November works in Iceland for travelers who come for geothermal water, waterfalls and Reykjavik’s landmark church, with short days and little sun.
Afternoons reach 41°F (5°C), nights sit at freezing, and most campsites have closed for the season.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Reykjavik: 41°F (5°C)
- Night low in Reykjavik: 32°F (0°C)
- Rainy days: 14
- Precipitation: 3 inches (87 mm)
- Sunshine: 1.3 hours a day
- Sea near Reykjavik: 44°F (7°C)
What is the weather like in Iceland in November?
| Month | Average high | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 46°F (8°C) | 3.1 in (80 mm) | 13 | 3.0 h | 47°F (8°C) |
| November | 41°F (5°C) | 3.4 in (87 mm) | 14 | 1.3 h | 44°F (7°C) |
| December | 38°F (3°C) | 3.7 in (95 mm) | 15 | 0.4 h | 42°F (6°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
November in Reykjavik is cold, damp and short on light. Afternoons reach 41°F (5°C) and nights drop to 32°F (0°C), so the day starts at the freezing point.
Rain falls on 14 days of the month, and the sun shows for 1.3 hours a day on average. Plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day, and keep a waterproof layer on you the whole time. The sea near Reykjavik averages 44°F (7°C).
October is milder, with highs near 46°F (8°C) and 3 hours of sun a day. December is colder, with highs near 38°F (3°C), nights at 29°F (-2°C) and only a few minutes of sun a day. November sits between the two.
Where to go in Iceland in November
Reykjavik
Hallgrímskirkja, Perlan and the pond called Tjörnin are all landmarks of the city, and a self-guided walking tour can link Hallgrímskirkja to Harpa concert hall. Perlan is a nature exploratorium with interactive exhibits, so it works as a dry stop on a rainy day. Laugavegur, the main shopping street, runs through the city center.
Þingvellir National Park
The park offers hiking trails, diving, angling and riding routes. The Service Center at Leirar, close to the camping grounds, is where angling permits are issued on arrival. With a night low at freezing, dress for a long walk on open ground.
Secret Lagoon and Fontana
Secret Lagoon, at Flúðir, has three pools: a main pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold pool. Fontana, at Laugarvatn, has geothermal baths and a bakery where rye bread is baked in a geyser. Hot water is the natural answer to a 32°F (0°C) night.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss plunges over the cliffs of Vestur-Eyjafjall, on the boundary between Seljaland and Hamragarðar. Gljúfrabúi, about 131 feet (40 m) high, stands close by on the land of the abandoned farm Hamragarðar. Both are outdoor stops, so go in the brightest hours.
Vík and Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is a promontory about 394 feet (120 m) high that rises out of the black sand just west of Vík. A small orange-roofed lighthouse, built in 1927, stands on its highest point. In Vík, the Katla Visitor Centre and the Hafnleysa Maritime Museum give you indoor stops when the rain sets in.
What to do in Iceland in November
Hallgrímskirkja tower and the first-Saturday organ concert
The church tower gives a panoramic view of Reykjavik, the surrounding mountains and the ocean. In a month with so little sun, go up on a clear spell and keep the morning flexible.
Organ concerts are held at noon on the first Saturday of every month from September to June, so one falls in November. The church houses the largest organ in the country and is the largest church in Iceland.
Secret Lagoon in cold air
The water comes from the hot springs Vaðmálahver, Básahver and Litli Geysir. It stays at 100 to 104°F (38 to 40°C) all year, which makes it as warm in November as in any other month.
The lagoon dates from 1891 and is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. Its address is Hvammsvegur, Flúðir. Bring a hat for the walk between pool and changing room.
Ice caves on Mýrdalsjökull
Mýrdalsjökull glacier offers guided glacier hikes and ice cave explorations year-round, plus glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near the Katla volcano. The ice cave visits run all year, which makes them a November option.
Book a guided trip and ask the operator how the day is going to run, since weather can change plans. Base yourself in Vík for the shortest drive.
National Museum of Iceland on a wet day
The museum is at Suðurgata 41 in Reykjavik. Its permanent exhibition, Making of a Nation, covers Iceland’s cultural and historical heritage.
Audio guides come in 10 languages. With 14 rainy days in the month, this is a good fixed point in an otherwise flexible plan.
Whale watching from Akureyri
Whale Watching Akureyri runs a specially designed ship that takes 200 passengers and custom-built RIB speedboats with 12 passengers each, a guide and a specially trained captain.
Choose the ship for more space and the RIB for a small group. Confirm that tours are running on your dates before you drive north.
Is Iceland busy in November?
Most campsites open from the beginning of June to the end of August or mid-September, and around 200 are registered in the country. The Grindavík campsite is open from mid-March into November.
Camping outside organised campsites in tent trailers, tent campers, caravans or camper vans is illegal without landowner permission. A traditional camping tent may be pitched for one night on uncultivated land along public routes in inhabited areas. In practice, plan on rooms rather than a tent at this time of year.
Lodging tax is 800 kr. per lodging tax unit for hotels and guesthouses licensed in categories II to IV, and 400 kr. per unit for campsites and parking spots for motorhomes.
Can you swim in Iceland in November?
Near Vík the sea is 46°F (8°C), and near Höfn it is 46°F (8°C) too.
Warm water comes from the geothermal pools instead. Sky Lagoon, in Kópavogur, is a geothermal lagoon by the sea with an optional seven-step ritual. Secret Lagoon and Fontana are the inland options.
What to pack for Iceland in November
November asks for warm layers, a rain shell and swimwear for the hot pools.
- A waterproof jacket and rain pants: Reykjavik sees rain on 14 days of the month.
- Warm layers and a hat: the night low is 32°F (0°C).
- Swimsuit and a towel: Sky Lagoon, Secret Lagoon and Fontana all have hot water.
- A light for the early evening: the sun shows only 1.3 hours a day.
What to know before visiting Iceland in November
Service in English is held at Hallgrímskirkja on the last Sunday of every month from 2 to 3 p.m. Puffins nest in the cliffs at Dyrhólaey from late April to mid-August, so November is outside that season. The Katla centre has a free exhibition about the Katla volcano and the Geopark.
At Fjaðrárgljúfur, a canyon about 98 feet (30 m) deep and about 1.2 miles (2 km) long, hiking up along or in the river is strictly forbidden due to breeding grounds.
Is November a good time to visit Iceland?
Compared with October, you give up some warmth and light: highs fall from 46°F (8°C) to 41°F (5°C), and sun drops from about 3 hours to about 1.
If you want to swim, plan on the geothermal lagoons, since the sea is 44°F (7°C) near Reykjavik. If you want city sights, stay in Reykjavik for the museum, church and Perlan. If you want the landscapes of the south, base yourself in Vík and use the Katla centre as a wet-day stop.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- visitreykjavik.is (https://visitreykjavik.is/service/hallgrimskirkja-church-tower), checked 2026-10-30
- thjodminjasafn.is (https://www.thjodminjasafn.is/en), checked 2026-10-30
- secretlagoon.is (https://secretlagoon.is/?lang=is%2F), 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/towns/vik), checked 2026-10-30
- umhverfisstofnun.is (https://www.umhverfisstofnun.is/english/visiting-iceland/travel-information/where-can-you-camp/), checked 2026-10-30
- visitreykjavik.is (https://visitreykjavik.is/frequently-asked-questions), checked 2026-10-30