Europe

Iceland in November

Ice-cave season opens under the glaciers. Dark, moody, and cheap between the storm systems.

Quiet valueCold, highs near 39F (4C), short days

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

The straight answer

November is a quiet, good-value month to visit Iceland. Ice-cave season opens under the glaciers. Dark, moody, and cheap between the storm systems.

Weather: Cold, highs near 39F (4C), short days
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What November is like in Iceland

November is dark and moody, with highs near 39F (4C) and days that shrink fast toward winter. Ice cave season opens under the glaciers, and the aurora is possible on any clear night. Prices are low and crowds are thin, but storms come and go, and some days you will spend more time in a hot pool than on the road.

It suits budget travelers and couples who want ice caves and aurora without the holiday crowds. It is not for anyone who wants long days or easy, predictable driving. If you want the same winter sights with more daylight, February or March is better.

Make the most of November

What is especially good about Iceland this month.

Ice cave season opens

The natural blue ice caves under Vatnajokull open as it gets cold.

Winter at low prices

November is one of the cheapest months to visit. Cars and guesthouses cost far less than in summer.

Pools under dark skies

Soaking in a town pool or lagoon in the early dark, with a chance of aurora overhead, is the best way to end a short day.

What to pack for November

An insulated, waterproof jacket
Thermal layers
Waterproof boots with ice cleats
A headlamp

Our timing tip

Book ice caves for the second half of the month, when the caves are more likely to be open and stable.

Book Iceland for November.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Iceland
Opens a hotel search for Iceland in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for November
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 November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in November

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.