing yourself in Reykjavík, or you will be there at some point throughout your trip, so I will share the weather information for Reykjavík and a few other notable places throughout Iceland:

• Reykjavík in May: average high of 10 C (50 F), average low of 4C (39 F)
• Akureyri in May: average high of 10 C (50 F), average low of 3C (37 F) 
• Vík í Mýrdal in May: average high of 6 C (43 F), average low of 3C (38 F)

Snow can happen in any of these locations in May, so be prepared. You will almost definitely encounter rain at some point throughout your trip, so bringing waterproof clothing is a good idea. The wind can make holding an umbrella quite the task in Iceland, so I’d stick to a waterproof jacket with a hood instead! 

You will also encounter wind in Iceland, so make sure you dress warmer than what the temperature suggests it is going to be.

Daylight Hours in May

If you’re visiting Iceland in May, you will notice how long the days are! There is a large change in daylight hours during May, and they are as follows:

• May 1 (16 hours, 53 minutes of daylight)
• May 15 (18 hours, 25 minutes of daylight)
• May 31 (20 hours, 2 minutes of daylight)

While there is no midnight sun, you will have twilight all month, meaning that it is never pitch black. The skies will be a dark blue at night and get lighter and lighter throughout the month.

Renting a Car in Iceland

The best way to see Iceland is to rent a car! The driving there is pretty easy, but it’s the weather that is the biggest challenge, so you don’t know what to expect until you arrive. Just be flexible and have a buffer aside in your budget to ensure you don’t run into any issues!

I use Discover Cars when I rent a car because they can compare hundreds of options, and it helps me find the best deal. You can find the best deals on Discover Cars here.

If you are planning to visit Iceland and use tours to help you get around, it is one of the easiest places to do so! I use GetYourGuide when I am visiting Iceland, and on my May trip to the country, I did not rent a car and only used GYG tours, actually.

Best Things to Do in Iceland in May

1. Go whale watching from Reykjavík or Húsavík.

One of the most popular things to do in Iceland is to go whale watching! And spring marks the start of whale watching season.

There are several places in Iceland where you can see whales, and two of the most popular places to do so are Reykjavík and Húsavík.

From Reykjavík, you can head out on a boat (I took the Amelia Rose yacht from the harbor) and have a chance to see minke whales, porpoises, and more. I saw a few of each on my trip, and it was worth the journey! This is a 3-hour trip, and it is wheelchair-accessible. See rates and availability for whale watching in Reykjavík.

From Húsavík, you will head out into the Skjálfandi Bay with North Saililng to look for whales, dolphins, and seabirds. Húsavík is located on the northern coast of Iceland is the the whale watching capital of the country! This is a 3-hour tour and is wheelchair-accessible. See rates and availability for whale watching in Húsavík.

2. Take a road trip to the South Coast.

If you are visiting Iceland for the first time, I highly suggest taking a trip along the dramatic South Coast!

I have taken three different people to Iceland over the years (who had never been), and I took each one of them to the South Coast to experience the diversity in landscapes. You can see glaciers, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and charming towns. It is never a miss!

The reason I am really encouraging a trip to the South Coast in May, however, is because the region of Iceland has different weather than other places and doesn’t sit under heavy snowfall throughout the winter.

This means the landscapes are a bit greener and more striking than some other parts of the country, and particularly the area around Reykjavík.

You can drive the route yourself, or you can sign up for a South Coast tour that will do the job for you! Either way, prepare for a long day if you’re going as a day trip from Reykjavík.

3. See the Lava Show in Reykjavík or Vík.

Reykjavík has some hits and a few misses, but one of the biggest hits, in my opinion, is the Icelandic Lava Show!

There are shows in both Reykjavík and Vík and it is a great one-hour activity that will get you off your feet while you learn about the volcanoes that make Iceland so famous.

Tickets are very affordable (around $50 or so), and it is a family-friendly activity. Or, you can go solo like I did twice. The shows in Vík and Reykjavík are actually different, so if you liked it in one location, no shame in joining a show in the other location.

🌋 Check rates and availability for the Lava Show in Reykjavík
🌋 Check rates and availability for the Lava Show in Vík

4. Go snorkeling in Silfra in Þingvellir National Park.

A unique activity that you can do at any time of the year is to go snorkeling in Silfra in Þingvellir National Park (Thingvellir National Park). You will need to drive a car to the national park for the activity, or book one that includes transportation.

The Silfra Fissure is where the North American and Eurasian plates meet and you will have a chance to snorkel between the two plates and touch them at the same time! The water you’ll be in is ancient glacier meltwater and it is an experience like no other!

The activity is slotted for three hours, but only 45 minutes of that are in the water. It is cold, so they will give you insulated dry suits that make it manageable.

This is a year-round activity, and May is the perfect time to do it, since the temperatures are starting to creep up more than when I went in November! Click here to check rates and availability for a Silfra snorkeling tour.

