Iceland Vacation In October
Iceland Vacation In October is a touring and leisure trip arranged by Iceland Adventure. The tour is simply packed with activities that will take you one of the most intriguing destinations in the world. The base camp for this holidays trip is Reykjavik – Iceland’s capital, which will serve as a home base for your pre-trip expedition. Taking an Iceland vacation in October can be a great time for you to see the country. Information about the different Iceland tours and adventure tours is available if you know where to look.
Planning a trip in Iceland can be stressful. Travel is something I like to work backwards on so I know that every phase of the trip is handled before we leave home. Since it is a small country, we can usually drive from point A to point B, but there are some pieces of the puzzle which are best handled prior: hotel confirmation, car rental, lodging at each destination along the way and planning activities at each stop. I’ve been on a lot of vacations in the last five years, one of the major perks of being a travel blogger. But the best trip I’ve ever taken was to Iceland in October. The beautiful country was unlike anywhere else I’d ever seen. I’ve never thought twice about visiting Iceland again and perhaps taking a longer trip there one day.
IS OCTOBER A GOOD TIME TO VISIT ICELAND?
In one word, yes! October is a great time to visit Iceland for a number of reasons. While the summer months are perfect for outdoor activities, October also has good weather and also a major plus; you can see the northern lights!
As the good weather persists even through October, you will find very few days with wind or rain.
In my opinion, October in Iceland is one of the most beautiful months. The fall just begins to set on the Icelandic nature, making the landscape even more dramatic and majestic.
Photographers in particular will definitely enjoy October in Iceland. There is nothing quite like the Icelandic landscape and its rawness once the autumn sets in. The rivers and the waterfalls become wilder, the clouds roll in, and the earth is covered in golden grass. It can’t get much better than that!
It’s no wonder that many choose to film in Iceland in October. Even the most mundane landscape can look like a whole different world!
Click here to view our best local selection of tours and activities in October.
WEATHER IN ICELAND IN OCTOBER
You might worry that the notorious Icelandic weather will foil your plans for a nice trip to Iceland. However, there is no reason to worry! October’s weather will -most likely -treat you very nicely.
The average temperatures in October ranges from 10°C (50°F) to 0°C (32°F).
That might sound quite low, but the cold in Iceland isn’t…well, that cold! As long as there is no windchill, 10°C is actually quite nice! You might even see some locals in t-shirts, but I would not recommend it!
While there might be some rain and wind during your trip, it won’t prevent you from having a great time. The rain in October is barely a drizzle, and there are definitely no storms!
Another thing you won’t find in Iceland in October is snow -at least nowhere but on the mountaintops. So, if you want to enjoy a white landscape or go skiing, I would recommend visiting Iceland another time.
However, if you want nothing to do with snow, but still want some darkness for the northern lights, then October is the month for you! I will tell you more about the northern lights in October in a minute!
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR TRIP TO ICELAND IN OCTOBER
Since it’s so hard to predict the weather in Iceland, you might be wondering what you should bring with you on your trip. Simply put, layers, layers and more layers! They can keep you warm in the cold, and you can take them off during the warmer parts of the day.
Iceland Vacation In October
Here is a packing list to help you prepare for your trip!
- Thermals! Bring some good base layers to keep you warm when you explore Iceland, and make sure your tops are moisture-wicking to stay dry throughout the day
- T-shirts
- Sweaters and hoodies
- Jeans, sweatpants and other comfortable clothes that you can wear while exploring the Icelandic nature!
- Good hiking boots for your adventures!
- Wind and rain-proof jacket. You’ll want to stay dry when you visit the famous Icelandic waterfalls! If you can get a pair of pants, bring that too! You never know what the Icelandic weather will throw at you
- A swimsuit and sunscreen. You might think you don’t need them, but the swimsuit is necessary for all the amazing hot springs you can find in Iceland! The sunscreen is also a must, as due to the geographical location of Iceland, the sun can easily give you a sunburn
- Some party clothes that you can wear when you go partying in downtown Reykjavik or to one of Reykjavik’s amazing restaurants, if that is more of your thing
- Your camera! You’ll want to take a lot of pictures!
CAN YOU SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND IN OCTOBER?
Absolutely! October is, in fact, one of the best months to see the northern lights in Iceland!
In order to see the northern lights, three conditions need to be met; darkness, clear skies and high northern lights activity. (You can become an expert on the subject by reading our ‘Guide to Northern Lights’ here.)
With an average of 15 hours of darkness, October is ideal to see the northern lights. Furthermore, as the weather in October is generally nice, there is a good chance that there will be no clouds obstructing your view!
Pro tip:
Finding the northern lights on your own takes some planning where you’ll need to monitor both the weather and northern lights forecast carefully – along with some careful driving on the icy roads.
You can save yourself the headache by simply booking an awesome small group northern lights tour. The tour is operated by local experts that will take the group to the best spot each particular night with the highest chances of seeing the amazing aurora borealis (northern lights).
