
Look out to see the basalt columns of Reynisdrangar and the rock arch of Dyrhólaey.Ĭome evening, admire the jagged black rocks jutting out from the ocean as the northern lights dance above you.įrom Vík, you could continue along the Ring Road to reach Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. Walk along the black sands of Reynisfjara, one of the most dramatic beaches in Iceland. In fact, the authentic fishing village of Vík is one of the top places to visit on a tour of South Iceland. And it's only a few hours' drive south from Reykjavík via the Ring Road. Vík, with its black sand beaches and basalt columns, provides northern light hunters with a stunning backdrop. Here are the best places to see the aurora in Iceland. That’s why travelling out from the city to more remote regions, where there’s little light pollution, is a good idea. But for the best chances, you should move away from sources of light pollution (streetlighting).Īrtificial light makes it harder to see the colours of the northern lights clearly in the sky above you. You can spot the aurora borealis from any location in Iceland, even the capital city of Reykjavík. Where is the best place to see the northern lights in Iceland? Related: Top northern lights hotels in Iceland Some hotels also offer a special "wake up service" and will let you know if the northern lights appear in the middle of the night. You can spend the night stargazing, on the lookout for this otherworldly display. Northern lights often appear during the darkest part of the night, so most sightings happen between 11 PM and 2 AM. Best time of day to see the aurora borealis Some regions get as many as 19 hours of darkness on the shortest day of the year, which provides plenty of opportunities for spotting the aurora borealis.Īs Iceland has long hours of daylight during the summer, including the phenomenon known as the midnight sun, it’s much harder to see auroras during this time of year.Ĭheck out these Iceland winter tours to hunt for the aurora and enjoy activities like ice cavingĢ. Winter is the ideal time to visit Iceland to see the northern lights thanks to the longer nights of the season. Your chances are just better during this time, which is why our tours run across these months. However, that’s not to say you won’t or can’t see the northern lights at other times of year too. You have a greater chance of seeing the aurora borealis between October and March. The best time of day would be the hours around midnight.

The best months are between October and March. The best time to see the aurora borealis in Iceland comes down to 2 factors: time of year and time of day. When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?
