best time to see northern lights in iceland

That’s why the northern lights are not visible during the summer months in Iceland, when the midnight Sun and consequent lack of darkness make them fade away. Truth is, you need clear skies to see the northern lights, and crispy clear nights are usually colder than cloudy nights, but there is no real link between cold weather and Auroras.Īt polar latitudes, Auroras can appear on any dark night. In fact, all the countries located under the so-called auroral oval – the region where the northern lights can be observed on a regular basis – are located at arctic and sub-arctic latitudes, indeed not blessed with all-year-round tropical temperatures.īut: The Aurora itself occurs far above our weather system and is not affected by temperatures on Earth. “The Aurora can only be seen in winter – when it is very cold outside.” However, if you have taken car rental then you can easily head out to nearby areas by using the aurora forecast.Let’s start by demystifying the most common myth about the Northern Lights: Not only this but with many northern lights guided tours, you are often given another tour if you don’t see the lights during your trip. This will save you searching for the best spots on your own as you will instead have a guide to show you where to find the best spots. When you are in Iceland, make sure you check the forecast before heading out so you can get an idea of the right time and place.Ī great way to see the northern lights in Iceland is to head out on a guided tour. It clearly shows areas of cloud cover around the country and when it is expected to be clear enough to view the northern lights. The forecast is only available around a week in advance so you couldn’t plan a last minute trip on this, but it is useful for when you are in Iceland. This is information provided by the Icelandic met office and provides you with information about when and where you are most likely to see the northern lights. One of the best tools you can use when chasing the northern lights is to check out the Aurora forecast website. Grótta lighthouse in Seltjarnes is a great remote location on a small peninsula of the capital and provides the perfect spot. Grótta is another great spot within Reykjavik to take in the northern lights as it is far away from the lights of the city.You can gain access to the glass dome for a small fee and take in a great view of the lights from inside A great place to see the northern lights is atop Öskuhlið hill, which can be seen from most places in the capital due to the glass dome of Perlan Museum.You can also get a good view of the northern lights within the city of Reykjavik from two locations. There are many remote locations outside of the city where it is possible to see the northern lights, but you don’t have to venture that far. Try some well-known hotspots for northern lightsĪlthough there is no guarantee of spotting the northern lights, you can maximise your chances by heading to some of the hotspots.Make sure you wrap up warm and prepare to wait.Head out of towns and cities to avoid light pollution.Make sure you check the Aurora forecast before heading out.But there are some top tips that you should take into account when you’re trying to look for the lights. One of the first things you should be aware of is that the northern lights run in weather patterns, so you should go for at least 5 days if you want to make sure you see the lights. When heading to Iceland, you will no doubt have booked in advance, so you should be prepared for the possibility you won’t see the northern lights.

We have put together a guide that should help you when chasing the northern lights in Iceland.

Make sure that you DO NOT stop on the road though, always find a safe place to pull over and take in the northern lights from. However, you can’t guarantee to spot the northern lights at any time of the year as they are weather dependent. Going during the winter months will give you the best chance of seeing the northern lights on your trip although they are visible all year round. If you are heading to Iceland thinking about chasing the northern lights, the best time to do so is during the winter months of late August to mid-April.