Shoulder season, the driest month and one of the four cheapest
Iceland in May: Weather, Events and the Best Tours
May is the driest month of the year and one of the cheapest, with around 10 wet days and 63.7 percent hotel occupancy. Daylight is already close to summer at 18 hours 32 minutes mid-month, rising to about 20 hours by the 31st. The puffins are settled and the northern lights are impossible.
Quick picks: the best tours in Iceland in May
Ranked for May 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 | Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater | First-time visitors | 7 - 8.5 hours | £68 | 4.8 (26,622) |
| 2 | South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour | First-time visitors | 10 hours | £89 | 4.8 (12,213) |
| 3 | Red Lava Horse Riding Tour | First-time visitors | 2.5 hours | £107 | 4.8 (2,637) |
| 4 | Glacier Hike, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach | First-time visitors | 11 hours | £141 | 4.8 (1,648) |
| 5 | Silfra Fissure Snorkeling between Two Continents | Couples | 3 - 5.5 hours | £96 | 4.7 (2,115) |
| 6 | Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour | Couples | 2 hours | £145 | 4.7 (415) |
| 7 | Puffin Watching Boat Tour | First-time visitors | 1 hour | £47 | 4.6 (1,325) |
| 8 | Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour | First-time visitors | 4 hours | £100 | 4.5 (615) |
| 9 | 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour | First-time visitors | 1 hour | £48 | 4.5 (477) |
| 10 | Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour | First-time visitors | 11 hours | £192 | 4.9 (5,858) |
Is May a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, and it is arguably the best value month of the year. May has the driest weather, around 10 wet days, 18 hours 32 minutes of daylight mid-month, settled puffin colonies and whale watching, all at 63.7 percent occupancy against August’s 89.8 percent. The one thing you cannot have is the aurora.
May is the month people underrate. It is the driest month in Reykjavik, it has almost summer daylight, the puffins are back and settled after their 20 April return, the whale boats are running, and it costs a fraction of what July does. Statistics Iceland put occupancy at 63.7 percent against 87.8 percent in July, and operators name May among the four cheapest months alongside February, April and October.
The scenery is at a particular moment in May. Winter snow is still on the high ground while the lowlands green up, and the meltwater is still running, so the waterfalls are at high volume. The South Coast and Golden Circle look better in May than in August, and there are far fewer people looking at them.
The trade-off is absolute and it is worth being blunt: you will not see the northern lights. Not unlikely, not unlucky, impossible. The published season ends on 15 April and does not reopen until 1 September, and in May the sky over Reykjavik never gets dark. Anyone selling you a May aurora experience is selling you something else.
The highlands also stay shut for the whole month. On 2026 actual dates the earliest F-road to open was F35 Kjolur, between 1 and 6 June. Landmannalaugar and the interior are a June, July or August plan, not a May one.
Iceland weather in May
May is the driest month in Reykjavik, with around 10 wet days and an average high of 10.1C against a low of 3.8C. Daylight averages 18 hours 32 minutes mid-month, rising from about 17 hours on 1 May to about 20 hours by the 31st.
| Measure | Reykjavik in May |
|---|---|
| Average daily high | 10.1C |
| Average daily low | 3.8C |
| Wet days | 10 days. The driest month of the year, around 10 wet days |
| Daylight, mid-month | 18h 32m |
| Daylight range across the month | about 17h on the 1st to about 20h 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.
Ten wet days is the best rain figure of the year, and it is the single strongest practical argument for May. Rain in Iceland is best judged by frequency rather than volume, because published Reykjavik rainfall totals vary widely between sources, and by frequency May is comfortably the driest month.
Temperature is modest rather than warm. A 10.1C average high is pleasant in shelter and cold on a boat, and the overnight average of 3.8C means frost is still possible. The wind has not changed, so a waterproof windproof shell is still the layer that matters most.
By the end of May you have about 20 hours of daylight and it never really gets dark in between. That is what makes long day trips easy and aurora hunting pointless. Bring a sleep mask, and use the light: an evening departure in May finishes in full daylight.
