Short days, long evenings
Iceland in November: Daylight, Weather and What to Expect in the South
November is the month most Iceland guides apologize for. Too dark for the long summer days, too early for reliable snow. It is described as the gap between seasons.
That is half true. November in South Iceland is short, often wet and changeable. It is also the month when the day out matters less, and the place you return to matters more.
The short answer
November is a good month for South Iceland if you plan for short days. Daylight near Selfoss falls from about eight hours on the first of the month to about five by the end. Expect one main stop a day, real weather, the start of northern lights season, and far fewer people at every site.
Early November is the better half. The days are longer and the trip feels closer to autumn.
Daylight in November
These are the sunrise and sunset times for Selfoss, which sits about an hour southeast of Reykjavík.
- 1 November: sunrise 09:06, sunset 17:07. About eight hours of daylight.
- 15 November: sunrise 09:51, sunset 16:24. About six and a half hours.
- 30 November: sunrise 10:37, sunset 15:47. About five hours.
The month loses nearly three hours across its length. Early and late November are not the same trip. In the first ten days, a Golden Circle day is comfortable. By the last week, it is tight.
The light itself is the reward. The sun stays low all day, so the long golden light of a summer evening becomes the ordinary light of a November afternoon.
What the weather is like
November in South Iceland sits between autumn color and settled winter. It can be brown, wet and dark at the same time. Rain is more likely than snow in the lowlands, and wind is the condition that matters most.
Plan to lose half a day to weather. It is not pessimism. It is the most useful planning rule for this month.
The highlands are closed. Mountain roads (F-roads) do not open again until summer, and Þórsmörk is out of reach.
Driving in November
The main roads around Selfoss, Ring Road 1 and the Golden Circle route, are paved and maintained. Ice is common in the mornings, and darkness covers more of the day than daylight.
Three rules make the month easier:
- Check road.is and safetravel.is every morning before driving, and again before the drive back.
- Plan the day around daylight, not the clock. Leave at sunrise, be on your way back before sunset.
- Keep the drive home short. A base near Selfoss puts the Golden Circle and the south coast waterfalls each about an hour away.
If you have never driven on ice in the dark, it is unpleasant. Being honest about that in advance helps.
The northern lights in November
November is inside northern lights season. The nights are long and dark from late afternoon.
Cloud is the real constraint, not solar activity. A clear night with modest activity is better than an active night under cloud. No night is guaranteed.
360 Hotel Boutique & Spa sits on a hilltop with an open horizon in every direction and no light pollution. Wherever the lights appear, they can be seen. Aurora tours drive their guests from Reykjavík to within ten kilometers (six miles) of the hotel. Guests can ask to be woken when the lights appear, so a clear night does not depend on staying up.
What to do in South Iceland in November
With five to eight hours of light, choose one main thing a day and do it well.
Close to the hotel. Urriðafoss, Iceland's most voluminous waterfall, is five minutes away. Miðbær Selfoss, the town's rebuilt historic center, is about fifteen minutes away. The complimentary house car runs guests there and back, subject to availability.
The Golden Circle. Þingvellir (Thingvellir), Geysir and Gullfoss are about an hour away. In early November it fits easily into a day. Walk the rift at Þingvellir. Give Strokkur twenty minutes. See both levels of Gullfoss.
The south coast. Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are about an hour away and fit a short day. Reynisfjara and Vík are up to about two hours each way, which in late November uses almost all the daylight there is. At Reynisfjara, sneaker waves arrive without warning and have killed visitors. Stay well up the beach and never turn your back on the sea.
When the day is short, the hotel is the trip
In late November, the sun is down by four. That leaves around nineteen hours of the day where you sleep. In June, a hotel is a very good bed. In November, it is most of the holiday.
The spa at 360 Hotel Boutique & Spa is included in the room rate. Outdoor pools, a cold plunge, an outdoor sauna cabin and an outdoor infrared cabin, with an adults-only quiet zone with day beds, a gym and a yoga room. Warm water under a black sky is a different thing from warm water in daylight.
There is more indoors too. A private cinema room, a library, board games, a billiard table and Móri's Winter Garden, a glass-walled room looking out over the countryside. Hnaus, the hotel's restaurant, is open to everyone, so there is no need to drive anywhere for dinner.
Choose fewer stops. You will see more of the country, not less.
Plan your stay
November is the month guidebooks apologize for. It does not need an apology, only a different plan: one stop a day, a short drive home, and a long evening at 360 Hotel Boutique & Spa.
Frequently asked questions
Is November a good time to visit Iceland?
Yes, if you plan for short days and changeable weather. November has fewer visitors, northern lights season, and low golden light all day. Near Selfoss, daylight falls from about eight hours at the start of the month to about five at the end, so plan one main stop a day.
How many hours of daylight does Iceland have in November?
Near Selfoss in South Iceland, 1 November has about eight hours of daylight (sunrise 09:06, sunset 17:07). By 30 November it is about five hours (sunrise 10:37, sunset 15:47). Reykjavík is very similar.
Can you see the northern lights in Iceland in November?
Yes. November is within northern lights season, and the nights are long. Clear skies matter more than solar activity, so sightings depend on cloud cover and no night is guaranteed. A dark location away from Reykjavík, such as the countryside near Selfoss, improves the chances.
Is it safe to drive in Iceland in November?
The main paved roads in South Iceland are maintained, but ice, wind and darkness are common. Check road.is and safetravel.is before every drive, keep driving inside daylight hours where possible, and allow a spare day in case of storms. Highland F-roads are closed.
What is the weather like in South Iceland in November?
Changeable. Rain is more common than snow in the lowlands, wind is frequent, and conditions can change within hours. Plan to lose up to half a day to weather, and keep outdoor plans flexible.