Low season, and one of the four cheapest months
Iceland in February: Weather, Events and the Best Tours
February is the cheapest month with a strong aurora season and it gains three hours of daylight while you are there, from about 7 hours on the 1st to about 10 by the 28th. It is also the coldest month on average, with a high of 3.4C and a low of -2.4C. The Winter Lights Festival runs 4 to 7 February 2027.
Quick picks: the best tours in Iceland in February
Ranked for February by seasonal relevance, then by verified GetYourGuide rating and review count. Prices are the current lowest available and were verified against live GetYourGuide listings on 28 July 2026.
| # | Tour | Best for | Duration | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Lights Bus Tour with Hot Cocoa | First-time visitors | 4 hours | £62 | 4.3 (14,846) |
| 2 | Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater | First-time visitors | 7 - 8.5 hours | £68 | 4.8 (26,622) |
| 3 | Sky Lagoon Entrance Pass With 7-Step Spa Ritual | First-time visitors | Varies | £86 | 4.8 (7,331) |
| 4 | Perlan - Wonders of Iceland Experience | First-time visitors | Varies | £43 | 4.7 (4,067) |
| 5 | LAVA SHOW - Immersive Experience Entry Ticket | First-time visitors | 50 - 75 minutes | £40 | 4.7 (4,003) |
| 6 | Official Blue Lagoon Iceland | First-time visitors | Varies | £108 | 4.6 (6,031) |
| 7 | Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour | First-time visitors | 11 hours | £192 | 4.9 (5,858) |
| 8 | Guided Foodie Walking Tour with 6 Tastings | First-time visitors | 3 hours | £112 | 4.9 (1,920) |
| 9 | South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour | First-time visitors | 10 hours | £89 | 4.8 (12,213) |
| 10 | Red Lava Horse Riding Tour | First-time visitors | 2.5 hours | £107 | 4.8 (2,637) |
Is February a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, and it is the best value winter month. Operators name February alongside April, May and October as the cheapest times to come, the aurora season still has two and a half months to run, the ice caves are in their December to February peak, and you gain three hours of daylight across the month.
February is where the winter trade-off tips back in your favour. You keep almost everything January offers, a dark sky, ice caves at their peak and low prices, but you get an eight or nine hour day to use instead of a five hour one. That is the difference between one activity a day and two.
It is technically the coldest month of the year in Reykjavik, with an average low of -2.4C, but the gap to January is a fraction of a degree and you will not notice it. What you will notice is that the sun is properly up rather than skimming the horizon, and the snow cover on the Golden Circle and South Coast is usually at its most complete.
Hotel occupancy jumps sharply from January’s 46.9 percent to 62.8 percent, which sounds like a crowd but is not one by Icelandic standards. It reflects February being a popular short-break month rather than prices rising: the operators still list it among the cheapest months of the year.
Weather is still the thing that will disrupt you. February storms close roads and cancel tours at short notice. Put the aurora and anything on the South Coast early in your trip so you have days in hand to move them.
Iceland weather in February
February is the coldest month in Reykjavik on average, with a high of 3.4C and a low of -2.4C across around 15 wet days. Daylight averages 8 hours 44 minutes mid-month and rises fast, from about 7 hours on the 1st to about 10 hours by the end of the month.
| Measure | Reykjavik in February |
|---|---|
| Average daily high | 3.4C |
| Average daily low | -2.4C |
| Wet days | 15 days. Wet, around 15 wet days, with the most reliable snow cover of the year outside the city |
| Daylight, mid-month | 8h 44m |
| Daylight range across the month | about 7h on the 1st to about 10h on the last day |
Climate figures for Reykjavik from climatestotravel.com; daylight from worlddata.info, cross-checked against Icelandic operator daylight tables. Rainfall is given as wet days rather than millimetres because published Reykjavik rainfall totals differ materially between sources, from roughly 870mm to over 1,400mm a year. The monthly shape is reliable, the absolute total is not.
The coldest-month label is technically true and practically irrelevant. February’s average low of -2.4C is two tenths of a degree below January’s, which nobody can feel. What matters far more is the wind chill on exposed coast and the fact that Reykjavik still hovers around freezing, so the ice underfoot is the same problem it was in January.
February usually has the most complete snow cover of the winter outside the city, which is why the Golden Circle and South Coast photograph best now. Gullfoss part frozen and Thingvellir under snow are the images people come for, and February delivers them more reliably than December does.
Three hours of daylight gained across 28 days is the fastest rate of change in the Icelandic year. A tour booked for 25 February gets meaningfully more usable light than the same tour on 2 February, so if you can choose, choose late.
Crowds, prices and what to book ahead
February is busier than January but still cheap. Keflavik departures rise to 148,657 and hotel occupancy jumps from 46.9 to 62.8 percent, yet operators still name February one of the four cheapest months alongside April, May and October.
| Measure | February | Busiest month (August) | Quietest month (December) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keflavik departures, 2025 | 148,657 | 312,964 | 120,016 |
| Hotel room occupancy, 2025 | 62.8% | 89.8% | 45.3% |
| Share of the 2025 total | 6.6% | 13.8% | 5.3% |
Visitor figures are departing passengers through Keflavik International Airport for the full year 2025, published by the Icelandic Tourist Board, total 2,267,638. Roughly 99 percent of visitors arrive and leave through Keflavik. Hotel room occupancy is Statistics Iceland table SAM01104, whole of Iceland, 2025.
