Green northern lights dancing in the night sky over a lake and the snowy shore

THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS IN ICELAND (MONTH-BY-MONTH GUIDE)

Seeing the otherworldly Aurora Borealis, or northern lights, has been fascinating humans for centuries – and is a life-long dream of many travelers. For each and every northern lights enthusiast, one question arises: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights?

Introduction

Northern Lights Season in Iceland:

Late August to mid-April

Scenic Autumn Auroras – September and October

Arctic Night and Winter Wonderland – December and January

Spectacular Spring Auroras – February and March

Final thoughts

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Seeing the Aurora Borealis, better known as the Northern Lights, has fascinated humans for centuries; and for many travelers, it is the single biggest reason to visit Iceland.

One question always comes up: When is the best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?

Couple under green and pink northern lights

Full moon aurora at Þingvellir National Park, Iceland

The honest answer is: there is no single perfect moment, but there is a clearly defined aurora season, and each part of it offers something different.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best months to see the Northern Lights, explain common myths, and help you choose the season that fits your travel style best.

For a complete planning overview, we also recommend our Ultimate Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland

NORTHERN LIGHTS AND THE COLD MYTH

Let’s start by demystifying the most common myth about the Northern Lights: “The Aurora can only be seen in winter, when it is very cold outside.”

This is not true. The aurora happens far above Earth’s weather system, about 100–300 km up in the atmosphere. Temperature on the ground has no direct effect on whether auroras appear.

What does matter:

Darkness
Clear skies
Solar activity

Full moon aurora in the highlands, Iceland

Aurora in the East Fjords, Iceland

Clear nights often feel colder because clouds trap heat, but cold itself does not cause auroras. However, during summer month (May – Mid-August), the midnight sun keeps the sky too bright for seeing auroras.

That’s the real reason why you cannot see the Northern Lights in Iceland during summer.

In short, the Aurora season in Iceland starts around the end of August and ends in mid-April, and if you visit for a few days during this time frame, you will have good chances of success.

However, any period within the Aurora season has its own peculiarities.

Indian summer aurora

NORTHERN LIGHTS SEASON IN ICELAND – LATE AUGUST TO MID-APRIL

If you visit Iceland for a few nights anywhere within this window, you already have a realistic chance of seeing the Northern Lights, especially if you understand how to read the forecast. Before every outing, check:

The live Aurora Forecast for Iceland
Our guide on How to Read an Aurora Forecast

Now let’s look at what each part of the season offers.

Green and red northern lights

SCENIC AUTUMN NORTHERN LIGHTS – SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER

As photographers, fall is one of our favorite times to go hunting for the Northern Lights. Here’s why:

The Indian Summer Colors

Iceland in autumn is simply beautiful. Sugar-covered mountain tops, arctic moss, blueberry bushes and birch trees are painted in golds and reds. The perfect scenery for observing the first northern lights displays of the season.

2. Temperatures are still reasonable

Yes, this is Iceland, and observing the Northern Lights comes for a price: it can be freezing! In September though, temperatures usually don’t reach beneath 0°C yet. The perfect time to spend a night out under the arctic sky.

3. Aurora loves Equinoxes

Summer officially turns into autumn on the autumn equinox, September 23rd. While the Aurora Borealis is visible from late August, it is the equinox that gives this cosmic light show an extra boost. As a consequence, it often produces some of the best northern lights activity of the season.

4. Lakes and ponds are not frozen yet, which increases the number of potential locations for beautiful reflection photos.

5. Twilight Auroras are the most stunning

The Sun is still setting late in September, giving the chance of observing amazing twilight auroras. When the auroral activity is high, the northern lights often start dancing right after sunset, when the sky is still lit up in beautiful dark blue and orange colors on the horizon.

bright pink and green northern lights reflect in a pond, a church can be seen in backdrop in the snowy landscape

Bright pink and green aurora

Some of the most impressive Aurora displays are captured in September and October: here is one of our real-time videos from the fall last year.

Looking for locations? See our guide to the 25 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Iceland

Are you ready to see the lights this autumn? Take a look at our favorite tours here!

Northern Lights at different times of the year – from August to April

ARCTIC NIGHTS AND WINTER WONDERLAND – DECEMBER AND JANUARY

Due to its location just below the Arctic Circle, Iceland does not get polar nights in the standard definition. Even though there is no total winter blackout, hours of daylight in December and January are very limited.

Essentially, you’re getting between four to five hours of sunlight a day during the depths of winter in Iceland.

It is therefore especially important to keep the light factor into consideration when planning activities and excursions.

To give you an idea, here are a few sunrise and sunset times in Reykjavik during the winter:

1st December: Sunrise at 10:45 am and sunset at 3:45 pm
15th December: Sunrise at 11:15 am and sunset at 3:30 pm
1st January: Sunrise at 11:19 am and sunset at 3:42 pm
15th January: Sunrise at 10:56 am and sunset at 4:18pm

Full moon aurora at Þingvellir National Park

WHY TRAVEL IN WINTER TO SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

There are of course several good reasons to plan your northern light trip to Iceland in winter:

Winter has arrived!

Cold temperatures start to settle in, and snow usually begins to accumulate in December. Aurora hunting in the snow-covered outback is a perfect way to enjoy the northern lights.

