Every year after 31 August, someone puts on the brakes and Icelandic tourism grinds slowly to a halt. Hotels close, youth hostels and camping grounds shut down and buses stop running. Many late-summer travellers are disappointed to find that all the most popular attractions are practically inaccessible by 15 September, and by 30 September it seems the entire country, save Reykjavík, has gone into hibernation. Although it’s safe to predict that the situation will change in coming years, for now it’s a good idea to plan your trip with this in mind.