Iceland
Northern lights in Iceland: where to stay and when to go
On a clear winter night, drive twenty minutes out of Reykjavík and the sky over the lava fields can turn green within the hour. Iceland lies under the band where the aurora appears most often, but the weather changes fast. Here is where to stay, how to beat the clouds and which hotels we would book.
Picolo Editorial
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In short: northern lights in Iceland
Where: anywhere away from city lights on a clear night. The south coast, west Iceland and the north are the strongest bases.
When: from about September to March, with the longest nights from November to January.
From the UK: direct flights to Reykjavík from several UK airports all year, in about three hours, and easyJet to Akureyri from Gatwick and Manchester from October to April.
How long: at least three nights, ideally four or five.
Our first choice: Hotel Rangá on the south coast, with an aurora wake-up service. Check availability and prices at Hotel Rangá
Clouds, not the aurora, decide your trip
The aurora itself is common over Iceland. Cloud is what stops you seeing it. The Icelandic Met Office publishes a forecast of cloud cover and aurora activity each day. Check it in the afternoon, and be ready to drive towards a clear patch of sky. A hire car, or a hotel outside town with dark skies around it, makes all the difference.
Where to stay: four bases
The south coast: about 90 minutes from Reykjavík, with waterfalls and black beaches by day and dark plains at night. The best all-round base.
Reykjanes, near the airport: the shortest transfer, good for one or two nights and a spa, but closer to the lights of the airport and Reykjavík.
The south-east, by the glaciers: Vatnajökull and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, far from any town. Best on a longer road trip.
West Iceland: quiet farmland, hot springs and lava fields a few hours from the airport.
Our advice: for a first trip of three or four nights, stay on the south coast. Add a night by the airport at the start or end.
Hot tubs at Hotel Rangá, a warm place to wait for the aurora
The best hotels for the northern lights in Iceland
Hotel Rangá: the south coast
A timber lodge between Hella and Hvolsvöllur, with an aurora wake-up service, an observatory and hot tubs by the river. Rated 9.6 out of 10 across 272 reviews. See our full review of Hotel Rangá
Check availability and prices at Hotel Rangá
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon: Reykjanes
Suites of about 40 m² by the Blue Lagoon, with a spa and three restaurants, about 21 minutes from Keflavík Airport. Rated 9.8 out of 10 across 176 reviews. See our full review of The Retreat
Check availability and prices at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon: the south-east
A large hotel near Vatnajökull, about 23 minutes from Jökulsárlón, with a restaurant and a sauna. Rated 9.6 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews. Choose it for a road trip with glaciers by day.
Check availability and prices at Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Hotel Húsafell: west Iceland
A hotel with geothermal pools and a sauna in the countryside, a short walk from Húsafell Canyon Baths and about 7 minutes from the Hraunfossar waterfalls. Rated 9.4 out of 10 across 414 reviews.
Check availability and prices at Hotel Húsafell
Hotel Kea: Akureyri in the north
A central hotel in Akureyri, a two-minute walk from Akureyri Church and about 5 minutes from the airport, with a restaurant and family rooms of about 38 m². Rated 8.6 out of 10 across more than 1,000 reviews. Choose it if you fly easyJet to Akureyri and want a town base for tours into the dark countryside.
The geothermal pools at Hotel Húsafell in west Iceland
Getting to Iceland from the UK
Reykjavík's Keflavík Airport has direct flights from several UK airports all year, in about three hours. easyJet also flies to Akureyri in the north from Gatwick and Manchester from October to April, according to Visit North Iceland. Akureyri is a good base for a quieter trip, with darker skies close by.
Reykjavík or the countryside?
Reykjavík has the most restaurants and tours, but the city lights wash out a faint aurora. If you stay in town, book a tour that drives out to dark skies. Staying in the countryside means you can watch from the hotel every clear night. For three or four nights, we would split the stay: one night near the airport, the rest on the south coast.
Our recommendation
Hotel Rangá: our pick in Iceland
For a northern lights trip to Iceland, we would book Hotel Rangá on the south coast. It lies about 90 minutes from Reykjavík, far from city lights, and the staff call your room when the aurora appears.
Our verdict
What Picolo would choose: Hotel Rangá for a first northern lights trip of three or four nights, with a night at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon at the start or end. For a road trip, add Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon.
Why: the south coast combines dark skies with sights by day, and Rangá's wake-up service means you do not miss a display.
The trade-off: the countryside hotels are a long drive from Keflavík, so you need a hire car or transfers. For a short city break, stay in Reykjavík and book a tour.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland?
From about September to March, when the nights are long enough. November to January gives the most darkness, while September, October and March often have milder weather. Clouds matter more than the month, so book at least three nights and check the forecast from the Icelandic Met Office each afternoon.
Can you see the northern lights from Reykjavík?
Sometimes, when the aurora is strong and the sky is clear, but the city lights wash out a faint display. For a better chance, drive out of town or join a tour that heads to dark skies. Staying in a hotel in the countryside lets you watch every clear night without a tour.
Where is the best place to stay in Iceland for the northern lights?
The south coast is the best all-round base, about 90 minutes from Reykjavík, with dark plains at night and waterfalls and beaches by day. Hotel Rangá between Hella and Hvolsvöllur is our first choice. For a short trip, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is close to the airport.
How many nights do you need to see the northern lights in Iceland?
At least three, ideally four or five. The aurora is common over Iceland, but cloud can cover the sky for a night or two. More nights give you more chances, and a hire car lets you drive towards clearer skies when the forecast shows them.
Is Iceland or Norway better for the northern lights?
Both lie under the auroral oval, so your chances are similar on a clear night. Iceland combines the aurora with hot springs and dramatic scenery close to the airport. Northern Norway, and Tromsø in particular, has more organised chases and a milder coastal winter. Choose by flights from your airport and the trip you want.
Sources
The aurora and cloud forecast comes from the Icelandic Met Office, and the easyJet route to Akureyri from Visit North Iceland. Hotel facilities, room sizes, distances and guest ratings come from Hotels.com. The four bases, the comparison of the hotels and our picks are Picolo's own. Last checked: 2 November 2026.
Happy aurora hunting
Picolo Editorial