Best places and times to see the northern lights in Iceland

21.07.2023 - 07:34 / roughguides.com

Witnessing the northern lights is one of the best things to do in Iceland. The viewing conditions are often favourable, and the mountain peaks, mythical basalt stacks, sparkling waterfalls, electric-blue glacial lagoons and wide-open skies make a great backdrop. We've rounded up some of the best places and times to see the northern lights in Iceland to help you experience this spectacular phenomenon.

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Iceland , your essential guide for visiting Iceland.

The northern lights are elusive; you hear about them constantly from what seems like everyone, waxing lyrical about the curtain of bright green and blue wisps prancing gracefully through the sky. Yet the chances of seeing them can be limited, to say the least. You need to be in the right country, in the right season, with the right weather – and this last is completely out of your control.

Iceland northern lights © Shutterstock

Before we get into the best places to see the northern lights in Iceland, first thing first: it's all about timing. The «season» for seeing the aurora borealis runs from September to April. That said, you'll have more chances from October to March. Some years they can be seen as early as August. The aurora activity happens throughout the year, but the long daylight hours of the summer make it incredibly difficult to see.

If you're visiting Iceland in winter, remember to wrap up warm as temperatures can dip to -10°C and you'll likely be waiting for some time outdoors in the cold. In December, the sun rises around 11 am and starts setting not long after 1 pm — bad news for your internal clock, but good news for your chances of seeing the northern lights.

So you're not left in the dark (pun intended), keep an eye on the Aurora Forecast so you know how likely it is that activity will occur on any given night.

First of all, you need to be somewhere with dark, clear skies – away from the city. That aside, there are some places in Iceland which will give you the optimum chance of seeing the northern lights while offering a particularly magical experience.

It's also worth noting that the further north you go, the better your chances will be, as the natural phenomenon is triggered by the North Pole. Take a look at the best places to stay in Iceland: an expert's guide.

If you only have a few days in Iceland and plan to stay in its capital Reykjavik fear not: there are plenty of places near witness the northern lights.

Iceland is a sparsely populated country, so you don't have to go far to get away from light pollution. Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park is historically significant in the country.

It was the site of Iceland’s Parliament between the 10th and 18th centuries