Witnessing the northern lights is one of the best things to do in Iceland. The viewing conditions on this epic island of fire and ice are often favorable, and its mountain peaks, mythical basalt stacks, sparkling waterfalls, electric-blue glacial lagoons and wide-open skies make an incredible backdrop. If you're planning a trip to Iceland to see this remarkable sight, you're most likely wondering where is the best place to see the Northern LIghts or, at the very least, asking yourself which part of Iceland is best for the Northern Lights.
So, here we present several of the best places to witness the wonder of the awe-inspiring aurora borealis in Iceland. As a bonus, we also share all-important detail on the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, and tips on how to see them.
Given that the Northern Lights are elusive, choosing the best place to see Northern Lights in Iceland is nigh impossible.
That is to say, rather than focus on a single place, you're better off having a bigger list of possible places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Be assured, plenty of places provide the optimum chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, and also provide particularly magical experiences — a graceful swirl of bright green and blue wisps, seemingly dancing with a magical will of their own,
First, a general point — you need to be somewhere with dark, clear skies, so that means moving away from the city and town centers
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.
In handy news, many of the island’s top natural sites also happen to be among the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, including Thingvellir National Park, part of the Golden Circle, and Kirkjufell Mountain on the Snaefellsnes peninsula.
Before we share detail on which part of Iceland is best for the Northern Lights — including the best place to see Northern Lights near Reykjavik — we'll cover another crucial part of your trip-planning process. Namely, the best time to see the Northern lIghts in Iceland.
Keen to uncover Iceland? Explore our expert-curated Iceland itineraries, which include an immersive 10 days in Iceland itinerary, and a fabulous 5 days in Iceland itinerary that's ideal for travelers who are short on time..
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Iceland northern lights © Shutterstock
Alongside being in the right place, you need to visit at the right time — and have the right weather conditions — to see the Northern LIghts.
That is to say, if you visit the best place in Iceland to see the Northern Lights in the wrong season, you'll be sorely disappointed!
The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is during the winter months, from September to mid-April, when the nights are longest and darkest.
Digging a little deeper, the best months to see the Northern Lights in Iceland are from October to March — this period heralds optimal viewing conditions, with clear skies and increased auroral activity.
So you're not left in the dark (pun entirely intended), keep an eye on the Aurora Forecast so you know how likely it is that activity will occur on any given night.
Want more detail on the weather and when to visit Iceland? Read up on the best time to visit Iceland.
The aurora display within Thingvellir National Park © Daniel Schreiber/Shutterstock
As mentioned above, given that you need dark sky conditions to see the Northern Lights, don’t expect to be able to see them right in Reykjavik — Iceland’s cool, cultured, quirky capital.
That said, if you’re largely based in Reykjavik, or are visiting Iceland for a pretty short trip, the good news is that some top spots to see Northern Lights are within easy reach of the capital.
Located on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula, just a 10-minute drive from downtown Reykjavík, Grótta is one of the most accessible places for aurora hunting in Iceland.
A mere 40-minute drive from Reykjavík, the Thingvellir National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site is a fantastic location to escape urban light pollution, with vast open landscapes and clear skies enhancing your chance of seeing the auroras.
About 20 minutes from the city center, this tranquil nature reserve offers dark skies and scenic surroundings galore.
A 30-minute drive south of Reykjavík, this secluded lake provides a very pretty backdrop for the lights.
Here are some of our recommended places to stay in Reykjavik.
Traveling further afield? Discover best places to stay in Iceland.
Northern lights reflected in Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon © Krissanapong Wongsawarng/Shutterstock
South of Djúpivogur, the fjords recede into the background and you enter the altogether different world of southeastern Iceland, a coastal band between the East Fjords and Vík which is dominated by Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull.
Covering eight thousand square kilometres, almost 150km wide and up to 1km thick, Vatnajökull’s vast size gradually sinks in as it floats inland hour after hour.
As you drive past, its glacier tongues flow in slow motion from the heights to sea level, grinding out a black gravelly coastline as they go.
Jökulsárlón is a glacial lagoon that should be on your Iceland bucket list anyway. It just so happens that the utterly unique landscape also makes it one of the very best places to see the northern lights in Iceland.
Located in the southeast, bordering Vatnajökull National Park, the crystal-clear ice boulders on the black sand beach pick up the red and green glow of the aurora borealis, creating a kaleidoscopic effect. This is a particularly good location for photographers.
Northern lights above Reynisdrangar, the basalt stacks out at sea near the town of Vík © Ghing/Shutterstock
Near the southern town of Vík is Reynisfjara, known for its black sand beach, basalt columns (reminiscent of Northern Ireland's Giant’s Causeway) and ocean stacks, known as Reynisdrangar.
