Would you consider a trip to Iceland fulfilling without catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights in the winter? I would not! Here are some basic, pretty straightforward tips on how to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.

You can enjoy this while on a boat tour

A unique way to enjoy this incredible sight of the aurora borealis is by watching them while on a boat tour or a cruise. You can take the boat from the ports of Akureyri and Reykjavik! 

Away from the cacophony, you can enjoy the tours while on a boat ride as you head out to Eyjafjordur Fjord or Faxafloi Bay.  

If you set out for the Northern Lights on a boat, you get to witness the best of both worlds—catching a glimpse of the dance in the night sky while riding along with the glaciers. Imagine the sky reflections playing out on the milky white glaciers!   

It is a free attraction

All of life’s good things definitely do not come free, but the Northern Lights do! I know it sounds like a strange point to make. But I realised during my solo trips that there were very few attractions which came free! And this once-in-a-lifetime moment does come free!

To begin with, you should do ample research on which are the best viewing spots for the Northern Lights. Secondly, be your own weather person for the next few days. You can check the Iceland page for the Northern Lights Forecast to check the intensity and location. This will show the prediction 24 hours ahead of time and also the cloud cover over the country. 

Sometimes the Northern Lights come in the middle of the night. I would suggest you can keep an eye on Facebook alert groups. Northern Lights Alert, Aurora Hunters Iceland, and Northern Lights Watch – Icelandic are to name a few. You can be active there to be 100 percent certain that you do not miss the auroras.

Off-beat accommodation comes as a bonus 

Making the Northern Lights the highlight of your trip also ensures that you get to stay in the most off-beat accommodations! I do not know about you, but I absolutely love non-traditional places to stay!

Do keep in mind that the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland are flat areas. There should be no buildings or high mountains around! So remote countryside works wonders for catching a glimpse of this beauty. The lack of street lights is also essential for you to get a good view.

One of the most amazing stays for Northern Lights is the farmhouses in the outskirts of Iceland. I am not denying that staying around downtown is great and gives a feel of the local culture. But staying outside Reykjavik in a farmhouse will soak you in the authentic Icelandic experience. The farmhouses are usually located in an area where there is a lot of open space, and they also happen to be one of the great spots for viewing the Northern Lights. 

The other option that you can consider if you are not on a budget trip is staying at the Bubble Hotel. Gazing at the shooting stars while staying inside a transparent pod will be one of the gorgeous experiences of your life. They even have a tree bubble. This hanging bubble will definitely transport you to a magical kingdom! The plus is you do not have to brave the icy wind to see the Northern Lights in Iceland! Watch them from the comforts of your bed. 

The peace around will leave you overwhelmed with nature’s beauty! 

Flexibility on schedule will allow more time for the auroras

Be flexible with your itinerary and allow more room for the Northern Lights. I already mentioned how you might not be lucky to catch a glimpse of the lights on the day you have scheduled it for! The unpredictable weather may add to your woes.

If you are unable to catch a glimpse on day one, try again on the next possible day. I would suggest that you plan your Iceland trip in a way that you have a few days in a row dedicated to seeing the Northern Lights. 

Great for self-drive tours

Some of us love to do self-driven tours! So stopping for the auroras or driving to the outskirts to spot them is a perfect to-do thing as a traveller. With Iceland being a safe country, you do not need to be constantly on your guard!

Do carry some midnight snacks and power banks for this self-drive tour. 

Professional help

While you can go hunting for the Northern Lights on your own, you can also choose a reliable service to see the lights from an exclusive location outside the capital city of Reykjavik! If you are just planning to go around randomly, you may end up missing the lights, and you would not want that. So keep a bigger window for viewing the lights! It may also be difficult for you to negotiate the snow if you are self-driving. So perhaps best to leave it to a professional.  

You can pair it with other activities

The best part about this attraction is that you can relax watching this after a hard day’s activity! You can pair it with any day activity that you want—whale watching, snorkelling, or sightseeing. 

In fact, it does not matter even if you are planning an intense day of activities—you can go hiking volcanoes, glaciers during the day and unwind later, gazing at the night sky!

I have also assumed that you are going to go in the winters as you are not going to give the auroras a miss. Iceland slips into sub-zero temperatures. So if you are not going to watch the lights from the comforts of your blanket, do dress up accordingly. Wear a wind-proof jacket, warm thermals, and scarves while you go for viewing the lights.

Here’s why you shouldn’t miss it!

1. They are nature’s miracle

Have you wondered why Northern Lights appear? In a nutshell, they are nature’s way of saying miracles exist. If we go by science, the lights are visible because solar particles enter the earth’s magnetic field! Did you know that the intensity of the Northern Lights is dependent on the activities of the sun?

There is no reason why you should miss this absolutely fascinating geographical marvel! The moment is straight out of the Discovery channel. It is important that you are on your toes to ensure that you do not miss this experience.

2. Hue of colours will leave you spellbound

The dancing lights come in varying colours. The hue of green will leave you spellbound. Though the Northern Lights usually appear green, if you are lucky enough, you can even catch them in the non-traditional colours of purple, red, pink, orange, and blue. Do lookout for the beautiful hue of white-gray!

Fun fact: did you know that the colours depend on the ionisation of elements? Also, if there is no solar activity, you may not be able to see the Northern Lights in Iceland! 

3. The mystical stories around the auroras

Science is great, but nothing beats the fascinating mythological stories around the auroras! I loved to read about the different mystical versions of why the Northern Lights happen. Do ask the locals about it. The endless versions will keep you captivated.  

One version goes like this—the name aurora borealis comes from the ancient Roman goddess of the dawn and the Greek name for the north wind. Aurora was considered a goddess by the Greeks, and she would ride a chariot across the sky.

The Viking legends believe the lights are reflections from the shields of the Valkyrie—the female helping spirits of the god Odin. Meanwhile, the Chinese feel the lights appeared during otherworldly battles between good and evil dragons who blew fire across the sky! 

In fact, you will be surprised to know that it was not until the 19th century that there was a scientific explanation for this!

4. Helps you bond with other fellow travellers

Have you ever experienced the beauty of sharing a common bond with strangers about something beautiful you witness together? 

If you haven’t, the auroras are the perfect opportunity to bond over nature’s beauty! Viewing the lights together is euphoric, to say the least!

5. You come back with a treasure trove of photographs

Get the right lens, the right exposure, and go hunt for the auroras! Make sure you keep the camera ready—the dancing lights may go off as quickly as they come. Also, did you know that earth is not the only place that experiences the Northern Lights? Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn experience them as well! All the more reason for you to go photograph away to glory!