Best Places to See Northern Lights in Iceland: 6 Stunning Locations (2026)

Hunting the aurora in Iceland requires a mix of patience and mobility:

Cloud Chase: Iceland's weather is notoriously fickle. The trick is to use the Icelandic Met Office (en.vedur.is) cloud forecast maps and drive to where the gaps are.

The Ring Road Advantage: Almost all the best aurora spots are located just off the Ring Road (Route 1), making it easy to change locations if clouds move in.

Lunar Lighting: Iceland's landscape is so dark that a small amount of moonlight can actually help by illuminating the foreground mountains and glaciers for your photos.

Image Tip: The green aurora ribbons arcing over the pyramid-shaped Kirkjufell mountain, reflected in the calm tide pools below.

Distance from Reykjavik: 5 hours | Bortle Class: 2 | Best For: Ultimate reflections, icebergs

The glacier lagoon is perhaps the most magical place in the world to watch the aurora. It features giant blue icebergs floating in a lagoon, all mirroring the sky above.

The Experience:

• Hearing the ice 'creak' and 'crack' in the silence of the night
• The aurora reflecting in the still water of the lagoon
• Diamond Beach nearby (icebergs on black sand) for ground-level shots

Note: It's a long drive. Most people stay in the nearby towns of Höfn or Vik.

Distance from Reykjavik: 2.5 hours | Bortle Class: 3-4 | Best For: Iconic compositions, Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Kirkjufell is the most photographed mountain in Iceland. Its unique shape and the nearby waterfalls (Kirkjufellsfoss) make it the perfect 'anchor' for an aurora shot.

Top Spots:

• Kirkjufellsfoss — The classic composition with the waterfall in the foreground
• Grundarfjörður town edges — Dark enough for great views
• Búðir Black Church — A nearby iconic foreground just 30 mins away

Strategy: Snæfellsnes is often called 'Iceland in Miniature'—it's a great place to spend 2-3 nights dedicated to aurora hunting.

Distance from Reykjavik: 2.5 hours | Bortle Class: 3 | Best For: Black sand beaches, sea stacks

The black sand beaches of Vik offer dramatic basalt columns and jagged sea stacks (Reynisdrangar) that look otherworldly under the green glow of the aurora.

Top Spots:

• Reynisfjara Beach — Basalt columns and crashing waves
• Vik i Myrdal Church — The hilltop church overlooking the town
• Dyrhólaey — A massive stone arch looking south over the Atlantic

Danger: Never turn your back on the ocean at Reynisfjara. 'Sneaker waves' can be fatal even at night. Stay well back from the waterline.

Distance from Reykjavik: 45 minutes | Bortle Class: 4 | Best For: Closest high-quality sky to the city

Thingvellir is part of the Golden Circle and is the closest place to Reykjavik with genuinely dark skies. It's where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are pulling apart.

Why Visit:

• Dramatic rift valleys provide unique silhouettes
• Large lake (Þingvallavatn) for reflections
• Paved parking and maintained paths

Tip: If the aurora index is high (Kp 4+), you can literally see the lights from the parking lots here.

Distance from Reykjavik: 6 hours (or flight to Akureyri) | Bortle Class: 2 | Best For: Volcanic landscapes, clear northern air

North Iceland often has clearer weather than the south. The Lake Mývatn area is a playground of volcanic craters, steaming vents, and lava fields.

Where to Go:

• Goðafoss — The 'Waterfall of the Gods' under the aurora
• Hverfjall Crater — A massive black tephra cone for dramatic silhouettes
• Dimmuborgir — Twisted lava formations (the 'Dark Castles')

Bonus: The Mývatn Nature Baths are a quieter, more local version of the Blue Lagoon—perfect for aurora watching.

Distance: 5-6 hours | Bortle Class: 1-2 | Best For: Ultimate isolation, huge waterfalls

The Westfjords are the most remote part of Iceland. They see 10% of the tourists and have 0% of the light pollution.

The Highlight:

• Dynjandi Waterfall — A massive, tiered waterfall that looks like a wedding veil. Seeing the aurora over this is a life-highlight.
• Rauðasandur — Red sand beach with zero light for miles.

Constraint: Many roads in the Westfjords close in winter. This is a destination for late September/October or April.