The northern lights can sometimes be seen from Reykjavik on dark, clear nights. The aurora season runs roughly from September to April.
Can you see the northern lights in Reykjavik
City light makes them harder to see, so darker spots on the edge of the city are better. Grotta, on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, is a well-used dark-sky spot within the city.
When to look
Summer nights are too bright for the aurora because of the midnight sun.
Checking the forecast
Clear skies and darkness matter more than cold, so check the cloud cover and the aurora forecast. The Icelandic Met Office publishes an aurora forecast on vedur.is. The aurora forecast is published by the Icelandic Met Office on vedur.is. The lights are never guaranteed on any given night.
Seeing the lights and northern lights tours
Many visitors join a guided northern lights tour that drives away from the city lights to darker areas. You can compare Northern Lights tours to see the current options. Watching means standing outside in the cold, so warm layers help.
Check before you go
For a current read on the sky, check the Aurora Forecast before making northern-lights plans around Northern Lights in Reykjavik: What to Know.
