Northern Lights in Iceland: Spring’s Perfect Viewing Time

spring is the perfect time for seeing Northern Lights in Iceland

I am sure that seeing Northern Lights is on top of your list, but your time spent abroad is usually limited and you want to know for sure when is the best time of year to see Northern Lights in Iceland.

Well, it is a little bit complicated! It is a natural phenomenon, so it is very hard to say for sure if and when you can see it.

What I can tell you for sure is that in order to see the Aurora Borealis, 3 main conditions need to be fulfilled: total dark, increased solar activity and clear sky. Very easy to say, but more complicated in real life.

Even if during winter, the days are very short and there are many hours of darkness, the chances of seeing Northern Lights are moderate because the sky is usually cloudy and the solar activity is moderate.

In autumn and spring, things are a little bit different. Around equinox, the solar activity is increased so it is the perfect time for seeing Northern Lights in Iceland.

But it is not enough! You will need a little luck to have a clear sky!

Regarding the light pollution and the darkness from outside, you can fix this problem! All you need is a car! And with it, you can drive far from any light pollution, somewhere in the wilderness, where you can have complete dark around you. And the renting prices are not that high and you have the mobility and freedom so necessary to chase Northern Lights.

Get the best price for your car rental today

The main reasons why I consider spring, especially late March to the beginning of April the perfect time for seeing Northern Lights in Iceland are the weather conditions which allow you to move from one place to another and chase the Northern Lights and visit Iceland in the same time and the increased solar activity around the equinox.

If you prefer to do a guided tour to see Aurora Borealis and not worry too much on choosing the right spot, driving there and organise everything yourself, there are some great Guided Tours that do everything for you and pick you up right from the front entrance of your hotel, and yes they are experienced as they do this a lot during Aurora season.

We recommend the following tours for you to try, chosen based on other tourists reviews and impressions:

• Iceland: Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik

• Iceland: Northern Lights Bus Tour

• Reykjavik 3-Hour Small-Group Northern Lights Tour