April suits travelers who are happy in cool, damp weather and want waterfalls, glacier hikes and ice cave tours, with afternoons that reach 45°F (7°C).
The nights stay close to freezing and about every other day brings rain, so every outdoor plan needs a wet-weather backup. The puffins only start nesting in the cliffs at Dyrhólaey from late April.
At a glance
- Afternoon high: 45°F (7°C)
- Night low: 35°F (2°C)
- Precipitation: 5 inches (117 mm)
- Rainy days: 14.9
- Puffins at Dyrhólaey: nesting from late April to mid-August
What is the weather like in Iceland’s South Coast in April?
| Month | Average high | Rain | Rainy days | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 41°F (5°C) | 5.8 in (148 mm) | 18 | 45°F (7°C) |
| April | 45°F (7°C) | 4.6 in (117 mm) | 15 | 46°F (8°C) |
| May | 50°F (10°C) | 4.0 in (102 mm) | 13 | 47°F (8°C) |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
April is cool and damp. In Vík and Skógar the afternoon high reaches 45°F (7°C), and the night low sits at 35°F (2°C), just above freezing. A warm layer is needed all day, and mornings can feel wintry.
Rain falls on about 15 days of the month. That makes a waterproof shell more useful than an umbrella at the waterfalls, and it argues for keeping two or three flexible days in the schedule. Plan the outdoor sights for the drier hours and keep the museum, the lava show and the pools for the wet ones.
March is a little colder, with a high of 41°F (5°C) and 18 rainy days. May warms to 50°F (10°C) and brings 13 rainy days. April sits between the two, so shifting by four weeks in either direction changes the temperature by only a few degrees.
Where to go in Iceland’s South Coast in April
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi
Seljalandsfoss is one of the highest waterfalls in the country, and you can walk behind it. The path is wet in a rainy month, so wear waterproof shoes and a hooded jacket. Gljúfrabúi, about 130 feet (40 m) high, lies close by on the land of the abandoned farm Hamragarðar, and the two falls fit into one stop.
Skógar and Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull Glacier lies about 7.5 miles (12 km) east of Skógafoss via Road 221. The two can be combined in a single outing from the Skógar side.
Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon
The canyon is about 1 to 1.25 miles (1.5 to 2 km) long and between roughly 100 and 330 feet (30 to 100 m) deep. It is a protected natural monument and extremely popular, so the paths carry heavy traffic. Cool, damp April days suit the walk, and staying on the authorized paths keeps the visit within the rules.
Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is a nature reserve whose protection value lies in its birdlife, though the landscape is just as interesting. Puffins nest in the cliffs from late April to mid-August, so the last days of the month are when the first ones can be expected.
Vík and Reynisfjall
Vík is a practical base for a stopover, with hotels, guesthouses, cottages and restaurants. Reynisfjall Mountain can be hiked for views over the Atlantic and the bird cliffs. April mornings start near freezing, so dress warmly for the climb.
The South Coast Lighthouse Trail
The trail links three seaside villages, Þorlákshöfn, Eyrarbakki and Stokkseyri, along a coastline 15 miles (25 km) long between the rivers Þjórsá and Ölfusá. Most visitors drive it, and it can be hiked or biked in two to four days. The Merchants House in Eyrarbakki dates from 1765, and Knarrarósviti Lighthouse from 1938-1939 was the first in Iceland built of reinforced concrete.
What to do in Iceland’s South Coast in April
A glacier hike or ice cave tour on Mýrdalsjökull
Mýrdalsjökull offers guided glacier hikes and ice cave explorations year-round, plus glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near Katla volcano.
Jökulsárlón is the place in the region for floating icebergs.
Geothermal bathing at Reykjadalur and the Secret Lagoon
Geothermal options include the Reykjadalur hot river and the Secret Lagoon near Flúðir. With afternoons at 45°F (7°C), hot water is the pleasant part of an April day.