The jump in Statistics Iceland’s occupancy series from 46.9 percent in January to 62.8 percent in February is the biggest month-on-month rise of the winter. Icelandic Tourist Board figures show departures up from 121,590 to 148,657 over the same step. February is a popular short-break month, and the extra daylight is why.
None of that makes it expensive. Sixty-three percent occupancy is still 27 points below August, and February remains on the operators’ shortlist of cheapest months. You are competing for beds with other winter short-breakers rather than with the summer machine.
The one date to watch is the Winter Lights Festival weekend, 4 to 7 February 2027, which fills central Reykjavik. Either book that weekend early or take the week after, when the city empties again and prices soften.
The best tours in Iceland in February
These ten are ranked for February. The aurora tour still leads, the lagoons and indoor attractions stay high because there is a lot of dark to fill, and the long day trips climb back up the list as the daylight window reaches eight and then ten hours.
1. Northern Lights Bus Tour with Hot Cocoa
Why it ranks here in February: Two and a half months of the published season still to run and 14 to 17 hours of darkness a day. It is our lowest-rated tour at 4.3 from 14,846 reviews and it is still the first booking to make in February.
Experience one of the world’s great natural phenomena on a 4-hour evening bus tour of Iceland. Depart the bright…
4.3 (14,846 reviews)4 hoursFrom £622. Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater
Why it ranks here in February: February usually has the most complete snow cover of the winter, which makes this the best-looking month for the Golden Circle, and the day is now long enough to see it properly.
Take a full-day tour of Iceland’s iconic Golden Circle. Experience the stunning natural scenery and see the…
4.8 (26,622 reviews)7 - 8.5 hoursFrom £683. Sky Lagoon Entrance Pass With 7-Step Spa Ritual
Why it ranks here in February: The coldest month of the year against 38 to 40 degree water at the ocean edge. February is the peak of the contrast that makes this worth booking.
Get entry tickets to Sky Lagoon, an oceanside geothermal spa, located only minutes from downtown…
4.8 (7,331 reviews)VariesFrom £864. Perlan - Wonders of Iceland Experience
Why it ranks here in February: A man-made ice cave and a planetarium aurora show, both indoors, in a month where storms still cancel outdoor plans regularly.
Perlan is Iceland's largest museum and the top attraction in Reykjavík. Explore a real ice cave, feel the power of…
4.7 (4,067 reviews)VariesFrom £435. LAVA SHOW - Immersive Experience Entry Ticket
Why it ranks here in February: Rated 4.7 from 4,003 reviews, entirely weather-proof, and the best thing to have booked when a road closes.
Get close to real lava with an entry ticket to the award-winning Lava Show in Reykjavík. Experience the intense heat…
4.7 (4,003 reviews)50 - 75 minutesFrom £406. Official Blue Lagoon Iceland
Why it ranks here in February: Steam against the coldest air of the year, and a straightforward stop on the Keflavik road for a short winter break.
Comfort admission brings full access to all lagoon spaces, a towel, non-alcoholic drink, and one face mask at the…
4.6 (6,031 reviews)VariesFrom £1087. Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour
Why it ranks here in February: Our highest-rated tour at 4.9. February’s longer day finally makes an 11-hour combined itinerary sensible again.
Enjoy the stunning Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon in one amazing day. Explore Thingvellir National Park, Geysir…
4.9 (5,858 reviews)11 hoursFrom £1928. Guided Foodie Walking Tour with 6 Tastings
Why it ranks here in February: Rated 4.9, and a warm indoor evening still has obvious appeal in the coldest month.
Learn about the culture of Reykjavik and Iceland through its tasty food on a guided walking tour. Visit 5 different…
4.9 (1,920 reviews)3 hoursFrom £1129. South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour
Why it ranks here in February: Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss in full ice, with enough daylight by late February to actually see them. Check the road forecast the night before.
Experience nature at its best with waterfalls and black sand beaches. Walk behind the cascades of Seljalandsfoss & go…
4.8 (12,213 reviews)10 hoursFrom £8910. Red Lava Horse Riding Tour
Why it ranks here in February: Riding the lava fields under snow, on a horse bred for exactly this, and the light now supports an afternoon ride.
Set off on a riding tour through the south of Iceland and admire some incredible volcanic landscapes. Explore the…
4.8 (2,637 reviews)2.5 hoursFrom £107
Events and festivals in February 2027
February’s fixture is the Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival, which runs from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 February 2027. It lights and projects onto buildings across the city, opens swimming pools late for Pool Night, and opens museums free for Museum Night.
| Event | Dates | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavik Winter Lights Festival (Vetrarhatid) | 4 to 7 February 2027 | Across central Reykjavik, buildings, pools and museums | Mostly free |
The Winter Lights Festival is the one weekend in February when Reykjavik fills up. It exists precisely because February is dark: the city turns the darkness into the material, with light installations and projections on buildings, extended late openings at the geothermal pools, and free entry at museums on the designated nights.
