Blue Lagoon
Reykjavik, Iceland
|Bucket List Experience
This world-famous (man-made) outdoor geothermal pool of steaming 39°C healing waters, surrounded by black lava fields, is Iceland’s star attraction.
Adult price: £35
Min age 2
Best for ages 4+
Travel bucket list idea:
See the Northern Lights in Iceland
Iceland
|Bucket List Experience
Mount Kirkjufell in the Snaefellsnes National Park
Last updated: 22 July, 2023
Iceland, being in the so-called ‘Aurora Belt’, is one of the world’s top places to see the Aurora Borealis, the multi-coloured meteorological phenomenon more commonly known as the Northern Lights.
These shimmering, shifting, ethereal displays of light are caused by charged ions striking the earth’s upper atmosphere. They can be many different colours: commonly green, but sometimes pink, blue, red or yellow. Seeing them dancing over Iceland’s volcanic topography is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a bucket list must-see that’s up there with the best.
There’s no specific best place to see them – they can appear anywhere where there are dark, clear skies and low levels of light pollution. You can even see them around Reykjavik, although the further you travel from the towns, the more intense the light show is likely to be.
For guaranteed sightings, it’s worth taking an organised tour with a professional aurora-hunting company, as they have access to detailed aurora forecasts, know the best spots and sometimes offer a second trip if you don’t manage to see the lights.
With a bit of luck, though, you may see the aurora as an unexpected bonus while you’re off on another Icelandic adventure – perhaps while exploring remote areas like Snaefellsnes Peninsula, the Westfjords or cruising on the Jokulsarlon lagoon. Hotel Ranga has a special in-house observatory. See the links in our recommendations below.
Recommendations
Cruise around Iceland
Iceland
|Bucket List Experience
Make the most of Iceland’s dramatic coastline – lunar landscapes, spouting geysers and jauntily coloured fishing villages, tiny against the vast landscapes and ancient glaciers.
Adult price: £Varies
Best for ages 13+
Duration: Min 7 days
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More details >Cruise Jokulsarlon Glacial Lagoon
Iceland
|Bucket List Experience
A unique glacial lagoon where you’ll cruise among icebergs and marvel at astonishing icy scenery.
Adult price: £35
Best for ages 6+
Duration: 1 night
Frequency: monthly
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More details >Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Iceland
|Bucket List Experience
A wild western peninsula offering fabulous hiking, coastal drives, beaches and glacier walks, easily accessible in a day’s drive from Reykjavik.
Best for ages 8+
Duration: 1 night
Frequency: monthly
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More details >Hotel Ranga
Hella, Iceland
|Official star rating:
A quirky, ranch-style hotel that’s your best base for exploring SW Iceland. The in-house restaurant is excellent, as is the stargazing and Northern Lights viewing.
Average £280
Extra beds
Pool
2+ bedrooms
Beach
Kids menu
Fitness center
Kids club
Logistics
Price: Free
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 4+
Frequency: Selected dates
When: Nov-Feb
Duration: -
Getting there & doing it
The good news is that seeing the Northern Lights isn’t all down to chance these days. The atmospheric conditions that create the lights are closely monitored, such that impending displays can be accurately predicted by monitoring stations.
Many hotels and tour operators use these forecasts to offer their guests a handy alert service, so you can be gazing skyward for that first ethereal streak. Many hotels even offer aurora ‘wake-up calls’. You can also sign up for your own alerts (Europe only) with the free Aurora Service.
Aurora Reykjavik is a highly recommended operator, while Arctic Adventures offer a thrilling 4×4 jeep tour. Both offer trips from Reykjavik.
When to do it
Theoretically, the Northern Lights are visible at any time of year, but due to the endless days of summer in the far north, the skies simply don’t get dark enough to see them.
That makes winter prime aurora spotting season, especially the period between November to February, when Iceland’s skies are at their darkest, and the aurora activity is usually at its peak.
For the best chance of seeing them, you also need clear skies (clouds are an inconvenient hazard for aurora spotters, and unfortunately there’s no solution but to wait them out). You also need low or zero light pollution, so it’s always better to get as far away from any urban centres as you can.
Even so, the Northern Lights are notoriously fickle; they can appear anytime, anywhere. But if you’re in the right area at the right time of year, your chances of seeing them are excellent – as long as you’re prepared to be patient.
