Iceland Travel Guide
Iceland in March
Weather, Daylight & Northern Lights
A complete guide to visiting Iceland in March, with weather, daylight, Northern Lights, road conditions, winter activities and trip-planning advice.
Iceland in March
March is one of the most interesting months to visit Iceland because it sits directly between deep winter and the rapidly approaching brighter half of the year.
The landscapes can still look unmistakably wintry. Snow may cover mountains, roadsides and lava fields, glaciers remain accessible for guided winter adventures and evenings can still become dark enough for Northern Lights viewing. At the same time, daylight increases rapidly during the month, giving travellers significantly more time for sightseeing than during December, January or early February.
For many visitors, this balance makes March an especially attractive time to travel.
You can spend the day exploring waterfalls, black sand beaches, glaciers or geothermal landscapes and still have a realistic opportunity to search for the Aurora after sunset. The country has not yet entered its summer travel season, but the days no longer feel as short as they do during the darkest part of winter.
March should not, however, be mistaken for spring in the way many travellers understand the word elsewhere in Europe or North America.
Winter conditions can remain very real.
Snowfall, ice, strong winds and rapidly changing weather may still affect roads and outdoor activities. In some years, severe winter weather continues well into March, and road or travel disruption remains possible. Iceland's weather does not change according to a simple calendar boundary.
That unpredictability is part of what makes planning a March trip different from planning a summer holiday.
Travellers need flexibility.
A clear morning can become windy or snowy later in the day. A route that looks straightforward on a map may require more time when conditions deteriorate. At the same time, a forecast that initially looks poor can improve surprisingly quickly.
The reward for this flexibility can be extraordinary.
March can deliver snow-covered waterfalls, blue glacier ice, dramatic coastal skies, long golden-hour light and colourful Northern Lights displays after dark.
March also provides more daylight for travellers heading farther from Reykjavík. While a February itinerary must be particularly careful with daylight, March begins to allow longer sightseeing days. This makes destinations such as Vík, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón easier to incorporate into a multi-day South Coast trip.
However, the extra daylight should not encourage visitors to overfill every day. Winter road conditions can still increase driving times, and a successful Iceland itinerary is rarely the one with the largest number of stops.
For Northern Lights travellers, March remains particularly interesting. Nights gradually become shorter, but darkness is still sufficient for Aurora viewing for much of the month. Travellers who want both reasonable sightseeing hours and Northern Lights opportunities may find March one of the most balanced months of the year.
Aurora visibility still depends on more than darkness. Cloud cover, solar activity and local viewing conditions matter — use current conditions rather than assuming that every clear-looking evening will produce a display.
March is also an excellent month for photographers. The increasing daylight creates more usable time, but the sun remains relatively low compared with summer. Snow, ice and winter skies can combine with soft light to create striking landscapes.
Whether you are planning a short Reykjavík-based trip, a five-day South Coast journey or a longer winter adventure, March offers a valuable compromise between the darkness of midwinter and the long days of late spring. This guide explains what to expect and how to plan the trip safely.
March Quick Facts
Season
Late winter / early transition
March can still look fully winter-like even though daylight is increasing quickly.
Daylight
Increasing fast
Approximately 10–13 hours
Varies by date and location — use the daylight tool below for precise sunrise/sunset. In Reykjavík, the beginning of March is around sunrise 08:36 and sunset 18:45; do not use these beginning-of-month figures as if they apply to the entire month.
Northern Lights
Excellent potential, especially earlier in the month
Dark nights remain, but daylight increases rapidly as the month goes on.
Snow
Still possible and often common
Conditions vary significantly by region and individual weather systems.
Driving
Winter-driving awareness still required
Snow, ice, wind and closures remain possible throughout the month.
Highlands
Not a normal self-drive destination
F-road summer opening season has not normally begun. Current official road information always overrides general guidance.
Ice Caves
May still fall within the winter season
Depends on current glacier conditions and individual tour operations.
Best Activities
Best For
Why Visit Iceland in March?
