Early March 1 March
38°F
Typical afternoon high
55% historical wet-day frequency
Iceland · Countryside
Iceland
in March.
Is March a good time?
Cold days.
Similar overnight stays to February.
March averages 39°F afternoons and 40°F seas, with about 17 rain days. Later March is typically warmer.
- Afternoons
- 39°F
- Sea
- 40°F
- Visitor demand
- 38%of July peak
Historical Ísland regional averages, not a forecast or a measure of queues. Overnight demand compares average stays per day. Covers Reykjavík, Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon and Vík; conditions vary within the region.
Overall match
4.9/10 · scores & prioritiesWhat matters most?
Weather 50% · Crowds 30% · Cost 20%
#5 of 12 months here · Balanced mix
Weather3.2/10Fair
CrowdsModerate seasonvs its own year; overnight stays do not measure queuesFor its size, one of Europe's busiest this month
CostExpensivefor Europe; Iceland-wide price level
Overall combines weather, overnight demand and cost. It does not include sea temperature.
Plan your March
What to expect.
What should I pack?
Afternoons around 39°F (4°C): a warm coat; nights around 29°F (−2°C): a winter coat, hat and gloves. Bring rain gear: about 17 days with at least 1 mm of rain. About 12 hours of daylight.
Can I swim in March?
The sea averages 40°F. Our swimming guide: very cold: wetsuit weather. Your comfort will vary. This is open water near the coast, not a beach-specific reading.
Monthly coastal averages from NOAA, 2011–2025. Sea temperature is separate from the weather and Overall scores.
A typical day: temperatures & daylightAfternoons, nights, sea temperature & daylight Show detailsHide details
About 12 hours of daylight.
The sun rises about 07:37 and sets about 19:11 (local time, mid-month). Mornings start around 29°F (−2°C); afternoons reach about 39°F (4°C). Expect rain on about 17 days in a typical March.
Typical afternoon
39°F (4°C)
average daily high, 15 recent Marches
Night low
29°F (−2°C)
average daily minimum
Sea
40°F (4°C)
very cold; open water near the coast, NOAA satellite record 2011–2025
Daylight
11h 34m
on the 15th, computed from latitude
Early, middle or late?
Early or late March?
Late March is typically warmer. The afternoon high averages 38°F on the 1st, versus 42°F on the 31st. Historical wet-day frequency falls from 55% to 46% between those dates.
Mid March 15 March
38°F
Typical afternoon high
56% historical wet-day frequency
Late March 31 March
42°F
Typical afternoon high
46% historical wet-day frequency
Historical daily averages from 2011–2025, smoothed over two weeks. A seasonal pattern, not a forecast. This does not establish which week has the lowest prices or fewest visitors.
Daily calendar & holiday datesMarch 2027 · historical weather & dated holidays Show calendarHide calendar
March 2027 calendar
Weather shows historical patterns, not a forecast. Holidays and events use the dates shown for 2027.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 138° | 238° | 338° | 438° | 538° | 637° | 738° |
| 838° | 938° | 1038° | 1138° | 1238° | 1338° | 1438° |
| 1538° | 1639° | 1739° | 1839° | 1940° | 2040° | 2140° |
| 2240° | 2340° | 2440° | 2541° | 2641° | 2741° | 2841° |
| 2941° | 3042° | 3142° |
Afternoon high rain likely (25%+) local school holidays public holiday event
School-holiday dates for March 2027 aren't available in our data yet. A day without a school marker doesn't mean schools are open.
Afternoons warm from about 38°F (3°C) in the first week to 41°F (5°C) in the last. The chance of a wet day runs 46–59%.
Elsewhere in March 2027, the share of people living where schools are out on a typical day: Germany 27%, Spain 30%, Italy 19%, France 10%. (School holidays: OpenHolidays, ODbL.)
Crowds, cost and getting there
Visitor season
Will it be busy?
Moderate season. March averages 38% of July's overnight stays per day. Similar overnight stays to February.
Overnight stays across Ísland do not measure queues, day visitors or congestion at individual sights. For its size, one of Europe's busiest this month.
Hotel price season
Will it be cheaper?
Well below usual. Estimated from national hotel prices and local visitor demand; no measured regional room rate is available.
Fewer overnight stays do not automatically mean cheaper rooms. Check actual quotes for your trip.
Iceland as a whole
Well above EU average
2024 restaurants and hotels price level: 167 where the EU average is 100. A relative index, not a room rate.
Recorded US nonstop flights · 2024
Recorded this month
from Boston, Washington Dulles, New York JFK and Baltimore and 9 more; 2024 schedule, Eurostat
Year-to-year variation
How much does March vary?
Across the recorded years
In the 15 years from 2011 to 2025, the month's afternoons averaged between 35°F (1°C) and 42°F (6°C); in 12 of them they were within 3°F (1.5°C) of the typical 39°F (4°C). Rain days ranged from 6 to 23; half the years had 14–18.
