Northern lights tours in Iceland

Yes. Iceland has long winter nights, large stretches of countryside away from light pollution and a location within the northern lights belt. So all you need for the conditions to line up nicely are clear skies and strong solar activity.

To boost your chances of seeing the lights, keep an eye on the aurora forecast while you’re there. For more tips, read our guide to the northern lights in Iceland.

The best time to see the northern lights in Iceland is from October to March, when the nights are longest and darkest.

In mid-winter, especially December and early January, you can get around 19 hours of darkness. More darkness means more chances to see the lights.

September and April are great options too. You’ll usually need to stay up a little later to catch the aurora, but the trade-off is more daylight for sightseeing during the day.

Want to compare daylight by month? Our guide to daylight in Iceland breaks it down.

Not usually. Iceland in summer has a lot going for it, but thanks to the midnight sun, the nights in May, June, July and August are too light to see the aurora borealis.

For darker skies and the best chance to catch the aurora, plan your trip between September and April.

Our guide to the best time to visit Iceland will help you choose the right season for your trip.

The best places to spot the northern lights are away from towns and cities, where there’s less light pollution. Darker surroundings make it easier to see the aurora and appreciate brighter displays more clearly.

You can still spot the lights from Reykjavík when conditions are right. But for darker skies, head farther out to places like Vík in South Iceland, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, the Westfjords or North Iceland.

Staying in the countryside helps too. Many hotels on our aurora tours sit in more remote areas, so you can keep an eye on the sky right outside. Some even offer northern lights wake-up calls if the aurora appears after you’ve gone to bed. Check out a few of our favourite northern lights hotels in Iceland.

Discover more places to spot the aurora on these northern lights trips in Northern Europe.

The best way to see the northern lights in Iceland depends on how you like to travel.

Choose a winter self-drive tour in Iceland for freedom and flexibility. Your car, accommodation, itinerary, and a hand-marked map with local recommendations are all sorted before you land.

Prefer to leave the driving to someone else? Join a small group tour and explore with like-minded travellers and a local guide who brings Iceland to life.

For a more personal guided tour, choose a private trip. You’ll travel with your own driver-guide and have more flexibility to shape the trip around your interests.

Or base yourself in Reykjavík on a multi-day tour, heading out on guided excursions each day. Think a northern lights tour with an expert guide, a soak at the Blue Lagoon, or a day trip around the Golden Circle.

You don’t need a professional camera to get a good shot. A newer phone with night mode works surprisingly well.

Keep it steady, switch off the flash and give the camera a few seconds to capture the light. A tripod helps, especially for long-exposure shots.

One tip: Cold temperatures drain your phone or camera battery faster than usual, so keep your device warm between shots and bring a rechargeable battery pack.

Definitely. You can add extra nights at the start or end of your tour, upgrade your rental car or accommodation, opt for private airport transfers, and add extra activities along the way.

That might mean a super jeep excursion to chase the northern lights, a whale-watching boat trip, time at the Sky Lagoon, snowmobiling or exploring ice caves.

If there’s something specific you want to do during your trip, just ask your travel consultant.

Yes. Our northern lights tours in Iceland run from September to April, with a range of start dates to choose from.

For self-drive, privately guided and multi-day tours, pick any start date in the online calendar. For guided small group tours, choose from the list of set departure dates.

Travelling over Christmas or New Year? Our Christmas and New Year packages in Iceland start on selected dates in December, so it’s worth booking early.

You can check each tour’s online calendar for the latest availability.

We highly recommend checking your flight options before you book your tour. That way, you can find the most convenient route and the best deals while you’ve still got flexibility to choose.

Just wait to buy them until your tour is fully confirmed. Once that’s done, you’re good to go ahead and book your flights to Iceland.

Dress warmer than you think you’ll need to. When you’re waiting for the aurora to make an appearance, you can be standing outside for a while, often late at night.

The weather in Iceland changes quickly too. Icelanders even have a word for weather that’s deceptively nice-looking: gluggaveður, or “window weather”.

For a winter trip, pack:

• Winter boots with good grip
• Waterproof and windproof jacket and trousers
• Down or synthetic insulated jacket
• Wool or fleece layers
• Thermal baselayers
• Hat, scarf and gloves
• Thick hiking socks
• Reusable water bottle
• Flask for a hot drink

Our packing guide has the full checklist. You can also read more about what to wear in Iceland by season.