March occupies a unique position in Iceland's travel calendar. It combines many of the experiences travellers associate with winter while providing noticeably more daylight than the darkest months. This makes it attractive to visitors who want snow, glaciers and Northern Lights but do not want their sightseeing day to end in the middle of the afternoon.
The most obvious difference is daylight. The days lengthen rapidly throughout March — at the beginning of the month, Reykjavík already has roughly ten hours of daylight, and by late March the days are substantially longer. This extra light makes a major practical difference: travellers have more time to explore the Golden Circle, drive the South Coast, visit multiple waterfalls, spend time around Vík, reach glacier regions, photograph landscapes and take guided daytime activities. A March trip therefore feels less constrained than a December or January itinerary.
More daylight does not mean the Northern Lights season is over. March nights remain dark enough for Aurora viewing, particularly earlier and through much of the month — creating one of March's strongest advantages: longer sightseeing days plus darkness for the Aurora. A traveller might spend daylight hours exploring the South Coast and still monitor the evening for Northern Lights. The Aurora remains unpredictable, requiring a suitable combination of darkness, cloud conditions, solar activity, location and weather.
March can still provide the visual character many travellers want from an Iceland winter trip — depending on conditions, visitors may experience snow-covered mountains, frozen or partially frozen landscapes, glaciers, icy waterfalls, black beaches surrounded by snow and snow-covered lava fields. The exact appearance varies enormously from one March trip to another; do not plan a March trip around a guarantee of continuous snow.
March can remain an important month for natural ice-cave experiences. Natural glacier caves are seasonal and constantly changing — access depends on temperature, glacier stability, meltwater, weather and current professional assessment. Visitors should not expect one named cave to remain identical or accessible year after year, and should always use a professional glacier guide.
Glacier hiking remains a major March activity, with guided experiences potentially available around areas such as Sólheimajökull, Skaftafell and the Vatnajökull region. March's increasing daylight can make the overall sightseeing day easier to organise around a glacier activity.
Snowmobiling can remain an excellent winter adventure during March where conditions and tour operations permit, with potential areas including Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull.
March is outside Iceland's busiest summer period. Popular locations can still be busy, particularly on organised routes such as the Golden Circle, South Coast, Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon, but the overall travel environment differs from peak summer — Iceland receives visitors year-round, so it should never be described as "empty."
March is particularly strong for photography because it combines increasing daylight, low-angle seasonal light, potential snow, glaciers, Aurora darkness and winter coastal conditions. Sunrise and sunset become easier to incorporate into normal travel hours than during midwinter.
Some first-time visitors want a winter experience but are concerned about extremely short days. March can provide a strong compromise — it still requires winter preparation, but the additional daylight gives considerably more itinerary flexibility.
Still Northern Lights Season — March brings longer days, but nights are still dark enough for Aurora viewing. Check live conditions before heading out.
Featured March Attractions
Handpicked places worth visiting on a March trip.
Drangajokull Glacier
westfjords
Drangajökull is Iceland's northernmost glacier and the only glacier outside the main volcanic zone, sitting in the remote northeastern corner of the Westfjords.
Langjokull Glacier Ice Tunnel
south iceland
Langjökull is Iceland's second-largest glacier and home to the Into the Glacier experience — the world's largest man-made ice cave tunnel system, drilled 500 m…
Nesjavellir Geothermal Station
south iceland
Nesjavellir is one of Iceland's largest geothermal power stations, located near Þingvellir in the heart of a volcanic rift zone.
Gunnuhver Mud Pools
reykjanes
Gunnuhver is one of Iceland's largest geothermal areas with boiling mud pools, aggressive steam vents and scalding hot springs near the town of Grindavík.
Krysuvík Geothermal Area
reykjanes
Krýsuvík (also called Seltún) is a vivid geothermal area on the Reykjanes Peninsula with dramatic coloured hot springs, steaming fumaroles and boiling mud pool…
west iceland
Attraction in west-iceland.
Explore Iceland in March
Weather in Iceland in March
March should still be treated as a winter travel month. Although daylight is increasing and the calendar is moving toward spring, Icelandic weather does not necessarily follow the seasonal expectations visitors may have from other countries. Cold weather, snowfall and strong wind can continue throughout the month.
