Iceland in April.
Shoulder season: unstable weather, empty roads, puffins returning, and a public holiday for summer that arrives in the snow.
April is the month Iceland declares summer, on the first Thursday after 18 April, regardless of the weather, which is usually not summer. The days run past 16 hours by the end, the puffins come back to the cliffs at Látrabjarg, Dyrhólaey and the Westman Islands, and the aurora fades out with the dark. Prices are still low and the roads are still quiet.
Light and weather
Daylight: 13 h 20 min at the start, 16 h 15 min by the end; sunrise around 06:15, sunset around 20:45 mid-month. Northern lights: Early in the month only.
| High | 7 °C | Low | 1 °C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rain and snow | 59 mm | Sunshine | 165 hours |
| Wind | 4.8 m/s | Daylight | 13 h 20 min at the start, 16 h 15 min by the end |
What's on in April
- Sumardagurinn fyrsti, the First Day of Summer: public holiday on the first Thursday after 18 April, with parades and scout bands. Tradition says a frost the night before means a good summer.
- Easter in April most years: a five-day weekend from Maundy Thursday, with shops and Vínbúðin closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, and the pools on holiday hours.
- Aldrei fór ég suður, the free rock festival in Ísafjörður, runs over Easter weekend.
What's open, what's closed
Ring Road open. Highlands closed until June. Puffin season begins in the second half of the month. Whale watching daily from Reykjavík and Húsavík. Some campsites and countryside restaurants still closed for winter.
What to do
- Puffins from late April, kids in tow
- Last aurora nights, early in the month
- Best of Iceland outside Reykjavík, before the crowds
- What to pack for a month that cannot decide
What to pack
Layers, shell, boots. Sunglasses. A swimsuit, always. Leave the crampons unless you are heading north.
Prices and crowds
Low outside Easter week. Summer prices start in May.
Verdict
Underrated. Quiet, cheap, long days, and a public holiday named Summer held in April.