Practically, it is a reason to come and a reason to book early. Central hotel prices lift for 4 to 7 February 2027 against an otherwise cheap month. If the festival is not your reason for coming, the following week is quieter and cheaper with almost identical daylight and aurora odds.
We only list dates we can stand behind. Where a date follows a rule rather than a fixed day of the month, the rule is shown alongside it. Anything we could not verify is left off rather than guessed.
What is closed or not bookable in February
No whale or puffin tours run in February. The highland F-roads stay shut until June or July. Storms still close road-tour routes at short notice, and the natural ice caves are in their peak season but are not something we currently sell.
Whale watching and puffin tours
Both closed. The last whale cruise sailed on 30 November and the RIBs stopped on 31 October. Puffins return to the cliffs from 20 April and whale watching reopens in April.
Highland F-roads and the interior
Closed. Landmannalaugar, Askja and the interior crossings are unreachable until early summer. On 2026 actual dates the earliest F-road reopening was F35 Kjolur between 1 and 6 June.
Roads, intermittently
February storms still close sections of the South Coast route at short notice and tours are cancelled rather than run in unsafe conditions. Check the Icelandic Road Administration forecast each morning and keep a spare day for anything weather-dependent.
Ice caves, at their peak but not sold here
February closes the December to February peak of the natural Vatnajokull ice cave season. We do not currently sell an ice cave tour. What is bookable here is a guided glacier hike on a lowland tongue and Perlan’s man-made ice cave exhibit in Reykjavik, open year-round. For a natural cave, book directly with a South East Iceland operator.
Tours on this site that are out of season in February
- Whale Watching and Marine Life Cruise: Outside the season, which ended on 30 November and reopens in April.
- Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat: Outside the season until spring.
- Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour: Outside the season until spring.
- The Original 3-Hour Whale Watching Tour: Outside the April to October whale season.
- Puffin Watching Boat Tour: Out of season until 20 April.
- 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour: Out of season until 20 April.
- Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour: Out of season on both halves of the trip.
What to wear and pack for Iceland in February
Pack as you would for January: grip first, then warmth. February is the coldest month on average and Reykjavik still sits either side of freezing, so ice cleats and proper winter boots matter more than a heavier coat. Add swimwear and sunglasses for low winter sun on snow.
- Slip-on ice cleats for city pavements and viewpoint paths
- Waterproof winter boots with deep tread
- Thermal base layers, top and bottom
- Insulated jacket under a waterproof windproof shell
- Waterproof over-trousers
- Warm hat, waterproof gloves and a buff
- Sunglasses, low February sun on snow is genuinely dazzling
- Swimwear and flip-flops for the lagoons
- Camera with manual exposure, small tripod and spare batteries
How we chose these tours
Every tour on this page was scored for how relevant it genuinely is in February, then sorted by that score, then by verified GetYourGuide rating, then by verified review count. Anything out of season is excluded and named above rather than quietly left off.
Most month pages are a tour list with a date bolted on, which means the same ten tours appear for every month of the year. That is not useful. Our default site ordering is rating then review count, and both are static, so on that basis every month would produce an identical top ten. So each tour carries a separate seasonal relevance score for each month, from 6 for the single experience that defines the month down to 0 for anything genuinely out of season, and that score sorts the list first.
Two consequences are worth stating plainly. First, the northern lights bus tour is the lowest rated tour on this site at 4.3 stars from 14,846 reviews. From November to March it is ranked first anyway, because in those months it is the reason people come and a top ten that buried it would be dishonest. Second, we do not rank on live GetYourGuide availability. Availability calendars reflect rolling booking windows rather than seasons, so a tour that is genuinely bookable next spring can look unavailable today. Season comes from published operator seasons, not from a booking widget.
Prices, ratings, review counts, titles and durations were verified one by one against the live GetYourGuide listing for each product on 28 July 2026. We do not publish a rating or a review count we have not checked, and we do not publish a date, a season or a closure we cannot source. Where the honest answer is that we do not sell something, such as a natural ice cave tour, we say so and point you at what does exist instead.
We earn a commission if you book through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. That does not change the ranking. The tour ranked first in February is not the most expensive one on the list.
FAQs about Iceland in February
Travelling in a different month?
Compare all twelve months side by side: weather, daylight, crowds, prices and what is actually open.
Best time to visit Iceland →Iceland month by month
Plan the rest of the trip
- All Iceland tours with verified prices, ratings and review counts
- The 10 best Iceland tours, ranked for the whole year rather than one month
- Is a northern lights tour worth it?
- Glacier hike or ice cave: which to book
- Golden Circle or South Coast: which day trip
- First time in Iceland
- Browse the full Iceland catalogue on GetYourGuide