October in Iceland suits travelers who want hot pools, waterfalls and glacier outings in cool, damp weather. Reykjavik reaches 46°F (8°C) in the afternoon, so the days are for walking, soaking and sightseeing in a good jacket.
The month brings 13 rainy days and about three hours of sun a day in the capital. Most campsites have closed for the season, so plan on rooms.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Reykjavik: 46°F (8°C)
- Night low in Reykjavik: 37°F (3°C)
- Rainy days in Reykjavik: 13
- Sunshine in Reykjavik: 3 hours a day
- Sea near Reykjavik: 47°F (8°C)
- Organ concert at Hallgrímskirkja: noon, first Saturday of the month
What is the weather like in Iceland in October?
| Month | Average high | Rain | Rainy days | Sunshine per day | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 53°F (11°C) | 3.4 in (87 mm) | 15 | 3.9 h | 50°F (10°C) |
| 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) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
October in Reykjavik is cool and damp. Afternoons reach 46°F (8°C) and nights fall to 37°F (3°C), close enough to freezing that a hat and gloves belong in the bag.
Rain falls on 13 days of the month, and the sun shows for about three hours a day. Put the outdoor sights in the middle of the day, when it is lightest, and keep museums, pools and evening restaurants for the wet hours. The sea near Reykjavik averages 47°F (8°C), which matters if you plan to walk the shore.
September is milder, with a 53°F (11°C) afternoon high and 15 rainy days.
Where to go in Iceland in October
Reykjavik
The city centre runs from Aðalstræti up the hill to the end of Laugavegur, the main shopping street, with bars, clubs and restaurants that open in the evenings. On wet days the indoor stops fill the time: Hallgrímskirkja, the Perlan exploratorium and the National Museum of Iceland at Suðurgata 41. A self-guided walking tour can link the sights from the church to Harpa concert hall.
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 37°F nights, dress for a long day outside and keep the afternoon for the trails.
Secret Lagoon, Flúðir
The pool was made in 1891 at Hverahólmi near Flúðir and is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland. It has a main pool, a hot paddling pool and a cold pool. The water stays at 100 to 104°F (38 to 40°C) all year, so an October evening is a good moment to use it. The address is Hvammsvegur, 845 Flúðir.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss plunges over the cliffs of Vestur-Eyjafjall, and you can walk behind it. Gljúfrabúi, about 131 feet (40 meters) high, stands on the land of the abandoned farm Hamragarðar. Both are wet in any month, and October’s rain only adds to the spray.
Vík and Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is a promontory 394 feet (120 meters) high rising out of the black sand just west of Vík, with an orange-roofed lighthouse built in 1927 on the highest point. In Vík, the Katla Visitor Centre at Víkurbraut 28 sits in the historical Brydebúð building. Hafnleysa Maritime Museum at Víkurbraut 17 gives a second indoor stop for a gray afternoon.
What to do in Iceland in October
Hallgrímskirkja tower and organ concert
The church is a parish church and a national sanctuary, and its tower gives a panoramic view of Reykjavik, the surrounding mountains and the ocean. On a clear October afternoon the view is worth the climb. On a rainy one, wait for better visibility.
The church holds the largest organ in the country. Concerts take place at noon on the first Saturday of every month from September to June, so October is in season. An English service is held on the last Sunday of the month from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Sky Lagoon and its seven-step ritual
Sky Lagoon is a geothermal lagoon by the sea, at Vesturvör 44 to 48 in Kópavogur, Greater Reykjavik. With the sea at 47°F (8°C), the hot water is the draw, and a rainy day suits it well.
Entry comes with an optional seven-step ritual. Decide when you book whether you want it.
Walking behind Seljalandsfoss
The path lets you walk behind the fall, which is a short outing on the south coast.
Wear shoes with grip and a full waterproof layer. Gljúfrabúi stands close by, so the two falls make one stop.
Glacier and ice cave on Mýrdalsjökull
Mýrdalsjökull offers guided glacier hikes, year-round ice cave explorations, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near Katla volcano. The ice caves run all year, so October is a workable month for them. Book a guided tour.
The Icelandic Lava Show lets visitors safely see molten lava at 2012°F (1100°C), an indoor option for a bad-weather day. At the Katla centre in Vík there is a free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark.
Whale watching from Akureyri
Whale Watching Akureyri runs a specially designed ship that takes 200 passengers and custom-built RIB speedboats. The RIBs take small groups of 12, each with a guide and a specially trained captain.
Akureyri is in the north, where September brought a 53°F (12°C) high and 9 rainy days. Check the departure schedule for October before you plan a day around it.
Is Iceland busy in October?
Most campsites in Iceland are open from the beginning of June to the end of August or mid-September. The Grindavík campsite is open from mid-March into November. By October, then, the season for camping is mostly over, and rooms in hotels and guesthouses are the plan. The country has around 200 registered campsites, but check each one’s closing date.
Reykjavik’s big events draw crowds. More than 100,000 guests move through the city centre on Culture Night, and 14,646 people registered for Reykjavíkurmaraþon this year. Check that your dates don’t overlap with an event before you book rooms in the capital. Booking weeks ahead is a sensible habit for popular stops.
Camping outside organized 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. The lodging tax is 800 kr. per unit for hotels and guesthouses with a license in categories II to IV, and 400 kr. per unit at campsites and parking spots for motorhomes and caravans.
Can you swim in Iceland in October?
These are monthly averages, and the water is too cold for a comfortable swim. By November it drops to 44°F (7°C) near Reykjavik.
Hot water is the answer.
What to pack for Iceland in October
October asks for layers and a good waterproof shell. Nights near 37°F (3°C) and 13 rainy days set the list.
- A waterproof jacket and rain pants, for the 13 rainy days and the spray at Seljalandsfoss
- Warm layers for the 37°F (3°C) nights and the Hallgrímskirkja tower
- A hat and gloves for evenings and early starts
- Shoes with good grip for wet paths, the walk behind the fall and glacier days
- A swimsuit and towel for Secret Lagoon, Sky Lagoon and Fontana
What to know before visiting Iceland in October
Dyrhólaey’s puffins nest in the cliffs only from late April to mid-August, so they have left by October.
At Fjaðrárgljúfur, a canyon about 98 feet (30 meters) deep and 1.2 miles (two kilometers) long, hiking up along or in the river is strictly forbidden because of breeding grounds.
Is October a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, for travelers who want hot pools, waterfalls, glacier tours and city sights, and who are comfortable in a rain jacket. October gives 46°F (8°C) afternoons in Reykjavik, and it is not a month for camping or sea swimming.
Compared with September, October loses a few degrees (53°F falls to 46°F) and two rainy days, 15 in September against 13 in October. Sunshine falls from about four hours a day to three.
If you want to swim, plan on the geothermal pools. If you want glaciers, the ice caves run year-round. If whales are the draw, confirm the departure schedule from Akureyri first.
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