Your April weather guide
CoolWeather in Reykjavik in April
April suits a Reykjavik trip if you are happy with cold weather and flexible outdoor plans, rather than spring warmth. Average daytime highs are 5.6°C, nights fall to 0°C, and about 17 days have rain. For a UK traveller, the catch is that April still calls for winter-style clothing. Go for the long daylight and accept regular indoor breaks; choose a later month if comfortable temperatures matter more than having plenty of time outside before dark.
Long-term climate averages for Reykjavík, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Reykjavik, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Reykjavík.
- Average daytime high
- 5.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 9°C
- Average night-time low
- 0.0°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -7.9°C
- London averages 13.5°C in April
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.0h
- 27% of 14.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 17
- 104 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 14.2°C
- 2019-04-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- -13.6°C
- 1999-04-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 6 min
- 1918 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How April compares
April is the 7th warmest month of the year in Reykjavik. Against London's average high of 13.5°C in April, Reykjavik is 7.9°C cooler by day and 5.1°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in April
The typical April day in Reykjavik peaks at 5.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 9.3°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 0.0°C; one night in ten drops to -4.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day here reached 14.2°C (2019-04-30) and the coldest night -13.6°C (1999-04-01).
Rain in April
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 17 days with 1 mm or more, 104 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest April was 2017 with 228 mm, the driest 1998 with 43 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:55 and sets about 21:00 local time in mid-April. Average cloud cover is 73%.
Is April a good time to visit Reykjavik?
April is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Reykjavik on our scoring are June, May, July.
Expect cold afternoons and freezing nights
Reykjavik is noticeably colder than London in April, where the average daytime high is 13.5°C. A mild-looking forecast therefore needs a different packing approach: bring a warm coat, insulating layers, gloves and footwear you can comfortably wear in wet conditions. The warmest 10% of days reach 9.3°C or more, so even a relatively pleasant afternoon is not reliably light-jacket weather. At the other end, the coldest 10% of nights fall to -4.8°C or below. Keep your warm layers with you if you will be out into the evening, rather than dressing only for the afternoon forecast. This month suits travellers who do not mind wrapping up whenever they head outdoors.
Long daylight does not mean constant sunshine
April offers about 14.7 hours of daylight, but only around 4 hours of sunshine a day. That gives you a generous window for outdoor plans without promising bright skies throughout. With rain on about 17 days, waterproof outerwear is more useful than an itinerary that depends on staying dry. Leave room to move outdoor time around the forecast and take indoor breaks when conditions are less inviting. The rainfall figures do not mean every wet day is a washout, but dry weather is not something to build the whole trip around. April is a reasonable fit if you value daylight and flexibility more than warmth or reliably sunny afternoons.
A little perspective
Reykjavik through the year
April is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1.2°C | -3.5°C | 1.1 | 131 | 18 | 0% |
| February | 1.3°C | -3.5°C | 2.0 | 131 | 17 | 0% |
| March | 2.5°C | -2.6°C | 2.8 | 118 | 17 | 0% |
| AprilSelected | 5.6°C | 0.0°C | 4.0 | 104 | 17 | 0% |
| Maybest | 9.3°C | 3.3°C | 4.8 | 92 | 16 | 0% |
| Junebest | 12.5°C | 6.8°C | 4.9 | 80 | 14 | 0% |
| Julybest | 14.3°C | 8.7°C | 4.4 | 86 | 15 | 0% |
| August | 13.3°C | 8.2°C | 3.7 | 104 | 16 | 0% |
| September | 10.3°C | 5.8°C | 2.8 | 134 | 18 | 0% |
| October | 6.0°C | 2.0°C | 2.6 | 121 | 15 | 0% |
| November | 2.8°C | -0.9°C | 1.5 | 121 | 16 | 0% |
| December | 1.3°C | -3.2°C | 0.9 | 133 | 18 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in April
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Netherlands · 13°C by day · sea 9°C
Amsterdam
Poland · 14°C by day
Krakow
Slovenia · 14°C by day
Bled
Czechia · 15°C by day
Prague
Bulgaria · 15°C by day · sea 9°C
Sunny Beach
A little more detail
Reykjavik in April FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Reykjavik hot in April?
Reykjavik is cool in April: the average daytime high is 5.6°C and nights average 0.0°C. Days over 25°C are rare in April.
How much does it rain in Reykjavik in April?
Reykjavik sees about 17 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 104 mm of rain in a typical April. The wettest April between 1991 and 2020 was 2017 (228 mm) and the driest was 1998 (43 mm).
How sunny is Reykjavik in April?
Reykjavik gets around 4.0 hours of sunshine a day in April out of 14.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Reykjavik compare with the UK in April?
Reykjavik is on average 7.9°C cooler than London by day in April (5.6°C against 13.5°C).
What is the hottest April on record in Reykjavik?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day in Reykjavik reached 14.2°C on 2019-04-30, and the coldest night dropped to -13.6°C on 1999-04-01.
Is April warm enough for a light jacket?
Not as your only outer layer. Average highs of 5.6°C and nights around 0°C favour a warm coat with layers underneath. Bring waterproof protection too, so you can stay comfortable without relying on a mild, dry forecast.
Would another month be a better choice?
June, May and July are the better overall weather choices. April is cool and wet, so it makes more sense if you are comfortable dressing for cold conditions. Consider those later months if weather is the main factor in your decision.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 3 hours 6 minutes, making Reykjavik a short-haul option. The short journey does not mean similar April weather, though: pack for colder days and freezing nights rather than taking your usual spring layers alone.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Reykjavík. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C