Iceland is a unique country that has much to offer those looking for adventure and new experiences. The people of this island nation are generally quite warm and welcoming to tourists. Locals won’t hesitate to help you if need be.
July marks the beginning of summer in Iceland. This season is very different from the winter months and the nature of the island shifts to reflect the warmer weather.
This land is well known for its towering glaciers and odd landscape. Black sand beaches are common along the coastline and ice caves networks are spread throughout its glaciers.
It’s recommended to still bring some warmer clothes with you, even if you plan on visiting Iceland in July. This is because some days can still be cold. We’ve put together all the need-to-know information about what to expect if you travel to Iceland in July.
Icelandic Weather In July
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Iceland’s summer passes incredibly quickly, it only truly lasts for two months, July and August. This is primarily due to the country being located so close to the arctic circle. These two months have been known to be the most popular months to visit Iceland.
Tourists flock to the small island nation during this time to enjoy all that Iceland has to offer. As a bonus, they can do this without having to experience incredibly low temperatures. Iceland’s weather in July is usually quite mild, without the high wind speeds or the chill of the other, colder months.
Iceland’s temperatures in July are on average around 9°C – 14°C/48°F – 57°F. This is much warmer than any other season experienced in Iceland throughout the year.
Needless to say, Iceland’s temperature in July is quite pleasant and similar to the spring months.
What To Do In Iceland In July
With the busy tourist summer season of July, it’s easy to find many activities to take part in while visiting Iceland during this time. The roads are much safer during this time as well.
This makes it much easier to drive out to some of the destinations than it would have been in winter. Hiking is also very popular during this time of the year. However, without further ado let’s get to the activities you can experience in Iceland in July!
Visit the Vestmannaeyjar Islands
The Vestmannaeyjar island chains are regarded as one of the most beautiful areas in Iceland. These small islands are known to be home to many puffin colonies that are largest in the warmth of summer.
These little birds go about their business without much worry. Onlookers can take pictures of them on exciting guided tours. One of the islands, known as Heimaey, also has a towering volcano which can be hiked. This large volcano last erupted almost two decades ago and has been calm ever since.
Scientists are always monitoring the volcanic activity in all of Iceland to ensure that there is adequate time to evacuate in case of a rare emergency.
Explore Iceland’s Southern Coast – The Diamond Beach
The southern coast of Iceland is a lovely spot to explore during the warmth of the summer days. Many tours can take you to see the larger volcanoes and glaciers in this region as well. The black sand beaches, one of Iceland’s most unique features, are most common here.
The water runoff from the glaciers has created many odd, jagged rock formations around the beaches over the course of thousands of years.
This makes them incredibly different to any other beaches found elsewhere in the world. There are many tours that take you through the beautiful stretches of southern Iceland.
The most famous of these beaches is known simply as the Diamond Beach. This particular beach is located by the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. During the summer heat the large icebergs within the lagoon break up and their pieces get washed to shore.
These large chunks of ice that wash up shine with utter brilliance in contrast to the dark sand of the beaches.
Discover the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve
This nature reserve is located deep within the Icelandic Westfjords. This location is famous for its natural beauty and stretching vistas. There are no settlements in the area and the lack of human interaction has allowed the nature of this region to truly flourish.
There are incredibly large amounts of flora and fauna in this area creating a lovely place to visit and photograph. One interesting fact about this region is the high possibility of spotting Arctic foxes.
These small mammals are the only native land mammals left in all of Iceland.
The Arctic foxes are very curious little animals and will often approach humans to get a better look at them. Feeding wild animals in this region is strongly discouraged and shouldn’t be done as it disrupts the natural order.
Further north in the Hornstrandir Nature Reserve are towering coastal cliffs, which are known to be home to thousands of seabirds. This Nature Reserve is a fantastic display of the natural world. Because of this, it’s highly important to respect the area when visiting.
Best Things To Do In Reykjavik In July
Reykjavik in July is a very pleasant experience. The small city is busy and bustling with tourists exploring the streets and neighbourhoods.
We’ve singled out a few interesting activities to take part in while visiting Reykjavik during this month.
The Harpa Concert Hall
Located in the Old Harbor district this concert hall is a stunning display of modern architecture. The design of the building itself was inspired by the large basalt columns that can be found throughout the Icelandic countryside.
The building is known to usually host a large number of festivals annually including the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra and Icelandic Opera. There are usually free exhibitions to explore in the building throughout the week and small cafes and restaurants on the first floor.
Reykjavik Maritime Museum
This building was originally built as a fish freezing factory back before it was converted into a maritime museum in 2005. The building has lovely exhibitions on the history of sailing around Iceland.
The museum mainly has exhibitions to explain the massive effect technology had on Iceland’s fishing and economy. There is also information on major nautical events in Iceland’s history such as the old ferries that used to run between the Scandanavian and European countries.
Final Thoughts on Iceland In July
The summer months in Iceland are incredibly busy. This is when the island sees the most tourist activity throughout the year.
Tourism has had a major positive impact on the country and its economy over the years. However, It’s the responsibility of anyone visiting the country to respect the customs and beauty of nature to be found there.
If you’ve been wanting to visit this unique land for a while but can’t stand the cold, this is the perfect time to travel to Iceland!