Click here for more details and tickets on the Northern Lights tour.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN ICELAND IN OCTOBER
Since you are coming all the way to Iceland, you might want some tips on the best tours and activities to ensure a truly memorable trip!
Keep reading to find out about all my suggestions for the best tours in Iceland in October!
1. THE REYKJAVIK FOOD WALK TOUR
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The best way to get to know a new city, country and culture is through it’s amazing food … and with a fun local by your side!
On Reykjavik Food Walk, you’ll visit the best restaurants and local hangouts to enjoy a a variety of delicious Icelandic food.
Pro tips:
1) This tour is packed with food. So we recommend showing up hungry and skipping breakfast / lunch if you’re joining the lunch tours. Or skipping dinner if you’re joining the food tour during the evening.
2) 99% of guests book the Reykjavik Food Walk for their first or second day in Reykjavik – for good reason. It’s always a great to get your bearings early, learn about Reykjavik and it’s best restaurants at the start of your trip.
Check out what our most recent customers had to say about the tour!
Our Reykjavik Food Walk is top-rated on food & drink activity to in Iceland on TripAdvisor with more then 3,000+ 5-star reviews.
Included in the tour:
- See all the highlights of Reykjavik
- Visit five to six local restaurants that offer the best authentic Icelandic cuisine
- Enjoy over 7 mouth-watering Icelandic cuisines
- Learn about Icelandic history and culture, and forge friendships with some real vikings!
As it’s a popular small group activity – we recommend booking and securing your tickets in advance.
Click here for more info and best tickets prices for Reykjavik Food Walk here.
2. EXPLORE THE SOUTH COAST OF ICELAND
Another must-see highlight in Iceland is the South Coast.
Incredible waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers and Vík!
So many amazing sights. So much fun!
If you’re looking do to only one sightseeing tour while in Iceland – then we recommend this one (even though the Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes are incredible as well.)
In October, the entire shore is painted in grays and browns, making for some stunning views!
What you’ll experience:
- Visit Seljalandsfoss waterfall, one of the most magical waterfalls in the world! You can walk behind it for a truly unique experience!
- Visit Skógafoss waterfall. Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest waterfalls, measuring at 60m (200ft). As a result, it sprays a lot of water and you can often see a rainbow!
- Visit Reynisfjara or Black Sand beach. Enjoy the crashing waves on one side and the basalt column formations on the other. There are even some rocks thought to be trolls!
- Visit the coastal town of Vík, which is quintessentially Icelandic!
- Visit Solheimajokull glacier (other tours won’t take you there!) and maybe even discover an ice cave if you are lucky!
Click here for more info and tickets on small group South Coast tour.
P.S. It’s possible to combine the South Coast with an incredible glacier hike.
3. NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR
As I mentioned earlier, October is arguably one of the best times to see the northern lights in Iceland. If you travel to Iceland in October, I believe it is a must to take our northern lights tour. You wouldn’t want to miss such a great chance to see them!
Due to the high quality of our tour, spots are booked in advance. You can book your spot here and make sure you don’t miss the best chance to see the northern lights on your trip!
4. GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR
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The Golden Circle is arguably one of Iceland’s highlights. If you only have a few hours to spare and want to see the Icelandic nature up close, I definitely recommend our exploring the Golden Circle of Iceland.
From magnificent waterfalls to…well, the exact opposite of waterfalls (Geysir), the Golden Circle has it all!
In my opinion, no one should leave Iceland without seeing the Golden Circle, as it is not only one (or rather three) of the most beautiful places in the world, it is also quintessentially Icelandic. It truly is one of the best examples of Icelandic nature!
What you do:
- Visit Thingvellir National Park, where you can walk between the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates (and also see one of my favorite waterfalls called Öxaráfoss).
- Visit Gullfoss, one of the most powerful waterfalls in Iceland. Its enormous power and otherworldly beauty are sure to enchant you!
- Visit the geothermal area of Geysir. While many people think that the geyser you will see there is Geysir, it’s actually its little brother Strokkur. Geysir stopped erupting years ago, but Strokkur, ever the crowd pleaser, erupts around every eight minutes.
- Visit the Faxi waterfall. Our tour is the only tour that takes you there!
- See some Icelandic horses. If conditions allow, the driver will stop and you can get close to them!
- Enjoy the Icelandic nature during the drive. The Golden Circle has amazing views, even if you are in a car!
Click here for more info and ticket to the small group Golden Circle tour.
5. GOLDEN CIRCLE AND HOT SPRING TOUR
October is a great month to visit some hot springs. And what better place to do that than Iceland, with its hundreds of hot springs?
As the weather is nice, but not too hot, you will be comfortable in the water, but also your hair won’t freeze!
The Secret Lagoon is my favorite hot spring, personally, and I think that it really is worth a visit, maybe even more than the Blue Lagoon.
The water is the perfect temperature, the surroundings are gorgeous, and the lagoon isn’t too crowded. In the Golden Circle and Hot Spring tour, you get everything that the Golden Circle tour offers, and then at the end, we’ll take you to the Secret Lagoon for a relaxing dip!