REYKJAVÍK BY CRUISE: MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR 4–8 HOURS STOP IN REYKJAVÍK
What to do on a cruise stopover in Reykjavík
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Speciality Museums & Tours from the City Harbour
Touching down in Iceland’s capital for just a few hours? Reykjavík’s compact layout means you can pack in a ton of fun without feeling rushed.
Most of the attractions are clustered downtown and in the Grandi (Old Harbour) area, within walking distance of each other, perfect when time is tight.
Downtown Reykjavík with its iconic landmarks
1. Reykjavík City Sightseeing: Hop On, Hop Off!
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
If you want a broader taste of Reykjavík beyond the harbour, this iconic Hop-On Hop-Off Bus lets you:
- Cruise around town with audio commentary in multiple languages
- Stop at highlights like Hallgrimskirkja church, art museums, Harpa, the Grandi museums. and more
- Set your own pace: you don’t have to stick to a tight tour schedule
This is especially helpful on a short stop because you can decide what to skip or linger at, based on how much time you have.
Round loop if you stay onboard: 80–85 minutes. Hop-off options mean you can tailor your stroll stops.
Enjoy the northern lights all-year-round at Aurora Reykjavík, the Northern Lights Center of Iceland
2. Witness the Beauty of the Northern Lights… even in the summer!
Aurora Reykjavík – The Northern Lights Center
Kick off your visit of the up-and-coming Grandi Old Harbour District with Aurora Reykjavík, our unique Northern Lights Museum. You’ll explore videos, science, myths, interactive displays, and a breathtaking aurora film on a giant screen.
All indoors and year-round (great if the weather’s chilly. Or during the summer – when the lights are not visible in nature).
If you visit during the northern lights season, the exhibition also has information on the best camera settings to capture the aurora borealis with your own devices!
Duration: 40–60 minutes
Pro Tip: It’s right near several other attractions, so you can hop from one to the next easily.
3. Fly Over Remote Icelandic Landscapes – in Reykjavík!
FlyOver Iceland
Das immersive flight ride of FlyOver Iceland takes you soaring over Iceland’s dramatic scenery: mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and more, with motion effects and surround visuals. It’s a unique virtual experience that’s great for all ages.
Duration: 40 minutes
Right around the harbour, so it’s easy to combine with the next stop.
Visitors enjoying the FlyOver Iceland ride
Real lava showcased by experts during the Lava Show
4. Witness Earth’s Fierce Power
Lava Show Reykjavík
Step into the geological theatre at Lava Show, where real molten lava flows right in front of the spectators, as volcanic experts share fiery insights. It’s an unforgettable way to experience Iceland’s volcanic heartbeat: dramatic, educational, and totally unique.
Duration: 50 minutes
One of the informative movies at Whales of Iceland
6. Get to Know the Marine Giants… on land!
Whales of Iceland
Just a short stroll away is the life-sized whale museum of Whales of Iceland, featuring enormous models of the ocean’s giants, interactive exhibits, films and educational displays. It’s a crowd-pleaser whether you’re into science, nature, or simply cool photo ops.
Duration: 60 minutes
Bonus: Many visitors squeeze this in right after Aurora Reykjavík and the Lava Show thanks to the tight proximity of all these experiences.
6. … or at sea!
Join a Whale Watching tour from Reykjavik
Experience the awe of the ocean’s giants, guided by knowledgeable marine biologists and sea-life specialists. Sail from Reykjavík Old Harbour, and encounter magnificent humpback whales, playful dolphins, inquisitive minke whales, and – if luck is on your side – the legendary blue whale.
Relax on a traditional whale watching cruise designed for comfort, or join a dynamic RIB boat tour, for an extra-close exciting adventure. Incredible natural encounters are waiting right outside Reykjavík’s doorstep!
Duration: 2hrs (RIB boat) / 3hrs (classic whale watching cruise)
Reykjavík RIB Whale Watching, get close and personal with the giants of the sea
Puffin island in the Reykjavík bay
7. Encounter the Mighty Puffin
Puffin Tour from Reykjavík Old Harbour
Join a puffin watching tour and see Iceland’s iconic seabirds up close in their natural habitat. During summer, Iceland becomes home to the world’s largest Atlantic puffin colony, where these charming birds come ashore to breed. Guided by experts, you’ll visit the best viewing spots – an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and photographers alike.
Duration: 1.5 hours (classic experience) 1 hour (premium RIB boat tour)
Tips for a Smooth Port Day in Reykjavík
- Book tickets online in advance whenever possible to avoid lines.
- Many museums are walking distance from the cruise dock, perfect for short stops.
- If weather turns brisk, you’ve got plenty of indoors options right near each other.
- Keep an eye on your ship’s departure time, und always plan to be back a bit early!
Colourful houses in central Reykjavík
Final Thought: Making the Most of Your Time Ashore
Even with just a few hours ashore, Reykjavík offers a rich mix of experiences within easy reach of the cruise dock — from cultural attractions and immersive museums to scenic rides and wildlife encounters.
Plan ahead, prioritize the activities that excite you most, and you’ll turn your brief stop into a memorable taste of Iceland’s natural beauty, history, and vibrant city life before heading back to your ship.
You can explore Aurora Reykjavik’s full range of tours and activities here: https://aurorareykjavik.is/tours-and-activities/
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Gratis: Museums-Eintritt ins Nordlichtmusem
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Nordlicht-Minibus-Tour
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FAQ about the Northern Lights
When can I see northern lights in Iceland ?
