Summer is considered by many the perfect time to visit Iceland, but could it be also the perfect time to watch Northern Lights in Iceland ?
The days are long and sunny, the weather is suitable for exploring the country and visit the main attractions of this beautiful country.
Iceland is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever seen and is one of the best places to spot the Aurora Borealis.
Northern Lights are also known as Aurora Borealis, Aurorae (for plural) which is a natural green light hat you can see on the dark sky of Iceland, and also in other northern regions around the North Pole and on the southern regions of the globe near Antarctica.
But, when is the perfect time to watch Northern Lights in Iceland?
Yes, I agree that for exploring the country, summer is the best season, but when we are talking about Aurora Borealis things are a little bit different.
First of all, it needs to be dark outside to spot the Green Lady dancing in the sky. And summer has really long day with lots of light. In a certain period of the year, days might have about 20 hours of light, so spotting Northern Lights is quite difficult or impossible.
No matter how north you go, it is not enough. Aurora Borealis cannot be seen during summer. It is true, that the roads are open and the weather is good but is not what you need.
One of the main conditions for spotting the lights is not fulfilled. So, no matter if the solar activity is increased or if the sky is clear, if you don’t have enough hours of dark, you won’t spot this magnificent phenomenon even though the weeks around equinox are considered the perfect time to watch the Northern Lights in Iceland.
If you really want to visit Iceland in summer, then rent a car and explore the country. Focus on what Iceland has to offer, on its natural wonders and magnificent scenery. Forget about Northern Lights!
perfect time to watch Northern Lights in Iceland
Driving along the Ring Road is the best experience you could have! It might be a little tiring or expensive but for sure worth each penny. The main downsides of visiting Iceland in summer are the prices and the crowds.
To secure a good price for your accommodation or for the rented car, you need to book everything in advance. This is the safest way to get the best price-quality ratio for what you book, especially for cars where the numbers are pretty limited!
Get the best price for your car rental today
So, to sum up, what I just said, Summer is not the perfect time to watch Northern Lights in Iceland because it is too much light outside! For seeing the Northern Lights plan your trip anytime from late September to early April.