Midnight golf in Iceland: the complete guide
Short answer: from late May to late July, Iceland's summer nights never get dark, and you can play golf through the night. Near Reykjavík the sun sets for a few hours around midsummer, but the light never goes. On Grímsey, on the Arctic Circle, the sun doesn't set at all at midsummer.
When is midnight golf possible?
- Near Reykjavík (Brautarholt, 64°N), it never gets dark from about 19 May to 24 July. From about 15 to 29 June the sun sets after midnight. On 21 June it sets at 00:04 and rises at 02:54.
- In the north (Akureyri, 65.7°N), the nights are brighter still. The Arctic Open, held in Akureyri every June since the 1980s, tees off late into the night.
Is it the midnight sun?
Strictly, the midnight sun means the sun never sets. That happens only near and north of the Arctic Circle, which touches Iceland at the island of Grímsey. Around Reykjavík the sun dips just below the horizon for two to three hours, but never far enough for darkness. For golf it makes no difference: you can see your ball, read your putts and watch the sky glow all night.
Where to play midnight golf near Reykjavík
- Brautarholt (30 min from the city): cliff-top links, No. 16 in the world on Golf World's 2026 X Factor list. Late tee times from 1 June to mid-July, and a Midnight Round package with hotel pickup. See Midnight Golf →
- Many Icelandic clubs allow late play in summer. Locals play mostly after work, so the late evening is often the quietest time on the course.
Tips
- Book late tee times ahead: they're limited.
- Pack layers. Nights are usually 7–12 °C.
- Bring sunglasses for the low sun, and a camera.
Midnight golf elsewhere
Norway's Lofoten Links, above the Arctic Circle, has true midnight sun from mid-May to late July. The difference is access: Lofoten needs a domestic flight and a drive, while Brautarholt is 30 minutes from Reykjavík and about an hour from Keflavík Airport.
More guides: Can You Play Golf in Iceland? · Golf near Reykjavík · Iceland Golf Facts