Travel tips
Seeing the northern lights in Iceland: a guide for US travelers
When to go, how to read the forecast, where to stay and how to drive safely in an Icelandic winter.
By Traveljin Editorial Team · Updated · 2 min read
Quick answer
- The northern lights season in Iceland runs from about September to mid-April, when nights are dark enough.
- You need clear skies and darkness away from city lights; check the Icelandic Met Office's aurora and cloud forecast each day.
- Iceland is only about five to six hours from the East Coast, which makes a long weekend possible.
| Season | About September–mid-April |
|---|---|
| Best viewing hours | Around 9 p.m.–2 a.m. |
| Flight from New York or Boston | About 5–6 hours |
| Airport to Reykjavík | About 45 minutes |
| December daylight | About 4–5 hours |
When to go
The aurora happens all year, but you can only see it when the sky is dark. In Iceland that means roughly September to mid-April. Midwinter has the longest nights, while September, October and March combine darkness with milder weather and longer days for sightseeing.
Stay at least four or five nights. Cloud is the biggest obstacle, and more nights give you more chances of a clear one.
How to read the forecast
The Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) publishes an aurora forecast with cloud cover maps for the whole country. Look for areas with clear skies; the strength of the aurora matters less than the clouds.
Get away from the lights of Reykjavík, give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust to the dark, and be patient. Displays often come in waves.
Where to stay
- Reykjavík: the easiest base, with northern lights tours that drive you to wherever the skies are clear.
- The South Coast, around Hella, Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur: dark skies plus waterfalls, black-sand beaches and glaciers by day.
- The Golden Circle area: countryside hotels with aurora wake-up calls, an hour or so from Reykjavík.
- North Iceland, around Akureyri and Lake Mývatn: often drier and clearer than the south, reached by a short domestic flight.
Driving in winter
Winter roads can be icy, and storms can close them with little warning. If you rent a car, choose a 4x4, check road conditions on road.is and weather warnings on vedur.is every morning, and register your plans on safetravel.is. If you aren't comfortable driving on ice, join tours instead.
Getting there and stopovers
Keflavík Airport is about five hours from Boston and five to six from New York, with flights from many other US cities. Icelandair also lets you add a stopover in Iceland on the way to Europe at no extra airfare, so you can combine the northern lights with a trip to London, Paris or Amsterdam.
Volcanic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula near the airport has caused eruptions in recent years. Flights have generally kept operating, but nearby attractions such as the Blue Lagoon have closed at times, so check their status before you go.
Frequently asked questions
What month is best to see the northern lights in Iceland?
Any month from September to mid-April can be good. February, March and October often combine dark nights with more settled weather.
Can you see the northern lights from Reykjavík?
Sometimes, on strong nights, from dark spots such as the Grótta lighthouse. You will usually see more by driving or taking a tour out of the city.
How long is the flight from the US to Iceland?
About five hours from Boston and five to six hours from New York to Keflavík.