During this long period, Iceland experiences sufficient darkness for the Aurora to be visible at night.
However, chances of experiencing the northern lights vary depending on the time of year. Find out which months are the best for seeing the Aurora here.
Why can't I see any northern lights in the summer ?
Want to know more about light conditions in Iceland? Check the sun graph and learn about twilight and dusk in Iceland.
What time do the northern lights show up?
During the winter months, when the hours of light are limited, the northern lights can often appear as early at 7:00pm.
As the exact time of an Aurora display cannot be predicted, keep your eyes at the sky. And remember, patience is key!
How long do the northern lights last?
Each northern lights display is different, and varies in duration. Furthermore, the northern lights are not always visible for the entire duration of a single Auroral episode: they often change in intensity throughout a single display, and can go from very bright to incredibly faint, to the point they are hardly visible at all any more.
Learn more about how the northern lights behave duration-wise here.
Can I see the northern lights when it is cloudy?
As long as we can find some gaps in the cloud cover, some windows of clear sky – there’s hope.
And, even when it’s cloudy, keep in mind that not all clouds are the same. For example, high clouds are often see-through and do not necessarily disrupt our view. Rule of thumb: if you can see the stars, you can potentially see the northern lights too.
Once again, keep your eyes at the sky und check the forecast regularly for the most reliable prediction.
Do the northern lights only appear when it is cold?
As you can imagine, this means that you don’t need cold temperatures to see an Aurora (although you should not expect t-shirt weather at night in Iceland, not even in August).
The northern lights happen way above the weather systems, and are not influenced by weather systems and temperature fluctuations in the lower atmosphere.
Find out more here.
Are the northern lights visible all over Iceland?
In the Arctic region, the belt extends between 60°N and 70°N latitude. As Iceland in its entirety is included between 63°N and 67°N, and therefore well within the aurora belt, chances of seeing the northern lights are virtually the same everywhere around the island – if weather allows.
That said, the likelihood of witnessing the northern lights is higher away from the city lights, and some areas around the country are especially scenic. Here are our favourite locations for northern lights spotting in Iceland.
Are the northern lights really colourful?
The northern lights happen in a variety of colours. Green is by far the most common, but the Aurora can also appear in vibrant shades of pink, purple, red, violet and blue.
To the naked eye though, the northern lights can look quite faint, and at times be perceived as white or grey-ish. This is due to limitations in our night vision.
Camera devices instead can capture a more truthful version of the colours, as, in most cases, it possible to adjust the device settings in order to better adapt to the night time conditions.
Find more about how to improve your night vision and learn how to take great Aurora shots here.
Are the northern lights going to disappear in future?
No, the northern lights are not going anywhere!
The Aurora has been visible in the Arctic for centuries, and that is not going to change any times soon.
What is true is that the solar activity, which is responsabile for the occurrence of the northern lights on our planet, changes over time, following an eleven-year cycle.
During each solar cycle, the Sun goes from a peak to a minimum of activity. During the peak, the so called “solar maximum“, we can expect enhanced activity and, potentially, stronger northern lights visible from unusual latitudes (in the northern hemisphere, this means Auroras being spotted further south than usual). While, during the solar minimum, such unusually strong occurrences become rarer.
Still, at Arctic latitudes the northern lights can be see clearly throughout the whole cycle. And Iceland, being well within the “Aurora belt”, is and will remain the perfect destination for northern lights hunting!
What is the BZ value?
Das Bz value is part of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF), which is the magnetic field carried by the solar wind coming from the Sun.
Why does it matter for the Northern Lights? Earth’s magnetic field points north. If the solar wind’s magnetic field (Bz) points south (a negative Bz), it connects with Earth’s field and lets charged solar particles into the atmosphere. This interaction helps create the northern lights. If instead, Bz is positive (northward), the fields don’t connect well, and fewer particles get in — meaning weaker or no aurora.
Think of Bz like an ON/OFF switch: negative Bz (south) = ON, good chance of Aurora soon. Positive Bz (north) = OFF, Aurora less likely.
Learn more about Bz and how the forecast works here.
Which are the best forecast apps and websites for Northern Lights hunting?
Chasing the Northern Lights is all about timing, clear skies, and up-to-date aurora forecasts. These tools help you know when and where there’s a good chance of seeing the aurora — so you can plan your night the smart way. For the best results, we recommend using more than one source, as different forecasts interpret data differently.
WEB FORECASTS
- Official AURORA REYKJAVÍK Aurora Forecast 👉 https://aurorareykjavik.is/aurora-forecast/
Our 6-step expert forecast combines geomagnetic activity, cloud cover, and viewing tips — designed for real-time Northern Lights planning. - SpaceWeatherLive
A detailed global space weather site with auroral activity maps and solar parameters. - NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC)
The official US space weather forecast model that many aurora apps base their data on.
TOP MOBILE APPS
- My Aurora Forecast – Offers real-time KP index, global aurora maps, push alerts and multi-day forecasts — great for travelers and serious aurora watchers alike.
And don’t forget to unable notifications, so you’ll get alerts when aurora activity spikes.
📍App Store
📍 Google Play
By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to experience one of nature’s most magical displays. Whether you’re planning your trip or already in Iceland, the Aurora awaits!
