Mystical Northern Lights in Iceland

The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora or Polar Lights, have been a phenomenon that has puzzled humans across the Earth for millennia.

Documented as early as the 4th century BC, the Aurora has appeared throughout the ages in many ancient folklore tales, from Norse and Viking mythology to old Australian Aboriginal stories.

In the 1700s, Benjamin Franklin wrote a paper to try and explain the cause of this ethereal vision.  

In short, solar storms on the surface of our sun send bursts of charged solar particles across our galaxy. When Earth gets in the way of these streams, those solar particles react with our magnetic atmosphere, and this is where the magic happens. 

Many travelers to Iceland will pay top dollar for a Northern Lights tour bus to take them to the best places, but when you have your CampEasy campervan, you can avoid the crowds and stay as long as you like, enjoy the magic of Iceland at your own pace and fall asleep under the glow.  

The Highlands – A key to Iceland’s untouched wilderness

The Icelandic Highlands is one of the last untouched nature reserves in Europe. Stretching over 40,000 square kilometers and featuring powerful waterfalls, volcanos, mighty rivers, and unmatched natural beauty, you would be forgiven for thinking you had arrived on an entirely new planet. Unlike anywhere else in the world, the landscapes shift from lunar and barren to lush and green with every twist in the road, and driving the rugged 4×4 F-Roads is an adventure in itself.  

The colorful Rainbow Mountains in Landmannalaugar host steaming geothermal hot springs perfect for bathing. An ideal place to relax while simultaneously hunting for the Northern Lights in Iceland. The volcanic calderas of Askja in the north of Iceland present extraordinary celestial views, and the famous Kjölur Route has endless hiking trails to explore. Iceland is a paradise for nature lovers.  

How to see the Northern Lights? 

In Iceland, this incredible natural phenomenon does not have a specific place where it glows; it simply happens in the winter sky. Finding it is simple.  

The best months to see the Aurora are between September and March. 

To see the forecast, you must check the Aurora Forecast on the Icelandic Met Office website: https://en.vedur.is/weather/forecasts/aurora/ 

If the forecast is three or higher, you will surely catch an excellent display. 

Just make sure you are in a dark, moonless location far from city lights, in an area free of clouds.

Most Northern Lights tour companies in Iceland will take paying passengers to The Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Þingvellir, or the Reykjanes Peninsula to see the lights.

You can drive yourselves there to hunt them! 

How to photograph the Northern Lights? 

A tripod is your best friend; it is an essential tool for ensuring that every shot comes out clearly.

If you’re using a smartphone, turn on the Live Photos feature on an iPhone, and play around with the exposure and ISO settings to maximize the amount of light your lens captures; if you can switch to manual mode, tune your ISO to 800 and try a 10-20 second exposure.

You can edit photographs later by changing the exposure and brilliance to your desired level. 

On a camera, set your ISO to 800, your aperture to as low as possible, and your shutter speed to very slow—between 5 and 20 seconds.

Try to use manual focus and set it to as distant as possible. 

Most importantly, make you enjoy them with your own eyes! 

Our list of 10 epic places to witness Northern lights in Iceland!

1. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula 

The Snæfellssnes Peninsula has a relatively small population, therefore has minimal light pollution, and you don’t have to drive far from town to be in complete darkness. You’ll likely be able to see the Aurora from the campsite; however, to get a proper experience, take a drive to the black church Búðakirkja, the cliffs at Londrangar, or the disreputable Kirkjufell Mountain.

2. Trollaskagi 

A 10-minute drive north of Siglufjörður in the northern part of Iceland, you’ll come across an orange lighthouse on the edge of the ocean, by the side of a mountain. Here, you’ll be almost as north as possible, secluded with a vast expanse of sky for the best possible chance of a northern lights display.

3. Jökulsárlón  

Arguably one of the most famous locations in Iceland, the Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach are very remote, dark, and on the ocean’s edge. If you have your camera set up just right, you can capture the glaciers and icebergs, and if you manage to capture the Milky Way and the Aurora, you’ll hit a magnificent trifecta. 

4. Djúpivogur 

A small town located in the East of Iceland, the surroundings are very dark and remote. Here is one of our favorite hot tubs, Djúpavogskörin (Free, open 24/7, year-round), which is by the coast and is an incredible place to lay under the Aurora and stars, soaking in the beautiful display. This cozy place will leave a lasting impression. 

5. Kleifarvatn 

Number 6 on our epic list is a lake in the Reykjanes Peninsula. During winter, parts of the lake freeze over, and the shoreline is dusted with snow. It is also in pitch-black darkness with no traffic, so it is a perfect place to see the magnificent Aurora reflected off the lake. This location is a hidden gem for Aurora photography. 

6. Strandarkirkja 

Not far from the CampEasy office, on the south of the Reykjanes Peninsula, is an area called Strandarkirkja, here there is also a free campsite, called Gata Free Camping, and who doesn’t love free stuff! This is a cozy and dark place far from light pollution, and we have seen the Aurora many times from this location.

7. Hvalfjörður 

Not too far from Reykjavik is Hvalfjörður. This used to be the main road until the tunnel’s construction, which effectively saved commuters an hour’s drive around the Fjord. Nowadays, this road is all but deserted. The winding road around the fjords and mountains is a beautiful place to catch a glimpse of the Aurora, and there are a few beautiful waterfalls along this route—Laxfoss is a favorite of ours for photography. 

8. Vestmannaeyjar (the Westman Islands) 

Overlooked by many tourist guides, we recommend the Westman Islands, specifically Heimaey Island. It is home to a tremendous small fishing town on a volcano, with a tiny population, rarely visited over the wintertime. The views of the northern lights are incredible here, and they have a unique feeling of remoteness and magic. You can bring your campervan across on the ferry and stay overnight at the campsite on the island. 

9. Ásbyrgi Canyon 

In the north of Iceland, about 40 km east of Húsavík, you’ll find Ásbyrgi. According to Norse Mythology, the canyon was formed when Odin’s 8-legged horse touched the Earth with its hooves. Spectacular landscapes shrouded in complete darkness with extraordinary views of space. This is a hidden gem we recommend. 

10. The Westfjords 

It is undoubtedly a spectacular place to see the northern lights, although it is difficult to access during the winter months. The road from Hólmavík to Ísafjörður is the best route, but it is very weather-dependent. You need to check the road conditions and weather before you travel. Once you have arrived, though, the auroral displays have been known to be intense and incredible and lasting for many hours. 

11. Bonus Location! – Arctic Henge

Because 10 locations are not enough, we are adding Arctic Henge in the northeast of Iceland. This is a spectacular place to see and photograph the northern lights. These stone arches were built as monuments to Norse Paganism and are somewhat a modern Stonehenge near the Arctic Circle. The beautiful stone arches are a fantastic location for your northern lights photography.