Reykjavík

Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland, is a vibrant city known for its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and as one of the best places to experience the Northern Lights. With its unique blend of urban charm and natural beauty, Reykjavik offers an unforgettable setting for witnessing this spectacular phenomenon.

Why Reykjavík? Reykjavík is surrounded by incredible natural landscapes, making it easy to escape the city lights for optimal Northern Lights viewing. The city is rich in history and culture, featuring numerous museums, galleries, and geothermal spas. Take a day trip to visit the Golden Circle, including Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall. The best months for Northern Lights viewing are from September to April, with peak viewing opportunities during the winter months when nights are longer.

Weather conditions can change rapidly, so keep your plans flexible to enhance your chances of witnessing the Aurora.

A trip to Reykjavík for the Northern Lights is a fantastic way to experience Iceland’s natural beauty and vibrant culture. Whether you’re hunting for the Aurora or exploring the city’s rich offerings, Reykjavik provides a perfect backdrop for an unforgettable adventure.

Book an amazing adventure in Reykjavík

  • Free cancellation Likely to sell out

    Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon with Ticket and Kerid Volcanic Crater

    4.9 (4263)

    11 hours From £179.92

    The Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon are the two most popular sights to visit in Iceland. Book this small group day tour and enjoy visiting both the Golden Circle and the Blue Lagoon in a relaxing fun filled day. Admission to all sights, also the Blue Lagoon, is included in the tour price so as soon as you have booked you can relax and start looking forward to your adventure. Your first stop is at the Thingvellir National Park, the UNESCO listed World Heritage Site. This is where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet, which allows you the unique feeling of having one foot in each world. Next destination is the famous Geysir Hot Spring. Watch Strokkur erupt every few minutes up to 30 meters high. Here you can buy a lunch during the stop. Gullfoss the Golden Waterfall is next and will amaze you with its beauty and raw power. Adding even more, you will visit the Kerid Volcanic Crater before heading off the Blue Lagoon for a relaxing end to a great day.

  • Free cancellation

    Iceland South Coast Full Day Small-Group Tour from Reykjavik

    4.8 (5005)

    10 hours From £98.21

    Visit the natural wonders of Iceland on this 10-hour tour from Reykjavik. Travel in a minibus to the black sand beaches of Reynisfjara, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, Sólheimajökul glacier and the Eyjafjallajökull volcano. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup and drop-off.

  • Free cancellation

    Reykjavik Food Walk - Local Foodie Adventure in Iceland

    5.0 (15701)

    3 hours From £99.78

    Local food, city & history tour of Reykjavik. In the tastiest sight seeing tour in Iceland, we explore down town Reykjavik through delicious local cuisines that you would never come across in your typical “to-do in Iceland” itinerary! You will stroll around the city and visit 5-6 wonderful local restaurants with a fun & knowledgeable guide by your side. In our tours you will have a chance to try the best local cuisines of Iceland in each season, like the delicious Icelandic lamb, home made Icelandic ice cream from a secret family recipe, an authentic catch of the day, a hot dog from the famous Icelandic hot dog stand and much more! If you like to experience Reykjavik, Iceland’s culture, unique cuisine, local restaurants and make new friends, you should definitely join our Reykjavik Food Walk. Just make sure you show up hungry!

  • Free cancellation Likely to sell out

    Golden Circle, Volcano Crater and Blue Lagoon Small-Group Tour

    4.7 (1316)

    11 hours From £176.77

    Experience the best of Iceland's natural wonders on this one day mini bus tour. Join us for this magnificent combination of of Iceland, we will take you to the Golden Circle pearls and finish the day off in the Blue Lagoon. Book now to begin your journey!

