Europe

Iceland in March

The best all-around winter month: long-enough days, snow scenery, aurora season still on.

GoodCold, highs near 39F (4C), near-equal day and night by late month

Skogafoss waterfall, Iceland — IcelandPhoto: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

March is a good month to visit Iceland. The best all-around winter month: long-enough days, snow scenery, aurora season still on.

Weather: Cold, highs near 39F (4C), near-equal day and night by late month
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What March is like in Iceland

March is the best all-around winter month. Highs sit near 39F (4C), snow still covers the scenery, and by late month day and night are nearly equal. Aurora season is still on, and the spring equinox often brings strong activity. Crowds and prices rise a bit but are still well below summer.

This suits first-time winter visitors, families, and photographers who want snow, aurora, and enough light to drive comfortably. It is not the month for highland hikes or puffins. If those are your goals, plan for June or July.

Make the most of March

What is especially good about Iceland this month.

Equinox aurora

The weeks around the spring equinox often bring strong aurora activity. Clear, dark nights away from town lights are the key.

Last weeks of ice caves

Ice cave season usually winds down around the end of March. It is the last chance until November.

Snaefellsnes in snow

Kirkjufell and the lava fields under snow make a great day trip, and the longer days make it easy from Reykjavik.

What to pack for March

A waterproof shell and warm insulated layer
Waterproof boots and ice cleats
Warm gloves you can use a camera in
Sunglasses for sun on snow

Our timing tip

Book ice caves for early March, before the season ends, and plan aurora nights around the moon and cloud forecasts.

Book Iceland for March.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Iceland
Opens a hotel search for Iceland in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for March
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Iceland
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Iceland
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Iceland for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in March

Northern lights season

September through mid April

Dark skies return and the aurora becomes possible on any clear night. Equinox months often bring strong activity.

Ice cave season

Roughly November through March

Guided access to natural blue ice caves under Vatnajokull while cold keeps them stable.

Things to do in Iceland

Full guide

The Golden Circle

Thingvellir's rift valley, Geysir's eruptions, and Gullfoss in one easy loop from Reykjavik. Go before 9am or after 5pm in summer to skip the tour-bus pulse.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The south coast to Vik

Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls, then Reynisfjara's black sand and basalt columns. Respect the sneaker-wave warnings at the beach; they are not theoretical.

Tickets and tours →

Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon and Diamond Beach

Icebergs drifting to sea and stranding on black sand. Worth the long drive east; summer zodiac tours get you among the bergs.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A northern lights hunt

September through mid April, on clear dark nights away from town lights. Give it multiple nights and check the cloud and activity forecasts rather than pinning hopes on one evening.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A glacier walk or ice cave

Crampons-on glacier hikes run year-round with guides; the natural blue ice caves are a winter-only show, roughly November through March.

Tickets and tours →

Geothermal soaking

Book the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon ahead, then balance them with local town pools at a tenth of the price. The hot river hike at Reykjadalur is the free classic.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Use the midnight sun: in summer, do the Golden Circle and south-coast headliners before 9am or after 6pm and you will share them with a fraction of the midday tour-bus wave.
Drive the Ring Road counterclockwise in peak season; most tours and rentals flow clockwise from Reykjavik, so you meet the crowd pulses offset by a day.
Book summer rental cars and popular guesthouses three to six months out; the country's bed supply is small and the south coast sells out first.
Go beyond the south: the Westfjords and the east fjords see a small slice of Iceland's visitors with scenery that concedes nothing.

Know before you go

The highland F-roads close from roughly October until June or later, gated by snowmelt: Landmannalaugar, Thorsmork, and the interior are summer-only, and rental insurance requires a 4x4 on them even then.
The Ring Road and main sights operate year-round, but winter storms can close sections for hours or a day at a time; road and weather alert sites are a daily winter ritual, not a suggestion.
Natural glacier ice caves open only in the cold months, roughly November through March; summer visitors can still do guided glacier walks and man-made tunnels.
The northern lights are seasonally gated by daylight, not luck alone: from May through early August the sky never gets dark enough. Aurora trips belong to September through mid April.