Trip planning
How many days in Iceland? A 3, 5, 7 and 14-day guide
Three days covers the south. Seven is the sweet spot. Fourteen covers the whole island unhurried.
Yes, sometimes from the city itself, but pale. The darkest corners of Reykjavík, when it is worth trying on your own, and why driving a few kilometres out changes everything.
In this guide
Yes, you can see the northern lights from Reykjavík, but rarely the way they look in photos. With strong activity and a clear sky they show up over the city, yet the urban glow steals their colour and detail. If you want to see them properly, the two things that change the result most are getting a few kilometres away from the streetlights and, above all, heading to wherever the clouds are not.
Here is when it is worth trying from town, which spots work best, and when it makes sense to go out with someone who reads the cloud map for you.
Why the city makes it harder
Reykjavík is small but brightly lit: streetlights, shop windows, the harbour, floodlit buildings. That light scatters in the air and lays a grey veil over the sky. In practice:
- A faint aurora (the most common kind on an ordinary night) looks like a whitish cloud from the centre, hard to pick out.
- A moderate aurora is visible, but pale, without the intense greens a camera picks up.
- A strong aurora, on a geomagnetic storm night, is visible even downtown. Those nights happen, but they are not the majority.
There is a second problem people forget: the city sits on the coast and the weather turns fast. It can be overcast over Reykjavík and clear 40 minutes' drive away.
The best spots in (or just outside) Reykjavík
If you want to try your luck without leaving the city, these are the darkest places with a decent view north:
| Spot | Why it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Grótta lighthouse (Seltjarnarnes) | Western tip, open sea, little light around | It is a bird area: in some seasons you are asked not to cross. Follow the signs |
| Ægisíða shore path | South shore of the city, no buildings in front | Cold wind straight off the sea |
| Öskjuhlíð, by Perlan | Wooded hill, fewer streetlights | Walk away from the lit-up dome itself |
| Seafront by the Sun Voyager | Easy to reach from downtown | The brightest of the four |
Grótta is the one everyone recommends, and for good reason. If you go on foot or by taxi, check the tide before trying to reach the lighthouse, because the causeway can be under water.
When it is worth trying from town
Check two things on the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast (vedur.is):
- Cloud cover first. If the map over Reykjavík is white, there is nothing to see in town, however high the activity.
- Activity. On high readings the aurora cuts through city light. On low ones you probably will not notice it from town.
The hours we usually suggest are around midnight, but the aurora keeps no timetable. Patience, warm layers, and looking at the sky now and then rather than only at your phone screen.
Why a tour changes the outcome so much
This is not a sales trick, it is geography. On an aurora hunt three things happen that are hard to do from a hotel:
- We leave the light pollution behind. Half an hour out of town the sky changes completely, and even a faint arc reads as green.
- We choose the destination from that night's clouds. The guide picks the route from the weather forecast and solar activity, and moves if needed.
- You do not have to drive at night in winter, on ice, on roads you do not know, or decide alone at 10 pm which way to go.
Our outing, Northern Lights with Friends, lasts 4 to 5 hours, picks up in Reykjavík, runs in a small group with a Spanish- and English-speaking guide, and includes hot chocolate, coffee or tea, a snack, and help photographing the aurora on your phone. It costs €99: reserving is free and you pay 48 hours before. If we do not see the aurora on the first outing, the second one the next night is free. Cancellation terms are in the FAQ.
What we recommend
- Book the tour on your first free night, not your last, so you have room to repeat.
- On the other nights, if the forecast looks good, head to Grótta or the shore on your own. Nothing to lose.
- If there is a strong geomagnetic storm, look up even in the middle of downtown. Sometimes the aurora comes to the city.
For the season, the KP index and how many nights to plan, see our complete guide to the northern lights in Iceland. And if you are spending a few days in the capital, here is what to do in Reykjavík by day.
Frequently asked
Can you see the aurora from downtown Reykjavík?+
Only on high-activity nights with a clear sky, and even then it looks paler than outside the city because of light pollution.
What is the best spot in Reykjavík for the northern lights?+
Grótta lighthouse in Seltjarnarnes is the usual pick: a western point with open sea and little light. Check the tide and respect the bird-area signs.
Where do I check the aurora forecast?+
On the Icelandic Met Office site, vedur.is, which shows predicted activity and, more importantly, the cloud cover map.
How much is the northern lights tour?+
€99 per person. Reserving is free and you pay 48 hours before the outing.
Want us to plan it for you?
Small groups, bilingual guides, free cancellation.
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