Iceland in February.

The locals' pick for a first winter trip: real daylight, full aurora season, prices still low.

Straight from the app. Get Icebreaker for the live version: tonight's aurora, the weather where you are, and what's open.

February is January with the lights coming back on. Daylight grows by about seven minutes a day, which you notice, and the aurora season is still at full strength. Snow is common in Reykjavík but rarely deep. It is the month many locals would send a friend for a first winter visit: enough light to see the country, enough dark to see the sky, and the crowds and prices of the Christmas weeks long gone.

Light and weather

Daylight: 7 h 15 min at the start, 10 h 30 min by the end; sunrise around 10:00, sunset around 17:30 mid-month. Northern lights: Yes, on clear nights.

High: 3 °C
Low: −2 °C
Rain and snow: 91 mm
Sunshine: 62 hours
Wind: 5.5 m/s
Daylight: 7 h 15 min at the start, 10 h 30 min by the end

Reykjavík averages, 1991–2020 (Veðurstofan)

What's on in February

Bolludagur, Sprengidagur and Öskudagur, the Monday to Wednesday before Lent, fall in February most years: cream buns, salted lamb and split-pea soup, then children in costume singing for sweets in shops.
Þorri runs until Konudagur, the first day of the month Góa, in late February, so the Þorrablót menus are still on.
Winter Lights Festival, Vetrarhátíð, lights up the capital area for a long weekend in early February (4–7 February in 2027), with light art on the buildings, Museum Night and Pool Night.

What's open, what's closed

Ring Road open with storm closures; south coast, Golden Circle and Snæfellsnes are the day trips. Ice caves and glacier walks run. Highlands closed. Airlines start adding capacity for Easter.

What to do

What to pack

As January: shell, layers, ear-covering hat, gripped boots, crampons. Sunglasses for the low sun on snow, which is not a joke.

Prices and crowds

Low, rising slightly towards the end. The best value month for a winter trip.

Verdict

The sweet spot between light and dark. Book it.