15 Best Places to See Northern lights in Iceland 2024!

Places in Iceland for Northern Lights

Seltjarnarnes, Perlan, Thingvellir, Threngsli, Seljavallalaug Pool, Vík, Eldborgahraun, Djúpavík, Látrabjarg, Ásbyrgi Canyon, Hvammsfjordur and many more.

Spotting the various hues of blues, greens, and reds, dancing up above in the sky from some of the best locations in Iceland can actually be quite dreamy. Some of the best places in Iceland for the Northern Lights lie far away from the crowded cities where there is no pollution and you get to see a clear sky. Moreover, if you are in an isolated location, the chances for you to admire this beauty enhance a lot more.

The best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights is surely along with its majestic sea coast. There are a number of selected pristine locations along the fjords and the actual coast, including some of the popular tourist destinations like the Hvitserkur and Vik from where you can wait for the glittering lights to appear in the sky and provide you with some of the most memorable moments of your life.

Here is a list of the best places to see in the northern lights in Iceland:

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01

Seltjarnarnes

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Seltjarnarnes is a quiet and small residential town situated on the tip of a peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean from all sides. It is one of the best places in Iceland for Northern lights spotting. The Grotta Lighthouse in Seltjarnarnes is highly popular due to its isolated location to view and admire the beautiful phenomenon of Northern Lights in the sky.

Moreover, the place is entirely free of any kind of light or sound pollution, making your experience even more special. The amalgamation of the seashore and the views of glittering lights in the sky surely make you fall in love with it.
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02

Perlan

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If you wish to truly know the entire history of Iceland and wish to get closer to the mysteries of this magical country, visiting this place is a must-visit for you. At Perlan, one gets to explore the world’s very first man-made ice cave and sit inside a modern-day planetarium to go through a virtual journey that allows you to watch the amazing phenomenon of Northern Lights and know about it, any day of the year.

Perlan apart from being the best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights in a virtual way is also the best place to know about the Icelandic world and lives.

Location: Reykjavík, Iceland

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03

Thingvellir

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It is one of the most popular destinations for people who are waiting to spot the Northern Lights in Iceland. This amazing city is popular as a historical sight for Iceland and also has one of the most popular National Parks of the country, i.e., the Thingvellir National Park.

The phenomenon of Northern Lights is best experienced at places with pitch darkness, no pollution, and a calm environment, this is exactly what makes Thingvellir one of the best places in Iceland for Northern Lights.

Location:
801 Selfoss, Iceland

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04

Threngsli

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The endless flat area near the city of Thorlakshofn is known to be the best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights in an isolated place. This place is not much frequented by travelers. Therefore, you wish to have a peaceful getaway to admire the beautiful glowing colors in the clear skies of Iceland, this is the very place for you to be. Moreover, the place is free of any kind of air or noise pollution and provides you with an expansive backdrop of a vast flatland which allows you to capture some of the most mind-blowing views of the Northern Lights.

Location:
Thorlakshofn, Iceland

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05

Seljavallalaug Pool

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An outdoor swimming pool, just a small drive away from Ásólfsskáli, Seljavallalaug Pool is situated in beautifully landscaped natural surroundings, with hilly terrain all around and a beautiful stream flowing near it. It does not have any kind of settlements in its near vicinity and provides the visitors with a perfect location to admire the Northern Lights.

All said and done, it is also one of the oldest swimming pools in the whole of Iceland, making it even more special for the visitors coming up there.

Location:
Skogar, Vik and Myrdalsjokull, Iceland

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06

Vík

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A beautiful small village, probably the best place in Iceland to see Northern Light, Vik is home to some of the most beautiful black sand beaches and basalt rock columns. These columns pop out of the ocean and provide you with a perfect backdrop for viewing and capturing the Northern Lights. Moreover, the chances of viewing the Northern Lights are quite high in this very region.

Therefore, there definitely is no reason for you to miss out on this place to admire the Northern Lights.

Location:
Vík í Mýrdal Village, Iceland

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07

Eldborgahraun

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An escape to Eldborg Aarau will take you to a land far away from the glimpse of city life. What could be more scenic and exciting than a lava-covered terrain with moss all over it? Eldborg Aarau is one of the best places in Iceland for Northern Lights and can actually provide you with some of the most unique experiences.

Moreover, if you are a photography enthusiast and wish to capture the night sky, there definitely cannot be a better place for you to capture various other natural wonders in the clear skies, other than the Northern Lights obviously!

Location: lavafält i Island, Suðurland

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08

Djúpavík

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Quite an unpopular seashore town in Iceland, Djúpavík is very less frequented by travelers. The only wanders that you may find there are the enthusiasts who wish to spot the beautiful star trails. However, very few are aware of the fact that this side of the country actually experiences the most beautiful occurrences of the Northern Lights, making it the best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights.

You may even get to admire the prominent hues of blue, purple, pink, and even red, which are rarely visible from most of the other locations in the country. Therefore, if you wish to spot the Northern Lights in all its glory in a secluded area, with no one else around you, just head to Djúpavík.

Location:
Árneshreppur, North West Iceland

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09

Látrabjarg

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This place is popular as one of the longest sea cliffs, with a stretch of almost 14 kilometers, overlooking the majestic waters. It is also known as the westernmost edge of Europe and also is home to a huge number of seabirds. These cliffs are undoubtedly one of the best places in Iceland for Northern Lights, with a beautiful backdrop of the ocean in front of you with beautiful quaint beaches below the cliffs.

