Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic Cruise in October (2027)

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in October: Shoulder season

A handful of late Northern Europe voyages and UK northern lights cruises may still call at Reykjavík or Akureyri, but North Atlantic gales are frequent. Daylight in Iceland falls to around 10 hours by mid-month, and polar night begins in Svalbard late in the month.

Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, October brings average highs around 39°F (4°C) and lows near 33°F, with about 4.2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight.

Verdict: Shoulder season
Season: Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August
Average high / low: 39°F / 33°F
Rainfall (month): 4.2 in
Daylight: About 9 hours
Typical cruise length: 7–10 nights around Iceland; 12–16 nights from Europe; 10–14-night Arctic expeditions

What to pack: proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear. It's one of the wetter months, so bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket.

How October compares with the rest of the year

No regular sailings
Shoulder season
Good time to go
Best time to go

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in September Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in November

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic weather in October

Average monthly weather in Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High °F (°C)	28-2	28-2	29-1	352	415	499	5312	5211	478	394	341	30-1
Low °F (°C)	21-6	20-7	21-6	27-3	341	415	468	457	405	331	28-2	24-5
Rain in (mm)	3.998	3.794	3.588	2.973	3.076	3.281	3.385	3.794	4.5113	4.2107	3.896	4.1105
Daylight (hrs)	4	7	11	16	20	23	21	18	13	9	5	3

Average daily highs and lows and monthly rainfall for 2015–2024 from NASA POWER for the area around Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, adjusted to sea level; daylight is calculated for mid-month. Real weather on any given day varies.

October weather port by port

Port	Avg high	Avg low	Rain	Daylight
Reykjavík	44°F	38°F	5.9 in	10 h
Akureyri	40°F	31°F	5.3 in	9 h
Ísafjörður	41°F	36°F	5.4 in	9 h
Seyðisfjörður	42°F	37°F	5.0 in	9 h
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands	49°F	46°F	4.8 in	10 h
Ilulissat	30°F	24°F	1.8 in	9 h
Nuuk	35°F	30°F	3.1 in	10 h
Longyearbyen, Svalbard	29°F	24°F	2.4 in	6 h
Tromsø	40°F	33°F	4.3 in	9 h

Average daily highs and lows, 2015–2024, from NASA POWER, adjusted to sea level. Rain is the average monthly total.

Other great cruise destinations in October

See every destination for October, with a port weather map →

Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic in October: FAQs

Is October a good time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?

It can be, as a shoulder-season month. A handful of late Northern Europe voyages and UK northern lights cruises may still call at Reykjavík or Akureyri, but North Atlantic gales are frequent. Daylight in Iceland falls to around 10 hours by mid-month, and polar night begins in Svalbard late in the month.

What is the weather like on a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in October?

Across Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise ports, October brings average highs around 39°F (4°C) and lows near 33°F, with about 4.2 inches of rain over the month and roughly 9 hours of daylight. Conditions vary from port to port and day to day.

What should I pack for a Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic cruise in October?

Pack proper cold-weather layers: thermal base layers, a warm insulated waterproof jacket, hat, gloves and waterproof footwear. It's one of the wetter months, so bring a compact umbrella or rain jacket. Check your cruise line's dress code for evenings.

When is the best time to cruise Iceland, Greenland & the Arctic?

Late May to September; Greenland and Svalbard mainly June to August. The best months are usually June, July, August.

Where else can I cruise in October?

October is also a top month for Canada & New England, Pacific Coastal, Canary Islands & Atlantic Isles, Japan, Transatlantic.