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Things to Do in Reykjavik in May

Reykjavik, Iceland

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Stay in Reykjavik in May

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Opens Trip.com on Fri 7 May to Sun 9 May 2027; change the dates there.

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May in Reykjavik is defined by light. By the final week of the month, the sun barely sets, producing close to 21 hours of daylight and a twilight glow that never fully fades. You'll eat dinner at 10 PM in Miðborg under a sky that looks like late afternoon, and walk home at midnight in what still feels like evening. Daytime highs sit around 9°C (48°F), with lows near 4°C (40°F). Those numbers are misleading on their own, though. The wind off Faxaflói bay cuts through anything that isn't properly sealed, carrying the smell of cold saltwater and the kind of dampness that settles into your bones along the Sæbraut waterfront.

May is the shoulder season, caught between the dark, quiet winter and the tourist wave of June through August. Reykjavik hotel rates have started rising from winter lows but sit well below the summer ceiling. The Golden Circle, South Coast, and Snæfellsnes peninsula are all accessible by road, and whale watching tours run daily from the harbour in Grandi. Puffin colonies on Lundey island fill with returning birds by early May. The Reykjavik Arts Festival typically opens in late May with international performances across the city. That said, highland F-roads to Landmannalaugar and the interior remain locked under snow, and the northern lights are off the table entirely because the sky never gets dark enough.

For first-time visitors who want Iceland's extended natural light without the congestion of peak summer, May tends to be a smart window. The city center around Laugavegur is compact and walkable, the safety reputation is strong enough for solo visitors to explore into the small hours, and the shoulder-season pricing leaves room in the budget for day trips.

Why visit in May

  • Nearly 21 hours of daylight by late May, producing 3-4 hours of golden-hour light that photographers chase across the coastline and harbour district
  • Puffin nesting season begins on offshore islands like Lundey in early May, while minke and humpback whale sightings pick up in Faxaflói bay
  • Shoulder-season accommodation rates run roughly 20-30% below what the same rooms cost in July and August
  • Shorter queues and lighter foot traffic at popular sites like the Golden Circle compared to the June-August peak

Worth knowing

  • Rain on the majority of May's days, often driven sideways by North Atlantic wind, makes waterproof layering essential rather than optional
  • Highland F-roads to Landmannalaugar and the interior remain snow-closed through most of May, limiting backcountry options to the lowland ring and South Coast
  • Wind chill regularly drops the felt temperature 5-8°C below the air reading on exposed coastal paths and headlands
  • Northern lights are invisible in May due to near-continuous daylight, ruling out aurora viewing entirely

Best for

  • Photographers. The 3-4 hours of golden-hour light in late May barely fade before returning at dawn, and the low-angle sun across Faxaflói bay is unlike anything at temperate latitudes.
  • Solo travelers. Reykjavik scores 9.3 out of 10 for solo-traveler safety (see the TTDI Solo-Safety Index), and May's near-continuous daylight means you're never navigating the city in darkness.
  • Birdwatchers timing the puffin arrival. Atlantic puffins return to nesting burrows on Lundey and the Westman Islands in the first weeks of May, and migratory waterfowl repopulate Tjörnin and the Seltjarnarnes shoreline.
  • LGBTQ+ travelers. The city rates 9.5 out of 10 for LGBTQ+ friendliness (sourced from TTDI's editorial rubric), and the nightlife scene in 101 Reykjavík is welcoming and compact enough to cover on foot.

