Iceland in October: Your Complete Guide to a Magical Visit

Visiting Iceland in October can be tricky – not just because of the weather, but because you might miss a few summer activities. However, you can take advantage of some winter activities in October! Here’s all you need to know to be properly prepared:

Should I visit Iceland in October?

You might be wondering whether Iceland in October is worth visiting – the weather is a bit more unpredictable, but there is a balance between daylight and night time. Iceland in October is actually the best of both worlds – you have good chances of seeing the Northern lights, it’s not that cold yet, and you can do some winter activities like a glacier hike! In case you just have 24 hours in this beautiful country, you can check out this guide on a layover in Iceland. Let’s dig in an see all the details:

Visiting Iceland in October – Autumn

Pros

• Ice caves and glacier hikes in Iceland – yep, October is the perfect month to do that in Iceland, as it’s not that cold yet and there is enough daylight, so you can enjoy these fully! You can even see as much as 3 ice caves in just one hike, which are truly unforgettable.
• Daylight is between 8 and 11 hours – just enough so you can sightsee
• Nighttime is between 13 and 16 hours – plenty not to disturb your sleep. Have you tried to sleep for 8 hours when it’s sunny outside (just like it is during Iceland’s midnight sun)? For me, it would be hell!
• October and November are the best months for spotting the Northern lights (but remember – there is no guarantee!)
• Average temperatures in Iceland in October vary between 2 and 8 degrees – we had a few quite nice days, but we had a few days with severe wind an rain too. Icelandic weather is always a gamble
• Boat tour at a glacier lagoon – Iceland in October is full of opportunities like this!

Cons

• Iceland in October won’t be as green as you see it in the photos during the summer – but hey, it will have lovely autumn colors!
• Overall weather of Iceland in October – as I sad, it’s quite unpredictable. When it rains in Iceland, it’s pretty bad (definitely not your average European rain). However, for the 10 days we spent in Iceland in October, we had only one day when the weather was truly horrid – mega wind and rain and no raincoat or boots can save you.
• Just in case – get a 4×4 car – at some spots the wind was so bad, that I was scared it would blow our car off the road.

Visiting Iceland in high season – summer

So how would this compare to visiting Iceland during the summer? What would you miss if you visit Iceland in October?

Pros

• The F roads are open – they usually close in October and reopen in May; thus you can explore even more of Iceland’s hidden gems
• Hire a smaller car (instead of a 4×4) and save money
• Daylight – it’s plenty, and for some of June the sun doesn’t even set
• Temperatures of Iceland in the summer – usually around 15-20 degrees during daytime!
• Everything is green
• Rain is rarer during the summer than it is in October, but just in case – be prepared with waterproof clothes
• Whale watching – whales are most spotted during the summer – you can book a tour between May and September
• Puffin watching – these tours to see some of the cutest birds alive are only available between May and August
• Luggage – overall the weather during summer is much better, so you might fit into only a backpack.

Cons

• Nighttime – if you choose the early summer months, bear in mind that the sun never sets, so you might have trouble sleeping! Definitely book accommodation that has proper blinds.
• Unless you choose the very end of August or September, there is almost no chance to see the Northern lights. You do need darkness in order to enjoy it!
• You will miss winter activities like glacier hikes and ice caves
• It is generally more expensive to visit Iceland in the summer
• There are a lot more tourists, so you would need to pick hours outside of the normal visiting pattern

How many days should I visit Iceland for?

The longer you visit Iceland for, the more you can see! But here are the most popular options:

• Visit Iceland for a weekend – it’s just enough for you to go around the Golden circle (a few sights really close to Reykjavik which you can see in a day)
• Visit Iceland for 5 days – 5 days is great for the Golden circle (1 day), the South coast (2 days) and the Snæfellsnes peninsula in the Northeast (1-2 days). You’ll see some of the most amazing waterfalls and breathtaking sights! However, you’ll also have quite a bit of driving back, so most people choose the next scenario:
• Visit Iceland for 7-10 days – for a week or longer, you can go around all of Iceland – on what they call the Ring road (check out our Iceland 10 day itinerary). Don’t get me wrong, you will be driving a lot, but at least you won’t be going back and forth as you will for 5 days. You can add whale watching in Husavik, the stunning lake Myvatn (where lots of Game of Thrones scenes were shot, including the love cave of Ygritte and Jon Snow), and a few other cute towns along the way. This is the path we chose too for Iceland in October – for 10 days, we went all around Iceland (and changed 7 hotels!)
• Visit Iceland for more than 10 days – you would still be going around the Ring road, but you could also go up a few of the F roads and do some tougher hikes. Remember, these are only open during the summer months!

Should I hire a car in Iceland?

Yes, absolutely – YES! Don’t do the expensive 3-4 day trips, just get a car and use guided trips for things like the whale watching or glacier hikes. A 4×4 vehicle is also recommended if you’re visiting Iceland in October, but if you’re really on a budget, you should be okay with a smaller vehicle.

However, you can also opt in and get an RV/motor home. They are more expensive, but you’ll save money on accommodation. There are many overnight parking posts along the ring road, so you wouldn’t have to worry about that.

