The northern lights season in Iceland started again in September and this promises to be a good one, as they are unusually strong this year, as was apparent with the famous red colored lights in combination with the commonly known green earlier this month, when the lights were visible in many more unusual locations in Europe, Denmark, UK and even Portugal.
But even with strong northern lights activity, seeing them is still dependent on a clear sky without cloud cover. What to do if you come to Iceland for a week during the season to see the lights and are unlucky with weather conditions and miss the lights? Luckily, there are some alternative activities that you can do, and in some cases you can mix these with seeing the actual lights as well. Curious? Let’s dive in.
Aurora Basecamp Near Hafnarfjörður
Just a short drive from Hafnarfjörður (and technically belonging to the town), you can find Iceland’s only northern lights observatory, Aurora Basecamp. It has three heated domes on site, two of which are lounges while the third one houses an educational exhibition called The Dark Park. An on-site guide takes guests through The Dark Park and tells them about the different phases of the lights on a 10-15 minute introduction.
As a northern lights observatory, the main attraction is of course the northern lights outside when conditions allow. The guided Dark Park visit ends in the low lit outdoor area with benches around open fire pits for guests to stay warm outside. The option to observe the lights from the warmth indoors lounge is also there and you can enjoy warm chocolate as you admire the natural show.
Guests at Aurora Basecamp learn about what causes the northern lights and their spectacular displays. They get to see an indoor simulation of the northern lights followed by the real thing if conditions allow, offering a great chance for breathtaking views and photos of the real thing. The Aurora Lounge is a cozy and low lit geodesic dome, furnished with tables and benches.
The Dark Park is interconnected with the lounge. The guide walks you through the stages of the northern lights and gives you the information you need to increase your chances of seeing northern lights. The lighting is unique, with four large glass tubes where conditions match the blend of gasses and air pressure where the northern lights are formed in the upper atmosphere. The gasses are subsequently charged with electrical energy, creating the actual northern lights as they appear in the sky above. This display mirrors what goes on in the night skies when the aurora is formed.
Spending time in the Dark Park also helps you to have a better viewing experience of the actual northern lights when you step out into the night. The Dark Park’s lighting is designed to give your eyes a break from city light pollution and the low light helps your eyes adjust to the darkness outside. That in turn makes the colors of the northern lights brighter and more visible.
The reviews of Aurora Basecamp are top for the most part, for example this is a part of the latest review on Tripadvisor:
“I think everyone that goes to Iceland wants to see the Aurora Borealis (aka Northern Lights). There are plenty of ways to do this, like the Aurora Basecamp, bus tours, boat tours, private tours, exploring on your own and many more. After doing a bunch of research we decided to go with the Aurora Basecamp and we are very happy we did.
The Basecamp is located in the perfect location, nice and far from various sources of light pollution. The facilities are very nice, clean, and well kept. The two guides were friendly, knowledgeable and informative. Once everyone arrived, the guides introduced themselves and provided a brief presentation about the Northern Lights. After checking the Aurora forecast, the group headed outside to see if we would be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights dancing in the skies.
While we were waiting for the Northern Lights to show up, the guides used that time to go over astrology as well as tips on how to see them.
Luck definitely was on our side and we were able to see the most amazing Northern Lights. The colors are breathtaking and it truly is an experience of a lifetime. I would highly recommend the Basecamp and would suggest doing it in the beginning of your Icelandic adventure.”
Aurora Reykjavík – The Northern Lights Center
Aurora Reykjavík is Iceland’s first and only northern lights center. At the interactive exhibition, visitors can learn more about the history and secrets of Aurora Borealis. In the movie theater, you can see auroral displays captured all across Iceland and projected onto a 7-meter wide screen in 4K quality. One hour is the recommended time to experience the entire exhibition.
The guided tour takes approximately an hour and includes an introduction on folklore and mythology, the science of the northern lights, Aurora cinema experience and practical tips on how to see the northern lights and what to expect. The guide will also go through ideal northern lights camera settings and you can see 360°VR Northern Lights.
The Northern Lights Show at Perlan
Áróra Northern Lights Show in Perlan is an exhibition with a story about northern lights, voiced by the goddess of dawn. It combines science and art to create a unique experience, with a journey from Reykjavík into space to immerse in the mysterious auroras occurring all across the solar system.
At the exhibition, you can see where the northern lights come from, how they form and hear ancient stories about them. They dance all around you, be that in Icelandic nature or outer space.
The planetarium at Perlan uses a state-of-the-art 8K projection system and surround sound system to bring you the full spectrum of the magical story of the northern lights.
How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?
As weather conditions are never reliable, the only guaranteed chance to see northern lights is at the aforementioned Aurora Basecamp, Aurora Reykjavík or the Northern Lights Show at Perlan, as these locations will simulate the experience in the best possible way.
Whereas the beginning of this month offered many days in a row with clear skies and calm weather, recent days have had lots of rain and cloudy skies. Going outside the city generally gives a better chance of seeing the lights due to light pollution but sometimes they are clearly visible in Reykjavík.
The most spectacular northern lights display I have ever seen was from the car window when driving to the Westfjords in wintertime around 10 years ago, it was a spectacular show with snow covered mountains in the background. The lights generally appear stronger the further north you go, so it may be a good idea to head up north or to the Westfjords as an example.
Good luck northern lights hunting in Iceland!
