Visiting Iceland in March, you will catch the tail end of winter. The days are getting longer, but there is still a chance to see the Northern Lights. However, the average snowfall in March is the highest of all months of the year, so you might witness some real snow!
Design March is worth checking out if you visit Iceland in March. If you are up for it, and it is Easter, you can go to Ísafjörður in the West Fjords for the free music festival Aldrei fór ég suður.
March is one of the tourism-shoulder months, so there is a chance of great hotel deals and not as crowded sightseeing tours.
Festivals in Iceland in March
Easter
Easter lands in March just as often as in April. So, if you’re in Iceland in March when it’s Easter, make sure to check out the opening times of companies. Good Friday and Easter Sunday will see many places closed.
Museums might be open on Good Friday. However, they are most likely closed on Easter Sunday. Shopping malls are generally closed on those days and sometimes on Easter Monday. But restaurants and tourism companies will remain open.
Aldrei fór ég suður (I never went south)
Over the Easter Weekend, the music festival Aldrei fór ég suður is held in Ísafjörður in the West Fjords. It has been held every year, apart from 2021 due to covid, since 2004.
The festival is the brainchild of musician Mugison and his father, Guðmundur Kristjánsson. It is named after a song by famous Icelandic singer Bubbi by the same name.
The music festival is always free, and musicians do not get paid. The festival is simply to have fun.
Northern Lights in March
The days have definitely become longer when it comes to March. Iceland is on its way to springtime, but there’s a chance of seeing the Northern Lights if there is darkness.
There are many different tours you can choose from depending on what you want. You can always go hunting them on your own, and on a good night, you can see them from the city. However, we do recommend going on a tour with a guide.
You can, for example, hunt the lights on a boat, go on ATVs to find them or do a small group bus tour.
Whether you see the Northern Lights or not, we recommend you check out the Aurora Reykjavík – Northern Lights Exhibition.
Weather in Iceland in March
In March, the average sunshine hours are almost double that of February, so it is definitely becoming brighter, something all Icelanders celebrate. The average sunlight hours are 109 (compared to 60 in February). And the average temperature ranges from 29.7°F (-1.3°C) to 39.2°F (4°C).
There’s a chance of about 9.1” (23.2cm) of snow on average in the month. That is more than any other month so remember to pack accordingly!
What to pack to visit Iceland in March
In March, the average snowfall in Reykjavik is the most out of the year, despite the slightly warmer weather and longer days than the four months before.
The chances of snowstorms are still pretty high, so pack warm clothes, and as always, we recommend people layer up. Woollen underwear is excellent for Icelandic weather. If you do not have it on hand or can’t buy it where you are from, you can buy it in Iceland. Ullarkistan is a great place to check out for warm underwear.
Depending on your schedule, it might be good to pack snow trousers. And don’t forget the hat, gloves/mittens, scarf, winter coat and sturdy shoes.
We recommend people layering up during winter in Iceland because it is cold outside but always warm inside. It is easier to take off a few layers if you are warm.
Your Friend in Reykjavik Tours in April
Of course, Your Friend in Reykjavik specialises in walking tours, so we cannot emphasise enough that there is no such thing as bad weather. Just poorly dressed people (😉 ).
If you don’t want to spend too much time outside, we recommend the Food Lovers tour or Beer & Booze tour. For a full day experience, you can check out the Food Lovers tour and Northern Lights by boat combo!
For animal lovers, the unique Reykjavik CatWalk tour is for you! Learn about the history of cats in Iceland and the world, visit some of Reykjavik’s most famous cats and go to the one and only Cat Café! Walk With a Viking tour is an excellent introduction to Iceland’s capital. The Reykjavik Folkore Tour is perfect for anyone who loves stories about elves, trolls, ghosts, and the magic of Iceland!
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