Northern Lights Day Trip Reykjavík

Want to increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights? You don’t have to travel deep into the Arctic to find them. From Reykjavík, it’s easy to take an evening trip to dark, open skies where the aurora often appears. In this guide, you’ll discover the best times and places for your Northern Lights day trip from Reykjavík, plus how to capture this beautiful natural phenomenon once you’re out beneath the lights.

Seeing the Northern Lights from Reykjavík

The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, are one of Iceland’s biggest natural highlights. And the best part is you don’t need to go far to see one. Within an hour’s drive of Reykjavík, you can reach open, dark skies and watch green and purple ribbons move across the horizon.

A Northern Lights day trip from Reykjavík is simple to plan. You can explore Reykjavík cafés and museums by day, then head out after dinner to chase the aurora. Most tours return before midnight, letting you combine Reykjavík's nature and city life in one day.

What Causes the Northern Lights?

The aurora happens when the charged particles from the sun collide with Earth's atmosphere, creating colorful lights that stretch across the sky. Green is most common, though shades of pink, purple, and red sometimes appear. The display changes nightly depending on the weather conditions and solar activity.

When Is the Best Time to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?

The Northern Lights season in Iceland runs from late August to mid-April, when nights are long enough for dark skies. The aurora can appear anytime it’s dark and clear, but some months are more reliable than others. 

Here’s what to expect through the season:

• Late August–October (Early Season): Long nights with milder weather. September and October balance sightseeing by day with clear evenings for aurora viewing.
• November–February (Peak Season): Darkest skies and the highest chances of activity. Expect cold weather and occasional snow, but also the strongest displays.
• March–Mid-April (Late Season): Nights shorten but remain dark enough. March often brings clear skies and more comfortable temperatures.

Best hours: Between 9:00 pm and 2:00 am, when the sky is darkest.

Where to Go for a Northern Lights Day Trip from Reykjavík

Reykjavík sits close to some of Iceland’s most accessible dark-sky areas. You don’t need to drive far; within 30 minutes or so, you can leave the city glow behind and find perfect conditions for viewing the Northern Lights.

Here are a few reliable places to visit:

• Þingvellir National Park (45 minutes) – A UNESCO World Heritage Site where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet. The park’s wide plains and clear horizon make it ideal for viewing the Northern Lights.
• Reykjanes Peninsula (40–50 minutes) – Rugged coastal region known for its geothermal steam, lava fields, and ocean cliffs. It’s a popular aurora-spotting area and home to the Blue Lagoon, ideal if you want to warm up afterward.
• Kleifarvatn Lake (40 minutes) – Set between volcanic hills, Kleifarvatn feels remote but is easy to reach. Its still surface often reflects the lights, creating perfect photo opportunities.
• Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord) (45–60 minutes) – A quiet fjord with little traffic and light pollution. On calm nights, the water mirrors the aurora beautifully.

Grótta Lighthouse (15 minutes) – Located at the tip of Seltjarnarnes, this is the easiest spot to reach from Reykjavík city center. It’s popular with locals, and you can watch from the beach when the tide allows.

Top 5 Northern Lights Experiences in Reykjavík

Reykjavík is one of the best bases for Northern Lights tours in Iceland. You can pick from exhibitions, cruises, bus trips, or off-road adventures, all departing from the city and returning the same night.

1. Northern Lights Exhibitions and Planetariums

If you want to learn more about the aurora before heading out, Reykjavík offers a few excellent indoor experiences.

Aurora Reykjavík – The Northern Lights Center in the Grandi District features interactive displays, a real-time forecast screen, and a dark room where you can practice photographing the lights.

At Perlan’s Áróra Show, the planetarium presents a 360-degree film that recreates the Northern Lights indoors, perfect for cloudy nights. You can also step onto Perlan’s observation deck for panoramic views of the city and, with luck, the real aurora overhead.

2. Northern Lights Bus Tours

Bus tours are the most popular and affordable way to hunt for the aurora. They take you outside the city to wide-open areas with dark skies. Knowledgeable guides share stories and scientific insights along the way.

Reykjavík Excursions by Icelandia offers reliable nightly departures and often includes free rebooking if the lights don’t appear. Some tours even combine the experience with a relaxing soak at Sky Lagoon.

3. Northern Lights Cruises

Seeing the aurora from the sea adds a peaceful and atmospheric touch. Boats depart from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour and head into darker waters, where the reflections on the ocean can be spectacular.

Elding Hvalaskoðun and Special Tours both run comfortable evening cruises with indoor lounges and open decks. They’re great options if you’d like to avoid driving and still enjoy a clear view of the night sky.

If you want a faster-paced experience, Whale Safari offers small-group trips aboard high-speed RIBs. While they don’t run dedicated Northern Lights tours, their late-season wildlife tours (August–October) overlap with the start of aurora season. Just be sure to book one that departs later at night.

