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