Weather in Reykjavik in May
May in Reykjavik is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In Iceland, this is how Reykjavik actually wears May, not how a country centroid would. Compared with July and February, May sits in the middle of Reykjavik's year.
Pack for Reykjavik in May, not for a brochure that was photographed in another season.
- Average temp
- 7°C
4–10°C
- Rainfall
- 49 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 6.8 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 21 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in Reykjavik in May, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
May is on the drier side of the year in Reykjavik. Showers are possible. They do not define the month.
A shell that lives in the bag is enough. This is not January, and it should not be packed as if it were.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Reykjavik
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Reykjavik
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Reykjavik
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about Reykjavik
Climate averages for Reykjavik, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Reykjavik is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 12°C.
December is the wettest month, with about 97 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
