Iceland Northern Lights Guide: Where and When to See the Aurora Borealis
There’s absolutely nothing like standing under a dark Icelandic sky and watching the aurora borealis ripple above you like a living watercolour painting.
We’ve been lucky enough to travel across Iceland more than once looking for the northern lights – and we still get a thrill every time that first green flicker appears. We hope this Iceland northern lights guide will make spotting this incredible natural phenomenon possible for you too.
My favourite northern lights experience is still my first. We were on an organised trip and had been driven about an hour out of Reykjavik to a pretty countryside spot. The stars were incredible.
We were one of about 10 coachloads of tourists all stood waiting in the freezing cold with cameras at the ready. It wasn’t exactly how I’d imagined the moment, but conditions were perfect and I was hopeful for a glimpse.
But after about an hour, with numb hands and a sore neck, we were called back to the coach. The lights were a no show. All the other coaches left as we waited impatiently for some slow hopefuls to get back onboard. Suddenly a shout from the front, and the whole coach was on their feet and running for the door.
The lights had appeared just as everyone else had left. The sky lit up and we were treated to what felt like a private show of the most incredible green, smoky patterns lighting the sky. What struck me was the way they moved, so much faster than I’d expected and so silent. It was otherworldly and something that’s hard to explain.
This Iceland northern lights guide is for anyone who dreams of witnessing this spectacular natural wonder. Whether you’re planning your very first trip or you’re coming back for another show, we’ll walk through the best times to go, where to look, what to expect, and how to stack the odds in your favour.
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Table of Contents for the Iceland Northern Lights Guide
- When to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
- Best Place to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
- Can You See the Northern Lights from Reykjavík?
- Aurora Forecasting: Know Before You Go
- Tips for a Successful Northern Lights Hunt
- Should You Book a Northern Lights Tour?
- I Saw the Northern Lights in England, Should I Bother Going to Iceland?
When to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
Let’s start with timing. Iceland’s location near the Arctic Circle makes it one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis – but only if you’re there during the right season.
Northern Lights Season
- Late September to early April is prime aurora time.
- The absolute peak months are October through March, when nights are longest and skies are darkest.
- You won’t see the lights in summer (May to early August) because the midnight sun keeps the skies too bright.
What Time of Night?
- The magic usually happens between 9 pm and 2 am. But, we have seen the sky come alive as early as 7 pm or as late as 3 am.
- Some of our best sightings have happened when we stayed out just a little longer than it seemed worthwhile to.
Best Place to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
You don’t need to go far off the beaten path – but the further you are from artificial light, the better.
Top Spots We’ve Visited (and Recommend):
- Thingvellir National Park (aka Þingvellir National Park)
Just 49km from Reykjavík, this UNESCO site has wide open skies with minimal light pollution. The landscape of rift valleys and lava rock makes the whole experience feel otherworldly. - Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Watching the aurora reflect off floating icebergs is unreal! It’s about a 377km drive from Reykjavík, but entirely worth it. Bonus: You’re near Diamond Beach, another photogenic spot. - Snæfellsnes Peninsula (pronounced “SNYE-fells-ness”)
This area gets fewer tourists than the south coast, but delivers big aurora rewards. You get ocean views, mountain backdrops, and long stretches of road with nobody else around. - Vík and the South Coast
If you’re already heading this way for waterfalls and black sand beaches, stay overnight. We’ve caught some stunning light shows right from the parking lot near Reynisfjara. - Akureyri and the North
In our experience, the north gets clearer skies than the south in winter. The area around Lake Mývatn is especially good – plus, it has geothermal hot springs where you can soak while you watch the sky.
Can You See the Northern Lights from Reykjavík?
You can, but it tends to be hit or miss.
The best place to head to see the northern lights in Reykjavík is the harbour, where there is the least light pollution. We got lucky to see them brightly over the bay, with bands of green and pink appearing quite brightly in the sky.
But for the best views, drive out a little bit. I can’t begin to describe the difference between the lights in Reykjavík and the ones we saw earlier that night, just a little further out of the city.
If you’re staying in Reykjavík and want to travel Iceland without a car, guided tours will take you to the lights just outside the city. Some even offer free rebooking if you don’t get lucky on your first try.
