So you’re coming to Iceland and seeing the Northern Lights is HIGH on your bucket list. Am I right?! I hear you my friend, that was my biggest wish as well.
Good news…I am here to help you fulfill your bucket list!
Thankfully, my bucket list wish came true, and with loads of photos to remember them by. It was definitely the highlight of 2014, and perhaps in the top 5 most memorable moments of my life. We have also been lucky to see the lights a few times since we moved here, even from the balcony of our apartment! I can’t wait to see what these beauties have in store for the winter!
So if you are planning on visiting Iceland in the near future, you are in luck! Read on for the best tips for viewing the dazzling Northern Lights.
What are the Northern Lights?
First, a little lesson on what makes the Northern lights. Because, science.
It all starts with the sun. The sun releases solar flares which travel towards the Earth in the form of electrons. The earth has a geomagnetic field that acts like a shield to protect the Earth. The flare wraps around the Earth’s atmosphere and then separates at the poles. This is why you can only see the lights from the extreme hemispheres. (Fun fact! There is also a Southern Lights known as Aurora Australis – commonly seen from Antartica, Australia and New Zealand.)
3 rules to view the Northern Lights
Now let’s talk about the basic rules to follow to ensure your Northern Light viewing, plus photo tips on how to best capture them!
Rule #1
Northern Lights outside of Egilsstadir – 2014
Northern Lights from our apartment balcony – 2015
Northern Lights AND big dipper! Stykkisholmur – 2015
- Long exposure time, i.e. 20 seconds
- Mid range ISO. I like to keep it around 800 (this will be different depending on surrounding light pollution).
- Aperture between f/2.8 and f/5.6
- Keep the camera completely still. A tripod is a must for this. If you have a shutter release that would be extra helpful to minimize any blurring.
Northern Lights outside Egilsstadir – 2014
- Tours can be a great way to see the Northern Lights, especially if you are not renting a car. However, obviously the tour cannot guarantee a Lights sighting. (Like when we were so excited to go on a while watching tour and saw the tail flick up once. It happens.) Again, it all depends on the cloud forecast and solar flares, and Iceland weather can be very unpredictable. Be patient!
- Aurora Reykjavik Northern Lights Center is located downtown and actually a really impressive museum. Their motto is “where the Northern Lights are always on display!” The museum has interesting information about the mythology and science of the Northern Lights, and of course, the photos are incredible! There is also an amazing wide screen room where you can watch time lapse video footage of the Northern Lights captured from all around Iceland. It will make you want to hike to all places through Iceland in the dark and freezing cold just to become a professional Northern Lights photographer!
Jennifer learning about the Northern Lights at the Aurora museum
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Iceland Weather + Aurora
- Shows cloud cover
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Geophysical Institute
- Rating of how likely/intense they will be
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Soft Serve News
- Breaks down kv activity in half hour increments
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Aurora Iceland App
- All-in-one checker! This is literally the only thing you would need to check the forecast based on your specific location. I love to use this app because I can set alerts to where I am at the time.
With this download you also get access to the FREE resource library FILLED with printables, checklists, and guides to help you plan the best Iceland trip ever!
Trip planning is hard enough as it is! That’s why I created this resource library, to make your life easier.
ALSO. When you sign up, you get instant access to the Iceland Travel Team Facebook group! A community of people to connect and interact with, ask questions, and share your awesome Iceland travel experiences!
Not a member yet? No worries, just enter your name and email address, and I send you the password to unlock the library!
**Already a member of the team? Click here to instantly download your Northern Lights photography guidebook!
P.S. Please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t automatically get an email response.
Happy planning, Team!
And now you are a Northern Lights pro! I wish you luck on your quest to find the Northern Lights. Iceland is an incredible place to see the Lights because of it’s wild and untouched landscapes. I promise, they will not leave you disappointed!
Question: Are the Northern Lights on your bucket list?!
Marianne // DYOB
November 9, 2015 at 2:34 pmHi Jeannie, I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, so this was awesome to read! For some reason it never occurred to me to see them in Iceland even though it’s a country I have been definitely wanting to visit.
I must know though: how do you stand the cold!!? 😉
Jeannie
November 12, 2015 at 11:00 amIceland is truly an amazing place to see the Northern Lights…and everything else! I grew up in Wisconsin so I am actually quite used to the cold! And the scenery make it moooore than worth it 😉
Kristy Logan
November 9, 2015 at 4:54 pmHopefully these tips come in handy in March!! Seeing the northern lights is definitely on my bucket list 🙂
Jeannie
November 12, 2015 at 11:01 amYES they definitely will especially with your new camera! The aurora awaits you 😀
Kelley
November 12, 2015 at 3:57 amLove the camera tips! You’re so thoughtful 😁
Jeannie
November 12, 2015 at 11:11 amThanks girl, anytime!
Noor Unnahar
November 14, 2015 at 1:39 pmIt’s definitely on my bucket-list to visit Iceland to see Northern Lights. I am not coming anytime soon, I wish to come someday. Though I’m sure this freezing cold will be the death of me, haha!
Jeannie
November 14, 2015 at 8:14 pmI think Iceland rewards you with it’s beautiful scenery and the Northern Lights for putting up with its cold and dark 🙂 Otherwise everyone would probably leave!
Emily
November 20, 2015 at 11:11 pmThanks for the tips, Jeannie! It is especially helpful to know how to adjust the camera. As a novice photographer, I wouldn’t have thought to make sure the exposure time was set differently. Hope we get lucky enough to see them in a few weeks!!!