4. Northern Lights Private and Small-Group Tours

For a more personal experience, small-group tours let you enjoy flexibility and local insight.

Your Friend in Reykjavík offers private and small-group outings that adapt to nightly conditions. Guides share Icelandic folklore, photography tips, and stories about local life under the winter sky. If you’re lucky, you can even spot the aurora while on a walking or Viking-themed tour in and around the city.

5. Northern Lights Super Jeep Adventures

If you’re looking for something more rugged, Super Jeep tours take you far beyond the city lights into Iceland’s wild landscapes.

Icelandic Mountain Guides by Icelandia occasionally combine aurora hunting with glacier walks, ice cave visits, or exploring geothermal valleys. These off-road adventures offer some of the clearest skies near Reykjavík. It’s perfect for those seeking complete solitude in nature under breathtaking Northern Lights.

Bonus: Northern Lights Combo Tours

If you want to fit more into one evening, consider a combo tour. Several local operators pair Northern Lights trips with other top experiences so that you can enjoy Icelandic nature in different ways on the same day. Popular pairings include a relaxing soak at the Sky Lagoon or Blue Lagoon, whale watching, horseback riding near Reykjavik, or even a helicopter flight for a breathtaking view of the city above.

How to Increase Your Chances of Seeing the Aurora

Seeing the Northern Lights depends on the right mix of timing, location, and weather. Here’s how to improve your odds:

• Watch the weather and cloud cover – Clear skies matter most. Even strong aurora activity won’t show through thick clouds. Check the aurora forecast and cloud cover map on vedur.is before you go – white areas show clear skies, while green areas mean clouds. Aim for those white zones.
• Find dark-sky spots – The darker the surroundings, the better. Avoid streetlights and bright buildings, and head for open areas with an unobstructed horizon. Flat or slightly elevated spots give the widest view of the sky.
• Check the solar activity (KP Index) – The KP index measures solar energy on a scale from 0 to 9. A rating of 3 or higher usually means a good chance of visible aurora if the skies are clear.
• Go at the right time of night – The best hours are between 9:00 pm and 2:00 am, when the sky is darkest. The lights can appear suddenly and fade just as fast, so stay patient and give yourself at least an hour outside.
• Consider joining a guided tour – Local guides know where the skies are clearest and can adjust routes in real time. Many tours offer free rebooking if visibility is poor.
• Book your Northern Lights tour early in your trip – If conditions aren’t right on your first night, you’ll have time to rebook later during your stay. Most operators offer free retries if the lights don’t appear.

What to Expect on a Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavík

Most tours depart between 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm and last 3-5 hours. You’ll be picked up in the city and driven to the clearest skies of the night. Local guides often share Icelandic folklore, explain the science behind the lights, and help with photography. Hot chocolate or coffee is sometimes included while waiting for the activity.

When the lights appear, expect excitement as colors ripple across the horizon. If the skies stay cloudy, most operators offer a free retry on another night. Usually, these rebookings are valid for 2 years and can sometimes be exchanged for other tours, such as whale watching in Reykjavík.

Tips for Photographing the Northern Lights

You don’t need to be a professional to take good photos. A few quick adjustments make all the difference:

• Use a tripod to keep your camera steady and avoid blurry shots.
• Switch to manual mode: set ISO to 800–3200, aperture to f/2.8–f/4, and shutter speed to 5–15 seconds, depending on brightness.
• Turn off flash and set manual focus to infinity for crisp stars and aurora details.
• Use a remote shutter or timer to minimize vibration when pressing the button.
• Shoot in RAW format for higher-quality editing later.
• Bring extra batteries, as cold air drains them quickly – keep spares close to your body to stay warm.
• Use a red headlamp to preserve night vision and gently light people or surroundings without washing out the aurora.

Responsible Aurora Viewing

Iceland’s nature is fragile, especially in winter. When chasing the aurora, please keep these guidelines in mind:

• Stay on marked roads and parking areas: Off-road driving is illegal and damages moss and soil.
• Respect private land: Many viewing areas are near farms or homes.
• Leave no trace behind: Take litter with you and avoid disturbing wildlife.
• Keep headlights low: Don’t blind other viewers or disrupt long-exposure photos.

Support local operators: Choose tours that promote sustainable travel in Reykjavík.

Chasing the Aurora from Iceland’s Capital

Few capitals make it this easy to see the Northern Lights. From Reykjavík, you can explore the city by day and chase the aurora by night – all without traveling far. Whether you find them on a fjord, by a lake, or out at sea, the experience will stay with you long after the lights fade.

While planning your Northern Lights day trip from Reykjavík, make sure to add stops at the popular sights in Iceland’s capital for a more memorable experience. 

FAQ: Northern Lights Day Trip Reykjavík