Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is a totally special experience you can’t miss. This is why I’m sharing the best places and ways to maximise your chances of spotting them after arriving in Iceland.
If you’re anything like me, and I’m sure you are, you want to make the most out of your trip to Iceland when you visit. From finding all the best places to see, incredible hikes, beautiful waterfalls, and, of course, experiencing the best spots in Reykjavik. You’ll be spoilt for choice of things to do and see when you visit Iceland.
So, where exactly do you see the Northern Lights in Iceland? Well, the easy answer would be to say ‘anywhere’. In theory, this is true, but there is a vast range of factors that you need to consider when you are spotting the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Seeing the Northern Lights In Iceland from Reykjavik
One of the key things to remember about the Northern Lights in Iceland is that they can be present and dancing away, but you might not see them due to clouds or even light pollution in cities like Reykjavik. This isn’t always the case; you can be lucky and spot the Northern Lights while visiting Reykjavik, but it’s certainly a little more challenging.
Northern Lights Tours
So, to help you maximise your chances, it’s best to drive yourself or book this Northern Lights tour from Reykjavik. The benefit of booking this tour is that you don’t have to stress about driving or finding safe parking places. The downside is that the tours run even on cloudy days, which makes it very hard to spot the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Seeing the Northern Lights from Reykjavik
The benefit of driving to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is that you’ll get to control where and when to actually go out Northern Light hunting. This means you can adapt your plans to fit around clear skies rather than staying with a rigid tour time. If you can, we’d say drive; it’s always the better option. If not, this Northern Lights tour is great. Plus, they give you a lifetime guarantee to join another tour for free if you don’t see them.
Best of all, when driving, you only need to drive around 20 minutes from the centre of Reykjavik, and you’ll be in complete darkness. It’s the most cost-effective way to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, and spotting them is completely on your own terms.
We recommend heading anywhere on the road towards Leirvogsvatn (below), which we’ve added below. The road is a little quieter than Route One to Selfoss, so there’s less light pollution. That’s just a personal preference.
Just make sure to park up safely and off the main road. Always ensure you’re parked in a layby or small parking areas they have along the road itself. Oh, and take a hot tea of coffee with you – it’s really nice as you can just sit in the car, in the warmth, until the Northern Lights appear.
Seeing the Northern Lights from Keflavik Airport
If you’re closer to Keflavik Airport, drive for about 10-15 minutes to nearby Gunnuhver Hot Springs (below). The great thing about moving to see the Northern Lights in Gunnuhver, Iceland, is that there’s parking available, which makes it so easy to stop.
Plus, facing south gives you an uninterrupted view and minimal light pollution.
Seeing the Northern Lights from Selfoss
Travelling near Selfoss? Then, head to the coast by routes 33 and 34 near Eyrarbakki (below). It’s so close, and you can quickly drive further down the roads to find the perfect place to spot the Northern Lights in the sky.
Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland from other parts of the country
You can see the Northern Lights in Iceland from anywhere that’s dark and with a clear night. So, if you’re travelling further east to places like Vik or north to areas around Akureyri, just make sure to find safe parking spots in your local area.
How to spot the Northern Lights in Iceland
One of the best tools for the Northern Lights forecast is here.
It’s the Icelandic Met Office, which details when and where you will see the Northern Lights in Iceland. We use this tool significantly when travelling in Iceland. They also note all the cloud cover you might encounter. It’s all so helpful.
Just be sure to note the number from zero to nine. The higher the number, the more intense the Northern Lights in Iceland. Don’t just think you need a high number—we’ve seen some of the most spectacular displays in Iceland while the forecast was only three (which is ‘active’).
Oh, and for the Iceland weather forecast, you can see their maps here.
Remember, you’re looking to see that the Aurora Forecast number is higher than zero and that there’s no cloud cover in your area.
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