Recent weather history also illustrates how variable March can be — the Icelandic Meteorological Office has reported Marches colder than the recent ten-year average across most of Iceland, with significant weather and travel disruption during the month in some years. This should not be treated as a prediction for every March, but it is a useful reminder that serious winter conditions can continue well into the month.
The most important planning principle is therefore: do not assume March means winter is finished.
Reykjavík right now
Average Temperatures
Temperatures vary by region, altitude, wind, individual weather system and time of day. Coastal areas tend to be moderated by the ocean, while inland and elevated regions can be colder. Avoid focusing too heavily on one average number — a forecast of a few degrees above freezing can still feel extremely cold in strong wind.
| Region | Average Day | Average Night |
|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík / Southwest | 1–4°C | -3–0°C |
| South Coast | 0–4°C | -4–0°C |
| North Iceland | -3–2°C | -8–-2°C |
| Southeast / Glacier region | -2–3°C | -6–-1°C |
Wind chill can make actual conditions feel considerably colder than the air temperature alone — dress for wind, not just for the number on the forecast.
Snowfall
Snow remains possible during March. The amount and persistence vary — North Iceland may retain deeper winter snow while southwest and coastal areas can move repeatedly between snow, rain, ice, thawing and refreezing.
This can create slippery surfaces even when there is little fresh snowfall.
Wind
Wind remains one of the most important weather factors in Iceland. Visitors often focus on temperature and underestimate wind.
- Check current forecasts before each longer journey.
- Strong wind can make vehicle doors difficult to open safely — always check surroundings first.
- Wind can affect walking, photography, tour operations and coastal safety.
A calm morning can become a genuinely dangerous wind event by afternoon — treat wind warnings as seriously as snow warnings.
Rain, Snow and Ice
Rain is also possible — Icelandic March conditions are not simply "snow all month."
Visitors need waterproof outer layers for rain, wet snow, waterfall spray and wind-driven precipitation.
What to pack:
Layering beats one heavy coat — you can adjust for a 10°C swing in perceived temperature across a single day.
Fast Weather Changes
Weather can change rapidly. A March morning may begin calm and bright before turning windy, snowy, cloudy or wet later — and the opposite can also happen.
Plan around this variability:
- Check road conditions before longer drives.
- Build slack into the itinerary rather than a fixed hour-by-hour plan.
- Respect closures and official warnings without exception.
This is why flexible itinerary planning remains important throughout March.
Regional Differences
Reykjavík
- Usually relatively moderate compared with inland/highland regions.
- Still capable of snow, ice, wind, rain and rapid changes.
South Coast
- Can be very windy.
- Winter conditions remain possible.
- Open terrain increases wind exposure.
Southeast Iceland
- Glacier and mountain environments can produce rapidly changing local conditions.
North Iceland
- Winter character can remain stronger, with more persistent snow in some areas.
Westfjords
- Conditions can remain challenging and routes may be affected by snow or mountain weather.
- Do not treat remote Westfjords travel as a simple extension of a Reykjavík road trip.
For current conditions and warnings, always check Veðurstofa Íslands (the Icelandic Meteorological Office) directly rather than relying on general seasonal guidance.
What Does March Weather Mean for Your Trip?
- Check weather daily
- Check road conditions before longer drives
- Allow extra travel time
- Carry proper layers
- Keep itinerary alternatives ready
- Avoid committing to excessive daily mileage
- Respect closures and warnings
March rewards flexible travellers more than rigid schedules.
Daylight in Iceland in March
One of the strongest reasons to choose March is the rapid increase in daylight — the difference between early and late March is substantial.
At the beginning of March, Reykjavík sunrise is approximately 08:36 and sunset approximately 18:45, according to Visit Reykjavík's monthly daylight guidance. By the end of the month, the day is considerably longer — so travellers should not think of "March daylight" as one fixed number.
Sunrise
~08:36 (early March, Reykjavík)
Sunset
~18:45 (early March, Reykjavík)
Hours of light
Approximately 10–13 hours, increasing through the month
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1 | 08:36 | 18:45 | ~10h 09m |
| Mar 15 | 08:00 | 19:15 | ~11h 15m |
| Mar 31 | 07:15 | 19:50 | ~12h 35m |
Sunrise/sunset times shift slightly by region — use the date-aware tool above for a specific location and travel date rather than these Reykjavík reference points.
