Iceland is the land of the midnight sun. In Reykjavík it will not get dark at night from May 21 until July 30, as the sun barely sets in summer.
Around the summer solstice (June 21st), the sun is visible for the full 24 hours in the Westfjords and North Iceland. In the southern part of the country, and the capital of Reykjavík the sun actually does set below the horizon on summer solstice, but only for a couple of hours. The sky does not go dark, allowing you to read a book outside in the middle of the night. On June 21 the sun rises at 2:55 AM, and sets at 4 minutes past midnight on June 22.
The midnight sun therefore stays visible in the sky for more than 21 hours in Reykjavík in the middle of summer.
During the winter solstice (December 21), on the other hand, the days are dramatically shorter. The sun will rise at 11:21 and then set at 15:30, giving Reykjavík barely 4 hours of daylight, while the Westfjords mere get 2 hours and 45 minutes.
On June 21st the sun is visible for the full 24 hours in the Westfjords.
Iceland is the land of the midnight sun. In Reykjavík it will not get dark at night from May 21 until July 30, as the sun barely sets in summer.
Around the summer solstice (June 21st), the sun is visible for the full 24 hours in the Westfjords and North Iceland. In the southern part of the country, and the capital of Reykjavík the sun actually does set below the horizon on summer solstice, but only for a couple of hours. The sky does not go dark, allowing you to read a book outside in the middle of the night. On June 21 the sun rises at 2:55 AM, and sets at 4 minutes past midnight on June 22.
The midnight sun therefore stays visible in the sky for more than 21 hours in Reykjavík in the middle of summer.
During the winter solstice (December 21), on the other hand, the days are dramatically shorter. The sun will rise at 11:21 and then set at 15:30, giving Reykjavík barely 4 hours of daylight, while the Westfjords mere get 2 hours and 45 minutes.