5. See the puffins in Látrabjarg in the Westfjords.

While the Westfjords aren’t on the itinerary for most first-time visitors, if you want to get off the beaten path and see one of the least visited regions of Iceland, it very well should be! 

You can see the puffins in a few places around the Westfords, including Látrabjarg, Hornbjarg, and Hælavíkurbjarg. Látrabjarg, however, is the largest seabird cliff in Iceland, and it is pretty accessible at that!

The seacliffs are 440 meters high (over 1400 feet) and you can see not only Atlantic Puffins here, but also Razorbills, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, and more.

The puffins may arrive in late April but can arrive as late as mid-May, so this is something I would only put on a late May itinerary.

Getting to the Westfjords from Reykjavík takes about 6 hours, so this requires an overnight stay (which you can do in Flókalundur, but there are limited guesthouses there).

Additional Suggestions

While the short list above is a few of my favorite things to do in Iceland in May, here are some others you may want to consider if you’re looking for additional ideas:

• RAFLOST Iceland Festival of Electronic Arts (there are no dates listed for 2025, so do check their site to see if they have added them)
• Explore the Reykjavík food scene (the food scene is severely underrated, and some of my favorite spots to eat in Reykjavík are Messinn, Sumac, Icelandic Street Food, Íslenski Barinn, Mat Bar, Dill, TIDES, and Apotek Restaurant)
• Check out Reykjavík’s museums (my favorites are the Perlan and the Whales of Iceland Museum)
• Take a day tour of the wild Snæfellsnes Peninsula

What to Pack for May in Iceland

If you show up to Iceland dressed exactly for the temperatures I listed above, you will be cold. I would take those temperatures and make them all 0 C (32 F) and dress for that.

It is almost always a bit windy in Reykjavík, so it will likely feel colder than it actually is. Pair that with the humidity from the seas, and you’re in for a wild ride if you don’t wear some layers and dress warmly!

Here are a few things I suggest bringing for your trip to Iceland in May:

• Eye mask (there are long days, and it is best to have one just in case your hotel’s curtains don’t do their job!)
• Wool sweater (you can buy one in Iceland at the Handknitting Association of Iceland at Skólavörðustígur 19 and Borgartún 31, Kolaportið weekend flea market at Tryggvagötu 19, or Thorvaldsensbazar at Austurstræti 4)
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof bag (or one you don’t mind getting a little wet/dirty)
• Boots (hiking boots with thick socks are fine this time of the year – bring a plastic bag to throw them in for your journey home because they might be muddy)
• Good face moisturizer (the wind can take its toll!)
• Mobile power bank (good for long days on the road)
• Beanie (it will be chilly and the wind can throw you off)

Tips for Visiting Iceland during May

✅ The landscapes will start losing their snow in April and May, resulting in a brown color until the sun brings them back to life. It can be a bit unappealing, but I found a lot of places along the South Coast to be bright green since the climate there is so different than other parts of the country.

✅ Waterfalls are at their most powerful! It is a great time to see them, so make sure you plan to visit a few on your trip.

✅ Many main sites do not allow drones, so you may want to leave it at home. Drones are banned in these popular places: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara Beach (the famous black sand beach), and more.

✅ May 1 and May 29 are observed holidays in Iceland, so some restaurants and attractions may be closed or operating on a different schedule.

Iceland in May FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Iceland?

May was a bit cheaper, and finding accommodation was easy, so I say yes! Just do not head there with the expectation to see the northern lights or snowy landscapes, and you’ll enjoy it! The puffins and whales like May, so I think you will too!

Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in May?

No, you can’t see the northern lights in Iceland in May. The days do not get dark, and the entire month experiences twilight, so it never gets pitch black.

How many days in Iceland are enough?

I think you can see quite a bit with 4 days in Iceland. If it is your first trip to the country, I would base yourself in Reykjavík most of the time and do day trips, or do two nights in Reykjavík and two nights elsewhere.

I typically suggest the Golden Circle and South Coast for first-timers as I think it shows some of Iceland’s top highlights.

Where to Stay in Reykjavík

I have been to Reykjavík several times and always opt to stay somewhere different on my trips so I can know whether or not to recommend it later!

Here are some of my top picks in Iceland’s capital city:

• Center Hotels Plaza (I stayed here on my May trip; it was nice but the rooms were a bit more no-frills than other places I have stayed in Reykjavík… liked it and its Ingólfstorg Square location though)
• Skuggi Hotel by Keahotels (on the other side of the city center and close to a bus stop where tours meet; had an amazing breakfast!)
• Hotel Von (probably my favorite stay in Reykjavík; I had a modern room with a beautiful balcony… slightly pricier than the others, though)
• The Reykjavik EDITION (a truly luxurious stay in the city; right beside the Opera House and has one of my favorite restaurants in Reykjavík in-house, TIDES)

Do you have any questions about what to do in Iceland in May? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!