✅ This is one of the best northern lights tours from Reykjavik. You can reschedule for free if they don’t appear, and the hot chocolate to keep you warm while you wait is a lovely touch!
Aurora Forecasting: Know Before You Go
Catching the northern lights isn’t about pointing your camera at the sky – it’s all about patience, weather, and a little luck. But a few tools help tip the scales:
What We Use:
- Vedur.is Aurora Forecast: This is Iceland’s official meteorological site. Check for a Kp index of 3 or higher and cloud cover maps (green = cloudy, white = clear skies).
- Aurora Forecast Apps: Apps like My Aurora Forecast or Hello Aurora send alerts when activity picks up near you.
And honestly? Sometimes we’ll just poke a head outside every 15 minutes and hope for the best. We’ve stumbled into unexpected shows this way more than once. We’ve heard the same from fellow travellers!
If you’re staying in one of Iceland’s glass igloos, you won’t even have to venture out in the cold!
Tips for a Successful Northern Lights Hunt
These are our top tips for maximising your chances of seeing the northern lights, and actually enjoying them when you do!
1. Stay for at least 5-7 days
Give yourself a buffer in case of bad weather. You may not see the aurora every night, but your chances improve with time.
On my first trip to Iceland I only had three nights, and the first two nights brought terrible conditions. I got so lucky they decided to show on the third night, but I would have been pretty sad to go home without spotting them.
2. Be flexible
Don’t overschedule your evenings. Keep your plans open so you can dart off when conditions look good.
3. Dress like you’re going to the Arctic (because you nearly are)
- Wear multiple warm layers.
- Bring a windproof outer shell and insulated boots.
- Hats, gloves, and thermal socks are not optional.
We’ve put together a handy Iceland packing list with everything we bring for those winter conditions.
4. Pack a tripod (and know your camera settings)
For photos, you’ll need:
- Manual mode
- A wide aperture (f/2.8 or lower)
- ISO between 800–3200
- Shutter speed between 5 and 30 seconds
That being said, phone cameras are so much better these days. If you don’t have a more powerful camera then try night mode on your phone camera (even better with a tripod) and see if you have any luck.
Or just enjoy the show with your own eyes. Sometimes the best experiences are just savoured in the moment! I have definitely been guilty of trying too hard to get a great shot and missing out on the experience as a whole. Try not to make that mistake the first time you see them.
Should You Book a Northern Lights Tour?
If it’s your first visit – or you don’t want to drive in winter conditions – a tour can be a smart choice. Some things to keep in mind:
- Tours go only when conditions are promising, so you won’t be taken out in a blizzard.
- Many companies offer a free second trip if you don’t see the lights the first time.
- Some tours include hot chocolate, blankets, and expert guides who are borderline aurora-obsessed (in the best way). I learnt so much about the lights on that first ever northern lights hunting tour – I’d actually really recommend booking a tour just for this very geeky reason.
✅ This is one of the best northern lights tours from Reykjavik. You can reschedule for free if the lights don’t appear, and they also serve up a little hot chocolate treat to keep you warm while you wait!
I Saw the Northern Lights in England, Should I Bother Going to Iceland?
1000% yes (and I hate it when people don’t just use the correct 100%, but I don’t know how else to get across just how strong of a yes this is!)
I saw the stunning northern lights display in the UK too. In fact, I’ve seen them light up the skies of the UK several times now. There’s just no comparison to what I’ve seen in Iceland.
Because of its northern latitudes, the lights are just so much stronger in Iceland, and therefore so much prettier and clearer. It’s hard to explain how different they were, but I promise you haven’t really seen the northern lights unless you’ve been much further north.
Conclusion: Iceland Northern Lights Guide
Iceland keeps pulling us back – and honestly, a big part of that is the chase for the northern lights. No two shows are ever the same.
Sometimes it’s a faint green haze drifting across the stars. Other times, it’s a full-sky light storm in purple, pink, and electric green.
If you’re hoping to see the aurora, this Iceland northern lights guide is your best friend. Plan smart, pack well, stay up late, and keep your eyes on the sky. When the lights appear, you’ll know why people fall in love with this place over and over again.
