What to Do in Iceland in July

July is one of Iceland’s more busy months and with good reason. The beautiful weather July brings opens up all of Iceland for you to explore. If you’re trying to decide what to do in Iceland in July, there are plenty of activities to choose from. Get out on the water in a kayak or raft. Zip on a wetsuit and dive in between two tectonic plates. Chase down Puffins and whales. Lace up your boots and hike it all. Experience summer the Icelandic way.

Venture south of the capital and explore Iceland’s South Coast. The extra daylight will come in handy as you visit almost all of the islands iconic natural phenomena. The July weather will beautifully compliment the black sanded Reynisfjara, the Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and the mighty Sólheimajökull Glacier. Gaze out across the Atlantic from the enchanting little town of Vík, soak in the summer sun rays, and beat yourself up for not doing this sooner.

July weather is mild and that means you can spend more time out in nature and less time hunkered down in a humid bar. Get outside and explore during all 20 hours of Iceland’s extended daylight. Hike a glacier, a volcano, out to natural hot springs, along the black sand beaches, under a waterfall. Only in Iceland can all of this be seen and enjoyed by foot.

July is one of the best times to rent a car and hit the open road. Each of the regions of Iceland has something special and different to offer visitors. Pick a direction and go or take the tried- and-true Ring Road for the definitive Icelandic asphalt experience.

Book tours and accommodations in advance. July is peak season in Iceland since the weather is great and there is plenty to see or do, but that means that many hotels, trips, and experiences will likely be full or pre-booked.

July is festival season in Iceland! The long, mid-summer days are home to several annual festivals and unique events. Spread out over the whole month, July’s got an occasion for every type of traveler.

Siglufjörður Folk Music Festival: July 3rd-7th / Siglufjörður, North Iceland — Folk and more folk! 19 concerts in total, mostly traditional Icelandic and Scandinavian, also featuring some dancing and world music. 

Rauðasandur Festival: July 5th-7th / Rauðasandur (Red Sands) of the West Fjords of Iceland — A family-friendly non-profit festival with something for everyone. Folk, country, blues, reggae, and even a sand castle competition on the red sand beach of Rauðasandur. 

Eistnaflug Music Festival: July 10th-13th / Neskaupsstaður, East Iceland — Three days of heavy metal and rock ‘n’ roll. A Nordic staple full of local and Scandinavian bands.

Lunga Art Festival: July 14th-21th / Seydisfjordur, East Iceland — Workshops, lectures, and exhibitions revolving around aesthetics, concludes with concerts and celebrations. Art at it’s frigid finest! 

Medieval Days at Gásir: July 19th-21st / Gásir, North Iceland (Eyjafjordur) — A re-created Medieval village on a local historical site. Join in for some craft demonstrations, games, and some Medieval role-play. 

Reykholt Chamber Music Festival: July 26th-28th / Reykholt, South Iceland — The place to be for those who really know and love music. One of the oldest festivals in Iceland and considered to be essential to Iceland’s music scene.

Iceland weather in July is what the locals like to call “sweater weather.” A sweater, pants, some hiking shoes, and a jacket should be more than enough to keep you comfortable. The warm, mild weather and long hours of daylight make July the perfect time to visit for travelers looking to get outdoors and spend every waking minute exploring the Icelandic wilderness.

July is Iceland's hottest month with temperatures averaging a nice 51.4°F (10.8°C). Iceland in July receives around 51mm of rainfall and gets close to 20 hours of daylight, allowing you to sightsee long into the night.

Remember, Iceland is located just outside of the Arctic Circle — tanks, shorts, and flip-flops aren’t extremely practical, even in July. Do as the locals do and learn to layer! Bringing several pieces of clothing allows you to adjust to Iceland's always-changing weather.

Pack yourself a pair of gloves, warm hat, scarf, sweaters, pants, a change or two of shorts, good hiking boots or shoes, waterproof jacket and pants, plenty of socks, a day pack, and don’t forget some sunglasses to shade you from the almost continual sunlight. Of course, remember to pack your bathing suit for a dip in one of Iceland’s famous geothermal pools!

Book tours and accommodations in advance. July is peak season in Iceland since the weather is great and there is plenty to see or do, but that means that many hotels, trips, and experiences will likely be full or pre-booked.

Summer is not a good time to see the Northern Lights. The days are long and the nights are short in July making it quite impossible to see the Northern Lights. It would be better to visit Iceland during the winter months if you’re dead-set on seeing the If the Aurora Borealis light up the night sky.