The Northern Lights in Iceland

Only a few sights are as magnanimous and breathtaking as watching the Aurora borealis dancing across the dark winter sky. Witnessing this incredible phenomenon yourself is stunning and memory-worthy. From the variety of northern light tours available, you can choose the tour that best suit you for your own unforgettable experience. You won’t want your friends to come back and tell you about their wonderful experience viewing the northern lights in Iceland. The northern light of Reykjavik is indeed spectacular, and Iceland is the ideal place to experience this phenomenon.

Loki Travel is an Icelandic travel guide offering various tour assistance to people. Embrace every moment, and let us help you discover the best ways to view the northern lights in Iceland.

In this guide, we will be taking an in-depth look at viewing the northern lights in Iceland.

What are the Northern Lights?

Northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, are produced from the interaction between the sun particles and the upper atmosphere. These interactions create a wonderful light effect forming the northern lights. This kind of occurrence can only be found around the earth’s magnetic pole. When the solar particles enter the magnetic fields, they become ionized at a very high temperature producing colors, mostly green, but blue, orange, pink, and red can also be produced.

With fantastic and vibrant hues, one can observe the northern lights dancing across the Iceland arctic sky. It is particularly interesting that when the phenomenon is born or produced in the northern hemisphere, it is called the Northern Light (Aurora Borealis), but when it is produced or born in the Southern hemisphere, it is called the Southern Lights (Aurora Australia).

However, it is important to understand that auroras only appear near the earth’s magnetic pole and are most visible when the latitude is above 60 degrees north and below 60 degrees south. What makes Iceland the perfect place for viewing the northern lights is that it sits at an altitude of approximately 64 degrees north.

When is the Best Time to See the Northern Light?

The best time to view the northern light is when there are longer nights in Iceland. This is always from September through to March – during this time, darkness can extend for approximately 19 hours. However, we should be careful not to plan our trip during a Full Moon as this is capable of drowning out the show. It is advisable to go to Iceland close to one of the equinoxes of the year. 

It is well known that the darker the night, the more spectacular and vibrant the colors of the Aurora. During this time, the magnetic field of the solar wind from the sun, relative to the earth, faces it at an optimal angle, leading to the production of stronger and brighter displays.

How to see Northern Light in Iceland

Now that we are well conversant with the basic concept of northern lights, we will look at the best ways to view the northern light in Iceland.

• You can hunt for the light yourself
• Employ the services of northern light tour guides like Loki Travels.
• Simply rent a car and drive out of town to look for them 
• Do a northern light boat tour in search of them.

We will discuss these ways fully, but let’s look at the best place to see the northern lights in Iceland.

The Best place to see the Northern Light in Iceland

It’s the northern light tour guides’ duty to lead you to the best places to see the northern light. However, know that you have to be somewhere with dark skies – most times away from the city. You will be able to view the northern lights if this requirement is met. You can view the northern lights anywhere in Iceland, but it is easier and more spectacular at some locations than others. When planning where to stay in Iceland for northern light hunting, it is important to choose a location with a low degree of light pollution and cloud cover, as this will prevent the clear vision of the northern lights.

The best places to view the Northern Light in Iceland are: 

• Asbury Canyon
• Thingvellir National Park
• Kirkjufell Mountain. 

Below are some of the best places to see the lights in Iceland.

Northern Lights in Westfjords and North Ice Island

They are one of the best places because they have longer hours of darkness and less cloud cover than other areas. However, it may be more difficult to view the northern light in Akureyri – the second largest city in Iceland – due to the high occurrence of light pollution in the city, which hinder the clear view of the northern lights.

Northern Lights in Vik South Iceland

In South Iceland, the best place to see the northern light is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, which is located beside the Vatnajokull glacier. One can enjoy the view of the light dancing across the sky by just driving to the lagoon.

How to See the Northern Lights in Reykjavik

Northern lights in Reykjavik are also important in our journey to discover the northern lights in Iceland. We need to follow the basic principle of finding the northern light, which is to search for the darkest place possible and carefully watch the sky – this is also applicable here. 

