April is an amazing month to visit Iceland. This is the time when the weather starts to change more intensively! This means the first signs of spring, the first flowers, and Iceland celebrates the first day of summer in April! Or rather, the Icelandic national first day of summer is celebrated on the first Thursday after April 18th. Where else can you start summer in April?!
There are many festivals in Iceland in April, and you will have an endless choice of things to do. In addition, road conditions in rural areas are improving significantly, so car trips become much easier to plan.
April is an ideal intermediate month that provides both winter and summer benefits. There are few tourists in April, which means that the main attractions will not have crowds, also in April lower winter prices, but at the same time the daylight is much longer, and almost all summer entertainment is already available to you.
Case in point: The northern Lights will still be there, but you can also enjoy great whale watching excursions, cycling and other summer activities. Visiting Iceland in April is a journey you will never forget!
Content:
- April weather in Iceland
- Daylight in April in Iceland
- Northern Lights in April in Iceland
- What to take with you to Iceland in April
- What to do in Iceland in April
- Bike rental in Reykjavik
- Visit the hot spring
- The Ring Road
- Events and festivals in Iceland in April
- Car trips around Iceland in April
- Perfect tours in Iceland in April
April weather in Iceland
The average temperature in April in Iceland is somewhere around 1-7 °C, which makes April the first month of the year with an average temperature above zero. The weather in Iceland is constantly changing. This is true for any month, but especially for April. In one day you can enjoy the spring sun, then get caught in the rain or snow!
Snowfall may occur in Iceland in early April, but higher temperatures mean that it will not be very long and abundant.
Daylight in April in Iceland
April in Iceland brings about 13-16 hours of daylight with a noticeable increase in duration each day. This is the month when Icelanders say goodbye to dark winters and say hello to bright summer months.
Northern Lights in April in Iceland
One of the main advantages of a trip to Iceland in April is that the Northern Lights are still visible. The main difference is that it's daytime now, so you'll have to go outside a little later to watch the aurora borealis. You need a dark background sky so that the lights of the aurora are clearly visible!
However, you should keep in mind that the northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, which means they are not included on schedule. Rain and clouds can also interfere. However, if the sky is clear enough, then you have every chance of seeing the aurora borealis.
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If you book a Northern Lights hunting tour, you will get to the best place to see it, the locals who have long studied the best places will try hard to make you see the Northern Lights. If the weather is bad, you will most often be asked to reschedule your trip or receive a refund. So it's better to plan a trip on the first day of your stay in Iceland, so that you have the opportunity to go another day if the weather suddenly turns bad.
Some tours also combine the northern Lights with other activities, such as swimming in hot springs or hiking on a glacier.
What to take with you to Iceland in April
This is very important, because if your clothes do not match the Icelandic weather, then it is unlikely that you will be able to fully enjoy your vacation. Dressing properly for Iceland means dressing in multiple layers of clothing. The layer closest to your body should be wool or thermo, for example, thermo underwear. Then you should put on something warmer, a fleece or a sweater, and the third layer is designed to protect against wind and rain. If the weather is sunny, you can always just remove one of the layers. And it's always better to take something off if you're hot than to freeze in the icy Icelandic wind.
The list of things to take to Iceland in April:
- Base layer: woolen underwear / thermal underwear
- Thick socks (more pairs than for a regular trip)
- Middle layer: sweater, fleece or thermal insulation clothing
- Pants, preferably waterproof
- Hiking boots
- Scarf / Buff
- Hat
- Gloves
- Waterproof and windproof jacket
- Sunglasses
- Bathing suit
- Sunscreen Lip Balm
What to do in Iceland in April
Bike rental in Reykjavik
Enjoy the long light days of April and ride a bike (when the weather allows). This will give you the opportunity to travel much longer distances and see the colorful capital of Iceland from a completely new angle. Here are some of the places to go in Reykjavik:
- Grotta Lighthouse
- Oskjuhlid is a hill in the center of Reykjavik
- Grandi (Grandi_ - harbor, which has turned into a place of worship
- sculpture The Solar Wanderer
- Perlan is a restaurant with panoramic views of Reykjavik
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Visit the hot spring
The end of April may be warm enough to visit some of the more remote hot springs. If you are not ready to swim in cooler water, then the Blue Lagoon, Secret Lagoon, Krauma, GeoSea, Myvatn Nature and other official hot springs are more suitable for you. If you are risky enough or April turned out to be warm, then you can use alternative options. There is a map of Iceland's hot springs at the end of the article.
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The Ring Road
By April, the roads are usually cleared of snow, and a car ride is a great way to see the ever-changing landscapes of Iceland.
The ring road around Iceland is the most famous and popular route around the country. It will give you the opportunity to see places that you will remember all your life. Landscapes will surprise you at every step. If you don't have time for a full ring, then it's worth driving through the part of Iceland that is more interesting to you...
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Events and festivals in Iceland in April
Eve FanFest from April 12th to 14th gathers thousands of fans from all over the world who come to celebrate their love for EVE online games. Participants meet with other players, learn about new innovations and enjoy fun activities around Reykjavik.
The Festival of Children's Culture in Reykjavik begins on April 17 and lasts until April 22. Arts and crafts, workshops and performances, united by a common theme of youth, are held around the city of Reykjavik. It's a lot of fun, especially for families with young children.
The first day of summer (always the last Thursday in April) may seem like a holiday that is celebrated too early, but Icelanders just don't want to change its date. Street processions are held all over the country. Scouts and other organizations gather together under the Icelandic flag. Children receive special gifts on a summer day from their parents, usually things that can be enjoyed outside.
Aldrei Fór Ég Suður is a music festival held in Isafjordur in the Vestfjords over the Easter weekend. Almost every musical group in Iceland has played at the festival, and it is becoming more and more popular. This festival is a real local event related to Icelanders!
AK Extreme is a four-day snowboarding and music festival held in Akureyri in Northern Iceland. It brings together the best snowboarders in Iceland and the best performers on the music scene. Lots of fun!
Car trips around Iceland in April
Car trips are an incredible way to explore Iceland in April. The most frequently used roads, such as urban roads, roads in towns or county Road 1, will be open for driving and cleared of snow, but if you want to go deeper into the highlands, then F-roads (inland mountain roads) may still be closed. Don't forget to check the road conditions before you hit the road.
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Since the weather is constantly changing in April, an all-wheel drive car is useful if you are driving far from the city.
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By the way, the first puffins are already appearing in Iceland in April. These small bright birds are the symbol of Iceland
