man standing on a rock near snow covered land

Useful tips for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland

We have read many stories about hunting northern lights in countries like Iceland, Finland or Norway, and the truth is that it was not in our plans, but we were dying to see them. The question was whether it was possible to see them in Iceland in October. Surprise, we saw them! In addition to luck, which greatly influences these very particular phenomena, we have Some tips to see the Northern Lights in Iceland that can help you conclude your search successfully.

Nobody prepares you to see the unknown. You imagine it, and then it turns out that reality is often stranger than fiction.

We put these tips into practice some days we went out to try to see the northern lights. further down you have photos that confirm that these tricks increase the chances of seeing Northern Lights in Iceland.

Hunting for Northern Lights. useful tips

I have my doubts about the expression -hunt the northern lights-. A phenomenon that appears in the sky suddenly. Sometimes, when the ideal circumstances occur, they do not occur.

This leads us to the conclusion that the northern lights, in addition to being one of the most incredible spectacles that nature offers us they are a bit capricious.

with these tips and a little luck I hope you can see some on your trip to Iceland.

silhouette of man standing on grass under starry night

✩ First thing we advise you is to download one Northern lights app. We use Aurora Forecast. we also use Vedur.is. Application that at the same time served us to inform us of the state of the roads in Iceland. Is a Essential application if you want to do the Iceland Ring Road.

✩ If you are in a place where there is a chance of seeing the Northern Lights, try get as far as possible from the lights of the town or city.

The further north you are, the better. Although the aurora borealis is a trail that covers a certain part of the planet, the most intense parts of said stela It is usually located to the north.

✩ Make sure that the sky is clear.

They say that after a storm comes calm. The calm and, if you are in the north of Iceland, a good chance of the Northern Lights.

If the odds are high, the sky is clear but there is a full moon, it is best to go first thing in the evening when the moon is still very low.

Iceland and the Northern Lights

Now I'm going to give you a little bit of trouble with some information that may interest you.

Iceland is one of the only countries in the world where you can see the Northern Lights. Along with the Nordic countries, Greenland, Alaska, northern Canada and Russia.

On the other hand, the aurora australis. A similar phenomenon at the South Pole. They can be seen in Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Also in Australia and New Zealand.

The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland

Definitely, the best time to see northern lights is in winter, as the ideal conditions are given to be able to observe them with intensity and for a long period of time.

However, You can also see them in intermediate times such as autumn and spring. Although odds are lower. It is possible to see them just as intense as in winter, as long as the conditions are right.

aurora above lake at night

About Us we saw northern lights in mid october, after a storm, in Akureyri.

As I mentioned before, you can see the Northern Lights in intermediate seasons, although it is much more complicated that the ideal conditions occur just in the period in which you visit the country. Anyway, I recommend that you pay attention. Who knows if the capricious auroras don't give them a chance to go out the days you're in Iceland?

Our experience and that of other travelers

We know experiences of travelers who have been able to see them in autumn and others that, still Going in winter, they have not been able to "hunt" them.

Shall we tell you our experience?

We saw the northern lights in the city of Akureyri. After passing a storm of about two days. The sky cleared, it stopped snowing a bit, the temperatures dropped and the northern lights appeared.

As a curiosity: we could see a long boreal trail with full moon. Therefore, if this is the case, we advise you to go out and try to see them between 9-10 pm at the latest, before the moonlight rises too high and eclipses the light of the northern lights.

So, as a conclusion,The question is to go out and try it, look at the sky every day and take a look at the application from time to time.

The northern lights are not hunted, in any case, they hunt you.

𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚜 𝚙𝚘𝚛 𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚛 ♡ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞


Leave a comment