Jeannie
November 23, 2015 at 8:16 amHey Emily, the camera settings are super important for capturing a good image! Good luck on your lights hunt!
Rachel
November 29, 2015 at 5:03 amThis is definitely high on my bucket list! Thanks for sharing these helpful tips!
Jeannie
November 29, 2015 at 10:02 amThey are definitely an amazing sight to see! Glad you found it helpful!
Go Iceland Car Rental
February 4, 2016 at 11:43 amWhat a brilliant article and beautiful shots. Didn’t know about the colors where height dependable.
A timer or a remote for the camera would also help 🙂
We just wrote a small mini guide on how to shoot Aurora Borealis, there is maybe one or two details there that is good to know!
http://www.goiceland.com/blog/northern-lights-trip/6721/
Happy photographing!
Jeannie
February 5, 2016 at 8:27 pmThanks so much! The remote definitely helps a lot. Happy aurora hunting!
Go Icelaland Car Rental
February 8, 2016 at 8:28 amYou too! 🙂
Amber
March 17, 2016 at 9:59 pmYour image showing the color spectrum is super helpful, I can never remember the order! My favorite website is spaceweather.com It shows the solar wind speed, particle density, and the NOAA visibility map.
Jeannie
March 20, 2016 at 1:43 pmOoo, I didn’t know about this spaceweather website, thank you!
Carla
March 26, 2016 at 6:03 amI’m so glad I found your blog! Super interesting and informative. Thank you so much. Is there a particular time during the day to see the northern lights better? I’m going in a couple weeks.
Jeannie
April 5, 2016 at 11:23 amHi Carla, so glad the blog has been helpful for you! The lights have been all of the place lately, but can usually show up between 10pm and 2am. My favorite site (softservenews.com) breaks it down by 30 minute intervals and usually gives a good time estimate of when to expect aurora activity. Good luck and enjoy Iceland!
Jess Valentine
September 12, 2016 at 9:57 amVery informative great post!
Jeannie
September 16, 2016 at 8:59 amThanks Jess!
Jane Bailey
September 27, 2016 at 8:04 pmJeannie….. Great blog and wonderfully helpful site…. going to be out there from 10th to 18th Oct. so really been of use to me. Very grateful… Regards… Jane
Jeannie
October 11, 2016 at 9:13 amThanks so much for reading along, Jane! I’m glad I could be of help to you, have such an amazing trip in Iceland – can’t wait to see your photos!
Shawna
October 8, 2016 at 5:50 pmGreat info to know for my next trip to Iceland! I found a great price on a flight Sept 4th and flew out 4 days later…haha. A little Bday treat for myself. I went primarily to glimpse the Northern Lights. I flew out of Baltimore at 7pm and about 2-3hrs into the flight, the pilot said, ” For all of you on the left side (sorry right side) you can look out and see the Northern LIghts.” It. Was. MAGICAL.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was as if the Heavens were putting on our own dancing Light Show. For a couple of hours, we flew rrrrrrrrrrright by the Lights. Simply incredible! I sat there saying WOW for 2 hrs…haha ….I had planned a cruise my 1st night to go and try to catch a glimpse of the Lights, but after THAT flight, anything else would have been…meh 😉 haha
Jeannie
October 11, 2016 at 11:30 amOMG Shawna that is amazing! I have always wanted to see the Northern Lights from a plane – what a perfect perspective! Good for you treating yourself to a birthday trip to Iceland. Hope you had a great time! Let me know if you ever make it back this way 🙂
Hannah
October 19, 2016 at 1:00 pmHi Jeannie,
I am visiting Iceland in three short weeks and am hoping to glimpse the Northern Lights. We are renting a car and I am wondering- can we simply drive the car out of the city to go see the northern lights on our own, or do we have to book a tour?
Any recommendations on the best places to see them?
Thanks! Love the site 🙂
Jeannie
November 7, 2016 at 2:28 pmHey Hannah – I just added an entire guide book that answers your exact questions! If that doesn’t help, please let me know if you have any further questions. Have a great time in Iceland!
Grace
October 21, 2016 at 10:17 pmHi Jeannie! Thank you for such great tips and a helpful site. I am trying to plan a trip in Feb 2017. Similar question as Hannah, any recommendations on where to drive and see the lights? Or are there any remote hotels you could recommend? I’ve seen those glass igloos in Finland, does Iceland have anything like that? Thanks so much!
Jeannie
November 7, 2016 at 2:37 pmHi Grace, I just added an entire guide book that answers your exact questions! If that doesn’t help, please let me know if you have any further questions. Have a great time in Iceland!
Hannah
January 15, 2017 at 2:25 pmahhh I really hope I get to see them when I come! I only have 2 nights (just in for a weekend) so crossing my fingers. Will keep tabs on the aurora checkers resources- thank you!
Jeannie
January 20, 2017 at 3:25 pmHey Hannah! Happy to help, I really hope you get to see the lights – its an unbelievable experience!
Bilyana | OwlOverTheWorld
February 18, 2017 at 7:54 pmGreat article, very informative. The Northern lights are on the top of my bucket list, Iceland too. Thanks for sharing!
Jeannie
February 23, 2017 at 10:20 amI sure hope you get to see the lights soon, they are absolutely breathtaking!
Rene Olejnik
February 23, 2017 at 8:09 amCool hope to see and catch some of these beauties in a few days 😀
jana maria
March 16, 2017 at 10:38 pmgreat! i will take these ideas 🙂