Iceland Trip

Iceland by month · winter

Iceland in March: what it is really like, and how to plan it

By · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated

March is the best balance of winter: enough daylight for real days out, the ice caves still open, and the equinox giving the strongest northern lights of the season. Roads are still winter roads and storms still happen, so keep the 4x4, the winter tyres and the spare day; the full Ring Road becomes possible for experienced winter drivers late in the month.

Key facts

Daylight
11.7 hours on the 15th in Reykjavík (sunrise 07:51, sunset 19:31)
Weather
Reykjavík averages -1 to 3 °C, about 130 mm of rain or snow (10-year normals)
Northern lights
8.7 dark hours a night mid-month: a good month
Highlands
All F-roads closed
Cost
About $1,499 - $1,984 per person for 7 days as a couple in comfort hotels, before flights
Crowds
Quiet to moderate; Easter can fall here and fills hotels

Weather in March

Cold but brightening: freezing nights, daytime a few degrees above, snow in the north, rain and sleet in the south. Wind remains the hazard.

March normals for four towns, from ten years of daily records
TownAverage highAverage lowRain or snow in the month
Reykjavík3 °C-1 °C130 mm
Vík4 °C0 °C301 mm
Akureyri1 °C-4 °C99 mm
Egilsstaðir2 °C-3 °C152 mm
March normals for four towns, from ten years of daily records. ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, averaged over the most recent ten complete years. Any single day can be far from the average.

Daylight and darkness

On the 15th of March the sun is up for 11.7 hours in Reykjavík, from 07:51 to 19:31. The sky is fully dark for 8.7 hours, enough for the northern lights on a clear night. The equinox month: statistically the most active of the season, with 11 to 13 dark hours a night.

Tonight's live northern lights verdict

Roads and the highlands

Most of the Ring Road open most days; the north-east still closes in storms. F-roads closed.

Every F-road is closed in March. Live road conditions on the Ring Road and main routes

Best in March

  • Northern lights at their most active
  • Ice caves until the melt
  • Snæfellsnes in winter light
  • Whale watching restarts from Reykjavík

Skip: Counting on the highlands or the Westfjords.

What March costs

Quiet to moderate; Easter can fall here and fills hotels. Prices begin to rise from winter lows.

A 7-day self-drive trip in March, by travel style
Travel stylePer personWhole party
Couple, budget rooms, standard car$1,269 - $1,691$2,538 - $3,382
Couple, comfort hotels, standard car$1,499 - $1,984$2,997 - $3,968
Couple, luxury hotels, 4x4$2,267 - $2,991$4,533 - $5,982
Family of 4, comfort hotels, 4x4$1,466 - $1,948$5,863 - $7,792
4 friends, budget rooms, standard car$1,107 - $1,483$4,429 - $5,931
A 7-day self-drive trip in March, by travel style. From the Iceland Trip budget model (last updated 2026-07-07): accommodation, car, fuel, food and two paid activities per person; flights excluded.

Run your own numbers in the budget calculator · Every month compared

Book ahead

  • Ice-cave tour early in the month
  • 4x4 with winter tyres
  • Glacier hike on Sólheimajökull or Skaftafell
  • A pool or lagoon the evening you arrive

Pack

  • Crampons
  • Layers for +5 by day and -5 by night
  • Waterproofs
  • Eye mask: mornings get bright

Itineraries real travelers drove in March

Editor-picked plans from real March trips. Duplicate one and the planner rebuilds it around your dates, car and pace.

All March itineraries

Iceland in March: questions people ask

Is March a good month to visit Iceland?

For many travelers it is the best winter month: the ice caves and northern lights are still at full strength and there are ten to thirteen hours of daylight to drive in. Roads are still winter roads.

Can you see the northern lights in March in Iceland?

Yes, and March is usually the most active month of the season because of the equinox. You need dark, clear skies: the live page on this site gives the verdict each night.

Are F-roads open in March?

No. Every highland F-road is closed under snow in March and stays closed until June at the earliest; the big ones with river crossings open in late June or July. Landmannalaugar, Þórsmörk and Askja are reachable only by Superjeep tour, and those run limited winter programmes. Plan March around the South Coast, the Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes.

Deeper reading on iceland-trip.com

Our sister site covers every place in depth: access, parking, seasons, what to expect. Written by the same team.