Think twice if

  • You want warm weather. Reykjavik's May air temperature sits in single digits Celsius, and the persistent ocean wind makes it feel several degrees colder on exposed ground.
  • Northern lights are your primary reason to visit Iceland. May's near-continuous daylight eliminates any chance of seeing the aurora. The viewing season runs September through March.
  • You plan to drive highland F-roads to Landmannalaugar, Askja, or other interior destinations. Snow keeps those routes closed until late June at the earliest.
  • You need affordable coworking infrastructure and strong digital-nomad support. Reykjavik rates 5.2 out of 10 for digital-nomad suitability (sourced from TTDI's editorial rubric), with limited shared workspaces and above-average living costs.
Weather measured 9° / 4°C 132mm rain · 19 rainy days · 78% humidity rains perceptibly ~2.9h/day · 80% of mornings dry
Crowds medium
Pack Windproof hardshell jacket with sealed seams, merino wool base layers, waterproof hiking boots, a warm beanie, and a sleep mask for the near-24-hour daylight. The wind penetrates anything that isn't sealed at the cuffs and collar.

Reykjavik's May weather centers on 9.1°C (48°F) highs and 4.3°C (40°F) lows, with 132mm of rainfall spread across roughly 19 days and humidity around 78%. Wind shapes the experience more than the temperature alone. North Atlantic gusts push through the city with enough force to make umbrellas pointless, and horizontal rain is common enough that locals barely register it. Mornings often start under low grey cloud that lifts by midday, revealing broken skies and warm sun in sheltered spots along Skólavörðustígur. By late May, sunset pushes past 11:30 PM and sunrise pulls back to roughly 3:30 AM, with a pale twilight filling the gap between.

Seasonal caution

  • Sudden wind gusts on exposed coastal locations like the Grótta causeway and the Sæbraut promenade can exceed 70 km/h (44 mph) with little warning. Check vedur.is forecasts before coastal walks or clifftop hikes.
  • Late-season snow flurries are possible in early May, particularly during northerly wind patterns. Road conditions on mountain passes outside the capital area can change within hours.

Year-round climate

Averages from the last 5 years.

Monthly climate averages for Reykjavik-3°C 5°C 13°C JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Monthly climate averages for Reykjavik
MonthAvg high (°C)Avg low (°C)Rainfall (mm)
Jan1-3166
Feb3-2162
Mar4-1146
Apr71118
May94132
Jun117106
Jul13987
Aug139124
Sep106146
Oct62147
Nov40121
Dec2-3129

Holidays and festivals in May

Public holidays

  • May Day(Verkalýðsdagurinn)1 May 2027
  • Ascension Day(Uppstigningardagur)6 May 2027
  • Pentecost(Hvítasunnudagur)16 May 2027
  • Whit Monday(Annar í hvítasunnu)17 May 2027

Best things to do in May

Whale watching from the Old Harbour

wildlife

Tours depart from the Grandi harbour district multiple times daily, heading into Faxaflói bay where minke whales, humpback whales, and white-beaked dolphins feed through the spring and summer months. Most trips run 3-3.5 hours.

Whale species return to Faxaflói in spring, and May's improving sea conditions raise sighting rates before the peak-season crowds arrive in July.

Booking tipBook morning departures 3-4 days ahead. Earlier runs tend to have calmer seas and better sighting odds.

Puffin watching at Lundey island

wildlife

Boat tours circle Lundey island, roughly 15 minutes offshore from Reykjavik, where Atlantic puffins nest in clifftop burrows from May through August. The birds are most active around the colony in the early weeks of nesting season.

Puffins arrive at nesting colonies in the first weeks of May, and early-season tours catch birds actively establishing burrows before the chicks arrive in June.

Booking tipAfternoon departures from the Old Harbour offer better light for photography, especially in the long May evenings.

Golden Circle day trip

sightseeing

The 300 km loop from Reykjavik covers Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. All three sites sit at roughly 200-500 meters elevation and are fully accessible by road in May.

May's 18-21 hours of daylight let you start before 7 AM or extend past 9 PM, avoiding the midday tour-bus arrivals that make summer visits feel congested.

Booking tipRental cars for self-drive are more available and less expensive in May than in the summer peak. Reserve at least 2 weeks ahead for the best selection.

Hiking Esja

outdoor

Mount Esja rises to 914 meters at its highest point across the bay from Reykjavik, with several marked trails from the main trailhead on its south face. The popular route to the Steinn marker takes 2-3 hours round trip.