  • Free cancellation

    #1 Northern Lights Tour In Iceland from Reykjavik with PRO photos

    4.6 (2485)

    4 hours From £128.93

    This is what you get on the tour: ✅ This is the highest rated Northern Lights tour in Iceland ✅ You get FREE photos of you with the Northern Lights in high quality ✅ You get hot homemade chocolate to warm you up in the cold The real stuff! ✅ You get cinnamon buns so you do not get hangry ✅ For you to have the best possible experience, we have collected the elite of guides in Iceland, to make sure your experience will be unforgettable! ✅ You get a wool blanket from the best possible fabric to keep you warm. ✅ Experienced local guide to make your chance the highest of seeing the lights ✅ You can join as many times again if you do not see the Northern Lights. No limit ✅ You get the best service because everyone involved wants to make your experience the best possible ✅ This tour is ran by a small family company We are Northern Lights experts! ✅ With the mix of this team at Reykjavik Out Luxury Tours, you will not get better experience or chance of seeing the Northern Lights

  • Free cancellation

    Sky Lagoon Entrance Ticket Including 7-Step Ritual

    4.6 (1683)

    2 hours 30 minutes From £76.85

    Revive your senses at the edge of the world in our all-new geothermal spa inspired by Icelandic nature, heritage, and history. The traditions of bathing culture are integral to the Icelandic way of life, and they’re at the core of the Sky Lagoon experience.

How are my chances of seeing the aurora today?

Forecasts last updated on 14 March 2025 at 12:23pm

0%

Currently there is a 0% chance of seeing the aurora overhead in the Reykjavík area.

Kp 3.00

The Kp-index is a scale used to measure geomagnetic activity. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher values indicating greater geomagnetic activity.

  • 0-2 (Very low) Far north, quite dim, and not very active.
  • 3-5 (Moderate) Can be seen further south, with increased brightness and activity. Chance of good viewing conditions nearer the pole.
  • 6-7 (High) Visible in many northern regions, with vibrant displays.
  • 8-9 (Extreme) Widespread visibility, often seen in areas much further south than usual, with intense and colorful displays.
Bz -5 nT

Bz refers to the north-south orientation of the magnetic field embedded in the solar wind. It is measured in nanoteslas (nT).

When Bz is negative (southward), it allows solar wind particles to penetrate the Earth’s magnetic field more easily. A strong negative Bz is often associated with increased chances of seeing the Northern Lights.

Conversely, when Bz is positive (northward), the Earth’s magnetic field tends to block the solar wind, resulting in reduced auroral activity.

Density 0.15 p/cm3

Solar wind density refers to the number of charged particles in a given volume of the solar wind, typically measured in particles per cubic centimeter (p/cm3).

A typical solar wind density is around 2.76 p/cm3.

The density of the solar wind affects how many particles reach the Earth’s magnetosphere. A higher density means more particles are available to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field. When these charged particles collide with the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, they produce the stunning light displays known as auroras.

Speed 554.6 km/s

The speed of the solar wind also plays a significant role. A typical solar wind speed is about 375 km/s. When both speed and density are high, the energy transferred to the Earth’s magnetosphere increases, enhancing the chances of seeing vibrant auroras.

Rain

5°C Feels like 1°C

High
5°C
Low
3°C
  • Precipitation: 68%
  • Cloud cover: 100%
  • Wind: 7 km/h

Moon

Full moon

  • Sun rises at: 7:49am
  • Sun sets at: 7:24pm
  • Moon rises at: 8:04pm
  • Moon sets at: 7:58am

Places to check out around Reykjavík

Discover Restaurants, Parks, Waterfalls and more…

Other places in Iceland

Akureyri

See also

Planning Your Northern Lights AdventureNorthern Lights PhotographyScience Of The AuroraNorthern Lights Playlist

Höfnin

Höfnin is a Seafood Restaurant at Geirsgata 7C, 101 Reykjavík

Restaurant Höfnin is a cozy restaurant located downtown in an fishermen´s hut on the harbor front in Reykjavík

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What do people think of Höfnin?

4.8

  • Cheese baked salmon 😋😋

    24 March 2023

  • All fish dishes are amazing!

    24 July 2022

  • Splendid food, lovely place

    8 March 2022

  • Super pretty waitress and a very delicious lunch

    29 August 2021

  • The Shellfish soup was great

    8 June 2019