Iceland in March 2025: Weather and Travel

Iceland in March is cold and rainy/snowy with wetter conditions in the south and east. There are regular 12-hour days and long beautiful twilights, and some nights have auroral highlights. We recommend visiting Reykjavík, Akureyri, Húsavík, and Höfn with its surrounding southern coastal highlights.

Iceland Weather in March: Overview

Averages:

• Temperature range: -2–4°C (28–39°F)
• Total rain/snow: 11 cm (4 inches)
• Days with rain/snow: 13
• Humidity: 78%
• Sunshine hours/day: 4 hours

March Climate Comparison (Averages) for Iceland's Top Tourism Areas

In March, Iceland is cold or freezes along the coast. Rainfall/snowfall varies greatly from place to place. Reykjavík, Vestmannaeyjar and the southern coast are at about 64° latitude and southward. At low elevations, the average high is about 4°C (39°F), the low is -1°C (30°F), and the humidity is about 76%.

The Best Places to Visit in Iceland in March

Touring in March highlights auroras, indigo, violet, and pink twilight skies, winter sports, and unusual culture. Each day provides about 14 hours of daylight and twilight for excursions to the wild exotic subarctic and the many towns, sightseeing natural wonders and doing winter sports as weather permits.

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1. Reykjavík — Visit the Highlights Such as Volcanoes and Do Winter Sports

Reykjavík is an unusually visitable capital city, because there are many exotic natural wonders around it such as active or recently active volcanoes, big geysers, geothermal pools, and glaciers. There are about 4 hours of sunlight to sightsee the wonders, hike, and tour in the capital.

About 35 km (40 minutes) from Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park is conveniently nearby for an early spring hiking excursion. Thingvellir has geological significance and natural beauty. It is the juncture of the Eurasian and American tectonic plates, and you can walk down the rift.

Thingvellir was Icelanders' historic meeting place. Icelanders declared independence there, and the Althing (Icelandic parliament) officially adopted Christianity there in 1000 AD.

March is low tourism season in Reykjavík, where there is an average daily high of 4°C (39°F) and a low of -1°C (30°F). Rain/snowfall is moderate. The 77% humidity makes frost and slippery pavements.

2. Akureyri — Ski at the Ski Resorts and See Whales, Auroras, and Wild Subarctic Scenery

Akureyri is in a big fjord along the north coast. About 20,000 people live there. From Akureyri, you could go to ski at Hlíðarfjall, Dalvík, and Siglufjörður. Hlíðarfjall is the best family ski resort and is about 7 km (4 miles) away from the town.

Akureyri is a 5-or-6-hour trip from Reykjavík. There is an average of 12 hours of daily daylight there, so there is much time to watch for whales. It is one of the best towns for these tours and also one of the best to see auroras since rainfall is low and the skies are clearer and darker.

Prices and crowds are relatively less in March. In March, there is an average 3 hours of sunshine, 10 days of rain, a high of 4°C (39°F), and a low of -3°C (27°F).

3. Höfn — Enjoy Walking on a Huge Glacier, Hiking, and Seafood

Höfn is a tourist town on the southeastern coast of Iceland with an easily accessible and hikeable low-elevation glacier nearby that is bigger than any in Western Europe. Höfn is in beautiful fjord scenery. In the Jökulsárlón Lake area, about 70 minutes from Höfn, blue ice floats in the blue lake. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is further west and is noted for its beauty.

Höfn is known as Iceland's Lobster Capital, and you might want to eat plenty of various seafood dishes. You can watch the fishing boats and enjoy the lobster and seafood.

In March, there are fewer tourists and lower prices. The rain/snowfall is lower than in winter, so you are more likely to see auroras on clear nights. On average, there are 4 hours of sunshine, highs of 4°C (39°F), and lows of -2°C (28°F). It rains half the days of March.

4. Húsavík — Enjoy Relaxing during Low Season, Exciting Whale Watching, and Inspiring Aurora Wonders

A key to successfully seeing the sky's shimmering green and violet designs is to be in Iceland long enough in a place with clearer and darker sky. Staying in Húsavík, you will have about the best chance to see them while you see wonderful natural wonders and whales and ski.

In Húsavík, when prices and rain/snowfall are low during low season, you can extend your stay and have more of a chance to see the auroras and the more than 2 hours of colorful twilight skies. There are about 12 hours of daytime and about 2½ hours of sunshine.

Whale season starts in March, and it is the best town for seeing whales. You can snowboard or ski at Ski Resort Húsavík and others in the region. The average temperatures are good for skiing with highs of 2°C (36°F) and lows of -3°C (28°F).

Low Tourism Season: Touring Advice for March

There is low tourism in March in Iceland's cities and towns. The low tourism and the regular 12-hour days and nights, about 4 hours of sunlight daily on average, and slightly warmer spring-like weather are great circumstances for experiencing the best of Iceland's highlights.

March is a good time to go for extended stays when you can have more solitude and lower prices. You can have cheerier and brighter days and still enjoy the winter sports activities and watch auroras. The whale watching season that starts in early March in the north, and the waterfalls, geysers, lakes, and mountain paths are more accessible in March since the weather is slightly warmer.

Unless it is the beginning of the Easter season, there are no national holidays in March. Easter usually is in April. There are generally no holidays in Western Europe in March, so international tourism is low.

Aurora Watching in Iceland

Iceland's auroral highlights are only visible about eight months a year from early September to late April. Because of meteorological and geophysical circumstances, March and September are about the best months for aurora sighting, and far northern Iceland is the best location.

Sometimes, the aurora belt contracts and concentrates over the far northern latitudes such as at Akureyri and Húsavík. The northern region of Iceland is a better location to see the auroras and beautiful twilight because the skies are clearer. There is less rain and light pollution than in the south.

For darker skies and longer nights, you we suggest that you could go to Tromsø or other places in Norway that are north of latitude 69° and within the Arctic Circle. For more information about Tromsø, see Visiting Norway in March.

What to Wear in March

Iceland sometimes gets severe storms in March. There is both rain and snow in the south. It is best to be prepared for rain wherever you go. Keep an eye on the weather reports because weather is unpredictable.

Iceland's weather changes swiftly and frequently. It is best to dress in layers and wear waterproof shoes with good traction. Bring raingear wherever you go in Iceland. Bring swimwear too because hot springs, geothermal pools, and heated pools are common.

Here is a packing list for a few essentials in Iceland:

• Warm waterproof boots with good traction for the outdoors. You might wear them in-flight to travel lightly.
• Comfortable shoes with good traction
• Cardigans or thermals
• Rain gear
• Coat and warm hat
• Gloves
• Swimwear for hot springs and spas
• Polarized glasses for the glare

Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Iceland

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