Things to Do in Reykjavik in July

July's 19 hours of functional daylight turns glacier hiking into an otherworldly experience, crampons bite into electric-blue ice while the sun hovers at 11 PM, casting long shadows across crevasses that glow turquoise. The meltwater rivers are at their most dramatic, carving new channels every day, and the crampons grip well in the softer summer ice. This is the only month when you can summit the glacier at 10 PM without headlamps.

July's mild 54°F (12°C) average temperature makes cycling the 15 km (9.3 mile) coastal path from Reykjavik to Grótta lighthouse the perfect half-day escape. The sea smells of kelp and diesel from fishing boats, and you're likely to spot seals sunbathing on rocks just offshore. The bike path is brand-new asphalt, wind typically dies down by evening, and you can stop at Seltjarnarnes public pool for a geothermal soak mid-ride.

July water temperatures hit their yearly peak at 39°F (4°C), still cold. But manageable in the provided dry suits. The midnight sun filters through the rift creating cathedral-like shafts of green light in 100 meter (328 foot) visibility. This is when the algae bloom briefly turns parts of the fissure emerald, and the 45-minute float between continental plates feels almost warm compared to winter visits. Summer also means no ice cover blocking the ladder entry.

July's produce explosion, wild crowberries, fresh arctic char, first lamb of the season, makes this the month when Reykjavik's restaurant scene is most alive. The walk covers six stops from 1970s-era Bæjarins Beztu pylsur (lamb hot dogs with crispy onions) to Dill's new Nordic tasting menu featuring moss and sorrel foraged that morning. Evening tours run until 10 PM under natural light, and you'll taste hákarl (fermented shark) that's palatable when paired with Brennivín schnapps.

July is peak puffin season, 800,000 pairs nesting on Heimaey island, 45 minutes by ferry from Reykjavik. The volcanic landscape from 1973's eruption is carpeted in purple lupines, and the Eldheimar museum's excavation of buried houses is most haunting in the summer light. Boat tours circle the island's sea caves where killer whales feed on puffin chicks, and the local swimming pool has geothermal sea water at perfect swimming temperature.