Are you thinking about visiting Iceland in April? April is an incredible time to visit Iceland. It may actually be the best time of year to visit! However, there are some important things you must know before you go. Let’s jump in.
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Okay, before we get to the good stuff, I want talk about SafetyWing. The reason I was able to visit Iceland for three weeks without taking a single day off of work is thanks to location independence! Since I’m a location independent worker, I’m so glad SafetyWing exists. Let me tell you more.
SafetyWing is a company dedicated to removing the role of geographical borders as a barrier to equal opportunities and freedom for everyone. They saw the problems that digital nomads and remote workers deal with, including health care benefits not being available for people who are location independent (like myself). So, they started working toward building a global safety net for these types of people.
One of the ways SafetyWing works towards this goal is by offering travel medical insurance for digital nomads, called Nomad Insurance. Nomad insurance is a travel and medical incident insurance built specifically for digital nomads. It can be purchased while already abroad, covers home trip visits and operates like a monthly subscription.
For a member aged 10-39 years, Nomad Insurance costs around $45 USD for any coverage period up to 4 weeks! You can generate a quote based on your specific needs using SafetyWing’s price calculator on their website or below.
Is April a good time to visit Iceland?
I want to start off this blog post by sharing that in April 2023 I spent three weeks traveling around Iceland. Looking back, I am SO happy that I chose to visit in April because I felt like it was the “best of the both worlds.” Since the turn of seasons is happening, depending on where you visit in Iceland, you can experience both summer and winter in one trip. Also, it’s the tail end of when you can see the Northern Lights! I was lucky enough to see them on my first night there.
What is the weather like in Iceland in April?
The weather in Iceland in April is mild. The temperature ranges from 30 F (-1.1 C) to 45 F (7 C). The South and West of the country are generally a bit warmer than the North and East.. I don’t recall it actively snowing while I was in Iceland but as you can see in the photos below, the East still had snow on the ground while the West, particularly the Snæfellsnes Peninsula was a lot warmer and sunny.
The coldest part of the country is always the Highlands, which is the interior of the country. In April I wasn’t able to explore the Highlands because most of the roads were still closed due to snow. Definitely a reason to go back one day, but for your first time visiting I think sticking to the Ring Road is a good idea anyway.
You should also know that during any time of the year, the weather in Iceland can be very unpredictable. It’s a running joke that the weather in Iceland changes every five minutes, but it’s kind of true. This means the road conditions can change rapidly as well. I highly recommend downloading the app Færð & Veður for live road updates.
[RELATED: 9 NICHE THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE GOING TO ICELAND]
How crowded is Iceland in April?
Another reason April is an amazing month to visit Iceland is because it is not as crowded compared to other months. The busiest months for tourists in Iceland are the summer months (June-August) because mostly everywhere in the country is accessible such as the Highlands. This means April is an incredible time for off-peak travel in Iceland because *mostly* everywhere is accessible but there are so many fewer tourists. There were even a few spots I visited where I did not see another soul!
[RELATED: EAST ICELAND HIDDEN GEMS TO DISCOVER ON YOUR NEXT TRIP]
Can you see the Northern Lights in April?
Good news! Yes, it is possible to see the Northern Lights in April. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a dancing display of bright lights in the sky as a result of disturbances in the earth’s magnetosphere caused by solar winds. While the Northern Lights are technically visible between September-April in Iceland, they do not “appear” every night. Their appearance depends on a lot of different factors such as darkness, clouds, and solar activity. However, 2024 is the best year to see the Northern Lights in decades because it coincides with what is called a “solar maximum.”
What to pack for visiting Iceland in April?
As I mentioned, the temperature in Iceland in April ranges from 30-45 F (-1.1-7 C) and can also be slightly different depending on where in the country you are. The weather can also change very rapidly, so it’s important to have layers with you. I remember it being quite windy so in particular I recommend having a warm scarf ro wrap around your face.
Here’s a list (from Amazon) of what to pack for visiting Iceland in April:
- Rain poncho
- Puffer jacket
- Hat, scarf, & gloves
- Windproof umbrella
- Snow boots (exact ones I wore)
- Chelsea rain boots
- Boot socks
On my Amazon Storefront I also have a list of Packing Must-Haves and Gen-Z Travel Essentials! Check them out, and I will make a small commission if you purchase an item!
Are there any downsides to visiting Iceland in April?
There are very few downsides to visiting Iceland in April. The only two that come to mind are the inability to access much of the Highlands and the absence of the Alaskan Lupine (the gorgeous purple flowers that only bloom in the summer). However, don’t let this deter you from visiting Iceland in April! The many benefits of visiting Iceland in April outweigh these small downsides, and just give you a reason to go back someday in the summer.
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Well, there you have it. That’s what you must know about visiting Iceland in April! I hope you have a great time, and make sure to check out my other Iceland blog posts.
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EAST ICELAND HIDDEN GEMS TO DISCOVER ON YOUR NEXT TRIP
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