Why Extra Daylight Matters
Morning
- More usable morning light than January/February
- Earlier starts feel less rushed
Afternoon
- Longer window for multi-stop South Coast days
- More flexibility if weather delays the morning
Evening
- Evenings still dark enough for Northern Lights viewing, especially earlier in the month
- Sunset photography window extends later into the day
More daylight provides longer sightseeing windows, more relaxed road trips, more photography time, easier multi-stop South Coast days and greater flexibility for outdoor activities — compared with January or February, travellers have more room to adjust plans without immediately losing the entire day's light.
Photography and March Light
- Longer days provide more opportunities for sunrise, golden-hour light and sunset
- The sun remains relatively low compared with summer, producing attractive directional light
- Winter landscapes, glaciers and coastal scenes all benefit from this lower light angle
The trade-off for more daylight is shorter nights — but March still offers meaningful darkness for Northern Lights viewing, which for many visitors is a worthwhile balance: more daylight for Iceland, plus darkness for the Aurora.
Northern Lights in Iceland in March
Yes. March remains within Iceland's main Northern Lights season.
The key difference from January and February is that nights are becoming shorter as daylight increases. That does not mean Aurora viewing ends suddenly on March 1 — travellers can still have excellent opportunities during March when skies are dark, cloud cover is favourable, Aurora activity is present and local conditions are suitable.
Do not wait for only one specific night. If staying in Iceland for several nights, monitor conditions throughout the trip rather than committing to a single evening.
Travellers should avoid unnecessary night driving when cloud cover is poor, weather is unsafe, or road conditions are difficult.
🌌 See the Northern Lights
Track real-time aurora activity and plan your Northern Lights trip with AuroraVision.
March is still an excellent month for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland.
The biggest difference compared with January and February is daylight. By March, the days are getting noticeably longer, particularly toward the end of the month. This gives travellers significantly more time for sightseeing, but evenings and nights remain dark enough for Aurora viewing.
For many visitors, this makes March one of the most balanced times of year for combining Iceland's landscapes with Northern Lights hunting.
A typical March day can include:
- Waterfalls during daylight
- Glacier exploration in the afternoon
- Dinner after sunset
- Northern Lights viewing later in the evening
This is much easier to fit into a trip than during the darkest weeks of winter, when daylight sightseeing time is limited. However, the Aurora remains a natural phenomenon — no forecast, tour operator or app can guarantee that the Northern Lights will appear. Successful viewing depends on several conditions coming together at the same time.
What Do You Need to See the Northern Lights?
01
Darkness
02
Clear enough skies
03
Aurora activity
04
A suitable viewing location
Darkness in March
March nights become progressively shorter. Early March provides longer periods of darkness than late March — travellers visiting at the beginning of the month generally have a larger nightly viewing window.
Visitors arriving toward the end of March still have Aurora opportunities, but they may need to wait until later in the evening for sufficiently dark skies.
Do not use one fixed "best viewing time" for the entire month — the correct darkness window depends on date, location, twilight and weather.
Aurora Activity
The Northern Lights are caused by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth's magnetic field and upper atmosphere. Aurora activity can vary dramatically.
Fainter activity
- A faint arc
- A soft green glow
Stronger activity
- Moving curtains
- Bands
- Rays
- Rapid colour changes
Aurora intensity can also increase or decrease within minutes — avoid judging an entire evening based on one quick look outside.
Don't Rely Only on KP
Many travellers focus almost entirely on the KP index. KP can be useful, but it should not be treated as the only number that matters.
Iceland is located at a high latitude beneath the auroral oval, so it is possible to see the Northern Lights even when KP values are relatively modest.
More importantly: a high KP value is useless to a traveller standing beneath thick cloud. Cloud cover often determines the practical viewing experience more directly than an impressive geomagnetic number.
Bz and Solar Wind
More experienced Aurora observers also monitor solar-wind conditions and the orientation of the interplanetary magnetic field.
