If Iceland can still fit another tourist, go on a road trip and see some excellent Game of Thrones locations sprinkled with snow, lie in hot springs and look up at the Northern Lights. Nothing looks mesmerizing than the sky spotted with the sparkling lights. Now, if you are keen to know about the great places to watch Northern lights in Iceland, do not miss this article.
Each year Iceland receives more visitors, attracted by its spectacular waterfalls and glaciers, its petrified lava plateaus, geysers, active volcanoes and thermal lakes. In winter, weather conditions are harsher, and many roads are closed in bad weather, but on the other hand there are northern lights, especially in the north of the island.
You don't have to walk away from Reikjavik to see them: Grotta's lighthouse at Seltjarnarnes or Oskjuhlid's forest hill are two good observatories. Another possibility is to take refuge in some rural accommodation and wait for the show to take place. Some hotels offer wake-up calls if aurora borealis appears in the middle of the night while the guest sleeps.
What do you know about Northern lights?
The excited solar particles smash into the atmospheric gases. Then Northern lights appear. Since ancient times, the Northern lights have been seen. The view is spectacular and widespread. Northern lights are just beautiful. They are called the Aurora Polaris. Their scientific name is Aurora borealis. There is no effect of temperature on Northern lights.
What are the best places to watch Northern lights in Iceland?
If you have no experience of watching Northern lights in Iceland before, you should have a tour. You should go to catch the sight of Northern lights during the full moon. Besides, you can go on equal nights. Several places in Iceland are the best places to see the lights. These places are perfect for seeing lights.
Let’s get to know about the places to see Northern lights in Iceland.
1. Reykjavik
The capital city of Iceland is Reykjavik. You will not always catch the Northern Lights, but the best place to stay at to catch the Northern Lights is in Reykjavik. This gives you the best chances of going to where the Northern Lights are most visible. Staying in Reykjavik is a must as it is well placed for getting around the country to find a good clear spot to view the Northern Lights.
You do not need to seek for the remote places. Reykjavik can be a perfect spot to watch the lights. You can explore this city within a low budget. The coastal spots are some of the suitable places to watch the lights. The Oskjuhlio hill is great to watch the lights. It is a woodland area. This place is well-known for its handy views. The view from the city center of Reykjavik is mesmerizing.
2. Thingvallavatn National park
The Thingvallavatn National park is a popular place to catch the sight of Northern lights. It is the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The view from this place is just breathtaking. There is very little light pollution at this place. If you love to take wonderful photos, there is a huge opportunity for you in The Thingvallavatn National park.
If the lights are not appearing, you can see the view of the rock formations. There is Thingvallavatn Lake, which is excellent. Besides, you can discover a wide range of wildlife.
3. Grotta
Grotta is located in the northwestern part of the Reykjavik area. It is a few kilometers away from Downtown. Grotta is known as a paradise for watching birds. You are sure to get a good view. If you want to catch Northern lights, you should visit Grotta.
4. Threngsli
If you are seeking a nice spot to watch Northern lights, you can go to Threngsli. People do not know well about Threngsli. If you get closer to the Thorlakshofn, you can watch Northern lights. A huge number of people have seen Northern lights for the first time at the Threngsli. The spot is special to some people for this reason. It is great if you take a lot of photographs at this place.
5. Vik
Vik offers a huge number of attractions for the tourists. It is a peaceful village that comes with scenic views. The black beach is much popular for watching the Northern lights. There is something magical in Vik. The waves are strong here. You should have to be aware of the waves. But you will enjoy the Northern lights. There are a large number of hotels and restaurants in Vik. If you want to stay for several days there, you can stay.
6. Seljavallalaug
It is the top place to catch the sight of Northern lights. Seljavallalaug is in the Southern area of ReykjavÃk and VÃk. If you want to see the Northern light display, you should go to Seljavallalaug. You can see the cosmic light show and the sublime bath water temperature. Travelers are a bit crazy to catch the light display.
7. Siglufjorour
Siglufjorour is known as the fishing town in the North part of Iceland. Whenever you go to North Iceland, a great chance to see the lights is waiting for you. The weather condition can be a bit harsh during winter. You should know about the weather condition if you are comfortable with snow and ice.
Best Time To See Northern lights in Iceland
It is not only important to know about the best places to see the Northern lights. On the other hand, it is more important to know about the best time. You should know about the best time to see the lights because you cannot enjoy the lights if you do not go at the perfect time to watch northern lights in Iceland. The equinoxes are the perfect occasions to watch Northern lights in Iceland.
September and March, these two months are the best time to watch Northern lights. The season starts from early September and lasts till March. The season is related to the fall and winter, which are the darkest hours. There are several other factors to consider like solar activity and cloudiness. So if you are going at the end of September and March, you can watch the biggest display.
In the winter it never gets really cold in Iceland and in the summer it never gets really warm. But the thing that makes Iceland seem colder than the temperatures really are is the wind. It’s constant and unrelenting and can get fatiguing really quickly. And any uncovered area can get cold really quickly even if the temperature really isn’t that cold.
One of the most common pieces of clothing in Iceland are scarfs. You can wrap them around you neck or cover most of you face and head. And then easily adjust them if you turn where the wind isn’t as bad. If you go hiking on a glacier and get some elevation you better bundle up no matter what the temp is because that ice is cold and the wind frequently screams off the side of mountains.
So Iceland really doesn’t get that cold compared to many other places in Europe and North America but it definitely gets pretty chilly and uncomfortable if you’re not prepared for the wind or go messing around on a glacier. It can get really nippy messing around in ice caves on a glacier. Pretty dangerous too.
Northern lights in Iceland in September
The best months to watch Northern Iceland depends totally on your goal and your conditions. You are lucky enough if you are going at the start of the month of September. It is the right time to watch the lights. Nights start getting longer. During September, the solar activity remains high normally. It is not so cold at this time. As such, this month is one of the best months to see Northern lights in Iceland.
Northern lights in Iceland in November
The weather remains unstable in the month of November. Snowfall starts at the beginning of the month of November. This month, the number of hours of darkness increases.
Northern lights in Iceland in December
Besides, in December, you can see more hours of darkness. There are not much tourists during this month. It is great if you consider December to see the Northern lights in Iceland.
Northern lights in Iceland in January
If you are both a photographer and wanderlust, you have to go in the month of January. During winter, there creates a wonderland scenery. You have to choose January if you want to take mesmerizing photographs. The Arctic winter is amazing to see in January.
Northern lights in Iceland in February
The snowfall and cold remain constant in February and is also the best month to see northern lights in Iceland. Some of the waterfalls get frozen during this time. Most of the photographers and tourists take photos at this time.
Northern lights in Iceland in March
March is the best month for northern lights in Iceland as the solar activity increases. This month is the perfect time to see northern lights in Iceland to capture photographs of Northern lights. During this month, there are a huge number of tourists.
Northern lights in Iceland in June
The days are longer during June to August, and there is no dark moment at this time. It is impossible to watch the Aurora Borealis in Iceland in summer.
It is great if you get chances to watch Northern lights. Explore the places to enjoy lights at its fullest. But it does not end here. But do not forget to take stunning photos. Bring your camera kit while you prepare your bags. Take mesmerizing photos of the lights to keep your memory alive. Make your photos beautiful with professional photo retouching. Give the best look to your photographs.
If you explore the internet, you will find a huge number of breathtaking photographs of Northern lights. Seeing these photos, you will understand why you should watch the Northern lights in your lifetime. But you should go to the best places to see Northern lights in Iceland at the right time.