If you haven’t already, see our round-up of the best places and ways to see the Northern Lights that also explains in more detail why they happen, and thus when you’re most likely to see them.
Who to go with: organised tours
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity
#1 Northern Lights Tour In Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos
Reykjavik
This is what you get on the tour:
✅ This is the highest rated Northern Lights tour in Iceland
✅ You get FREE photos of you with the Northern Lights in high quality
✅ You get hot homemade chocolate to warm you up in the cold The real stuff!
✅ You get cinnamon buns so you do not get hangry
✅ For you to have the best possible experience, we have collected the elite of guides in Iceland, to make sure your experience will be unforgettable!
✅ You get a wool blanket from the best possible fabric to keep you warm.
✅ Experienced local guide to make your chance the highest of seeing the lights
✅ You can join as many times again if you do not see the Northern Lights. No limit
✅ You get the best service because everyone involved wants to make your experience the best possible
✅ This tour is ran by a small family company
We are Northern Lights experts!
✅ With the mix of this team at Reykjavik Outventure, you will not get better experience or chance of seeing the Northern Lights
Price: €133
Min age: 4
Rating 4.62 / 5 [967 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Perlan Museum - Wonders of Iceland & Áróra Northern Lights Planetarium Show
Reykjavik
Wonders of Iceland is a unique exhibition where you learn all about Icelandic nature in interactive and fun ways. Explore the world’s first real indoor ice cave and learn about glaciers at an interactive exhibition. Feel the forces of nature and see how Iceland was formed. Explore seabirds in a lifelike cliff and go on a cinematic underwater journey around Iceland.
You also explore a hands-on exhibition about water, by The Icelandic Museum of Natural History.
These tickets include Áróra, a one-of-a-kind northern lights experience. It is a 25 min. long dome theatre show in Iceland's only planetarium. You see how northern lights form in outer space and see them dance all around you, virtually surrounded by Icelandic nature.
Finally, enjoy the 360° views over Reykjavík from our Observation Deck. There are picture panels and various geological samples from around Reykjavík.
Please note that Perlan does not provide pickup for visitors.
Price: €35
Min age: 0
Rating 4.60 / 5 [776 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Northern Lights Enchanting: Small Group, Hot Cocoa & free Photos!
Reykjavik
Join your professional-local guide to experience this 4-hour trip, starting your hunt for the Northern Lights. A bit of planning via the Aurora forecast help you head in the right direction. Your tour via minibus is no more than 19 participants, hunting the magnificent wonder of nature.
Price: €105
Min age: 5
Rating 4.49 / 5 [707 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Northern Lights Midnight Adventure from Reykjavík
Reykjavik
Northern Lights Midnight Adventure is a hunt for Iceland’s magical but elusive Northern Lights. Many visitors travel to Iceland to see the Northern Lights but don’t know where to look.
On this tour you travel in a comfortable, heated minibus while your guide searches for the best location to view the Northern Lights. Your guide will also explain the science of how the Northern Lights display occurs.
When or if the Northern Lights appear, your guide will offer to take photos for all participants, so you don’t have to bring a professional camera or be a professional photographer to join this tour. This tour is an ideal opportunity to get the most of your time in Iceland.
Northern Lights are natural phenomenon and sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Operated tours are not refundable.
Price: €110
Min age: 1
Rating 4.81 / 5 [511 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik
Reykjavik
The Northern Lights Cruise will sail you out into the dark blue wonder of Faxaflói bay in search of this mystical phenomenon, leaving behind the bright city lights of the capital Reykjavík. Our expert guide will be at hand to answer your questions while you enjoy Mother Nature's lights show and starry skies wrapped up in a warm overall.
Elding is an environmentally friendly company and recognised worldwide for its environmental efforts. The aim, mission and goal is to minimise the operational impact on the environment while offering an unforgettable experience at sea.
Price: $87
Min age: 0
Rating 4.47 / 5 [408 ratings]
Tour supplied by:
Destination guides
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
Iceland
Iceland
From volcanoes and glaciers to black beaches, geothermal pools and the Northern Lights, Iceland is one of the world’s wildest, weirdest destinations. A paradise for adventurous travellers.
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