Early September 1 September
56°F
Typical afternoon high
49% historical wet-day frequency
Iceland · Countryside
Iceland
in September.
Is September a good time?
Cool days.
Fewer overnight stays than August.
September averages 52°F afternoons and 48°F seas, with about 17 rain days. Later September is typically cooler.
- Afternoons
- 52°F
- Sea
- 48°F
- Visitor demand
- 65%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
4.4/10 · scores & prioritiesWhat matters most?
Weather 50% · Crowds 30% · Cost 20%
#12 of 12 months here · Balanced mix
Weather4.3/10Fair
CrowdsBusy 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 September
What to expect.
What should I pack?
Afternoons around 52°F (11°C): a sweater and a light jacket; nights around 42°F (6°C): a warm coat. Bring rain gear: about 17 days with at least 1 mm of rain. About 13 hours of daylight.
Can I swim in September?
The sea averages 48°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 13 hours of daylight.
The sun rises about 06:33 and sets about 19:46 (local time, mid-month). Mornings start around 42°F (6°C); afternoons reach about 52°F (11°C). Expect rain on about 17 days in a typical September.
Typical afternoon
52°F (11°C)
average daily high, 15 recent Septembers
Night low
42°F (6°C)
average daily minimum
Sea
48°F (9°C)
very cold; open water near the coast, NOAA satellite record 2011–2025
Daylight
13h 13m
on the 15th, computed from latitude
Early, middle or late?
Early or late September?
Early September is typically warmer. The afternoon high averages 56°F on the 1st, versus 48°F on the 30th. Historical wet-day frequency rises from 49% to 54% between those dates.
Mid September 15 September
52°F
Typical afternoon high
54% historical wet-day frequency
Late September 30 September
48°F
Typical afternoon high
54% 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 datesSeptember 2027 · historical weather & dated holidays Show calendarHide calendar
September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156° | 256° | 355° | 455° | 555° | ||
| 655° | 754° | 854° | 954° | 1053° | 1153° | 1253° |
| 1353° | 1452° | 1552° | 1652° | 1752° | 1852° | 1951° |
| 2051° | 2151° | 2251° | 2350° | 2450° | 2550° | 2650° |
| 2749° | 2849° | 2949° | 3048° |
Afternoon high rain likely (25%+) local school holidays public holiday event
School-holiday dates for September 2027 aren't available in our data yet. A day without a school marker doesn't mean schools are open.
Afternoons cool from about 55°F (13°C) in the first week to 49°F (10°C) in the last. The chance of a wet day runs 49–56%.
Crowds, cost and getting there
Visitor season
Will it be busy?
Busy season. September averages 65% of July's overnight stays per day. Fewer overnight stays than August.
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 above 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, New York JFK, Chicago and Seattle and 10 more; 2024 schedule, Eurostat
Year-to-year variation
How much does September vary?
Across the recorded years
In the 15 years from 2011 to 2025, the month's afternoons averaged between 49°F (9°C) and 55°F (13°C); in 14 of them they were within 3°F (1.5°C) of the typical 52°F (11°C). Rain days ranged from 10 to 20; half the years had 15–18.
Rain days in each September
Rain days
17
at least 1 mm, typical year; about 19 in a wet year
Mostly sunny days
2 of 30
cloud cover under 30%
Years with a 95°F+ day
0 of 15
no September in the last 15 years had a day at or above 95°F (35°C)
Good weather days
5 of 30
rated very good or better
See every recorded SeptemberHistorical monthly averages, year by year Show detailsHide details
| Year | Afternoon high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 54°F | 15 |
| 2012 | 50°F | 15 |
| 2013 | 49°F | 17 |
| 2014 | 53°F | 20 |
| 2015 | 53°F | 16 |
| 2016 | 53°F | 17 |
| 2017 | 54°F | 17 |
| 2018 | 51°F | 13 |
| 2019 | 54°F | 18 |
| 2020 | 50°F | 18 |
| 2021 | 51°F | 20 |
| 2022 | 55°F | 10 |
| 2023 | 53°F | 16 |
| 2024 | 50°F | 11 |
| 2025 | 54°F | 18 |
Checked against official climate averages for Reykjavik. How we check
Compare dates
August, September
or October?
| Typical conditions | Aug | Sep | Oct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 59°F | 52°F | 44°F |
| Sea | 50°F | 48°F | 45°F |
| Rain days | 12 | 17 | 13 |
| Overnight demand | 93% | 65% | 49% |
August: Warmer afternoons and fewer rain days than September. More overnight demand. August guide →
October: Cooler afternoons, cooler sea and fewer rain days than September. Less overnight demand. October 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 September Show comparisonHide comparison
Yellow marks the top three months on the Balanced mix. September stays as your reference.
April to May and October have fewer overnight stays than September, with a similar or higher Weather score.
Your comparison
September or August?
Overnight stays are 93% of the busiest month.
National hotel prices and local visitor demand suggest well above usual. No measured regional room rate is available.
Read the August guide →| Typical conditions | September | August |
|---|---|---|
| Afternoons | 52°F | 59°F |
| Nights | 42°F | 46°F |
| Sea | 48°F | 50°F |
| Rain days | 17 | 12 |
| Visitor season | Busy season | Peak season |
| Overall / 10 | 4.4 | 4.5 |
| Month rank | #12 | #10 |
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 September 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.
Trondheim & TrøndelagNorway · about 890 miles
Good weather (5.9): 7°F warmer afternoons, 3 fewer rain days, cheaper
Southern Norwayabout 950 miles
Good weather (6.9): 11°F warmer afternoons, 6 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
Dalarna & North Middle Swedenabout 1070 miles
Very good weather (7.2): 10°F warmer afternoons, 8 fewer rain days, quieter for its season (low season), cheaper
FlevolandNetherlands · about 1200 miles
Very good weather (8.5): 16°F warmer afternoons, 6 fewer rain days, cheaper
DrentheNetherlands · about 1210 miles
Very good weather (8.4): 16°F warmer afternoons, 7 fewer rain days, cheaper
How we knowSources, regional scope & scoring method Show detailsHide details
It's busy season, 65% of the busiest month and 25% above its average month. That means about 33,000 overnight visitors on a typical September night across the region, 17% of them from Iceland itself. Rentals booked through Airbnb, Booking, Expedia and Tripadvisor add up to 8,400 more: 26 for every 100 counted above. Some are the same properties counted twice.
| Climate suitability (HCI:Urban, 0–100) | 56 |
| 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 | 84 |
| Busiest month here | July · 129 |
| Visitors as share of people present | 7.8% |
| Rank among Europe's regions this month | 95th percentile |
| Domestic share of nights | 17% |
| Platform rental nights per 100 counted nights | 26 |
| Visitor share if every platform night were extra | 9.5% |
| National hotel-price season | Iceland historical 2024–2025 index: Well above usual (+18% 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.