Iceland Trip

Iceland Itineraries for May

May is the quiet start of the bright season. Daylight stretches past 18 hours by the end of the month, the first puffins are back on the cliffs, waterfalls run high with meltwater, and accommodation and car rental still cost noticeably less than in June, July and August. The Ring Road and Snæfellsnes are fully open; the highland F-roads are not.

These May plans come from real trips and were picked by our editors for routes that use the long light without counting on summer-only roads or tours. Open one to see every stop and drive, then duplicate it and set your own dates.

Picked and reviewed by · Iceland Lead & Content Curator· Updated

2–4 days

7 days

8–10 days

Frequently asked questions

Is May a good time to visit Iceland?

Yes. May brings 17 to 20 hours of daylight, far fewer visitors than summer, lower prices and the return of puffins and other seabirds. The weather is cool (typically 5 to 10°C) and changeable, snow is possible in the north early in the month, and the highland F-roads and some seasonal tours do not open until June.

Can you drive the Ring Road in May?

Yes. The full Ring Road is normally open in May, and a 2WD car is fine on it. Expect occasional gravel sections and watch the forecast in the north and east, where late snow showers still happen in early May. Highland routes such as Kjölur and Landmannalaugar stay closed until June.

Can you see puffins in Iceland in May?

Yes. Puffins return to their nesting cliffs in late April and are present through August. In May the best accessible spots are Dyrhólaey near Vík, Látrabjarg in the Westfjords, Borgarfjörður eystri in the east and the Westman Islands.

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.

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