Iceland February — aurora borealis glowing alongside moon and Venus above a snowy Icelandic landscape

Iceland · Iceland

February

Aurora season still strong, days noticeably lengthening, Winter Lights Festival in Reykjavik.

Best match

#3 of 12 months

February is one of the best times to visit Iceland.

Climate

High

3°C

Low

-2°C

Rain

72mm

Sun

6.1hrs/day

30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5

How February scores in Iceland

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

What you gain in February

  • Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival (mid-Feb): free outdoor light installations across the city for 4 nights
  • Days visibly longer than January (6.1h sunshine) — aurora still reliable on clear nights
  • Lowest crowd levels of the year; tours and attractions at minimal capacity

What you sacrifice

  • Still cold and icy; wind chill makes -2°C feel significantly colder
  • Roads across the interior completely closed; Westfjords and Highlands inaccessible
  • Aurora requires patience and clear skies — expect cloud-watching as much as light-chasing

How February compares to September (best month)

FactorFebruarySeptember
Weather
3
6
Value
8
6
Crowds
9
7

February in other destinations

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