Long arctic nights

In order to see the Northern Lights, the most important factor is darkness. Of which we have plenty during the long winer month in the Nordics!

Romantic and fun seasonal holidays

In December, Iceland is the ultimate winter wonderland Christmas or New Year’s holiday destination!

Stargazing!

Due to the extended hours of darkness, winter in Iceland is the perfect time for observing the night sky. Almost no light pollution and crispy clear skies make Iceland an outstanding destination to discover our universe… and beyond.

Check out this Northern Lights tour on modified Landrovers – those guys truly lead the pack when it comes to stargazing in Iceland

SPECTACULAR SPRING NORTHERN LIGHTS – FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL

Late winter and early spring are the most popular times to visit Iceland for the northern lights, and for good reasons:

Spring is Aurora season!

Geomagnetic disturbances are almost twice as likely in spring and fall compared to winter and summer, according to 75 years of historical records. In spring, we often experience strong auroral outbursts, called auroral sub storms. Sub storms happen with little warning and sometimes outrageous intensity, turning the entire sky green. Be prepared for the most spectacular sightings!

Aurora Reykjavík - Northern Lights at Kirkjufell

Northern lights over Kirkjufell

2. The otherworldly snowy landscapes

Iceland is covered in snow – now the country truly honors its name. The combination of Northern Lights and deep powdery snow truly is a sight to behold. Lakes and ponds are frozen, and the views so stunningly unique to make for a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.

3. More hours of daylight

Days are extending quickly, opening a treasure trove of winter activities to choose from. For many of our guests, combining day-time winter activities, such as ice caving, dog sledding or snowshoe hiking, with night-time northern lights hunting is the perfect way to explore Iceland. Thanks to the increase in daylight, there is a plenty of extra time to travel the country during the day.

Arctic Explorer vehicles in the foreground, northern lights in the background - very clear sky

Photo from our 4 day northern lights winter package

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Northern Lights don’t have a perfect month or exact minute: they are living, dancing phenomena shaped by the sun, the Earth’s magnetic field, and the weather above your head.

In Iceland, the Aurora season starts around the end of August and ends in mid-April. if you visit at any point within this time frame for a few days, you will have a good probability of success.
Contrary to the common belief, deep winter is not necessarily the best time for the northern lights, due to reduced solar activity and unstable weather conditions. Consider September or March to increase your chances!
Keep in mind that the magnificent Aurora Borealis is a natural phenomenon, which does not always show up on a cue. Even when the odds seem to be in your favor, always take seeing the northern lights as the cherry on top of your trip.
Choose the season for your holiday according to your preferences and needs. Are you aiming for an arctic winter getaway with ever-dancing lights above your hot tub? Or would you rather have more hours of daylight and warmer temperatures for exploring the country’s various sights and activities?

And if the clouds don’t cooperate? Come inside to Aurora Reykjavík — where the Northern Lights come to you. Did you make up your mind when to travel to the arctic circle? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Seeing the Northern Lights – we get you set!

JOIN US ON ICELAND'S BEST NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR

So, if you can – buy the ticket, get the ride. You will find our hand-picked selection of tours here:

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Small Group Northern Lights Photography tour with free pickup in Reykjavik

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FAQ ABOUT THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Quand puis-je voir les aurores boréales en Islande ?

La saison des aurores boréales en Islande commence fin août et se poursuit jusqu'à mi-avril. Durant cette longue période, l'Islande bénéficie d'une obscurité suffisante pour que les aurores boréales soient visibles la nuit. Cependant, les chances d'observer des aurores boréales varient selon la période de l'année. Découvrez quels sont les meilleurs mois pour observer les aurores boréales ici.

Can you see the Northern Lights during a full moon?

Yes. Strong auroras remain clearly visible even during a full moon.

What time do the northern lights show up?

Northern lights are statistically often seen between 9:00pm and 1:00am, but they may appear at any time as long as it is dark (and the sky clear). 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?

Auroras can last any time between few minutes and hours. 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?

Well, that depends. First of all, Islande is well-known for its unpredictable weather: the fact that it is cloudy now does not mean that the sky will still be cloudy 5 minutes from now. 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 et check the forecast regularly for the most reliable prediction.

Do the northern lights only appear when it is cold?

The northern lights season in Iceland starts in late summer. 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?

Iceland is located within the so called “aurora belt“, the area where the northern lights are typically seen. In the Arctic region, the belt extends between 60°N and 70°N latitude. As Islande 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?

Is a new moon better for aurora viewing?

It can help with faint auroras, but solar activity and cloud cover matter far more.

Is the full moon good for aurora photography?

Yes — it often improves landscapes, foregrounds, and image sharpness.

Katarina Raker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: KATARINA RAKER

Katarina Raker is a passionate Northern Lights expert and award-winning photographer based in Iceland. With years of experience chasing the aurora across the Arctic, she combines her love for storytelling with a deep knowledge of the science behind the Northern Lights. As a team member at Aurora Reykjavík, Katarina is dedicated to helping travelers experience the magic of the aurora borealis through expert tips, guided tours, and stunning photography. When she’s not capturing the sky’s most dazzling displays, Katarina enjoys exploring Iceland’s breathtaking landscapes and sharing her adventures with the world.