Iceland in September is the shoulder that pays off
September is the honest bargain. The aurora season reopens, the summer tours are still running for most of the month, the crowds thin after the first week and prices step down. The catch is that it is a shoulder month in both directions: the highlands start closing, the ice caves have not opened, and the weather turns wetter and windier as the month goes on.
Not for anyone who needs one thing guaranteed. If ice caves are the trip, come later; if the highlands are the trip, come earlier. September rewards flexibility and punishes a fixed itinerary.
The short version
1136 tours and activities have at least one open departure inside all 30 days of September 2027 — read from our operators' own calendars, not estimated.
On an average day in September, 1056 of those tours have a seat on sale.
Daylight on September 15th: 13 h 11 min in Reykjavík (sunrise 06:47, sunset 19:59).
Median day tour in the month's biggest category, sightseeing day tours: €144 a person.
In season: northern lights season, whale watching, highland f-roads open.
Daylight on September 15th
Reykjavík
13 h 11 min
Sunrise 06:47 · sunset 19:59
Akureyri
13 h 17 min
Sunrise 06:29 · sunset 19:46
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 September, and what does not
1136 of the 1570 tours our operators sell in September have an open departure inside all 30 days of September 2027. That is a count of real calendar dates, checked when the snapshot below was built.
In season · Northern lights season
Needs darkness more than anything else. Nothing is visible around midsummer however strong the activity.
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 September · 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 September · Puffins ashore
They arrive to breed and leave once the chicks fledge, usually by mid-August. Colonies differ by a week or two.
Not in September · 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 September
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 September 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.
A proper waterproof, warm layers and shoes you do not mind soaking. September is when the rain gets serious.
Iceland in September: questions people ask
Is September a good time to see the northern lights?+
Yes — darkness is back from the start of the month and September nights are often clearer than November ones. Around the equinox there is a long-standing reputation for active nights.
Are summer tours still running in September?+
Most are, through the first two or three weeks. Highland routes and some northern boat departures wind down as the month goes on, which is why the departure counts on this page are worth checking.
Is September cheaper than August in Iceland?+
Beds and flights, yes, especially after the first week. Tour prices move less; the saving is in everything around them.
Are there ice caves in September?+
Not the natural ones — they are surveyed in the autumn and open from November. The man-made tunnel in Langjökull and the Katla cave run year-round.