Tips on driving in Iceland in October

• To be on the safe side, get a 4×4 vehicle. It’s a bit more pricey, but it will be more comfortable and you will feel safer
• HOLD THE DOOR – you’ll see such a sign on most car rentals. The winds are sometimes pretty strong, so don’t risk your vehicle doors
• The F-roads are closed in October, so don’t attempt to take them on.
• BE SAFE – for 10 days, we saw at least 3 car accidents on the Icelandic ring road!
• Don’t speed – cameras are everywhere, so you will absolutely get a ticket for speeding.
• Gas up at EVERY opportunity – you don’t want to be stuck without gas in Iceland in October… right? When driving along the ring road, sometimes you might not see a gas station for hours. So plan ahead and never leave your tank empty below half!
• Insurance – you might think driving in Iceland will cost you just as much as in other European countries. It doesn’t seem expensive at all at first sight, but you should absolutely get every additional insurance available – especially sand and ash insurance, as it’s the most common damage to vehicles in Iceland
• Get a comfortable vehicle – if you can’t drive a stick well, get an automatic car. If you’re visiting Iceland in October for 10 days or more, you will spend sooo much time in the car – it’s important that it is as comfortable as possible!
• Only stop at designated stops – never stop in the middle of the road to take a photo, it’s extremely dangerous
• When you see a parking with more than 4 vehicles on the Ring Road – stop there! Surely, there is a pretty sight hiding, even if not visible from the road 🙂

How much does an Iceland trip cost?

A trip to Iceland can be pretty pricey, but you can try to make it as budget as possible. Here is how much our trip cost (completely self-organized, apart from the glacier hike tour and Northern lights tours we booked):

• Food – about 12 EUR per person per day – this is mostly groceries. If you sit down at a restaurant, you will spend a minimum of 50 EUR for two, it’s a lot! We did get pizza twice, though 🙂
• Car rental – 65 EUR per day – we got a 4×4 for 10 days with sand and ash insurance. To be honest, the vehicle was the main spend for our Iceland trip cost.
• Gas – 30 EUR per day – the Ring Road itself is about 1330 kms long, but there are some attractions that are not right on it.
• Plane tickets – 230 EUR per person – we flew with WizzAir from Varna (Bulgaria) to Reykjavik via London (this is with priority boarding, so we had a small suitcase to bring on board in addition to a backpack).
• Accommodation – 80 EUR per room per day – this is an average, there were a bit cheaper options at some places, but we mostly chose the budget ones.
• Activities – the Glacier hike was about 100 EUR per person, but was SO worth it! We also booked a Northern lights tour on our next to last day in Iceland for 50 EUR per person, but didn’t see any. We went the next night for free (they let you rebook within 2 years if you’ve gone and not seen them!)

Total for 2 people for 10 days: 2750 EUR – for absolutely everything. 

Bear in mind that when visiting Iceland in October, you will certainly save some money – accommodation and car rental is cheaper! Depending on your flights and vehicle, you can certainly go down below 2500 EUR for two people. If you’re looking for even more tips on saving money, check out these Iceland on a budget tips.

If you rent an RV/motor home and you are 4 people (average prices with insurance and some extras for bedding and towels are about 240 EUR per day), your totals go down a bit more and save about 200-300 EUR more per couple. The best thing about renting a motor home if you visit Iceland in October is that you wouldn’t need to change sooo many hotels – almost every night. Since we were just two people, it was better for us to use hotels, rather than an RV.

Iceland packing list for October

Even if you visit during summer or spring, I would highly recommend that you take the following items:

• Camera – well, we can’t go to Iceland and not get a camera, right? 😁 My personal favorites that I always travel with are Sony A7III camera body and lenses Sony GM 14/1.8 and Sony 24-105 f/4.
• Waterproof shoes – we got rubber boots (like these DUNLOP rubber boots), but bear in mind they might keep moisture in. Also – get a pair that is 1-2 sizes larger! You will need waterproof shoes for a few hikes and waterfalls, as some places you’ll have to cross by water (like the Gljufrabui waterfall). We were also able to hike on top of a glacier with our rubber booths (with ice shoes on top, of course). The best waterproof membrane out there is called GORE-TEX, here is a great Gore-tex shoes model.
• Waterproof jacket and Waterproof pants – on top of those thermo layers. You’ll thank me later.
• Thermal socks – just in case, get 2 pairs of wool socks in addition to some normal pairs. In one of the days with super bad weather we had, we had to dry our socks at the car heater, as we didn’t have an extra pair!
• Thermal layers (pants/shirt) – layers are the most important in Iceland! At one moment, the weather might be super cold and windy, and then the next – sunny and pleasant.
• Gloves, scarf and a hat – they’re absolutely essential in any Iceland packing list
• Swimsuit – if you’re visiting the Blue Lagoon or our Lake Myvatn baths, you’ll need it! 🙂
• External battery – for your phone and camera. I personally LOVE my Anker power bank, it’s extremely durable unlike most cheaper ones.
• Don’t overpack – if you’re visiting Iceland for a week or longer, you’ll have a lot of hotel hopping and you’ll need to drag all the luggage with you at all times (even if it’s in the car). Try to plan for laundry rather than overpacking clothes. Take a few t-shirts and pants, you wouldn’t need to have one for each day you’re there.

Find my full Iceland packing list in my Amazon Storefront

Other advice about visiting Iceland in October

• You won’t need cash – we didn’t spend ANY cash during our trip to Iceland, we could pay absolutely everything by card, even a small shuttle to the Plane Wreck!
• Iceland is within the European Union – so if you’re from the EU, you won’t need to buy a SIM card to get around
• Offline Google Maps – download them before your trip for all of Iceland, it will save you data and help you if you’re lost (even if there is no network)
• Electrical plugs – they’re standard European in Iceland
• Gas up at every opportunity – I just feel the need to repeat this as much as I can – you might not see a gas station for miles!

Iceland in October is just magical – less tourists than in the summer, glacier hikes and ice cave opportunities, and good chances to spot the Northern lights. However, do be prepared for the weather and road conditions and be safe – never go off the marked paths. You’ll thank me later 😉