Snow retreats from the lower trails by mid-May, and the extended daylight allows flexible start times without headlamp concerns.

Booking tipNo booking needed. Check vedur.is wind forecasts before heading out, as exposed ridgelines above 600 meters can be dangerous in strong gusts.

Photography at Grótta lighthouse

photography

The lighthouse sits on a tidal island at the westernmost point of the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, accessible on foot at low tide. The view southwest toward Snæfellsjökull on a clear evening is one of the most photographed in the capital area.

By late May, the sun barely dips below the horizon, producing 2-3 hours of continuous golden light across the lighthouse and coastline after 10 PM.

Booking tipCheck tidal tables before walking to the island. The causeway floods at high tide and you can be stranded for several hours.

Visit the National Museum of Iceland

culture

Founded in 1863, the National Museum on Suðurgata covers Icelandic history from the 9th-century Norse settlement through 20th-century independence. The permanent collection includes the Valþjófsstaður church door, a medieval carved artifact.

Rainy May days, which are frequent, need indoor options. A half-day museum visit pairs well with a morning outdoor excursion.

Soak at Laugardalslaug

wellness

Reykjavik's largest geothermal pool complex sits in Laugardalur, with a 50-meter outdoor pool, several hot pots ranging from 38-44°C, a steam room, and a cold plunge tub. The facility is open year-round.

May's cool air creates a satisfying thermal contrast with the hot pot water, an effect that is less dramatic in the warmer summer months.

Booking tipNo booking required. Arrive before 8 AM on a weekday to share the hot pots with commuters instead of tour groups.

Waterfront walk from Sólfar to Harpa

sightseeing

The 3 km coastal path from the Sun Voyager (Sólfar) sculpture east toward Harpa concert hall traces Reykjavik's most iconic stretch of waterfront, with views across the bay to Esja and the mountains of the Reykjanes peninsula.

May evenings with 18+ hours of daylight make this walk practical at 10 PM, when the light is warmest and the path is nearly empty.

What to eat in May

On menus now

  • Plokkfiskur

    Traditional mashed fish stew made with fresh spring cod or haddock, potatoes, onions, and béchamel. A warming dish that still fits the cool May evenings in Reykjavik, found at most restaurants serving Icelandic fare.

  • Kjötsúpa

    Hearty Icelandic lamb soup with root vegetables and herbs, built on free-range lamb from Icelandic farms. May's cool temperatures keep this comfort staple firmly on every traditional restaurant menu in the capital.

Street food peaks

  • Harðfiskur with smjör

    Wind-dried haddock or cod torn into strips and eaten with cold Icelandic butter. A high-protein snack found at weekend markets and grocery stores across Reykjavik, with a chewy texture and concentrated ocean flavour.

  • Pylsur

    Icelandic hot dogs made with a lamb, pork, and beef blend, topped with raw onion, crispy fried onion, ketchup, sweet mustard, and remúlaði. The outdoor eating season picks up along the harbour in May as the daylight stretches past 10 PM.

What to drink

  • Brennivín

    Iceland's caraway-flavored spirit, sometimes called svarti dauði (black death). Locals pair it with hákarl (fermented shark) at restaurants in the Grandi district, and the near-24-hour May daylight extends the social drinking hours at bars in 101 Reykjavík.

In markets

  • Rhubarb (rabarbari)

    Icelandic gardens begin producing rhubarb in late May, and cafes across Miðborg build seasonal tarts, compotes, and skyr-rhubarb desserts around the harvest. It's the most distinctly seasonal ingredient on Reykjavik menus this month.

Regular events in May

Verkalýðsdagurinn (Labour Day)Free

Iceland's Labour Day brings union parades and political rallies to central Reykjavik, particularly around Austurvöllur square. Banks, government offices, and most shops close for the day.

May 1

Uppstigningardagur (Ascension Day)Free

A national public holiday that falls 39 days after Easter. Banks, shops, and many restaurants close. A useful planning detail, since the date shifts each year but typically lands in mid-May.