Crowds, prices and what to book ahead
May is quiet for the quality of the conditions. Keflavik departures are 159,571 against 302,057 in July, and hotel occupancy is 63.7 percent against July’s 87.8 percent. It is one of the four cheapest months named by operators, and it has the year’s driest weather.
| Measure | May | Busiest month (August) | Quietest month (December) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keflavik departures, 2025 | 159,571 | 312,964 | 120,016 |
| Hotel room occupancy, 2025 | 63.7% | 89.8% | 45.3% |
| Share of the 2025 total | 7.0% | 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 gap between May and the peak is the whole argument. Statistics Iceland record 63.7 percent occupancy in May and 89.8 percent in August, a 26 point difference, and Icelandic Tourist Board departure counts show 159,571 against 312,964. Summer Reykjavik hotel rates run roughly 25 to 35 percent above shoulder season, and May is shoulder.
What you get for that is close to the summer product. Long days, open roads outside the highlands, puffins, whales, glacier tours and the driest month of the year. The things you genuinely cannot do are aurora hunting and the interior.
Booking pressure in May is light. Day tours are typically available within the same week. The genuine scarcity in Iceland sits in highland huts, which go 9 to 12 months ahead, and multi-day treks at 3 to 6 months, neither of which is a May product anyway. Schedule anything weather-dependent early in your trip so you can move it.
The best tours in Iceland in May
These ten are ranked for May. Puffin trips and the horse riding climb because May conditions suit them better than any other month, and the long day trips sit high because 18 and a half hours of daylight makes them effortless. There is no aurora tour on this list because there cannot be.
1. Golden Circle Full-Day Tour with Kerid Crater
Why it ranks here in May: Snow still on the high ground, meltwater running through Gullfoss, 18 hours of light and a fraction of the July crowds. This is the best month to do it.
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 £682. South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour
Why it ranks here in May: Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss are at high meltwater volume in May, and the 10-hour day is easy inside an 18-hour one.
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 £893. Red Lava Horse Riding Tour
Why it ranks here in May: The ground has thawed, the days are long and the flies have not arrived. May is the best month of the year to ride the lava fields.
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 £1074. Glacier Hike, Waterfalls and Black Sand Beach
Why it ranks here in May: The lowland and coastal glacier window is fully open from late April to October, and May gives you firm ice with long light.
Explore the wonders of Iceland’s south coast on a day trip from Reykjavik. Walk on the stunning Sólheimajökull…
4.8 (1,648 reviews)11 hoursFrom £1415. Silfra Fissure Snorkeling between Two Continents
Why it ranks here in May: The water is the same all year, but May air makes the drysuit change genuinely comfortable for the first time.
Snorkel the Silfra Fissure with PADI-certified guides and drift between the tectonic plates in remarkably clear…
4.7 (2,115 reviews)3 - 5.5 hoursFrom £966. Whale and Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour
Why it ranks here in May: Both halves of the trip are fully in season in May, with settled puffin colonies and whale watching under way. Our highest-rated boat at 4.7.
See Iceland's Whales, Puffins, and the capital of Reykjavik from a unique angle on this adventurous RIB tour. Enjoy…
4.7 (415 reviews)2 hoursFrom £1457. Puffin Watching Boat Tour
Why it ranks here in May: The first full month of the 20 April to 20 August puffin season, with the birds settled on the cliffs rather than just arriving.
Take in the natural beauty and wildlife of Iceland on this puffin-watching boat trip. Depart from the Old Harbour in…
4.6 (1,325 reviews)1 hourFrom £478. Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour
Why it ranks here in May: Two species in four hours, and May is the first month of the year the combination fully works.
Go whale and puffin watching in gloriously beautiful Reykjavík. Feel amazed at how many different types of whales…
4.5 (615 reviews)4 hoursFrom £1009. 1-Hour Puffin Watching Tour
Why it ranks here in May: The cheapest and shortest puffin option at £48, and an easy add-on to a day that has 18 hours of light in it.
