Iceland
Reykjavík in August
☀️ SummerCool and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings · compact umbrella or rain jacket
Why August scores 8.9What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort7.8
- !Cool (12.9°C highs / 8.1°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 7.9°C)
- !Wet: ~113 mm rain, ~4 heavy-rain days
- Air quality10.0
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~4 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline9.5
- ·Normal precautions
| Aug | Jul | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.9 Excellent | 9.0 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Summer | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 13° / 8° | 13° / 8° |
| Rain | 113 mm | 85 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 8° | dew pt 8° |
| PM2.5 | 4 µg/m³ | 4 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast).
Holidays & crowdsAugust 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Commerce Day 31 Jul – 2 Aug · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore ReykjavíkEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyIceland's small, colourful capital, the base for Golden Circle tours, northern lights trips, whale watching and geothermal lagoons.
Reykjavík Culture Night (Menningarnótt)Date variesUsually a Saturday in late August
A day and night of free concerts and open houses, held on the same day as the Reykjavík Marathon, ending with fireworks.
Why go: The city's biggest crowd of the year.
Where: Downtown Reykjavík
Coming up later
Iceland AirwavesDate variesUsually early November
A music festival showcasing Icelandic and international new artists.
Why go: Book accommodation early.
Where: Venues across Reykjavík
New Year's EveEvery year31 December every year
Neighbourhood bonfires, then an intense private fireworks display at midnight.
Why go: Hallgrímskirkja is a popular viewing spot.
Where: Citywide
Icelandic National DayEvery year17 June every year
Parades and outdoor events mark independence in 1944.
Why go: A public holiday with family events across the centre.
Where: Downtown Reykjavík
Hallgrímskirkja
A large concrete church whose tower gives views over the city's coloured rooftops.
Harpa
A glass-faced concert hall on the harbour.
Golden Circle
A day route covering Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall.
Blue Lagoon
A geothermal spa in a lava field near the airport.
💡 Booking ahead is required.
Northern lights
Aurora can be seen on clear, dark nights away from city lights.
💡 There is no darkness in summer.
Whale watchinggreat in Aug
Boat trips from the Old Harbour look for minke whales, humpbacks and dolphins.
💡 Sea conditions are best in summer.
Pylsur
Icelandic hot dogs with lamb, crispy onions and remoulade.
💡 Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur stand near the harbour
Skyr
A thick, high-protein cultured dairy product.
💡 Supermarkets and cafes
Kjötsúpa
Lamb and root-vegetable soup.
💡 Traditional restaurants
Plokkfiskur
Mashed fish and potato stew.
💡 Traditional restaurants
Hákarl
Fermented shark, a strong-smelling traditional food often taken with Brennivín.
💡 Traditional restaurants and food tours
Lopapeysa
Traditional Icelandic wool sweater with a patterned yoke.
💡 Wool shops; check for 'hand-knitted in Iceland' labels
Brennivín
Iceland's caraway-flavoured schnapps.
💡 Duty-free and state liquor shops (Vínbúðin)
Icelandic sea salt
Flaky sea salt produced with geothermal heat.
💡 Supermarkets and design shops
Airport transfer Kiwitaxi
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