How to hunt Northern Lights in Iceland like a PRO

Many people leave Iceland without seeing the Northern Lights at all. While sometimes this is due to the weather, often it's because they didn’t know the right steps. Let’s make sure you’re prepared to go aurora hunting like a professional, without relying solely on luck.

This could be you!

STEP 1: TIME OF THE YEAR

This is crucial. Why? Because you simply cannot see the Northern Lights in Iceland year-round. During the Arctic summer months, the sun doesn’t set, and complete darkness is needed to see the Northern Lights.

• Northern Lights period: Late August to the end of March.

In my opinion, the best months to see the Northern Lights are September, October, and November. That’s just based on my personal experience, but don’t worry—you can still witness great displays during other months too.

This is what it looks like to have strong northern lights dancing right above your head

STEP 2: FORECAST

Keep it simple! I always use the website of the Icelandic Meteorological Office: https://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/

Understanding aurora forecast

On most clear nights, you have at least some chance of seeing the Northern Lights. So, the most important thing to check is the cloud cover forecast. Here's what the map shows:

• Green = Clouds (bad)

• White = Clear sky (good)

The column on the right shows the aurora forecast. To simplify it: the higher the number, the better. You generally want to see at least a 2 or higher. I’ve never seen it go above 7, so anything above 2 is great in my experience.

Northern lights in the winter

STEP 3: LOCATION

I can’t stress enough how important it is to get away from any light pollution. If you’re lucky and the Northern Lights are strong, you may be able to see them from the city. However, you’ll have a far better experience if you drive a few minutes out of town into complete darkness.

Rule of thumb : the less light pollution in the area the better

STEP 4: WAITING GAME

The best approach is to catch the Northern Lights as soon as they start. Find out when it gets dark, drive to a place with no light pollution, and ensure you have a 360-degree view.

If you want to wait from the comfort of your car, make sure all your lights are off—both inside and out. Avoid places with street lights. Every 10 minutes or so, go outside and look at the sky.

The same applies if you’re waiting from your accommodation (though I don’t recommend it). Turn off all lights, inside and outside. If you can't, at least walk further away from the building.

What about Northern Lights tours?

I don’t usually recommend them, as this is something you can easily do on your own. Tour companies often pack people into buses and take them to a parking lot just outside town, where there are people everywhere with phone lights and flashes, ruining the experience. Plus, you waste time waiting for the tour to start and deal with possible delays or cancellations.

TIP : If you do decide to join a tour, opt for a private guide, a photographer, or a smaller group tour.

📸 Happy hunting!