What is the Midnight Sun and why does Iceland experience it? This natural phenomenon occurs at high latitudes during the summer months. Because the earth tilts on its axis, its surface faces the sun continuously in areas north of the Arctic Circle. In Iceland, the mainland sits just south of the Arctic Circle, but even so, in midsummer it never gets fully dark. Instead, the country experiences a twilight where the sun is below the horizon but the sky is never inky black. These long summer days are advantageous for summer visitors to Urriðafoss and along the South Iceland coast. Here’s how.
When’s the best time to catch Urriðafoss under the Midnight Sun?
If you are keen to see south coast waterfalls such as Urriðafoss in these conditions, then you’ll need to be in Iceland in summer. From around May 21st to July 23rd South Iceland experiences either daylight or civil twilight throughout each 24 hour period. Civil twilight is the term given for when the amount of light is sufficient for people to do daytime activities outside and be able to see without needing artificial light.
How does the Midnight Sun impact your road trip?
One of the big advantages of traveling to Iceland during the Midnight Sun season is that the amount of light makes early morning and late evening sightseeing possible. Compared to the middle of winter when you might have as little as five hours’ daylight to play with, fitting in sightseeing and activities when you literally have all the time you want can be a blessing, especially if you’re only able to be in Iceland for a relatively short period.
For instance, say you were planning a road trip from Reykjavik and were keen to reach the glacier lagoons of south east Iceland. Driving non-stop would require at least five hours, perhaps even more. Now add on the return journey to the capital and you’ll see that in winter you’ll be doing most of that driving when it’s dark. If you wanted to make some stops on the way to see South Iceland’s famous waterfalls, beaches and glaciers you’re out of luck – or rather, out of light.
How to make the most of the Midnight Sun when planning your summer road trip along Iceland’s south coast?
Whether you complete the whole out and back trip to the glacier lagoons in a single day or factor in an overnight stop depends on a number of factors, namely:
Whether you’re planning to take a tour and let someone else drive you
How many people are able to share time behind the wheel if you’re planning to rent a car
How many stops (planned or spontaneous) you’re likely to want to make along the way – most likely more than you thought
Whether you like to duck in and out of places for a quick photo stop or hang around for longer to fully appreciate them
Whatever your travel style, it pays to incorporate stops at regular intervals so that every hour or two you take a break and stretch your legs. Given that Urriðafoss is about an hour and a half’s drive from the Icelandic capital, it makes a logical first stop as you head east. Because it’s located very close to the ring road, you can pull off and take a short break in scenic surroundings without the need for a massive, time-consuming detour.
The same holds true if you’re only planning on driving as far as, say, Vik. In a day, even in summer, there’s plenty to see and do in this two and a half hour long ride from Reykjavik: for starters, waterfalls such as Urriðafoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, glaciers like Sólheimajökull and Mýrdalsjökull and beaches such as Reynisfjara and Víkurfjara.
Factors to consider when working out timings for your South Iceland road trip
Remember, unlike your waterfall visits, if you plan to do any activities on or under one of Iceland’s glaciers you’ll need to be accompanied by a qualified guide for safety reasons. This means you’ll need to have pre-booked a tour, so plan the rest of your stops accordingly and allow plenty of time to get to your tour provider on time. Boat trips at the glacier lagoons will also need to be reserved up front in peak season.
Figure out roughly how long you might want to spend at each stop and add some extra time for if you see something unexpected that captures your attention – birds such as puffins, for instance, or even seals. Factor in any unexpected traffic congestion or even weather-related delays (snow isn’t unheard of during June in Iceland and heavy rainstorms can blow in and out throughout the summer months).
However things work out, you’ll be glad you explored South Iceland not only for its headline attractions but also hidden gems like Urriðafoss.
