Summer in Iceland. Travelling tips

WHEN?

Summer is a wonderful season in Iceland with 24 hour daylight from June until August. Many Icelanders use blackout curtains in this period in order to sleep, but for some it's just a matter of getting use to it. There is something gratifying about going to bed when it is still light -however, many travelers like to use eye masks. The season is short and in September, summer is over, although you may still get some beautiful days, if you´re lucky.

HOW?

Like the rest of the year, the weather can be unpredictable, and change very often. Average temperatures are around 10 degrees and rarely exceed 20 degrees. In some places, especially in the highlands, it can be very cold, even in summer; it´s a good idea to carry a good coat, gloves and hat in your suitcase,just to be on the safe side. Take light and comfortable clothing that you can put on and remove easily; it makes sense in the unreliable Icelandic weather to dress like an "onion" with several layers.

WHAT?

Camping, wearing shorts, climbing to the top of a mountain at three in the morning, do as much of the stuff you can‘t do in the winter! Enjoy the midnight sun from the north of Iceland, especially on the island of Grimsey. Walk and hike! Access to The highlands of Iceland is only available in high season, around early July to early September. It is not recommended to cross the highlands by rental car, but you can take a bus or enjoy guided tours.

Enjoy one of the many art and music festivals that take place around the country. In the summer there are many different festivals and events for everyone to enjoy. Some of the biggest days on the Icelandic event calender are: Marine Day (first weekend in June, all around Iceland), the national Day June 17th, St. John's Day, traders (first weekend August). There are also many festivals like the Secret Solstice (during the solstice in June, Reykjavík), Eistnaflug (Neskaupstaður, early July), Blue north (Ólafsfjörður early July) Folk Festival Siglufjörður (early July), family festival Hrísey (mid-July), Vopnafjörður Festival (late June-early July), steampunk Bíldudalur Festival (late June), Viking festival Gásir (July) Akureyravaka (anniversary of the city of Akureyri last weekend of August ), the feast of fish Dalvik (August), Gay pride and Culture night (Reykjavik, August), and so on ...

There is also a lot of animal life to appreciate! Puffins are easy to spot around the coastline as they make Iceland their home from May to mid August. Go whale watching in the south or the north of Iceland. Try to spot foxes or polar reindeer .. . Iceland is also a paradise for bird lovers.

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A journey into the Heart of Iceland’s music festivals

Every year Iceland hosts dozens of music festivals, both in summer and in winter. Below is a concise list of music festivals in Iceland, showing you exactly where to go to discover the gems of International and Icelandic music.

Sónar Reykjavík offers you the best concerts/DJs in electronic music combined with audiovisual productions from Iceland, and from around the globe. For 3 nights, on 5 stages and with over 70 artists and bands, the prestigious Harpa Venue transforms into a massive nightclub where creative expression through dance is a certainty.          

Reykjavík Blues Festival takes place at the end of March. The festival opens with blues concerts in downtown Reykjavík on the first day, which is then followed by blues festivities and concerts at the Hilton Nordica Hotel.

Aldrei fór ég suður (I never went south), was set up in  2004 by Mugison, an Icelandic musician.  The festival takes place in Isafjörður, in the Westfjords,  where Mugison lives, and welcomes the best of Icelandic music. One year Sigur Rós showed up in cowboy hats and performed hillbilly versions of all their old tunes. All concerts are free of charge!

Secret Solstice festival first took place in June 2014. With Massive Attack performing last year, and Wu-Tang Clan this year 2015, the festival immediately became a major popular event. The Secret Solstice is situated in the Laugardalur valley in Reykjavík; it’s been nicknamed Festival of the Midnight Sun, because it takes place over the summer solstice weekend... 72 hours of music,  and the sun that doesn’t set... quite a program!

Við Djúpið also happens around the time of the summer solstice,  in Isafjörður in the Westfjords. This festival is organised in co-operation with the Iceland Academy of Arts. Traditional music and classical music are on the program, and the festival offers lessons and workshops by renowned musicians.

Eistnaflug is a metal music festival running since 2005 at Neskaupstaður and hosts the most popular unsigned metal bands (most of them Icelandic).With more than thirty groups on the agenda, this festival doubles the population of this small town in the Eastfjords.

Siglufjörður (folk music festival) begins on the first Wednesday of July and offers concerts, conferences and workshops to promote traditional Icelandic music and Icelandic instruments. Steindór Andersen and Sigur Rós made a noticeable appearance there in 2009.

The British festival ATP (All Tomorrow’s Parties), were invited in 2013, to the old military base of Ásbrú, close to Keflavík, and return every year for a few days at the beginning of July. Good quality International bands (Belle & Sebastian, Public Enemy, Portishead, Mogwai, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds) performed at ATP,  as well as upcoming local bands. Amazing concerts, cinema, DJs and other activities have made ATP successful for three years in a row.

Iceland Airwaves is without a doubt the most well-known and most popular festival in Iceland. With more than 100 groups and musicians on the program, this festival attracts travellers from all over the world. For five days in November,  downtown Reykjavík vibrates to the sound waves of the festival and music can be heard everywhere!

Joanne, Iceland24h.blogspot.com
November 2015