There are many parks in Reykjavik where the effect of light pollution is minimal, and you can maximize your chance of discovering the northern lights there. Let’s take a look at some of the best places to see the Aurora borealis in Reykjavik:

• Oskjihlid Hill: This is one of the best places to view the northern light in Reykjavik. Excellent results are achieved by viewing the sky from the restaurant and the landmark plan that the forest surrounds, which is very dark.
• Seltjarnarnes Peninsula: The effect of light pollution is low here; it is also the northwestern-most point. When the nights are darker and clear, the probability of finding the northern lights is high. The Grotta Lighthouse is one of the best places to watch. While waiting for them to show, you can treat yourself to the geothermal tub, where you can warm up your feet.

Parks in Reykjavik

You can also decide to watch the northern lights from the city park, like Laugardalur park or klambratun.

Why Not Light-Hunt in the City?

Trying to see the Aurora Borealis in the city has some disadvantages, some of which are:

• There is a high risk of light pollution in the city compared to the untouched landscape of Iceland’s nature.
• It is impossible to reposition yourself for a spectacular viewing experience when there is a little cloud covering the best of the Auroras.

However, the northern lights can be easily seen even in the city when the sky is vibrant, but the darker the sky, the more the colors’ intensity.

We will recommend you use the expertise of northern light tour guides like Loki Travels to maximize your chances of discovering the Aurora Borealis in Iceland.

Is it Possible to See the Blue Light from the Blue Lagoon?

It is very possible to see the Aurora Borealis from the Blue Lagoon as this also depends on the solar activity and weather conditions. There is a minimal chance of light pollution in this location compared to Reykjavik because it is not in the city. However, tickets should have been booked beforehand for you to visit the place due to its popularity.

This means there is a low chance of finding the northern light if the weather conditions are bad when you visit. To see the Aurora Borealis from the blue lagoon depends mostly on luck, to say frankly.

Photographing the Northern Lights in Iceland

Here are some tips to help you snap some wonderful pictures of the Aurora Borealis in Iceland, even if you are a bad photographer.

• Ensure to use a DSLR or a full-frame camera with ISO capabilities
• The Lens to use should be wide angle or ultrawide-angle.
• The camera should be kept steady using a tripod stand and a shuttle release
• The aperture should be set at f/2.8 and the ISO at around 1,600.

Here are some of the best Applications you can use to photograph the northern light:

• Northern Light Photo Taker – Apple Only
• NightCap Pro – Apple Only
• Cortex Camera- Apple and Android.

Northern Lights Tours

One of the easiest ways for tourists to view the northern lights in Iceland is by taking a guided mini bus tour. It is particularly used due to its affordability and mobility. These tours run whenever the northern lights are visible, usually from September to April. You will be offered the chance to see the Aurora Borealis for free if your trip is canceled or successful the first time you booked it.

Benefits of Using Northern Lights Tours: Loki Travel Guide as Your Tour Guide

We know you are new to Iceland but don’t worry; you are in safe and competent hands with Loki Travel Guide. Here are some of the benefits of using Loki Travel Guide:

• You will be in the hands of an Aurora Expert
• You need not bother yourself about driving in Iceland’s winter condition
• You will discover new places which you wouldn’t normally know about.
• Unlimited Mobility.

You will learn more about this when you decide to hunt for northern lights in Iceland.

Discovering the Northern Lights by Boat in Iceland 

You can also decide to watch the Aurora Borealis on a boat in Iceland. You will be taken out on the sea far from any light pollution to have a spectacular view of the northern light. Apart from Reykjavik, the northern cruise can also be found in Akureyri. 

In addition to seeing the beautiful sights of the Aurora, you can also enjoy being out on the sea, floating under the canopy of stars while surrounded by beautiful work for nature.

Are Northern Lights Sure in Iceland?

To book your trip to Iceland for the Aurora, make sure the following conditions are met:

• September through April is the only time to visit.
• The night must be at its darkest.
• There must be enough solar activity.
• Minimal cloud cover.

Bottom Line

It is important to use a travel guide to make your vacation to see the northern light an easy one. At Loki Travel, we make your vacation memorable and enjoyable. There are many packages to choose from when you decide to visit Iceland for the northern light.

We hope our ultimate Guide to northern lights in Iceland has armed you with the interest and understanding to try out this spectacular and wonderful experience.