Oh, traveling to Iceland! Just thinking about it makes many people start daydreaming about their fantastic vacation. Black sand beaches, glaciers, volcanoes, places full of tourists. Did you expect that? If you're a little confused reading the last sentence, it's because visiting overcrowded places is not what we're after when we travel.
That’s why it’s so important to plan when to visit a country. Today, I won't just give you one reason to avoid the high season, but seven reasons why you should visit Iceland in the off-season. Personally, for me, it's the best time of the year to come here. You'll be glad you did.
Iceland in the off-season: Just nature and you
Iceland is known for its nature, everyone knows that. Most travelers who decide to visit our small Nordic Iceland are drawn to its landscape. It’s not hard to understand why. You can enjoy glaciers, volcanoes, meadows, snow-capped mountains, and black sand beaches, all merged into a single country. Now, do you feel special when every tourist spot you visit is full of people doing exactly the same thing? Probably not.
I’m aware this is a bit selfish, but we all act like tourists. We all love taking photos, visiting the same famous spots. We all have typical tourist behavior, in a good way, when we’re abroad. But, ironically, we don’t like it when others do it.
As an Icelander, I grew up in remote areas and I'm very used to being alone in nature. So, for me, Iceland in the off-season is everything any traveler could wish for. Today, you can still enjoy the pure side of Iceland by yourself. You just need to know the right time.
Spending time alone with nature has a therapeutic effect, reduces anxiety, and stress disappears when sitting in a calm and peaceful environment. Iceland is full of places that match that description, but especially in the off-season. During summer, the weather is more stable and there’s a lot of sunlight, so all travelers flock to the most popular tourist areas and sometimes they get overcrowded.
Do you want to enjoy the feeling of being alone, surrounded by stunning nature? Would you like to reconnect with your primal side? Then the off-season in Iceland is the perfect time for you.
The Northern Lights: One of the biggest advantages of the off-season in Iceland
The off-season is the least popular time of the year for travelers. Now, does that mean it’s a bad time to visit Iceland? Of course not!
For various reasons, many tourists prefer to come during the summer. The midnight sun provides almost 24 hours of daylight, allowing visitors to make the most of Iceland if they don’t have many days of vacation. However, that doesn’t mean there’s nothing interesting to enjoy during the off-season. Iceland not only has many things to see and do, but it also offers some magic for those who want to experience it.
Mother Nature gifts us this magic transformed into a light show: the Northern Lights. People who come in the high season are missing one of the most beautiful performances of nature. For me, the Northern Lights are like the visual soundtrack of the off-season. A winter anthem that you simply can’t enjoy in the summer.
The Northern Lights can only be enjoyed under certain conditions. Darkness, solar activity, and clear skies are the key ingredients. Due to Iceland’s northern latitude, the first condition can only be met during the colder months of the year. In summer, the sun barely sets. There’s too much light for you to see the colorful waves dancing in the sky. Solar activity varies throughout the year and clear skies depend on clouds.
Accommodation and car rental during the off-season in Iceland
Iceland is a small island with a sparse population. There are only 350,000 Icelanders to meet the demands of 2.2 million travelers. That means that facilities, accommodations, and services are scarce. To top it off, most travelers decide to visit the island during the same period. This automatically leads to fully booked hotels, tour operators with no availability, and car rental companies with no units available for months.
This does not happen during the off-season. If you decide to visit Iceland in the off-season, you will have many options to choose from. Traveling means planning, and it can be extremely stressful knowing that there are barely any options or alternatives that fit your travel needs.
Off-season in Iceland means less stress
Have you ever been to any of the Disney parks? Or any local theme park? I bet you’ve all experienced what it’s like to wait in long lines, desperately wishing your turn would come. Meanwhile, stress makes the magic disappear. Ok, maybe not for those of you who are less dramatic, but stress is an influencing factor nonetheless.
Many travelers only come to Iceland for five days. They don’t have time to waste. They must make the most of their trip within a limited period. If that’s your case, then coming during the high season is not a good idea. The most popular tourist areas are full of people. You may have to wait to visit our beautiful waterfalls, wait to refuel, or even wait longer than usual for a table at a restaurant. This can be quite frustrating and make you feel like you’re wasting your time.
Fewer people means better contact with the locals
Traveling means getting away, exploring new places, and immersing yourself in other cultures and customs. Interacting with locals when you travel is one of the best parts of this new adventure. In the off-season, you have more time to enjoy a pleasant conversation with locals. People are less stressed, they have fewer clients to serve in stores, restaurants, ticket offices, etc. There are fewer lines and more time. Therefore, services can be more personalized and closer.
Connecting with locals in a new destination is always a good way to learn more about their culture. We’re used to foreigners and visitors; we like sharing our culture and learning about yours. Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with us.
You can spend more time at each tourist spot during the off-season
This is very easy to understand after everything I’ve mentioned. If there’s not much traffic, it means you’ll get to your destination on time. Once you arrive, there are no lines to enjoy the fantastic views.
In my opinion, going to a crowded area like Kirkjufell and spending only five minutes there to take a couple of pictures makes the trips and tourism lose some of their value. Every traveler should take time to enjoy the views, explore nature and the area. Learn about its history, why it’s so popular or important to Icelandic society. That will definitely transform your entire trip, especially in historically important places like Thingvellir National Park. You’ll see Iceland from a different perspective and understand why we are the way we are.
Off-season in Iceland offers lower prices
Last but not least. The off-season is the time of year when Iceland receives fewer visitors. Therefore, airfare, car rental services, and vacation accommodations are usually cheaper. Iceland is an expensive destination, there’s no way around it. So, if you have a limited budget, coming during the off-season is a great idea. Cars, campsites, and motorhomes can be up to 50% off their high-season rates. The same applies to hotel rooms and other tourism-related services.
Don’t be afraid of not having enough plans to do during the off-season in Iceland. There are plenty! Such as hiking on the Skaftafell glacier, visiting the Langjokull ice caves, snowmobiles, skiing, among others, all at a reduced price!
7 reasons to visit Iceland in the off-season
The off-season in Iceland usually runs from late autumn to spring. We have fewer tourists from November to March. There are many advantages if you decide to come during this time. The possibility of visiting tourist areas with much more tranquility is high. And don't forget about the Northern Lights! Dare to discover what Iceland has to offer in the off-season; you'll be glad you did.
