Where To See Northern Lights In Iceland Tonight

Where To See Northern Lights In Iceland Tonight – In winter, the days are short and the nights long and dark in the Nordic countries. Along with delicious food and revitalizing saunas, the biggest attraction this time of year is the Northern Lights.

To help you make the most of this experience, we’ve put together these tips on how you can see the northern lights. So if this natural phenomenon is on your bucket list, read on to find out where to go, when to visit and what to pack.

Where To See Northern Lights In Iceland Tonight

The Northern Lights, also known as the Northern Lights, look like magic. They are actually caused by solar storms and giant flares from the Sun that send bursts of charged particles towards our planet.

Best Times & Places To See The Northern Lights In Iceland

When these particles enter Earth’s atmosphere, the result is the brilliant colors we know as the aurora borealis. These monitors can have different sizes, movements, colors and brightness. And as you know, the most common color is green, followed by shades of red and purple.

All these factors depend on solar activity. Therefore, it takes a lot of luck to see the Northern Lights in the night sky. As you will read below, you need to be in the right place at the right time with good weather conditions. And you will need patience!

One of the best Northern Lights tips is to go in the winter. The northern lights are visible during the Northern Hemisphere winter, which is between October and March.

Best Way To See Northern Lights In Iceland 2022

Northern Europe experiences dark nights during these months. Compared to summer, when the days are longer, the sun sets earlier at this time of year. This gives you several hours of darkness to chase the Northern Lights.

The northernmost regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland experience polar nights around the winter solstice (late December). The sun does not rise at this time of the year.

Most of the molecular activity that causes the aurora borealis occurs near Earth’s magnetic poles. For this reason, the Arctic region is an ideal location for aurora hunting.

Northern Lights Iceland

In fact, some of the best light shows occur near or above the Arctic Circle. Between 65 and 72 degrees latitude, you’ll find an area called the “Northern Belt of Lights” or “Dawn Zone.” It’s all in the name!

Iceland is famous for its Northern Lights. During the winter, you can go on designated hikes to hunt them. Or you can get behind the wheel and travel across the country, going over peaks and watching the lights.

We recommend settling in Akureyri, as it is the northern capital. This region is almost beyond the Arctic Circle and has a few more hours of darkness. This means a wider window of opportunity to see the Northern Lights.

Where Travelers Can See The Northern Lights In The Contiguous U.s.

North Iceland benefits from a smaller population and therefore less light pollution. During your visit, take a whale watching souvenir tour in Husavik and take a dip in the hot springs in the Lake Myvatn area.

Even if you’re only in Iceland for a short visit, you may still get your chance. The Northern Lights can often be seen from Reykjavik itself. Or you can book a trip out on the town on one of their free nights.

Norway is generally a wonderful country to visit in winter. From mesmerizing Christmas markets to glistening fjords, it’s spectacular. The south may be your first port of call, but you should head to northern Norway.

Aurora Forecast Iceland Now

This area is right in the middle of the Northern Lights belt. Cities such as Kirkenes, Tromso and the Lofoten Islands are ideal places to view the Northern Lights.

Combine your travel dreams with night vision. Explore stunning natural landscapes, learn about the Sami people and take part in fun Nordic adventures.

You can book a short trip up north or a longer trip to explore more of the country. Check out the capital Oslo, the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ Bergen and Norway’s former capital, historic Trondheim.

Tonight’s Live Northern Lights Forecast

Combine all of these spots with a cruise along the West Coast. You can go north and from there cross the Arctic Circle and see the North Cape. Watch the Northern Lights dance above you from the deck of the ship.

For an enchanting winter experience, consider a trip to Swedish Lapland. While it boils in summer in the south of Sweden, it is cold in winter in the north.

Set up your base in the city of Kiruna, located in the far north near the Norwegian border. From there you can walk to fun places like the luxurious Ice Hotel. It was the first of its kind in the world and if you wanted you could stay overnight in one of its icy rooms.

A Guide To Northern Lights Spotting In Iceland, Lapland And Beyond

Abisko National Park is also 1 hour away. The park is famous for its Aurora Sky Station. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain for an unobstructed view of the sky above. Guided tours are available to learn about the Northern Lights and how to see them.

The Northern Lights are a truly unique experience in Svalbard as they can be seen during the day.

Svalbard is located at 78 degrees north and is shrouded in darkness for about three months from November to mid-February. This far north, aurora activity can occur between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The 17 Best Places To See The Northern Lights In Iceland This Winter (2022 2023)

Come in February to experience long nights and short days. Explore the winter landscape, try to spot the elusive polar bear and take advantage of the darkness to spot the aurora.

Light pollution is a big problem these days when it comes to gazing at the night sky. The same is the case for observing the Northern Lights. Make sure you stay away from the big city and city lights to increase your chances of seeing them.

In the evening, you can take a guided tour of the desert. This allows you to stay in a more populated area and explore cultural attractions during the day.

Hunting The Northern Lights In Iceland

Or you can book a stay in the countryside. Thus, you can see the dark sky directly from your abode.

Whether you’re waiting with a camera or not, the Northern Lights will light up the clear sky. So why not make the most of your time in Northern Europe?

Book a snowmobile tour, visit an ice or snow hotel, or take a dog sled ride. These allow you to get out of the city, experience the winter landscape of the north, but be exposed to the northern lights.

Reykjavik Turns Off Street Lights To Turn Up The Northern Lights

Before planning your trip, check when is the best winter weather in the country you want to visit. Choose the driest month, as cloudy and rainy skies will not be the best for viewing the northern lights.

If you’ve booked your travel months in advance, you may not know the day’s weather in advance. But once you’re at your destination, check out the weather forecast and the Northern Lights. For Iceland, we recommend the MET Office. You can easily find one for every country in Northern Europe.

These predictions can alert you if there is a high chance of Northern Lights at night. That way, you’ll know whether to stay outside longer or stay warm and cozy inside.

Northern Lights Tours In Iceland

In some parts of northern Europe, the sun sets at the beginning of winter. This is great because it gives you longer nights to take advantage of the dark skies. However, the aurora borealis is most likely to appear during the darkest and coldest times of the night.

Peak time is between 11 pm to 2 am. Most guided tours leave after 9 pm for the best odds. You can certainly get lucky to see them early, but the best views are usually in the late afternoon.

Some hotels even offer a special wake-up service in case the lights go out. That way you don’t have to stay awake all night on calls.

Northern Lights Forecast In Iceland Tonight

If you’ve done all of that and are still wondering how to see the Northern Lights, take your time.

Light is not visible in any type of plane. You may see them as soon as the sun goes down, or you may have to wait a few hours.

If you’ve booked a tour, the good news is that most include some activity or refreshments to keep guests entertained and warm.

Northern Lights In Iceland

There are many ways to see the Northern Lights. You might be lucky enough to see them from the city center or from your hotel with an alarm clock.

If you want to get active and explore beyond the Northern Lights, an expertly guided tour has many advantages:

Have you always wanted to see the Norwegian fjords? Want to visit the cities and enjoy the winter scenery at the same time? Book a winter cruise and combine all these bucket-list-worthy items with chasing the Northern Lights.

Northern Lights Livestream

For this reason, a cruise to northern Norway is a popular way to experience the country in winter. You’ll leave the city lights behind and head out to sea for a better chance of seeing the Northern Lights against Norway’s rugged coastline.

Traveling to Northern Europe in winter doesn’t have to be as cold as you think.

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