Northern Lights

No visit to Iceland is complete without experiencing the ever-elusive Northern Lights. In fact, the Aurora Borealis tops most tourists’ list of things to see in Iceland. Iceland’s location makes it perfect for magical displays of the Northern Lights. One minute, the night sky is dark as can be. The very next, a blaze of green can be seen dancing across the horizon. Soon enough, the entire sky is lit from within. Hues of green, pink, purple, and yellow can easily be spotted.
Of course these displays are highly unpredictable and depend on a variety of factors including luck, weather, the time of the year, season and length of stay. Having said that, the chances of witnessing the Northern Lights in Iceland are-extremely high if you visit the country during the winter months (November-March). Dark nights increase the chances of spotting the lights. If the Northern Lights are high on your bucket list, then you must stay in Iceland for a week or more. This increases your chances of spotting them. The best locations to view the Northern Lights in Iceland are the Fjords and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. The chances of spotting it in urban centers such as Reykjavik are slim because the artificial lights of cities make it hard for the Northern Lights to show up in the sky. Of course winter months also mean freezing temperatures. While camping is a popular option in summer, it takes somewhat of a backseat in winter. However it’s just unfair to be buried deep in your duvet in a hotel room when nature’s greatest show—the Northern Lights—is unfolding in the open. If you’re not brave enough to camp in sub-zero temperatures, it’s best to choose a glamorous camping option, such as a heated pod or heated igloo, so you can sleep under the Northern Lights. If you don’t want to splurge on such accommodation, then hop into an outdoor hot tub at your hotel. Most Icelandic hotels have hot tubs in the open, so it’s easy to find one. Once you’re warm, you can stare at the Northern Lights to your heart’s content.