May in Reykjavik averages highs of 9 °C (48 °F) and lows of 4 °C (38 °F), with about 15 rainy days and 18 h 20 min of daylight.
May weather in Reykjavik at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is May a good time to visit Reykjavik?
Tough month: cold and wet. May is usually shoulder season in Reykjavik: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in May 2026
- Fri 1 May: May Day (Verkalýðsdagurinn) public holiday
- Thu 14 May: Ascension Day (Uppstigningardagur) public holiday
- Sun 24 May: Pentecost (Hvítasunnudagur) public holiday
- Mon 25 May: Whit Monday (Annar í hvítasunnu) public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in Reykjavik in May
With frequent rain in May, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- Hallgrímskirkja — tower view indoors
- Harpa concert hall indoors
- Golden Circle — Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss outdoors
- Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon — geothermal pools outdoors
- Whale watching — from the old harbour outdoors
- Northern lights tour — dark months, clear nights only outdoors
Where to stay: Downtown (101) near Laugavegur for everything on foot.
What to pack for Reykjavik in May
- A warm jacket and layers; evenings drop to around 4 °C (38 °F).
- An umbrella or a light waterproof: about 15 days this month see real rain.
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in Reykjavik costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | €90–190 | €230–450 |
Excluding flights. May is usually shoulder season in Reykjavik: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
May in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edinburgh | 14° / 7° | 9 | Mixed weather |
| Dublin | 15° / 8° | 9 | Mixed weather |
| London | 17° / 8° | 8 | Mixed weather |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is May a good time to visit Reykjavik?
By the numbers, May is a tough month: cold and wet, with average highs of 9 °C (48 °F) and about 15 rainy days. May is usually shoulder season in Reykjavik: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are June, July, August (the mildest; no month is easy here).
How warm is Reykjavik in May?
Average highs are 9 °C (48 °F) and lows 4 °C (38 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in Reykjavik in May?
Expect about 15 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 122 mm in total. It is the 6th wettest month of the year in Reykjavik.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.