See the Northern Lights
The Reykjavik northern lights are one of the most jaw-dropping natural sights you’ll ever see. During the winter, Iceland’s one of the best places on Earth to see the Aurora Borealis. So, try and plan your trip between August and April, when you have the greatest chance of seeing the night sky put on an incredible display of colourful lights and mesmerising patterns.
You have two options, if you’re visiting Iceland specifically to see the northern lights. You can either take an organised tour, or hire a car and plan your own route. Whichever option you choose, you’ll need to be flexible. The northern lights go in cycles and are only visible on very dark, clear nights.
Keep checking the weather
Even with perfect conditions, you’ll need luck on your side to get a good view of the Reykjavik northern lights. Keep checking the weather and bear in mind, the longer you stay in Iceland, the better your chances of seeing them.
If you opt for an organised tour, you’ll be taken out of Reykjavik and into the countryside. You’ll most likely go to Höfn if you’re staying towards the south, Dalvik Akureyri in the north, Seyðisfjörður in the east or Stykkishólmur in the west. These places have next to no light pollution, so you’ll get a better view of the green, pink, white and purple colours of the Aurora Borealis.
The benefit of going with a guide is that you’ll get expert advice on how to photograph them, as well as be mobile enough to move to where there’s the least cloud coverage. If you’re taking a self-drive tour to see the Reykjavik northern lights, remember the roads can be incredibly icy, so you’ll need to be confident driving in extreme weather conditions.
Whichever option you choose, remember to wrap up warm with coats, scarves, hats, and gloves as the temperature drop below freezing at night.
More Things To Do ideas
Find more Things To Do in Reykjavik: Blue Lagoon Iceland | Golden Circle Tour | Hallgrimskirkja Church | Icelandic Horse Riding Tour | Whale Watching
![See the Northern Lights image](/.imaging/default/dam/uk/holidays/destinations/thing-to-do/1-reykjavik.jpg/jcr:content.jpg)
Best hotels in Reykjavik
![Reykjavik Natura - Berjaya Iceland Hotels](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV8yMmI4MDE2NDRmYTY0NDJkOWM2YTJjNGFlNDdkYmQ5NS5qcGc.webp)
Reykjavik Natura - Berjaya Iceland Hotels
Iceland, Reykjavik
2823 reviews
![Center Hotels Plaza](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV81M2QzZmRiNTRhYTY0YTE4YjdhZmUxNGFjZmQ1MGVkZi5qcGc.webp)
Center Hotels Plaza
Iceland, Reykjavik
3968 reviews
![Hilton Reykjavik Nordica](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV84NjU3YzU1MTI3MWM0MDc3OTI3NTI5Y2QxZGM4ODRhOS5qcGc.webp)
Hilton Reykjavik Nordica
Iceland, Reykjavik
4836 reviews
![Grand Hotel Reykjavik](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV8yODllZDQ5N2Y0NWQ0ZjNmODVkMWUwY2VhMjlmZjI1ZS5qcGc.webp)
Grand Hotel Reykjavik
Iceland, Reykjavik
2811 reviews
![Fosshotel Reykjavik](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L0RhdGFPYmplY3RzL1RoaXJkUGFydHlQcm9wZXJ0eS9pbWcvaW1hZ2VzL2ltYWdlX2ZiYmRhZjk5NTI2MjRjMzI5MmVhODRjOWVlMDY4ZWVhLmFzcHhpZD0xMDY1ODAyMyZmdWxsPTE.webp)
Fosshotel Reykjavik
Iceland, Reykjavik
2998 reviews
![Reykjavik Lights by Keahotels](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV8wY2ZmMjJiODIzMDk0ZDM0YjAzNjVlZjQ0Mjk4MjkwNS5qcGc.webp)
Reykjavik Lights by Keahotels
Iceland, Reykjavik
2711 reviews
![Midgardur by Center Hotels](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV8yN2EzM2E3Mjg3ZWY0YTMxYTlmMzFmNjM2Zjg0YTViMy5qcGc.webp)
Midgardur by Center Hotels
Iceland, Reykjavik
3265 reviews
![Laxnes](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV8zMTdkMzMzNWY4ZmM0YzJjYTFiY2E2Y2UwMTc3YjIzNS5qcGc.webp)
Laxnes
Iceland, Reykjavik
1696 reviews
![Hotel Island Spa and Wellness hotel](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L0RhdGFPYmplY3RzL1Byb3BlcnR5UmVmZXJlbmNlL0ltYWdlL2V4dDYvaW1hZ2VfNTExNV8yMTMwMzE1X3YxLmpwZw.webp)
Hotel Island Spa and Wellness hotel
Iceland, Reykjavik
1005 reviews
![Hotel Fron](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L0RhdGFPYmplY3RzL1RoaXJkUGFydHlQcm9wZXJ0eS9pbWcvaW1hZ2VzL2ltYWdlXzM3MWViZWM3NDhkNzQ1YWI5OTc2NjNjZDMwNGUxNjliLmFzcHhpZD0xMDY0MTA3NSZmdWxsPTE.webp)
Hotel Fron
Iceland, Reykjavik
2988 reviews
![Reykjavik Centrum](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV9mYWI0ZTE2ZjVlMDU0ZWIxOTA4NDNlMzlhN2Y3ODllMS5qcGc.webp)
Reykjavik Centrum
Iceland, Reykjavik
2610 reviews
![Cabin Hotel](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L0RhdGFPYmplY3RzL1RoaXJkUGFydHlQcm9wZXJ0eS9pbWcvaW1hZ2VzL2ltYWdlXzlmN2Y4OTU3ZWU0YjRiYzY4MTUyNWU1OWJmYzJiYmRjLmFzcHhpZD0xMDYwNjk1NCZmdWxsPTE.webp)
Cabin Hotel
Iceland, Reykjavik
3005 reviews
![Hotel Klettur](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L0RhdGFPYmplY3RzL1RoaXJkUGFydHlQcm9wZXJ0eS9pbWcvaW1hZ2VzL2ltYWdlXzk0MmNjMDU1ZjFiODQ4MWRhZGYzNDY3NjliZjQ1OGJlLmFzcHhpZD00Njg0MjA5JmZ1bGw9MQ.webp)
Hotel Klettur
Iceland, Reykjavik
2279 reviews
![Fosshotel Baron](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L0RhdGFPYmplY3RzL1RoaXJkUGFydHlQcm9wZXJ0eS9pbWcvaW1hZ2VzL2ltYWdlXzRlYWI5ZGQyMWIxNjQ2Mzg4ZDI3MzNhYTIwYmVlZWZlLmFzcHhpZD04MTc2MjM4JmZ1bGw9MQ.webp)
Fosshotel Baron
Iceland, Reykjavik
2724 reviews
![Hotel Viking](https://www.thomascook.com/gfx/470/335/L2ltYWdlcy9pbWFnZV81ZjViYjdjZGM5ZTE0NTk2OWQ3ZDlkYzZhNDczYjA0MC5qcGc.webp)
Hotel Viking
Iceland, Reykjavik
543 reviews