Top Reasons to Visit Iceland in the Spring

Popular places are less crowded before summer
Travelers to Iceland in the spring have the advantage of taking in the sights before the swarms of tourists arrive for the high season of summer. Iceland's nature parks, scenic villages, and vibrant capital of Reykjavík are typically less crowded in the spring, but the warm temperatures still make it comfortable to explore outdoors.

Birds are on the move 
Iceland is full of spectacular natural sights, not the least of which are the stunning bird migrations. Visitors can see the migrations begin in the springtime, including that of the famous puffins. As Guide to Iceland explains, Atlantic puffins live the majority of their lives on the ocean, but they fly to Iceland to build nests and breed. In fact, about 60 percent of the world's Atlantic puffin population lives in Iceland during the spring. Iceland is also home to Europe's largest migratory-bird sanctuary, located at lake Mývatn—a sight that's most awe-inspiring in the spring months.

Flowers begin blooming
Iceland's dramatic and stark landscape of ice, snow, and waterfalls softens in the spring, when bright colors begin to dot the scenery. As the temperatures become milder, flowers begin blooming across Iceland. The native wildflowers are especially beautiful, from Arctic poppies to mountain avens, the national flower of Iceland.

Outdoor areas become more accessible
Nature lovers will delight in Iceland in the spring, when the snow begins to melt and many of the country's hiking trails, nature paths, hot springs, and scenic viewpoints become more accessible. Iceland's small size makes it easy to explore by foot. In one day, you could explore majestic glaciers, wander along the black sand coast, and gaze at towering fjords. One can't-miss destination is Vatnajökull National Park, where purple flowers bloom around one of the largest glaciers in the world.

Reykjavík comes to life
The arrival of spring breathes fresh energy into Reykjavík, signaling the perfect time to take advantage of all that this exciting capital city and cultural center has to offer. Urbanites flock to parks to soak in the longer hours of daylight and enjoy coffee and snudur (frosted pastries) alfresco at sidewalk cafes. Be on the lookout for the many fun festivals that take place in Reykjavík throughout April, including the Reykjavík Blues Festival and the Garðabær Jazz Festival.