September on Iceland’s South Coast suits travelers who bring rain gear and plan around waterfalls, glacier hikes and hot water. Afternoons reach 53°F (11°C) at Vík and Skógar, and rain falls on most days.
The stake is the weather. September is wetter than August and a few degrees cooler, so the days that count are the dry ones, and it pays to keep the outdoor sights flexible.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in September: 53°F (11°C)
- Night low in September: 44°F (7°C)
- Rainy days in September: 18
- Rain in September: 7 inches (188 mm)
- Sea near Vík in September: 51°F
- Popular spots in Vík: fill up quickly in peak season
What is the weather like in Iceland’s South Coast in September?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August | 57°F (14°C) | 48°F (9°C) | 5.5 in (140 mm) | 14 | 53°F (12°C) |
| September | 53°F (11°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 7.4 in (188 mm) | 18 | 51°F (10°C) |
| October | 47°F (8°C) | 38°F (3°C) | 6.6 in (169 mm) | 17 | 48°F (9°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
Cool and wet is the short answer. At Vík and Skógar, September afternoons reach 53°F (11°C) and nights drop to 44°F (7°C).
Rain falls on 18 days in September, and the month brings 7 inches (188 mm) in all. Plan the big outdoor stops, such as the waterfalls and the canyon, for the first dry window and keep the museum and pool stops for the wet hours. A waterproof layer belongs on every day, not just the forecast ones.
August is a little warmer, with highs near 57°F (14°C) and 14 rainy days. October is colder, with highs of 47°F (8°C) and 17 rainy days. September sits between the two. It has fewer chilly mornings than October, though August is the drier month.
Where to go in Iceland’s South Coast in September
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, and you can walk behind it. Gljúfrabúi, about 130 feet (40 meters) high, is close by on the land of the old Hamragarðar farm.
Skógar and Sólheimajökull
Skógar Folk Museum sits less than a kilometer (0.6 miles) from the waterfall, so it makes an easy indoor stop between showers. Sólheimajökull Glacier is about 7.5 miles (12 km) east of Skógafoss via Road 221.
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
It’s extremely popular and protected as a natural monument, so plan to look from the paths.
Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is a nature reserve, valued for its birdlife and its landscape. Birds nest in the cliffs from late April to mid-August, so September visitors shouldn’t count on puffins. The cliffs and the coastline are still the draw.
Vík and Reynisfjall
Vík has hotels, guesthouses and cottages plus restaurants, which makes it a natural base for a stopover.
The South Coast Lighthouse Trail
The trail connects Þorlákshöfn, Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri, three seaside villages. The coastline between the Þjórsá and Ölfusá rivers is 15 miles (25 km) long. Most visitors drive it, and hikers and bikers take two to four days.
What to do in Iceland’s South Coast in September
Walking behind Seljalandsfoss
Gljúfrabúi is about 130 feet (40 meters) high and sits near the main fall.
A glacier hike on Mýrdalsjökull
Book a guided outing, and leave the day open so you can shift it to the clearest forecast.
Reynisfjall for the Atlantic view
Visitors can hike up Reynisfjall Mountain for views over the Atlantic and bird cliffs.
A clear spell is the time to go, because the view is the whole reward. Check the sky from Vík in the morning and decide then.
Villages, seafood and swimming pools on the Lighthouse Trail
Each village on the trail has restaurants serving local ingredients, with fresh Icelandic seafood a highlight along the coast. Stokkseyri has a public pool with an 18 meter outdoor pool, a slide, a wading pool and two hot tubs.
A hot tub after a cool, damp day is an easy plan in September. On the trail you can also go kayaking, horse riding or birdwatching on the days the weather allows.
Indoors on wet days: the Lava Show and the Katla centre
At the Katla centre there is a free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark.
With 18 rainy days in the month, keep these two on the list for rainy afternoons.
Is Iceland’s South Coast busy in September?
Popular spots fill up quickly in peak season, especially in Vík and along the South Coast. Fjaðrárgljúfur is described as extremely popular, and the heavy traffic in such a small area puts a lot of pressure on its paths.
Book rooms in Vík early. Hotel Vík í Mýrdal has 78 guest rooms, five cottages and 15 self-catering apartments, and Black Sand Hotel has 70 rooms. The Presthús Evening Sun Guesthouse near Vík is a small farm with a handful of rooms, so it can fill quickly.
If Vík is full, Hella has more options. Selfoss is a hub about an hour’s drive from Keflavík Airport.
Can you swim in Iceland’s South Coast in September?
The sea near Vík averages 51°F in September, down from 53°F in August and heading toward 48°F in October. That is cold for an ocean swim, and this is a monthly average.
Heated water is the better plan. Stokkseyri has an outdoor pool and two hot tubs, and the Reykjadalur hot river and the Secret Lagoon near Flúðir are geothermal bathing options.
What to pack for Iceland’s South Coast in September
September asks for layers and waterproofs. Cool nights, frequent rain and spray at the falls decide most of the bag.
- Waterproof jacket and rain pants: 18 rainy days in the month.
- A warm mid-layer: nights drop to 44°F (7°C) and afternoons reach 53°F (11°C).
- Sturdy waterproof shoes: wet paths at Seljalandsfoss, where you can walk behind the fall.
- Swimsuit and a towel: pools, hot tubs and the Reykjadalur hot river.
- Hat and gloves for glacier hikes and the Reynisfjall climb.
- A dry bag for the camera and phone near the falls.
What to know before visiting Iceland’s South Coast in September
Off-road driving in Iceland is strictly prohibited, and you should always stay on authorized paths, tracks and roads. Fjaðrárgljúfur is a protected natural monument under regulation no. 555/2024, and there are no marked walking routes through the canyon itself. Dyrhólaey is a nature reserve.
Allow extra time between stops on rainy days.
Is September a good time to visit Iceland’s South Coast?
Yes, for travelers who accept rain in return for waterfalls, glacier hikes and hot water.
September is 4°F (2°C) cooler than August in the afternoon and has 18 rainy days, against 14 in August. Compared with October, it is warmer, with highs near 53°F (11°C) against 47°F (8°C), and the sea is about 3 degrees warmer. Shifting a month earlier buys drier days, and shifting a month later buys colder ones.
The puffin nesting season at Dyrhólaey ends in mid-August, so August is the month for puffins and September is for the cliffs and the landscape.
For swimming, plan on pools and hot springs. For a day with children, Stokkseyri’s pool has a slide and a wading pool. For drier weather, August is the better month.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- visiticeland.com (https://www.visiticeland.com/the-regions/the-south/), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/moya/page/the-south-coast-lighthouse-way), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/afangastadaaaetlun/moya/toy/index/place/seljalandsfoss), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/destinations/nature/beaches/the-coastline-between-stokkseyri-and-eyrarbakki), checked 2026-10-30
- nattura.is (https://www.nattura.is/svaedin/fjardrargljufur), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/travel-info/travel-blog/icelandair-stopover-south-iceland-itinerary), checked 2026-10-30
- south.is (https://www.south.is/en/destinations/towns/vik), checked 2026-10-30