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Iceland Northern Lights Tours & Travel Packages 2025/2026
5 Iceland Northern Lights trips. Compare tour itineraries from 3 tour companies. 6 reviews. 5/5 avg rating.
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Top Iceland Northern Lights Attractions
- Watching the bright, green and blue hues dance across the sky in an incredible display
- Learning the science behind how and why this phenomenon occurs
- The thrill of capturing the perfect photograph or time lapse
- Your guide leading you to the perfect viewing area and huddling together as the sky darkens and the lights begin
- Experiencing everything else there is to see and do in Iceland, like visiting enormous waterfalls, soaking in hot springs, and seeing Game of Thrones filming locations
Iceland Northern Lights Tours & Travel Guide
Iceland Northern Lights Attractions & Landmarks Guide
Iceland is one of the most popular locations to see the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, for a few reasons. It's a bit easier to get to than some of the more "exotic" locations, such as Greenland, and a good add on to a European vacation. It's important to be aware that due to Iceland's location, seasonality is an extremely important consideration. Tours to Iceland in the winter months almost always include an excursion to see the Northern Lights.
The Northern Lights were dubbed the aurora borealis in honor of Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the ancient Greek name for the northern wind. The phenomena is the result of solar flares, sunspots or sun storms sending charged particles into the earth’s upper atmosphere, where they collide with molecules of oxygen and nitrogen, creating the swirling, flickering, glowing kaleidoscope-like effect.
Humans have been fascinated with the areal phenomenon for centuries; since biblical times. They figure in legends, folklore, and superstition from many different cultures and countries in the northern hemisphere. Ancient Babylonian writings on stone tablets depict a possible sighting as early as the year 567 BC.
And though there is some debate as to the first official recording of the Aurora Borealis, there is no doubt that early civilizations were just as fascinated by the phenomenon as we are today. Not surprisingly, many Viking texts describe the lights, and when you take a tour to discover them yourself, you’ll feel just as in awe as they.
When to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
The official season for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is October through March, but as weather conditions are only predictable up to a point, don’t despair. If you visit in September or April - these months have been known to showcase the lights as well!
The lights are at their most vibrant in the dead of winter, when the sky is the darkest. Iceland experiences 4 hours of sunlight in the height of winter, giving you ample time to discover weather conditions and viewing spots.
Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
There are several options for where to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. The best viewing opportunities are up north, though there are a few spots in Southern Iceland where viewing is possible as well.
Though it doesn’t seem so, Iceland is actually one of the southernmost countries for viewing Aurora Borealis. Other popular viewing spots in Russia, Canada, and Greenland are further north. This means that on prime viewing nights, it could get crowded, but this also creates a sense of comradery as you stand or sit shoulder to shoulder, gazing into the heavens waiting for this most incredible light show.
It is always hit or miss whether the elusive lights will show. But going on a tour will help increase your chances. Your guide will know the best viewing areas, and whether or not they are likely to show.
Iceland is just a few degrees south of the Arctic Circle, making the lights occasionally less vibrant, but the further north you venture, the clearer they’ll be. In the North of Iceland, one of the best spots is Akureyri. This picturesque fishing town is also a recommended stop to make along the Ring Road. Charming, quaint, and very photographable, you could easily stay a few days here, which makes waiting for the lights to appear far more enjoyable.
Many tours will take you to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in the southeast of Iceland, which is highly recognizable from photographs of the lights. This expansive area provides an unobstructive view, with a dramatic foreground of icebergs, and reflective waters. The lagoon is about a 5 hour drive from Reykjavik, so it’s a good idea to stay in nearby Hofn (1 hour away), or Vik (2 hours away) for a couple nights to avoid a long drive in icy, snowy weather.
If you’re staying in Reykjavik and want to remain near the city, one of the best places to visit is Grotta lighthouse. Out here you’ll be far enough away from the light noise of the city, but it’s only 20 minutes outside of Reykjavik. As an important nature reserve, try visiting earlier to check out the diverse bird life around the beach.
In summertime, you can walk to the lighthouse, which takes around an hour, but this isn’t necessarily advisable in the wintertime. The lights show on the clearest nights, which also happen to be the coldest nights.
Akranes Lighthouse is another great viewing area near Reykjavik. About a 40 minute drive outside of the city, this lighthouse is also well worth visiting to tour inside. Featuring art galleries and photography exhibitions, it’s a unique Iceland site, other than also being a perfect place to spot the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights Forecast in Iceland
Forecast is a very important factor in seeing the Northern Lights. Keep a close eye on the forecast during your trip and be prepared to drop everything and jump in the car to head to a viewing area if the forecast looks ideal.