Varies yearly (39 days after Easter, typically mid-May)

Listahátíð í Reykjavík (Reykjavik Arts Festival)

An international festival of music, theatre, dance, and visual art held at venues including Harpa concert hall and the National Theatre. The festival has run since 1970 and typically spans late May through early June, with ticketed performances throughout.

Late May through early June

Besta deild karla (Icelandic Premier League)

Iceland's top-tier football league kicks off in May, with home matches at Laugardalsvöllur in Laugardalur and smaller club grounds around the capital area. The atmosphere at matches is spirited relative to the crowd size.

Early May onward (season runs through September)

Best places this May

  • Hallgrímskirkja

    landmark

    Completed in 1986, the church tower offers the widest aerial view of Reykjavik. On clear May afternoons between rain showers, visibility from the observation deck can extend to Snæfellsjökull glacier, roughly 120 km to the northwest.

    Miðborg

  • Tjörnin (City Pond)

    park

    Arctic terns, eider ducks, and greylag geese return to nest around Tjörnin in May, making it one of the best urban birdwatching spots in the capital. The south shore path connects to Hljómskálagarðurinn park, where May's new grass and budding trees mark the shift from winter.

    Miðborg

  • Grasagarður Reykjavíkur (Reykjavik Botanical Garden)

    garden

    A 2.5-hectare botanical garden in Laugardalur holding around 5,000 plant species. By mid-May, the Icelandic wildflower beds and birch groves are greening after the long winter, and the sheltered paths offer a break from the coastal wind.

    Laugardalur

  • Höfði

    landmark

    Built in 1909, this white timber house on the waterfront east of Miðborg hosted the 1986 Reykjavík Summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. The building is closed to visitors, but the exterior and surrounding grounds are photogenic in the long May evening light.

  • Perlan

    museum

    Opened as a museum in 1991, Perlan sits atop Öskjuhlíð hill in Vesturbær. The observation deck gives 360-degree views of the city and surrounding mountains, and the Wonders of Iceland exhibit includes an artificial ice cave and planetarium. In May, the birch trees on the forested hill below are leafing out.

    Vesturbær

  • Grandi harbour district

    neighborhood

    The old fishing harbour west of Miðborg has shifted into a cultural and culinary district with the Marshall House gallery complex, seafood restaurants, and the departure point for whale watching and puffin tours. May's daily boat departures bring foot traffic that gives the area an energetic feel without summer-level crowding.

    Vesturbær

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Insider tips

  • Kolaportið flea market near the Old Harbour opens only on weekends. Arrive in the first hour after the 11 AM Saturday opening for the best selection of vintage lopapeysa (Icelandic wool sweaters) and secondhand books, before tour groups start filtering in around noon.

  • The pool culture is the real social fabric of Reykjavik. Laugardalslaug, the city's largest geothermal pool, draws commuters to the hot pots before 8 AM on weekday mornings. At that hour you'll sit alongside locals rather than tourists, and the overheard conversations are half the experience.

  • If you visit Perlan for the museum, walk the forested paths around Öskjuhlíð hill below it afterward. In May, the birch trees are leafing out, and on a clear day the view from the hilltop reaches Esja, Snæfellsjökull, and Viðey island without paying for the observation deck.

  • Reykjavik's tap water comes from the Heiðmörk nature reserve and is among the cleanest municipal water supplies in Europe. Skip bottled water entirely. The occasional sulphur smell from the hot tap is geothermal and harmless. The cold tap runs from a separate, unheated source and tastes clean.

