Iceland by month · autumn
Iceland in October: what it is really like, and how to plan it
By Nimrod Ron · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated
October is the quiet, cheap, dark-enough month: good northern lights odds on long nights, the Ring Road still open almost every day, hotels at shoulder prices and few other travelers. The highlands are closed, the weather is wet and windy, and the first snow reaches the northern passes late in the month, so plan the south and west with a spare day and a 4x4 if going north.
Key facts
- Daylight
- 9.8 hours on the 15th in Reykjavík (sunrise 08:21, sunset 18:11)
- Weather
- Reykjavík averages 3 to 7 °C, about 155 mm of rain or snow (10-year normals)
- Northern lights
- 10.7 dark hours a night mid-month: a good month
- Highlands
- All F-roads closed
- Cost
- About $1,555 - $2,057 per person for 7 days as a couple in comfort hotels, before flights
- Crowds
- Quiet
Weather in October
Two to seven degrees, wet and windy, with the first snow in the north late in the month. Daylight shrinks by five hours over the month.
| Town | Average high | Average low | Rain or snow in the month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík | 7 °C | 3 °C | 155 mm |
| Vík | 8 °C | 4 °C | 322 mm |
| Akureyri | 5 °C | 0 °C | 140 mm |
| Egilsstaðir | 6 °C | 1 °C | 152 mm |
Daylight and darkness
On the 15th of October the sun is up for 9.8 hours in Reykjavík, from 08:21 to 18:11. The sky is fully dark for 10.7 hours, enough for the northern lights on a clear night. Long nights, 12 to 15 dark hours, and the second-best odds of the autumn after September.
Roads and the highlands
Lowland roads open, with the first icy mornings on the passes late in the month. F-roads closed.
Every F-road is closed in October. Live road conditions on the Ring Road and main routes
Best in October
- Northern lights
- The South Coast in autumn light
- Hot springs in cold air
- Iceland Airwaves in Reykjavík at the end of the month
Skip: Long driving days: the light goes at 18:00 early in the month and 17:00 by the end.
What October costs
Quiet. Shoulder to low prices; a good month for a last-minute trip.
| Travel style | Per person | Whole party |
|---|---|---|
| Couple, budget rooms, standard car | $1,307 - $1,740 | $2,613 - $3,479 |
| Couple, comfort hotels, standard car | $1,555 - $2,057 | $3,110 - $4,114 |
| Couple, luxury hotels, 4x4 | $2,385 - $3,145 | $4,769 - $6,289 |
| Family of 4, comfort hotels, 4x4 | $1,525 - $2,025 | $6,099 - $8,099 |
| 4 friends, budget rooms, standard car | $1,138 - $1,523 | $4,550 - $6,090 |
Run your own numbers in the budget calculator · Every month compared
Book ahead
- Car; 4x4 with winter tyres if going north
- Glacier hike
- A lagoon
- Airwaves tickets if you want the festival
Pack
- Full waterproofs
- Warm hat, gloves, buff
- Headlamp
- Microspikes late in the month
Itineraries real travelers drove in October
Editor-picked plans from real October trips. Duplicate one and the planner rebuilds it around your dates, car and pace.
6 daysVík Ice Caves to Langjökull Snowmobiles
An October loop with an ice cave, horses and the Lava Show in Vík, then a glacier snowmobile ride and a city finish.
7 daysAutumn Day Tours: Ice Caves, Whales and Lava Tubes
Whales, a glacier hike, the Katla ice cave and a northern lights hunt, all on guided tours over one autumn week.
8 daysSouth Coast Deep Dive: Ice Cave and Glacier
A focused autumn road trip for friends: waterfalls, black sand, Katla's ice cave and a day on Sólheimajökull.
Iceland in October: questions people ask
Is October a good time to visit Iceland?
Good for the northern lights, prices and space, at the cost of wet weather and shortening days. The South Coast and the Golden Circle work well; the highlands are shut.
Does it snow in Iceland in October?
In the north and on the mountain passes, from late October; in Reykjavík and on the South Coast rarely before November, though a cold snap can bring a dusting any time. The real change is the storms, which close a pass for a day. The ten-year averages on this page show the turn from autumn to winter.
Can you see the northern lights in October?
Yes, on any clear night, and it is one of the better months: long nights without the deep-winter cloud, milder weather for standing outside, and roads still easy to drive. Four nights give a fair chance. The nightly verdict and the clearest viewing site are on this site’s northern lights page.
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.
- Iceland's weather, month by monthWhat each month is really like, what to pack, when the highland roads open and when the northern lights show.iceland-trip.com
- Renting a car and driving in IcelandWhich car to rent, the insurance that matters, gravel and F-road rules, fuel, speed limits and the mistakes that cost visitors money.iceland-trip.com
- Sample routes around IcelandThe classic routes from a Golden Circle day to the full Ring Road, with what each one covers and how long it needs.iceland-trip.com