Here is the official Iceland Aurora Forecast. This website is extremely useful for keeping track of day by day weather conditions, specifically for Northern Lights viewing. The general rule is the the more white space you see on the map, the better the conditions will be for seeing the lights. There is also an Aurora Forecast app which is very popular to use.
The darker the green you see means heavy cloud cover which equals minimal viewing. Make sure you click a few days ahead of time once you’re in country, and be sure you’re checking the proper time. Checking for noon won’t tell you what you want to know, so make sure to check midnight and the surrounding times. Also look at weather conditions such as snow. Even if viewing is ok based on other conditions, it could be snowing which will also obstruct your view and be unpleasant weather to wait in.
Photography Tips for the Northern Lights
To capture the famous hues of neon green, blue, and sometimes pink, you’ll want a very sturdy tripod first and foremost. Practice with taking long exposures and time lapses before the big day, and make sure your camera can stand up to cold.
If you have the space, try to bring some weights for your tripod and make sure it’s set up far enough away from paths and people to avoid being bumped. Bring a light log to keep track of your shutter speeds and apertures so you can see exactly how and why your pictures turned out, or alternatively, be able to fix mistakes next time.
In general you’ll want a fast lens in order to get the clearest image. The Northern Lights are a tricky thing to capture effectively. It’s literally all the conditions you don’t want to deal with unless you have unlimited equipment at your disposal: dark, cold, movement (stars will look streaky as they are moving, albeit slowly, during your exposure), and a faint shifting color is what you’re trying to capture.
The most important thing to remember about photographing the Northern Lights is to use a tripod. You will not be able to capture the brilliance of the lights in all their glory if you have to hold your camera. Additionally you may want to practice using an external shutter release. This will minimize any chance of bumping your camera and ruining the exposure, and also gives you more freedom to observe with the naked eye, instead of needing to stay put looking through the lens.
Tripods come in many different forms, but the sturdier the better. If you don’t have a hard duty tripod, some tours will provide sandbags to help hold lighter models in place.
The Northern Lights are a rite of passage for photographers. Going on a photography tour is the surest way you’re going to be able to maximize your camera’s potential for great photographs of this incredible light show in the winter sky.
Before you go
When packing for Iceland, layers are key. It never gets incredibly warm, even during 24 hours of sunlight in the summer. Temperatures will be comfortable but not hot. In winter, you’ll get snow and rain, and it will be chilly. For the Northern Lights, you'll want to pack a pair of photographers gloves, so you don't have to keep taking them off to change your settings.
Iceland is expensive. No if, ands, or buts about it. Prepare to pay higher prices when eating and drinking out.
Visas
You do not need a visa to travel to Iceland if you are planning to stay less than 90 days. Your passport must be valid for up to 3 months after your intended travel date.
Iceland is a part of the Schengen cooperation, so if you have a Schengen visa, this is valid for Iceland as well, and you don’t need additional documentation.
Safety
Iceland is one of the safest countries to visit. People are generally friendly, and although tourism has rapidly increased over recent years, they are welcoming to people keen to explore their country.
The increase in tourism has led to busier roads, especially the famous Ring Road that circles the country. With more travelers renting cars these days, be sure to practice caution when crossing streets and when walking around the popular natural attractions. Be very careful driving in icy conditions, and avoid it if possible. Ice is difficult to see and can cause spinouts without warning.
Also be mindful of Iceland’s lack of safety signage. Hiking up around waterfalls, and in windy conditions, or around ocean shores with riptides, Iceland can be dangerous. Especially if you’re distracted with your camera out and not looking at your footing.
Iceland Northern Lights Reviews & Ratings
Very informed about all the things
We were on the middle October 2017 tour. Our tour guide, Oli, MADE us stay out on the tour the first night that we were there--for some of us having stayed up for ne...
Once in a lifetime opportunities!
Iceland could well be the most naturally beautiful country in the world and, in just five days, this trip demonstrated why. Travelling from the airport to Reykjavik,...
Unforgettable Experience!
My experience with Culture Trip was absolutely incredible! This was my first international trip and I felt like it exceeded beyond all expectations with the help of ...
Incredible Experience!
Thank you so much to the Culture Trip team for making our Iceland trip such an incredible experience! I have only great things to say about my time, and I did approx...
Incredible Adventure!
This was an incredible adventure and every part of the trip was smooth. I loved that everything was thoroughly researched and planned and I didn't have to lift a fin...
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