Avoid these mistakes

  1. Packing an umbrella instead of a windproof jacket. Reykjavik's May wind makes umbrellas functionally useless. Locals don't carry them. A sealed hardshell with a hood is the tool that works here.
  2. Planning outdoor activities around a weather forecast issued more than 48 hours out. Icelandic weather shifts faster than forecast models track, and vedur.is is the only forecast service worth relying on for hourly conditions.
  3. Skipping the geothermal pools because they seem like a tourist attraction. The pools are where Reykjavik's social life happens. Missing Laugardalslaug or one of the neighbourhood pools means missing the city's most distinctive daily ritual.
  4. Assuming May is warm enough for a single light layer. First-time visitors from continental Europe or temperate North America regularly underestimate how wind chill at these latitudes transforms single-digit air temperatures into something that feels close to freezing.

Practical tips for May

Iceland observes several public holidays in May, and banks, government offices, and most shops close on those days. Plan grocery runs and errands for the preceding day. Whale watching and puffin tour operators ramp up to daily schedules in May, but morning weekend slots fill 3-4 days out, so book ahead for Saturdays. The Flybus from Keflavík International Airport to BSÍ terminal in Reykjavik takes roughly 45 minutes and runs timed to flight arrivals. Rental cars offer more flexibility for day trips beyond the city, and May availability is wider than in the summer peak. Layer your clothing rather than relying on a single heavy coat. Conditions shift between sheltered sun and biting coastal wind several times per day, and the ability to add or shed a layer matters more than any single garment.

FAQ

Is May a good time to visit Reykjavik?

May is a good time to visit, ranking 4th out of 12 months for Reykjavik. You get nearly the same daylight as June, with fewer crowds and lower prices. The main sacrifice is warmth. Highs barely clear 9°C, and the wind makes it feel colder. The summer months of June through August are warmer and offer full highland access, but they bring peak crowds and peak pricing alongside that warmth.

What is the weather like in Reykjavik in May?

Cool, windy, and changeable. Expect air temperatures in the single digits Celsius, rain on more days than not, and wind that makes the air feel significantly colder than the thermometer reads. Waterproof layers and a windproof shell are non-negotiable. That said, you'll also get stretches of clear sky with surprisingly pleasant sun in sheltered spots, especially along streets set back from the coast.

Can you see the northern lights in Reykjavik in May?

No. May's 18-21 hours of daylight and persistent twilight eliminate the dark-sky window needed for aurora viewing. The northern lights season in Iceland runs roughly September through March. If the aurora is your primary reason to visit, October through February offers the longest dark windows and the highest odds.

Is Reykjavik crowded in May?

Moderately. May sits between the quiet winter months and the heavy tourist season that begins in June. You'll share popular routes like the Golden Circle with other travelers, but queues are shorter, restaurants are easier to walk into, and the general atmosphere feels more relaxed than it will 4-6 weeks later during the full summer rush.

Is Reykjavik good for families with children?

Reykjavik scores 8.5 out of 10 for family friendliness (see the TTDI Family-Friendliness Index). The geothermal pools have dedicated children's areas, the city is compact enough to navigate on foot with young kids, and the whale watching tours from Grandi are popular with families. May's extended daylight reduces concerns about children being out after dark, though proper layering is essential for young ones in the cool, windy conditions.

Things to Do in Reykjavik in May

Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland Free cancellation
City Tours

Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland

City tour: 3 hours, free cancellation.

via Viator
Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik Free cancellation
Day Trips

Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

Day trip: 10 hours, free cancellation.

via Viator
Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater Free cancellation
Day Trips

Small-Group Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket & Kerid Crater

Day trip: 11 hours, free cancellation.

via Viator
Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik Free cancellation
Day Trips

Golden Circle Classic Day Tour from Reykjavik

Day trip: 6.5 hours, free cancellation.

via Viator
Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik Free cancellation
Day Trips

Golden Circle with Kerid Volcanic Crater Day Tour from Reykjavik

Day trip: 8.5 hours, free cancellation.

via Viator
South Coast Day Tour Black Sand Beach & Waterfalls from Reykjavik Free cancellation
Day Trips

South Coast Day Tour Black Sand Beach & Waterfalls from Reykjavik

Day trip: 10 hours, free cancellation.

via Viator

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