Bz can be especially useful — when it turns southward/negative, conditions can become more favourable for energy transfer into Earth's magnetosphere. Solar-wind speed can also affect Aurora activity.
GoIceTravel does not expect casual travellers to interpret technical charts individually — this is one of the main reasons Aurora Vision is integrated strongly into this guide.
Aurora Vision
For a simple way to assess current viewing conditions, use AuroraVision.is. Aurora Vision brings together multiple factors relevant to real-world Northern Lights visibility.
The question that matters
Is it worth going outside to look for the Northern Lights from where I am?
Travellers should also use the Aurora Vision app. It is particularly useful during March because visitors may spend the daylight hours travelling and sightseeing rather than repeatedly checking Aurora websites — alerts can help notice when viewing conditions improve.
Day
Explore Iceland.
Evening
Have dinner.
Later
Check Aurora Vision conditions, then decide whether going outside is worthwhile.
Can You See the Northern Lights Tonight? — March is still Northern Lights season. Check live aurora activity and cloud conditions before heading outside.
When Is the Best Time to Look?
There is no single guaranteed time. The Aurora can appear whenever the sky is dark enough, solar conditions are favourable and cloud cover allows visibility.
Many travellers focus their attention on the evening and around midnight, but activity can happen earlier or later.
- Monitor conditions.
- Stay flexible.
- Use the first good opportunity.
- Do not wait until the final night of the trip.
Why You Should Not Wait Until Your Last Night
A common mistake is planning "Friday = Northern Lights night" — then Friday arrives with complete cloud cover, while the Aurora may have been visible on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
Visitors staying several nights should treat each dark evening as a potential opportunity — especially important in March, since the nightly darkness window gradually decreases as the month progresses.
Best Places to See the Northern Lights in March
There is no single best location. The best place on a particular night is somewhere that combines clear enough sky, safe access, low enough artificial light, current Aurora activity, good weather and reasonable road conditions.
Reykjavík
The Northern Lights can sometimes be seen from Reykjavík — strong displays may be visible even with city light pollution — but darker surroundings generally provide better contrast, more visible stars and better photography.
Visitors without vehicles can use guided Northern Lights tours departing from Reykjavík.
Golden Circle
The Golden Circle contains open landscapes and relatively dark areas outside settlements. Visitors staying around Selfoss, Golden Circle accommodation or countryside hotels may have good opportunities when skies are clear.
Do not stop randomly along roads — use designated safe areas.
South Coast
The South Coast can provide excellent Northern Lights environments, with possible areas including Hella, Hvolsvöllur, Vík and other countryside locations — large areas with relatively low artificial light.
But weather matters enormously: clouds can cover one section of the coast while another area remains clearer.
Jökulsárlón
Jökulsárlón can provide one of Iceland's most spectacular Aurora photography environments — icebergs, lagoon reflections, mountains and dark surroundings can create extraordinary compositions.
Do not drive Reykjavík → Jökulsárlón at night solely because an Aurora forecast looks promising. Use Jökulsárlón as an Aurora opportunity when it is already part of the traveller's overnight route.
Snæfellsnes
Snæfellsnes offers mountains, coast, lava landscapes and low light pollution — Kirkjufell and other landscapes can provide attractive foregrounds.
Winter road conditions remain important during March.
North Iceland
Around Akureyri, Mývatn and North Iceland countryside, visitors can experience dark skies and potentially strong Aurora conditions.
Snow-covered northern landscapes can provide exceptional foregrounds during March.
Featured Aurora Locations
Cloud Cover vs. Driving
A slightly clearer forecast elsewhere does not automatically justify a long night drive.
Before moving locations, consider:
Check the sky before you chase it.
Visitors should not spend several hours driving through difficult conditions chasing a small gap in cloud.
Use live Aurora information together with current Icelandic weather, road conditions and warnings — a favourable Aurora forecast does not override road safety.
Check current road conditions and weather warnings before any night drive.
Guided Tour or Self-Drive?
Guided Northern Lights Tour
Best for visitors without rental cars, first-time winter visitors, travellers uncomfortable driving at night, and people who want local guidance.
