November is the heart of autumn, and in Iceland it is already mostly winter. If you choose to go to this beautiful island in the North Atlantic, you should not expect to have a mild weather. However, the weather is not always tumultuous and when the sun makes its appearance we can discover landscapes with autumnal colors that are gradually covered with snow, especially when we venture in the Highlands.
Are you interested in a little trip to Iceland during this autumn month? So, find out everything you need to know to prepare your stay in November.
Discover Iceland in November
The 11th month of the year is therefore not necessarily the most attractive one for a visit to Iceland, especially if you want to discover the country under a nice weather. However, there are many advantages to a stay in this season.
The advantages
- The month of November is in a fairly low season, between the high season in the summer and a busy season during the Christmas period.
- We can therefore take advantage of a lesser tourist influx, very practical when we want to visit the most touristic areas: Reykjavik, the Golden Circle or the South Coast.
- The prices of a trip are lower in this season, especially for car rental, airline tickets or accommodation.
- As the night is getting bigger and bigger during November, the northern lights are more and more numerous.
- The colors of the landscapes are magnificent with the brown and gold of the plants, but also the white of the snow.
The disadvantages
- November marks the arrival of winter in Iceland. The Icelandic climate is then disturbed and the temperatures often fall below zero.
- The duration of the day becomes short, between 7 hours (at the beginning of the month) and 5 hours (at the end of the month).
- Many sites are closed to the public, as are the F-roads that make the Highlands inaccessible.
What kind of weather in November?
Going to Iceland in November means facing a harsh weather and climate, not necessarily cold but windy and humid and above all rarely mild. The island, due to its location between the warm currents to the south and cold to the north, has a subpolar oceanic climate, which means that it rains often, with frequent storms, the rain often turns into snow and the temperatures are between -5°C and 5°C.
Averages are between -2 and 3°C on the coasts and precipitation is important, but less than in October. The cold records are established at -12°C in Reykjavik, -18°C in Akureyri. At the level of the maximum, we hardly exceed the 10°C!
Prepare your stay in November
You’re going on a trip in the eleventh month of the year, so find out everything you need to know about organization.
Take a plane ticket
Iceland is accessible almost only by air, so the first step will be to take your plane tickets. The country is accessible from several airports in Europe, including :
- Paris with Icelandair
- Basel-Mulhouse with EasyJet
- Geneva with EasyJet
- Brussels with Icelandair
- Montreal with Icelandair
To find the cheapest tickets, you can also use Alibabuy, a real-time flight comparison website. This site therefore offers you the best price and, in addition, it indicates in all transparency the possible additional costs related to your reservation. In addition to being a flight comparator, Alibabuy also allows you to organize your trip from A to Z, because you can also book your hotels or cars.
Where to rent a car ?
You are going to Iceland, so don’t hesitate to rent a car to travel around the island. With a car, you will have more flexibility and be able to discover the whole country. In November, the roads are often snowy, so it is better to have a 4×4 to travel the roads with difficult conditions.
What to bring in your luggage?
Find out everything you need to pack for a trip to Iceland during this season. As the weather is often cold and unsettled, don’t hesitate to take jackets, anoraks, or even ski suits.
Where to sleep?
In November, the number of accommodations drops sharply, as there are often fewer Bnb’s and most campgrounds close. You can opt for :
What to do during the month of November?
Are you going on a trip during this month? But what will you do? Don’t worry, there are plenty of activities and excursions available in November that should keep you from getting bored.
Here are some ideas:
- Go on a road trip around the island, in the Golden Circle or in the south coast.
- Discover some of the most beautiful sites on the island such as Gullfoss, Geysir, Skaftafell or Vik.
- Visit Reykjavik which could be under snow with a little luck. The capital is known for its colorful streets, its museums or its many cafes, bars and restaurants!
- Despite the cold, swimming is still possible during this period, especially in the Icelandic hot water pools!
- If the night is clear, you can take advantage of it to admire the sublime northern lights which dance in the Icelandic sky.
You are not going in November, so discover Iceland:
