Iceland August — Seljalandsfoss waterfall in golden warm-season light with lush green hillsides

Iceland · Iceland

August

Still warm, Reykjavik Pride, and the very first aurora sightings returning late in the month.

Strong option

#11 of 12 months

There are better months for Iceland — see the full ranking below.

See when to go instead →

Climate

High

14°C

Low

9°C

Rain

62mm

Sun

11.5hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How August scores in Iceland

Weather
Very good
Value
Low
Crowds
Below average
Events
Excellent
Atmosphere
Excellent

What you gain in August

  • Reykjavik Pride (first week of August): the largest per-capita Pride celebration in the world; parade fills the city
  • Warmth of July continues with slightly lower prices and crowds as the season shoulders off
  • First aurora sightings can occur late August as nights begin to darken — a rare chance to see both midnight sun and aurora in one trip

What you sacrifice

  • Still expensive: summer premium persists through August, flights especially costly
  • Highland F-roads begin to close again from late August — window for interior driving narrows
  • Rainfall increases (62mm vs 52mm in July) — weather becomes more changeable toward month end

How August compares to September (best month)

FactorAugustSeptember
Weather
7
6
Value
2
6
Crowds
3
7

August in other destinations

Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Iceland, not across destinations. Methodology →