Often referred to as the ‘land of fire and ice’, Iceland is a country steeped in mythology rooted in her dramatic landscape. Home to otherworldly waterfalls framed by double-rainbows, thermal pools which bubble from deep under the earth, ice palaces and active volcanoes, there is nowhere else like it on Earth. But of all Iceland’s natural phenomena, the Northern Lights is perhaps what draws most travellers to the country. Although visible in other high-latitude locations, Iceland provides the best basecamp for spotting this cosmic light show. Join us as we run through our tips for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland. And while you are here, please have a browse of our Iceland Northern Lights Tours, designed by experts to give you the most unforgettable time in this magical land. Alternatively, our Private Day and Multi-Day Tours offer a host of experiences across the island.
See the Northern Lights in the Wintertime
Since it’s bright nearly 24/7 during the summer, any trip dedicated to seeing the Northern Lights needs to be planned for the winter. Many guidelines list the ideal timeframe as running from September to April, although there is a pervading myth that colder temperatures improve visibility of the lights, it is the darkness that is key. During winter in Iceland, it is common to have as little as 5 hours of daylight, and this is what makes it so good for spotting the Northern Lights.
Get Out of the City
As you need darkness to see the Northern Lights, it’s important to escape the city boundaries. Although Reykjavik is a wonderful city and an excellent place to base yourself for parts of your stay, the light pollution of the city will interfere with catching sight of the aurora. However, that is not to say that it is impossible to see the Northern Lights from the city. If you are unable to get to more remote areas, the Grótta lighthouse is only a short distance from downtown Reykjavik and it is relatively free of the city’s light pollution. Time-restricted travellers who are not spending nights away from the capital can also take guided Northern Lights tours; these normally last 3 to 6 hours and take you to good locations for seeing the lights outside of the city.
Consider Renting a Car
Renting a car can offer you more freedom with your own schedule, but it’s actually quite challenging to hunt the Northern Lights on your own. Following the forecast throughout the day is a skill that local tour guides hone over the years. It allows them to choose the most likely location on any given day for successfully finding the Lights. Many hotels will offer wake-up calls if the lights are seen during the middle of the night; having a car in such cases means you have the opportunity to find a secluded place to really enjoy the spectacle. Of course, that also means you’ll be suddenly waking up and trying to navigate in the middle of the night! We recommend you relax on your vacation and allow an expert local tour guide to safely take you around. The driving conditions in Iceland can be very hazardous and there’s no need to stress yourself while you’re on holiday.
Be Conscious of Changeable Weather
As mentioned above, finding clear, black skies will be tantamount to getting beautiful views of the Northern Lights. This is called a Northern Lights “hunt” for good reason! If you are booking your trip a long time in advance, you can consider researching solar cycles, as some seasons are less likely to offer up clear sights of the lights than others. However, the local forecasts will be your best friend for reaching areas free of cloud cover. The weather in Iceland can be changeable, but it does mean that poor weather on one night of your journey does not necessarily mean you won’t have clear skies the following day. That’s why taking a Northern Lights tour with a local expert gives you the best chance of seeing them.
Capture Photos With a Long Exposure
Certainly, some visitors will eschew photo sessions to simply revel in the beauty of the phenomenon taking place above them. But given the remoteness of Iceland and the Northern Lights’ potential to allude those looking for it, we suggest bringing a good quality camera for documenting your trip. To the human eye, some of the colour can be lost from the solar winds, but taking photos with a long exposure of between 5 and 25 seconds will bring out those famous, luminous greens.
We hope this short guide has left you inspired to travel to this wondrous country in search of a spectacle unlike any other. If you have any comments or questions for us, we would love to hear from you, contact us here.