Average Monthly Sunshine in Reykjavík

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Reykjavík receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Sunshine in Reykjavík varies greatly throughout the year. The sunniest month, May, reaches an impressive 201 hours, while January, the darkest month, offers only 20 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 1330 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

This means the city can be enjoyed more throughout the sunniest month of May under a blue sky, with approximately 6.7 hours of sunshine daily. In contrast, the city experiences much darker days in January, with only 0.7 hours of sunlight per day.

Reykjavík’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Reykjavík enjoys an average of 1330 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

Athens, Greece, enjoys 2769 hours of sunshine each year, making it one of the sunniest destinations in the Mediterranean region.

In contrast, London, UK, receives only about 1659 hours of sunshine per year, known for its frequently overcast and rainy skies.

In Chicago, USA, the annual sunshine averages 2520 hours, contributing to its humid continental climate.

In Tokyo, Japan, the average annual sunshine is 1930 hours, with sunny periods between rainy seasons.

Other climate information

February, Reykjavík’s wettest month, receives 92 mm of snow/rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 3°C. During the driest month June you can expect a temperature of 14°C.

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Reykjavík Precipitation page.