Location:
Westfjords, Iceland

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10

Ásbyrgi Canyon

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Also, popular as the Shelter of the Gods, it is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Iceland. The location is perfect for hiking for almost every kind of hiker, ranging from a first-timer to a highly experienced one. The surroundings will offer you the best of the woodlands and some majestic rocky cliffs to pass by. All that combined with the experience of admiring the Northern Lights can actually be quite exhilarating for sure!

Location: Ásbyrgi, Iceland

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11

Hvammsfjordur

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If you would like to camp by the coast of a beautiful fjord in Iceland and admire the beautiful phenomenon of Northern Lights with the quaint sound of the ocean at night, this is probably the best place for you to be. If you are driving yourself, just rent out a pair of camping tents and spend a whole night by the coast of the Hvalfjordur ford to have an amazing camping experience and wait for the Northern Lights to light up the sky of Iceland to make your outing even more memorable and enjoyable.

Location: West Iceland

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12

Jokulsarlon

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Also known as the Crown Jewel of Iceland, this gigantic glacial lagoon is definitely another natural wonder of Iceland to look forward to other than the Northern Lights. There could literally be no other better view on the face of this earth than watching these two amazing natural phenomena colliding with each other on a starry night.

It is surely the best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights, merging with the snowy peaks and majestic glacial lagoon. Visiting this place will also make your paths cross with some majestic tumbling waterfalls of Iceland.

Location:
Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland

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13

East fjords

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If you wish to admire the beauty of the Northern Lights during the winters, the best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights in all its glory is surely in a quaint isolated location amidst the East Fjords.

One of the most beloved locations, which also has a huge probability of allowing you the chance of capturing the Northern Lights is Egilsstaðir, which is a remote area, with a coast just ahead of you, surrounded by the lush green natural landscape. Apart from that, if you wish to experience the true culture of Iceland and wish to spend a peaceful vacation, visiting the country’s eastern region is surely a must.

Location:
Eastern Iceland

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14

Hvitserkur

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Iceland’s most photographed location, Hvitserkur is one of the best places in Iceland for Northern Lights if you wish to capture it in your camera with a mind-blowing background. The humongous basalt monolith Hvítserkur rises from the sea to form a monster-like structure.

It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions of Iceland that becomes even more majestic and horror-inducing if you combine it with the phenomenon of Northern Lights. Moreover, the stories that are linked with the monstrous monolith would surely attract you to admire this structure with the Northern Lights forming a magical backdrop behind it.

Location:
Vatnsnesvegur, Iceland

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15

Siglufjordur

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Visiting the fjords of Siglufjordur is more in itself a cultural trip to the better half of Iceland. It is a small fishing town nestled along the narrow fjords. Moreover, the special reason that attracts you to this small fishing town is the frequent occurrence of the Northern Lights in its glorious skies. If you do not wish for tourist-laden popular destinations to admire the Northern Lights, this very town is the place that you need to head to.

Location:
Siglufjörður fjord, Iceland

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People Also Ask About Iceland

  1. Where are the best places to stay in Iceland to see the Northern Lights?

    1. Hotel Ranga: One of the best places in Iceland for Northern Lights, Hotel Ranga has its very own observatory on its rooftop from where the guests can further enhance their experience of admiring the Northern Lights on their visit to the beautiful country of Iceland.

    2. Reykjavik Domes: Specially formulated to admire the beautiful phenomenon of Northern Lights, it is an original igloo hotel that takes you back in time and allows you to stay in a warm cozy igloo shell.

    3. Hotel Kjarnalundur: Probably the best place in Iceland to see Northern Lights, the hotel has a fully-fledged outdoor jacuzzi where the guests can relax whilst admiring the beautiful skies of Iceland.

    4. Hotel Laxnes:
    Situated away from the city of Reykjavik, with not a single trace of pollution in its near vicinity, the hotel is one of the best places to stay at, to admire the Northern Lights.
  2. What is the best time to see Northern Lights in Iceland?

    The best time to see Northern Lights in Iceland is during the winter months of August to April. The perfect time to admire the Northern lights is in pitch darkness and unfortunately, the sun doesn’t set in Iceland throughout its summers.
  3. Which part of Iceland is best for the Northern Lights?

    The western part of Iceland has a higher probability of witnessing the phenomenon of Northern Lights. Therefore, it is best to head towards the west if you wish to have a better chance of capturing the same.
  4. Can you see the northern lights in Reykjavik?

    Yes, Reykjavik has a very high chance of allowing you to admire the Northern Lights.
  5. Do the Northern Lights happen every night?

    No, Northern Lights do not happen every night. It is highly dependable on the climatic conditions as well as the sky conditions in the region that you are in.
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It was really the top and memorable place we had visited till now and we had a great time on this tour... Which is with no regret will always recommend this trip to everyone especially to all the traveller this is the best place you'll find so much amazing views with lots of natural scenics beauty everywhere... Really I am in love with the place each sightseeing we visited truly gave us surprises and good photos... The accommodations were great and the hotel staffs were very professional and helpful... We get to learn about the culture and history of the place which was very interesting... The picked-up and dropped-off were on time really all the arrangements exceeded our expectations. The visiting to volcanoes, waterfall, black sand beached and lava centre had made us excited... 10 days spent in Iceland was really a mind-blowing experience we had once in a lifetime...
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