Iceland in August is summer, with the dark returning
August keeps July's access and hands back real darkness at the end of it, which means the first aurora tours of the season run in the last week or two. The highlands are open, the hiking is at its best, and the puffins leave mid-month. The Commerce Day weekend at the start is the busiest domestic travel weekend of the Icelandic year, and beds outside Reykjavík are genuinely hard to find then.
Not for anyone wanting winter landscapes, ice caves or cheap beds. And do not plan the first weekend of August around rural accommodation you have not already booked.
The short version
1200 tours and activities have at least one open departure inside all 31 days of August 2027 — read from our operators' own calendars, not estimated.
On an average day in August, 1141 of those tours have a seat on sale.
Daylight on August 15th: 16 h 33 min in Reykjavík (sunrise 05:16, sunset 21:49).
Median day tour in the month's biggest category, sightseeing day tours: €144 a person.
In season: puffins ashore, whale watching, highland f-roads open.
Daylight on August 15th
Reykjavík
16 h 33 min
Sunrise 05:16 · sunset 21:49
Akureyri
16 h 56 min
Sunrise 04:49 · sunset 21:45
Computed for the middle of the month from the coordinates of each town, so it is the average day rather than the flattering end of the month. Iceland keeps UTC all year, which is why sunrise is so late in winter.
What runs in August, and what does not
1200 of the 1570 tours our operators sell in August have an open departure inside all 31 days of August 2027. That is a count of real calendar dates, checked when the snapshot below was built.
In season · Puffins ashore
They arrive to breed and leave once the chicks fledge, usually by mid-August. Colonies differ by a week or two.
The Road Administration opens each F-road when the ground has thawed enough to take traffic. Mid-June is typical; some years it is July.
Not in August · Northern lights season
Needs darkness more than anything else. Nothing is visible around midsummer however strong the activity.
Not in August · Natural ice caves
Caves are re-surveyed each autumn and only open when a guide judges them stable. A warm spell can close one for the season.
Not in August · Midnight sun
True midnight sun only above the Arctic Circle — Grímsey. The mainland gets civil twilight all night, which looks much the same.
What it costs in August
Median adult fare for a day tour in each of the month's biggest categories. Packages, gear hire, admission tickets and per-vehicle private tours are excluded — mixing a per-car price into a per-person median is how "€4 to €3,276" ranges get published.
Full ranges, and what moves each price, are on our price pages.
10 tours worth August specifically
Ranked by operator standing and whether there are dates open, then thinned so one company cannot fill the shelf. Not a paid placement — we do not sell them.
More filters
Priceper person; priced-on-request tours drop out while a range is set
from €213 per person★4.73· 88 reviews of this tour
Anyone who wants the whole peninsula in one day and doesn't…
11 h · from Reykjavík
Pickup included
Free cancellation 24 h
Book same day
Discover Snæfellsnes - Iceland's Hidden Paradise. Join us for a day of adventure in Snæfellsnes, Iceland's stunning peninsula. From towering mountains to black sand beaches, our tour covers the best sights with friendly guides. Small groups and comfy ride
68% below the €144 typical for sightseeing day tours
meet at the start point
1 h 30 · from Reykjavík
Family friendly
Wheelchair access
Free cancellation 24 h
On this walk, you hear about the Elves, Trolls, Ghosts, Monsters, 13 Santa's and finally the only known serial killer of Iceland in a land where it's easy to get lost in the lava fields...
Discover the wonders of Iceland's Golden Circle on this unforgettable tour. Experience the beauty of Thingvellir National Park, the erupting Geysir, and the impressive Gullfoss waterfall, along with visits to Fridheimar, Efstidalur, and the Kerið volcano
from €142 per person★4.82· 2,059 reviews of this tour
about the usual price for sightseeing day tours
from age 7 · pickup at extra cost
2 h · from Reykjavík
Gear included
Family friendly
Free cancellation 24 h
This trip is an excellent trip for all those interested in trying the Icelandic horse, a trek on the hardy, sure-footed Icelandic horse is an experience to remember.
from €183 per person★4.97· 66 reviews of this tour
26% below the €246 typical for snorkelling & diving tours
Confident swimmers who want the fissure properly, not the…
3 h · from Þingvellir
Age 12+
Book the night before
Meet at Thingvellir National park
No certificate needed. We provide changing room for our clients. Freedive in best visibility with best freedive wetsuit equipment. Safety is our priority. All equipment needed is included. We only use best freedive wetsuit available for our conditions
People staying on the south coast who want the highland…
7 h · from Hella & Hvolsvöllur
Book the night before
Meet at Midgard Base Camp in…
Þórsmörk (Thorsmork) Nature Reserve is one of Iceland’s most captivating landscapes. Known for its expansive views, secluded waterfalls, dramatic canyons, birch forests, and glacier vistas.
65% above the €187 typical for hiking & trekking tours
Fit walkers who want a full day on Þórsmörk's trails with a…
8 h · from Hella & Hvolsvöllur
Age 13+
Family friendly
Book the night before
Þórsmörk (Thorsmork) Nature Reserve is among Iceland’s most stunning landscapes, celebrated for its striking mountains, glacier vistas, hidden waterfalls, dramatic canyons, and serene birch forests.
Wind cancels more Icelandic tours than rain does, so a spare plan is worth having. These still work in bad weather: indoors, underground, in hot water, or short enough to outlast a squall.
Dates are for 2027. On these days shops, pools and museums run reduced hours or close, and pickups can shift. Most tours still run — check the specific departure rather than assuming either way.
2 August · Commerce Day (Frídagur verslunarmanna)The biggest domestic travel weekend of the year — book beds early.
What to wear in August
The same waterproof shell and warm layer as the rest of the year, plus something for a dark evening outside at the end of the month.
Iceland in August: questions people ask
Can you see the northern lights in August?+
In the last week or two, occasionally, once proper darkness returns. It is the very start of the season and not a reason to choose August on its own.
Are there still puffins in August?+
Early August, at most colonies. Once the chicks fledge the birds go back to sea, usually by mid-month, and the trips stop. Colonies differ by a week or two.
Is August a good time for hiking in Iceland?+
It is the best month for it. The highland trails are clear, the huts are staffed and the Laugavegur is fully in season.
What is Commerce Day weekend?+
The first Monday in August and the weekend before it — the biggest domestic travel weekend of the year. Tours still run; accommodation outside the city is the problem.