It's one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland as it provides both dramatic views and the soundtrack of the waves while the night sky puts on its show.
Legend has it that the basalt stacks were once trolls who tried to guide a ship to shore, and when daylight broke they transformed into the sharp needles of rock you see now, forever stranded out at sea. At least they always have a front-row seat to the aurora.
Want to feel like you’re defying Mother Nature? Then watch the northern lights while sitting cosily in one of Iceland’s famous hot springs.
Seljavallalaug, in southern Iceland between Reykjavík and Vík, is our top pick for doing exactly that. The outdoor swimming pool is free and open 24 hours a day. It's also one of the oldest pools in Iceland.
A cosmic light show plus sublime bath-water temperatures? If you ask us, Seljavallalaug is hands down one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
Seljavallalaug hot spring is one of the best places to see the northern lights in Iceland © Mathias Berlin/Shutterstock
Snæfellsnes Peninsula is a rugged yet beautiful arm of the Icelandic west coast that juts out into the Atlantic between Faxaflói bay and Breiðafjörður.
The north and south coasts are divided one from the other by a string of spiky mountains which run down the spine of the peninsula and culminate in the magnificent Snæfellsjökull, a glacier at the land’s westernmost point.
Compared with the neighbouring West Fjords, the scenery of Northwest Iceland is much gentler and less forbidding. Undulating meadows dotted with isolated barns and farmhouses are the norm here, rather than twisting fjords.
That said, there are still plenty of impressive mountains to provide a satisfying backdrop to the coastline.
A mountain framed by a waterfall and surrounded by lush greenery (or snow in winter), Kirkjufell already looks perfect without the northern lights. In fact, it's frequently dubbed 'the most photographed mountain in Iceland'.
But when you visit, you'll see that rather than being overkill, it's as though nature has thumped you over the head and demanded you pay attention to its showing off.
Kirkjufell makes you fall deeper in love with this varied country and provides a stunning backdrop to the light display to boot.
Located on the north coast of the Snæfellsnes peninsula, it's just over two hours drive from Reykjavík.
Kirkjufell Mountain and waterfall © Thampitakkull Jakkree / Shutterstock
The further north you go, you'll find better places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.
With beautiful hikes to be had during the daylight hours and hardly any light pollution at night, head to the small and picturesque northern fishing town of Siglufjörður.
Located in a stunning narrow fjord. It might be last but it's certainly not least on our list of the best places to see the northern lights in Iceland.
Roads up here can often be difficult to navigate or simply closed due to harsh weather conditions in winter. So, you should always check before travel if driving yourself (if you're comfortable driving in snow and ice), or organize professional transport or a tour.
Siglufjörður harbour at dawn © Nella / Shutterstock
Now you know where to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, read on for a few practical tips, and important reminders.
Iceland is easily accessible by air, with international flights landing at Keflavík International Airport, 50 km (31 miles) from Reykjavík.
Traveling from the US? Several airlines offer direct flights from major US cities to Iceland, among them including Icelandair, PLAY Airlines, Delta and United Airlines.
Departure cities include New York, Boston, Seattle and Chicago, with flight times ranging from 5–7 hours. Icelandair and PLAY also offer stopover options in Iceland for those traveling onward to Europe.
Meanwhile, visitors from the UK are served by frequent flights, with departures from London Manchester and Edinburgh, and flight times in the region of 2.5–3 hours.
Read our full guide to how to get to Iceland.
Though we covered this at the start, given the importance of timing, we’ll say it again — the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is during winter, with the best months being October through to March.
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.
Want to see Iceland in a different light? Discover the best places to visit in Iceland in summer.
Soaking up the Northern Lights
While the locations listed above might have you honing in on your chosen best place to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, we suggest you keep a bigger wish-list of places to visit in mind.
That way, you’ll maximise your chance of seeing them, and get to experience their majesty against different backdrop.
In order to do that, you’ll need to book a few tours, or else figure out how you’re going to get around. Talking of which…
When it comes to getting around Iceland, it’s possible to fly or catch a bus from Reykjavík to all major centers. In summer scheduled buses run through the Interior.
Come winter, though, reduced bus services and tricky road conditions present a few challenges for Northern Lights’ seekers.
Your best bet is to book organized tours, or to rent a car, the latter option setting you up to enjoy the best road trips in Iceland, many of which include the best places to see the Northern Lights.
In the market for a road trip? Read up on how to drive the Iceland Ring Road on a 10 -day itinerary.
For more tips while planning your trip, read our content manager's personal experience of traveling in Iceland.
Not keen on planning? Our local experts can take care of every last detail.
written by
Joanne Owen
updated 23.01.2025
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