Rain days in each March
Rain days
17
at least 1 mm, typical year; about 21 in a wet year
Mostly sunny days
2 of 31
cloud cover under 30%
Years with a 95°F+ day
0 of 15
no March in the last 15 years had a day at or above 95°F (35°C)
Good weather days
1 of 31
rated very good or better
See every recorded MarchHistorical monthly averages, year by year Show detailsHide details
| Year | Afternoon high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 36°F | 16 |
| 2012 | 41°F | 21 |
| 2013 | 39°F | 8 |
| 2014 | 39°F | 18 |
| 2015 | 37°F | 21 |
| 2016 | 41°F | 17 |
| 2017 | 39°F | 14 |
| 2018 | 41°F | 10 |
| 2019 | 39°F | 18 |
| 2020 | 36°F | 15 |
| 2021 | 41°F | 17 |
| 2022 | 40°F | 23 |
| 2023 | 35°F | 6 |
| 2024 | 40°F | 14 |
| 2025 | 42°F | 18 |
Checked against official climate averages for Reykjavik. How we check
Compare dates
February, March
or April?
| Typical conditions | Feb | Mar | Apr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 36°F | 39°F | 45°F |
| Sea | 40°F | 40°F | 41°F |
| Rain days | 17 | 17 | 12 |
| Overnight demand | 36% | 38% | 37% |
February: Cooler afternoons than March. February guide →
April: Warmer afternoons and fewer rain days than March. April guide →
Overnight demand measures accommodation stays, not queues. Sea temperatures are monthly coastal averages.
Compare any of the 12 monthsChoose another month and compare it with March Show comparisonHide comparison
Yellow marks the top three months on the Balanced mix. March stays as your reference.
May to September have a Weather score at least 1.0 point higher than March, but more overnight stays.
Your comparison
March or February?
Overnight stays are 36% of the busiest month.
National hotel prices and local visitor demand suggest well below usual. No measured regional room rate is available.
Read the February guide →| Typical conditions | March | February |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 39°F | 36°F |
| Nights | 29°F | 28°F |
| Sea | 40°F | 40°F |
| Rain days | 17 | 17 |
| Visitor season | Moderate season | Moderate season |
| Overall / 10 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Month rank | #5 | #8 |
Every month, in detail Show detailsHide details
| Month | Overall | Rank | High | Low | Sea | Rain days | Weather | Visitor season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.6 | #7 | 33°F | 27°F | 41°F | 18 | 2.6 | Low season |
| February | 4.6 | #8 | 36°F | 28°F | 40°F | 17 | 2.6 | Moderate season |
| March | 4.9 | #5 | 39°F | 29°F | 40°F | 17 | 3.2 | Moderate season |
| April | 5.3 | #2 | 45°F | 33°F | 41°F | 12 | 4.0 | Moderate season |
| May | 5.3 | #1 | 51°F | 37°F | 43°F | 12 | 4.8 | Moderate season |
| June | 4.9 | #4 | 57°F | 43°F | 46°F | 11 | 5.6 | Busy season |
| July | 4.5 | #9 | 60°F | 46°F | 49°F | 12 | 6.1 | Peak season |
| August | 4.5 | #10 | 59°F | 46°F | 50°F | 12 | 5.8 | Peak season |
| September | 4.4 | #12 | 52°F | 42°F | 48°F | 17 | 4.3 | Busy season |
| October | 4.5 | #11 | 44°F | 36°F | 45°F | 13 | 3.7 | Moderate season |
| November | 5.1 | #3 | 38°F | 32°F | 44°F | 15 | 3.2 | Low season |
| December | 4.8 | #6 | 33°F | 27°F | 42°F | 16 | 2.8 | Low season |
Elsewhere in Europe
Better March weather than Iceland
Iceland's weather ranks 117 of 117 countryside regions this month. These countryside regions outside Iceland have clearly better weather on your dates, nearest first, each compared with Iceland.
Southern Norwayabout 950 miles
Fair weather (4.8): 5°F warmer afternoons, 8 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season)
Dalarna & North Middle Swedenabout 1070 miles
Good weather (5.1): 3°F warmer afternoons, 10 fewer rain days, cheaper
FlevolandNetherlands · about 1200 miles
Good weather (5.7): 13°F warmer afternoons, 6 fewer rain days, cheaper
DrentheNetherlands · about 1210 miles
Good weather (5.7): 13°F warmer afternoons, 5 fewer rain days, cheaper
OverijsselNetherlands · about 1230 miles
Good weather (5.8): 13°F warmer afternoons, 5 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
How we knowSources, regional scope & scoring method Show detailsHide details
It's moderate season, 38% of the busiest month and 27% below its average month. That means about 19,000 overnight visitors on a typical March night across the region, 19% of them from Iceland itself. Rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor add up to 4,800 more: 25 for every 100 counted above. Some are the same properties counted twice.
| Climate suitability (HCI:Urban, 0–100) | 51 |
| How our weather was checked | Official climate averages for Reykjavik from the national weather service, every month: afternoon highs typically within 3°F (1.7°C), night lows within 1°F (0.7°C). |
| Tourist nights per 1,000 residents per day | 49 |
| Busiest month here | July · 129 |
| Visitors as share of people present | 4.7% |
| Rank among Europe's regions this month | 96th percentile |
| Domestic share of nights | 19% |
| Platform rental nights per 100 counted nights | 25 |
| Visitor share if every platform night were extra | 5.8% |
| National hotel-price season | Iceland historical 2024–2025 index: Well below usual (−14% vs its average month). Not a local room quote. |
| Population used | 389,000 |
| Statistical region | IS00 · Ísland |
Crowds: Eurostat nights spent at tourist accommodation, by month and NUTS 2 region, 2023 only. Overnight visitors per night is the month's nights divided by its days; the per-1,000 figure is Eurostat's, against each year's population. Platform rentals: Eurostat nights booked via Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor, 2023 only, shown separately because some properties are in both counts. Weather: Holiday Climate Index computed from ERA5 reanalysis with daily highs, night lows and rain days corrected from open national weather-service station records, 2011–2025, population-weighted to the region; day-by-day figures are the same data averaged by date. Heat and rain odds are counted across those years. Sunrise and sunset: NOAA solar equations, local time. Prices: Eurostat price level index and HICP, national. Full method · this region's data.