5 Reasons to visit Iceland this Autumn

Don’t be sad that the summer is almost over and you didn’t get a chance to take a selfie in the sea of purple lupines. Yes, Iceland in the summer is beautiful – lush green valleys, purple lupines, clear waters, and never-ending days. In fact, the best season to visit Iceland might be ahead of us. Yes, you heard me right – booking tickets to Iceland this autumn might be the best decision you’ve ever made. Ok ok, the truth is there is no wrong time to visit Iceland (just bad clothing choices). Every season has its unique characteristics. I guess why so many people keep coming back in different months year after year. Anyway, without further ado, let’s get into 5 reasons to visit Iceland this autumn.

Northern Lights

I do not know which activity is more popular in Iceland – chasing waterfalls or chasing Northern Lights. But only one can be done in summer. Meanwhile, if you visit in autumn – you will be able to both. Northern Lights cannot be seen in summer. Not because they are not there, but because it never gets dark enough to see them. Autumn is the perfect time when you still have plenty of daylight to travel around during the day, but it also gets dark enough to see the northern lights dancing in the night sky.

Mild Weather

Yes, summers in Iceland are short. However, contrary to a popular belief – we don’t get buried in snow at the of August, waiting for the next spring (usually). In fact, the weather stays pretty mild all throughout September and October. Of course, we are talking about Icelandic weather here – the unpredictable Icelandic weather. It is possible there will be snow early in the autumn, we’ve had snow in July, anything is possible. But, generally, it is nice crisp autumn weather. So, leave shorts at home, and bring extra layers of warm clothes (and some waterproof outerwear as well).

Considering the fact you are reading this blog post on the Happy Campers website, you probably considering camping in autumn. I could hear gasping when I said it might snow. However, no matter the weather – sun, rain, or snow – the heaters in our campervans will keep you nice and toasty throughout the night all year round.

Save Money

Iceland is expensive. Especially in summer. This summer car rentals alone reached a new record. I think traveling outside the summer season, especially mid-September onwards is the best secret to save some money. From transport to accommodation to restaurants – many places offer seasonal discounts. For example, if you rent Happy Camper, you can save up to 45% on your campervan rental just by traveling during the low season.

Avoid crowds of people

Considering everything that has happened since 2020, I think we all became at least a little bit more germophobic and more anxious in big crowds. This autumn might be the time to visit Iceland. Iceland is open to vaccinated travelers and there are fewer tourists in general. Moreover, we always emphasize how campervans give you freedom and flexibility to travel wherever and whenever. You know what curbs that freedom in the summertime? Activities and tours you have to pre-book well in advance, otherwise, it will all be sold out, and you end up planning your whole day around this one-time slot. Well, the queues are way shorter offseason, and some places you might have all to yourself (if you time your journey right).

Golden autumn colors

The first time I came to Iceland was at the end of September, and it was so beautiful – I fell in love with its nature and never left. As I mentioned before, every season is very different in Iceland. Winter landscapes are very dramatic, in summer everything turns green, but autumn probably has the most colors. Look, Iceland doesn’t have the richest flora or fauna. However, in autumn all of the nature turns to beautiful golden brown shades and looks amazing. My favorite place? Visit Thingvellir in autumn – you are not going to regret it.

It is not too late to pack your bags and visit Iceland!