Bring a swimsuit and a towel, and a dry set of warm clothes for afterward. Stokkseyri’s public pool is another choice, with an 18 meter outdoor pool, a slide, a wading pool and two hot tubs.
Puffin watching at Dyrhólaey from late April
A visit in the first half of April is early for them.
The cliffs are exposed, so wear a windproof layer and bring binoculars if you have them.
The Icelandic Lava Show and the Katla centre
The Icelandic Lava Show lets visitors safely see molten lava at 1100 degrees Celsius (2012°F). It is a good indoor plan for one of the month’s rainy days.
The Katla centre has a free exhibition about Katla volcano and the Geopark. Check opening hours before you drive out.
Seafood along the coast
Each village on the Lighthouse Trail has restaurants serving local ingredients, with fresh Icelandic seafood a highlight along the coast.
After a day of wind and rain, a seafood lunch in Eyrarbakki or Stokkseyri is an easy way to warm up.
Is Iceland’s South Coast busy in April?
Popular spots fill up quickly in peak season, especially in Vík and along the South Coast. Fjaðrárgljúfur is extremely popular, and the heavy traffic in such a small area puts pressure on its pathways.
The choice of rooms is wide. Hotel Vík í Mýrdal has 78 guest rooms, five cottages and 15 self-catering apartments. Presthús Evening Sun Guesthouse, a small farm at Vík, has a family room for four and three rooms for two or three people.
Further west, Selfoss is a convenient hub with hotels, guesthouses, apartments and countryside stays, about an hour’s drive from Keflavík Airport. In Hella, Stracta Hotel has 166 rooms and Hotel Kanslarinn has 21. Black Sand Hotel in South Iceland has 70 rooms and sits about 40 minutes from Reykjavík.
Can you swim in Iceland’s South Coast in April?
The sea near Vík averages 46°F (8°C) in April, a monthly average that is barely warmer than March at 45°F (7°C). That is cold for anyone getting in, and May only reaches 47°F (8°C).
Warm water is easier to find on land. Stokkseyri’s outdoor pool has two hot tubs, and the Secret Lagoon near Flúðir and the Reykjadalur hot river are geothermal options.
What to pack for Iceland’s South Coast in April
April asks for warm layers and good rain protection. With a night low of 35°F (2°C) and rain on about 15 days, pack for cold and wet.
- A waterproof jacket and rain pants, for the spray at Seljalandsfoss and the 15 rainy days.
- Waterproof shoes with good grip, for the wet paths at Fjaðrárgljúfur and behind Seljalandsfoss.
- A hat and gloves for the glacier, the Reynisfjall climb and the cliffs at Dyrhólaey.
- A swimsuit and a towel for the Secret Lagoon, Reykjadalur and the Stokkseyri hot tubs.
What to know before visiting Iceland’s South Coast in April
Off-road driving in Iceland is strictly prohibited, and drivers should always stay on authorized paths, tracks and roads. Fjaðrárgljúfur is protected as a natural monument under regulation no. 555/2024. There are no marked walking routes through the canyon itself, and general pedestrian traffic through it is not envisaged.
Dyrhólaey is a nature reserve under regulation no. 101/1978, and its protection value lies in the birdlife. Puffins nest there from late April, so expect the cliffs to get busier toward the end of the month. Skógar Folk Museum is less than a kilometer (0.6 mile) from the waterfall, an easy stop for a wet afternoon.
Is April a good time to visit Iceland’s South Coast?
Yes, April is a good month for travelers who want waterfalls, glacier tours and geothermal baths, and who accept cool, damp days. It is less suited to anyone who wants to swim in the sea.
May is milder, at 50°F (10°C) with 13 rainy days. Moving to May buys about five degrees and fewer wet days.
For hot water, April works well, since the Secret Lagoon, Reykjadalur and Stokkseyri’s hot tubs all feel better in cool air. With children, the Stokkseyri pool has a slide, and the lava show and Katla exhibition cover rainy hours. For puffins, pick the last days of April, when nesting begins at Dyrhólaey.
The second half of the month is the better half for the birds.
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