- Driver provided
- Local weather awareness
- Viewing-location knowledge
- Some products include photography assistance
Self-Drive
Best for flexible travellers, experienced winter drivers, visitors already staying outside Reykjavík, and photographers wanting extra time.
- Road conditions are appropriate
- Weather is safe
- The driver is comfortable with winter night driving
Best Northern Lights Tours in Iceland in March
Compare available Aurora experiences and choose the style that fits your Iceland trip.
See these locations plotted together with the rest of this guide's featured attractions on the map above.
Stay Somewhere Darker
Northern Lights Photography
March offers strong opportunities for Aurora photography. The combination of snow, mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, longer daylight for scouting locations and dark evenings makes the month attractive to photographers.
Camera Settings
There is no single universally correct setting — a useful starting point for dedicated cameras may include:
- Wide aperture
- Moderately high ISO
- Manual focus
- Multi-second exposure
- RAW
Then adjust to actual Aurora brightness and movement — strong fast-moving Aurora generally benefits from shorter exposure than faint slow activity.
Smartphone Photography
- Use night mode
- Stabilise the phone
- Avoid digital zoom
- Use timer where helpful
- Protect battery from cold
Modern smartphones can capture Aurora effectively when conditions are good — but do not block roads or paths while photographing.
Northern Lights Safety
- ✕ Never stop in a traffic lane
- ✕ Never park on blind corners
- ✕ Never walk onto an icy road
- ✕ Never climb barriers
- ✕ Never stand close to dangerous surf
- ✕ Never drive while watching the sky
Do not photograph the Northern Lights from the waterline at Reynisfjara. Ocean danger remains after dark — the combination of darkness, powerful waves and reduced visibility makes extra caution essential.
What should you wear?
Family Aurora Viewing in March
March can be easier for families than deep midwinter because sightseeing days are longer, but Northern Lights viewing can still extend late into the evening.
For young children, do not automatically plan several hours outside — use Aurora Vision to decide whether conditions justify going out.
If joining a tour, check:
- Tour duration
- Pickup time
- Minimum ages where applicable
- Heated vehicle availability where described by the operator
Worth Staying Up Tonight? — Check live Aurora and cloud conditions before keeping the family outside late.
Add Northern Lights to Your Trip
Choose the best evening based on live conditions during your trip.
Popular March Experiences
Bookable tours available in March — Northern Lights, glaciers, the Golden Circle and the South Coast.
Accommodation
Where to Stay
Hotels, guesthouses and apartments in Iceland — March
Hotels in Reykjavík
Hotels
Luxury Hotels in Reykjavík
Luxury Hotels
Budget Hotels in Reykjavík
Budget Hotels
Family Hotels in Reykjavík
Family Hotels
Spa Hotels in Reykjavík
Spa Hotels
Spa Hotels near Sky Lagoon
Spa Hotels
Apartments in Reykjavík
Apartments
Hotels in Hella
Hotels
Hotels in Hvolsvöllur
Hotels
Hotels in Kirkjubæjarklaustur
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Hotels in Selfoss
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Hotels in Vík
Hotels
Luxury Hotels in South Iceland
Luxury Hotels
Budget Hotels in Selfoss
Budget Hotels
Budget Hotels in Vík
Budget Hotels
Family Hotels in South Iceland
Family Hotels
Spa Hotels in South Iceland
Spa Hotels
Apartments in Selfoss
Apartments
Apartments in Vík
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Guesthouses in South Iceland
Guesthouses
Cabins in South Iceland
Cabins
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February or March — Which Is Better?
February may suit travellers who prioritise:
- Longer darkness for Aurora viewing
- Deeper winter atmosphere
- Strong winter focus
March may suit travellers who prioritise:
- More daylight for sightseeing
- Longer sightseeing days
- Still having Northern Lights opportunities
- Slightly easier itinerary flexibility
March does not have objectively "better" weather than February — Icelandic weather varies year to year regardless of the calendar month.
April provides still more daylight and moves farther away from the core winter season — a March-to-April comparison will link here once that guide is published.
Tours & Experiences
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