Weather

In the summer, light clothing is often all you need - but always be prepared for both cold and wet weather at all times of the year.  The weather can be extremely changeable.  Icelanders often say, "If you don´t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes." And always bring a bathing suit, whatever time of the year you visit.  A favourite pastime is year-round outdoor swimming in countless geothermally heated pools and lagoons, with a typical temperature of 25-28°C.

Thanks to the Gulf Stream, Iceland isn´t as cold as it sounds.  Temperatures are moderate year-round.  Average July temperatures are around 11°C in Reykjavík - the north and east are often the warmest parts in the summer.  Snow is not the norm and only settles intermittently in Reykjavík but tends to stay longer in the north.  Fine winter skiing areas are found on higher ground outside many towns, however.  Average January temperatures in Reykjavík, at around zero, are actually higher than those in New York.