Join a tour from Reykjavik and get up close to charismatic puffins and other seabirds on the small islands where they…
4.5 (477 reviews)1 hourFrom £4810. Golden Circle, Kerid Crater, & Blue Lagoon Tour
Why it ranks here in May: Our highest-rated tour at 4.9, and May daylight makes an 11-hour combined day feel unhurried.
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 £192
Events and festivals in May 2027
May 2027 carries three public holidays: Labour Day on Saturday 1 May, Ascension Day on Thursday 6 May and Whit Monday on Monday 17 May. The seasonal milestone that matters more for tours is that the puffin colonies, open since 20 April, are fully settled all month.
| Event | Dates | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Day (Verkalydsdagurinn) | Saturday 1 May 2027 | Marches and events in central Reykjavik | Free |
| Ascension Day (Uppstigningardagur), public holiday | Thursday 6 May 2027, 39 days after Easter Sunday | Nationwide | Free, reduced opening hours |
| Whit Monday (Annar i hvitasunnu), public holiday | Monday 17 May 2027, 50 days after Easter Sunday | Nationwide | Free, reduced opening hours |
| Puffin colonies fully settled | All month, season opened 20 April | Puffin islands off Reykjavik, from the old harbour | Tours from £47 |
May 2027 has three public holidays and they matter mainly for opening hours rather than for spectacle. Labour Day on 1 May brings marches through central Reykjavik. Ascension Day and Whit Monday are both quiet family holidays with shops and services running reduced hours, and both are calculated from Easter Sunday rather than fixed to a date.
For anyone planning tours, the useful May fact is not on the calendar at all. The puffin colonies opened on 20 April and by May they are fully settled, which makes May the first month of the year when a puffin trip reliably delivers. That runs through to 20 August.
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 May
The northern lights are not merely unlikely in May, they are impossible: the published season ended on 15 April and the sky never gets dark. The highland F-roads stay shut all month, the earliest opening on 2026 dates being F35 Kjolur between 1 and 6 June. Natural ice caves are closed.
Northern lights, completely
Not possible in May. The published aurora season runs 1 September to 15 April, and by May the Reykjavik sky does not get dark enough at any point in the night for the lights to be visible, whatever the solar activity is doing. There is no aurora tour running and there should not be. September is your next opportunity.
Highland F-roads and the interior
Closed for the whole month. On 2026 actual dates, F35 Kjolur opened between 1 and 6 June, F225 on 16 June, F206 on 20 June, F208 between 2 and 25 June, F261 on 5 July and F26 Sprengisandur on 6 July. Landmannalaugar and the interior crossings are a June to September plan. Those are 2026 actuals and 2027 dates will differ with the snow.
Natural ice caves
Closed. The natural Vatnajokull caves run November to March and meltwater makes them unsafe from April. The Katla cave under Myrdalsjokull is the one natural cave open year-round. We do not currently sell an ice cave tour; Perlan’s man-made ice cave exhibit in Reykjavik is what is bookable here.
Nothing else
Whale watching, puffin trips, glacier hikes, Silfra, the Golden Circle, the South Coast, horse riding and the lagoons are all running normally in May, in the driest weather of the year.
Tours on this site that are out of season in May
- Northern Lights Bus Tour with Hot Cocoa: Impossible. The published season ended on 15 April and the May sky never gets dark.
What to wear and pack for Iceland in May
Pack for 10C and wind rather than for spring. A waterproof windproof shell, a warm mid-layer and boots with grip cover every May tour, and a sleep mask is genuinely useful because it barely gets dark by the end of the month.
- Waterproof and windproof shell jacket with a hood
- Warm mid-layer, overnight lows still average 3.8C
- Waterproof over-trousers for boat decks and waterfall spray
- Walking boots with grip for wet rock and meltwater
- Warm hat and gloves for the sea, which is much colder than the land
- Sleep mask, by 31 May there are about 20 hours of daylight
- Sunglasses
- Swimwear and flip-flops for the lagoons
- Binoculars for the puffin cliffs
How we chose these tours
Every tour on this page was scored for how relevant it genuinely is in May, 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 May is not the most expensive one on the list.
FAQs about Iceland in May
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