April marks the slow decline of the winter months in Iceland. The days start to get longer and the temperatures slightly warmer. It’s the perfect time to see Iceland.
Iceland is well known for being absolutely unique when compared to other countries. This small island is famous for its glaciers, volcanoes, geothermal springs and lava fields.
Due to the nature of the island, the population is relatively small, with only around 300 000 people inhabiting the entire country. Many tourists visit Iceland yearly and the numbers are growing.
Iceland uses its own currency called the Icelandic Króna. Unfortunately, many tourists have stated that Iceland can be a pricey country to visit.
This is mainly due to it being far from the main shipping lanes so it takes longer to get there. Luckily the influx of tourism is slowly bolstering the economy, making things less expensive.
Depending on where you choose to visit, it can be fairly easy to book lodgings for a decent price. This can free up some of your budget to still explore the countryside while on holiday. In this article, we’ll look at some things to expect when deciding to travel to Iceland in April.
Iceland Weather In April
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Spring in Iceland is not easily distinguished. As a result, the local Icelanders tend to ignore both spring and autumn and rather box them in with summer and winter. During this month, conditions can still remain fairly cold, with a few warmer days found sparsely sprinkled in between.
The average temperature of Iceland in April usually hovers around 0°C – 7°C/32°F – 44,6°F. Ensure that you bring insulated clothes with you on your holiday during this month. Layering yourself with the correct clothing while outside can make a massive difference. The cold is still very prominent, even in this spring month.
If you’re lucky during the small spring window, you can see wildflowers blooming across the Icelandic plains. These flowers only bloom briefly in response to the gentle caress of sunlight piercing the clouds on a cold day.
This can be a beautiful sight to see but the conditions must be just right for the flowers to bloom. Iceland’s weather in April still allows for excursions outdoors as long as you dress warmly.
Later in April the majority of the winter ice slowly begins to thaw. This gives way to the green grass and melody of birds. The Icelandic locals also start to become more lively during this period as the hibernation period of the colder winter months starts to fade.
Things To Do In Iceland In April
April in Iceland is a much better month for travelling into the countryside and experiencing what the country has to offer. Temperatures are generally warmer than the winter months. The roads are also covered with significantly less ice and snow, making driving much safer.
Here are a few things to do during your April trip.
The Geothermal Pools
Iceland is very well-known for its hot springs in Iceland are quite popular, as are geothermal pools, these can usually be as warm as 40°C/104°F. This high heat makes these pools a lovely respite to the cold temperatures outside.
The most famous of these hot springs is called the Blue Lagoon. This lagoon is located in southwestern Iceland, close to the small fishing town of Grindavik. The site sees many tourists throughout the year and is incredibly popular. It’s more than large enough for everyone to swim around and take it easy quite comfortably!
The Northern Lights
For the first half of April in Iceland, the Northern Lights can still be seen quite prominently. These lights, known as the Aurora Borealis, cascade through the night sky, rippling and waving through the air.
They are caused by solar radiation getting caught in the strong magnetic field located in the high Northern Hemisphere. It has been described as a truly wondrous sight to see and experience. There’s truly nothing as unique as this brilliant light show.
There are many guided tours to see The Northern Lights in all their splendour.
Horse Riding In Iceland
With the weather being milder during April it’s a fantastic time to try horse riding tours through the countryside. These guided tours on horseback usually take you to see specific sites such as the scenic waterfalls and lava fields.
Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss are two of the more famous waterfalls in Iceland. Both of these giants tower high above the ground creating rainbows and showering the area in a cool vapour.
Reykjavik In April – Things To Do
The weather of Reykjavik in April is still relatively cold, usually hovering around 10°C/50°F or less during the daytime.
However during April in Iceland the days can last upwards of 15 hours. This can be seen as a positive aspect giving you lots of daylight to spend exploring Reykjavik and its sights. Its architecture is similar to other Scandanavian cities in Europe but with a unique flair.
Coastal Pathways And Golden Plovers
Walking along the coastal pathways found along Reykjavik’s beaches can be a lovely way to spend your morning or afternoon. The ocean is usually relatively calm around this time and, if you’re lucky, you could spot the golden plovers.
These gorgeous birds migrate to the island for the spring and usually start to arrive during April, they’re known colloquially as lóa.
The Reykjavik Botanical Garden
First built in 1961, the Reykjavik Botanical Garden is a lovely sight during this month. Some of the flowers begin to bloom in snow creating a beautiful contrast of colours against a stark background. The gardens are a calm place to rest and contemplate while enjoying the splendour of nature.
This location is an outdoor collection of plants and consists of small walkways that take you throughout the garden itself. The main role of the garden is to conserve many of the indigenous plants from the island. It currently consists of more than 3000 different plants!
Last Thoughts On Iceland In April
This small island nation is home to friendly folk who are welcoming to anyone who decides to visit for a holiday.
The tourism industry in Iceland has created many jobs for the locals and bolstered the economy. This gives the Icelanders even more motivation to improve the tourist hotspots and attract sightseers and adventure seekers from around the world.
The black sand beaches, massive glaciers and rushing waterfalls that dominate the landscape of this unique land make it a place just waiting to be explored.
April is a lovely month to visit Iceland. The temperatures, while still fairly cold, are much more manageable than winter. This allows for more time spent outdoors seeing the sights and exploring the country.
