What the weather is like in November
November is statistically the worst-weather month — short days (5 hours of daylight by month-end), unpredictable storms, frequent road closures, and aurora often blocked by cloud. The exception is Iceland Airwaves (early November) — Reykjavík's music festival is a major draw.
Averages are five-year Open-Meteo (ERA5) figures for Reykjavík; other parts of Iceland vary. Full sources below.
What to pack for Iceland in November
- Serious winter layers & an insulated coat
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layers
- A packable rain jacket or compact umbrella
What's on in November
- Iceland Airwaves (Reykjavík) — Iceland's biggest music festival, early November. Five days of indie/electronic/Icelandic music in venues across Reykjavík. Major draw for visitors during what would otherwise be one of the worst-weather months.
Is November the right month?
Iceland's best month is July; the toughest is November. See the full month-by-month breakdown for Iceland.
Where to stay in November
November is Iceland's toughest month. Choose a base that still works in bad weather, and book a rate you can cancel.
- Reykjavík (city center)$$$Base for Golden Circle + day trips, restaurants, bars
The natural starting and ending point. Walking distance to Hallgrímskirkja, Harpa, the harbor, and most restaurants. Most aurora day-trips depart from Reykjavík hotels.
See Reykjavík (city center) hotels for 12–18 Nov 2026 - South Coast (Vík / Hella / Hvolsvöllur)$$Ring Road segment, Seljalandsfoss/Skógafoss base
Mid-route stop for Ring Road travelers. Vík has the famous Reynisfjara black sand beach. Smaller villages but well-equipped guesthouses and a few standout hotels.
See South Coast (Vík / Hella / Hvolsvöllur) hotels for 12–18 Nov 2026 - Akureyri (North Iceland)$$Mývatn aurora, north Ring Road, less-visited Iceland
"Capital of the north" — second-largest town in Iceland, excellent base for Mývatn (Iceland's aurora hot spot, less light pollution than the south) and the Diamond Circle.
See Akureyri (North Iceland) hotels for 12–18 Nov 2026 - Höfn (Southeast)$$Vatnajökull glacier, Diamond Beach, Jökulsárlón
Small fishing town that's the launching point for the Vatnajökull glacier and Diamond Beach. Famous for langoustine. Limited accommodation — book ahead.
See Höfn (Southeast) hotels for 12–18 Nov 2026
Links open a hotel search for 12–18 Nov 2026; you can change the dates there. We may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Is November a good time to visit Iceland?
November scores 20/100 on the Atlas Ranger Score — "Tough" — which blends weather with crowds and price. November is Iceland's toughest month. Go in with clear expectations, or shift to July if you can.
How warm is Iceland in November?
Expect daytime highs around 4°C (39°F) and overnight lows near 0°C (32°F), with about 2.3 hours of sun a day.
Does it rain in Iceland in November?
November sees roughly 121mm of rain — moderate rainfall; a packable rain layer helps.
What should I pack for Iceland in November?
For November, pack: Serious winter layers & an insulated coat; Hat, gloves and thermal base layers; A packable rain jacket or compact umbrella.
Sources
Every claim on this page is backed by an authoritative source. Atlas Ranger synthesizes data from multiple references so you can see exactly where each fact came from.
- Visit Iceland (Official tourism)Used for: Official Iceland tourism guidance, festival timing, regional information
- Open-Meteo Historical Climate Data (ERA5)Used for: Monthly temperature, rainfall, sunshine averages (2020–2024)
- Veðurstofa Íslands (Icelandic Met Office) + road.isUsed for: Live weather warnings, aurora forecasts, road conditions — essential trip planning
- U.S. State Department Iceland Travel AdvisoryUsed for: Independent safety assessment + entry requirement reference
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction CenterUsed for: Live aurora forecast (powers Atlas Ranger's aurora map)
Keep planning