How to Train Your Dragon 2 takes place five years after the first film.
The time jump is stated in the sequel’s setup and explains why Hiccup and the other young Vikings are older, more experienced, and comfortable flying with their dragons. During those five years, Berk changes from a settlement that fears dragons into a community where humans and dragons live together.
Hiccup has also spent the intervening period mapping the surrounding lands with Toothless. This exploration leads him to a series of discoveries, including an abandoned ice fort and the dragon rescuer Valka. The sequel therefore uses the five-year gap to expand both the world and the characters’ responsibilities.
The dates can be confusing because the films were released four years apart: the first film arrived in 2010, while the sequel arrived in 2014. The story’s fictional timeline advances five years, so the release gap and the narrative gap are not identical.