The Northern Lights in Iceland: Month by Month Guide

If you're wondering what the best month is for seeing the northern lights in Iceland is, you're not alone — it's one of the questions I get asked the most. And the answer? Best months to see the northern lights in Iceland is from September through March, with peak chances usually between October and March and during equinox. The aurora borealis doesn't run on our schedule, but with a little planning and a bit of solar luck, you can absolutely catch them.

From late September to early April you'll find Travel Reykjavík touring the south with people from all walks of life hunting for the aurora colors in the sky. We offer everything from tailored private aurora tours in superjeeps, to multi-day northern light hunts.

Can You See The Northern Lights in August in Iceland?

Now, August might not be the first month that comes to mind when you think “northern lights,” but sightings are possible — and here’s why. Although the aurora borealis is active year-round, it’s only visible when the sky is dark enough. After months of bright Arctic nights, astronomical darkness finally returns to Iceland by mid-to-late August, especially in rural areas where light pollution is minimal.

The aurora itself is triggered by charged particles from the solar wind interacting with Earth’s magnetosphere, a process that doesn’t stop in summer. What changes is our ability to see it. By late August, the sun dips far enough below the horizon at night to allow short windows of complete darkness — just enough for the aurora to appear if geomagnetic conditions are favorable.

Combine that with milder weather and clear skies, and you’ve got a unique opportunity to catch the first auroras of the season. It’s a quiet, beautiful way to ease into Iceland’s northern lights months.

Auroras in September

September is when aurora season really kicks off. The nights are finally long and dark again, and the weather’s still mild enough to enjoy Iceland’s wild landscapes during the day — think waterfalls, volcano trails, and highland roads before the snow settles in.

But here’s the cool part: September’s auroras tend to be stronger, and that has a lot to do with the autumn equinox. Around this time, Earth’s axis is tilted in a way that makes it easier for solar wind — those streams of charged particles from the sun — to connect with Earth’s magnetic field. Scientists call this the Russell-McPherron effect [1], but in simple terms, it means the solar wind has a clearer path into our atmosphere during the equinoxes, increasing the chances of geomagnetic storm (this is what causes the auroras).

So not only is September the return of dark skies, but it’s also a time when Earth is better positioned to receive the aurora. That’s why this month often delivers some of the season’s brightest and most active displays.

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Northern Lights in October in Iceland

October is a personal favorite of mine. The nights are long, the first snow might sprinkle the mountaintops, and those solar storms keep rolling in.

From a scientific perspective, October is an ideal time to catch the northern lights because of two key factors: seasonal geomagnetic activity and increasing hours of darkness. First, studies from NASA and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute show that the months near the equinoxes—March and September—often experience enhanced auroral activity due to a phenomenon known as the Russell-McPherron effect. While this effect peaks in late September, its influence can still carry into early October.

Add in the fact that October brings full darkness from early evening to morning, and you’ve got extended viewing hours paired with a still-active Sun.

November Auroras

Now we’re in full aurora mode. November brings deep darkness and long nights, which means more opportunity to catch the lights. It’s also one of the quieter months in terms of tourism, so you've got a better chance of having the show all to yourself (or nearly so). On the flip side, weather gets moodier — rain, snow, and clouds can be a challenge — but when the skies clear, they clear up good.

November is one of the most dependable months for northern lights activity in Iceland. At this point in the year, the auroral oval — a donut-shaped ring around Earth’s geomagnetic poles where auroras are most likely to occur [2] — is well-positioned over the island for much of the night.

By November, there’s also over 14 hours of darkness per day in Iceland, which increases your odds of catching a clear display whenever conditions line up.

Northern Lights in December

With winter solstice on December 21st, we reach the darkest point of the year. That means maximum nighttime and peak aurora potential. However, weather also plays a huge role, and December is known for cloudy skies and storms.

December is still a powerhouse month for aurora visibility as long as the clouds stay out of the way. The northern hemisphere is tilted farthest away from the Sun, giving Iceland some 20 hours of darkness on the solstice. This extended period of night increases the viewing window significantly compared to earlier months.

Interestingly, despite being far from the equinox, auroral activity doesn’t disappear in December. That’s because the Sun’s surface still releases slow and fast solar wind streams, particularly from those persistent coronal holes [3]. These interactions can still trigger minor to moderate geomagnetic storms, especially when the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) aligns southward — allowing more energy to enter Earth's magnetosphere.

Of course, none of this matters if the skies are thick with cloud but all of this is monitored and if the conditions are not optimal you can be sure that Travel Reykjavík will keep you updated and adjust its northern lights tours accordingly.

Your 5-Day Northern Lights Hunt Awaits!

January Northern Lights in Iceland

January keeps those long, dark nights coming—and it tends to be colder and a bit more stable weather-wise than December. With the holiday crowds gone and snow blanketing the countryside, it's a picture-perfect time to hunt for lights.

January offers ideal observing conditions thanks to long hours of darkness (nearly 20 hours in early January) and Iceland’s stable position directly under the auroral oval. This month is also known for frequent interactions between Earth’s magnetosphere and high-speed solar wind streams from coronal holes—cooler, open regions in the Sun’s outer atmosphere that allow energetic particles to escape into space [4].

When these solar wind streams reach Earth and align with a southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), they can trigger minor to moderate geomagnetic storms, enough to fuel visible auroral displays across the country. In combination with clear, cold air and reflective snow, seeing the auroras in January's is visually stunning.

February Auroras in Iceland

February often surprises people with how aurora-active it is. It's cold, yes, but the skies are frequently clearer, and the daylight hours start to stretch just a little. While there are still long nights (over 13 hours of darkness in early February), the slightly increasing daylight makes travel easier while preserving excellent visibility windows for auroras.

Thanks to generally clearer weather than December or early January, February often delivers a higher number of visible auroras, even if geomagnetic conditions are similar.

Northern Lights in March

March is a gorgeous, underrated month for northern lights. The days get noticeably longer, but the nights are still dark enough for aurora hunting. Like in September, the spring equinox brings an increase in geomagnetic activity, which can translate to stronger displays. Plus, you're heading toward warmer days and less travel disruption due to winter storms and icy roads. So if you want that winter wonderland look with a touch of spring promise, this is your sweet spot.

Even though daylight hours increase in March, aurora visibility remains high in Iceland thanks to lingering darkness from evening into early morning. And since many rural roads are still passable at this time (but not yet crowded), March offers excellent opportunities for northern lights excursions in open, snow-covered landscapes without the logistical hurdles of deep winter.

Can You See The Northern Lights in April in Iceland?

By the later half of April, the window for seeing the northern lights is starting to close. The nights get shorter and lighter, and sightings become less frequent. Still, in early April, you can catch a last hurrah if conditions line up just right.

Up until mid April you can still join Travel Reykjavík on a northern lights tour, for a final glimpse of the lights before the midnight sun takes over.

May to July

Let’s clear something up here: you cannot see the northern lights in Iceland in May, June, or July. Why? Because the midnight sun is doing its thing, and the sky simply doesn’t get dark enough — even at 2 a.m. The auroras may still be happening high above the planet, but they’re completely washed out by the sunlight. But don’t worry — you’ll still find plenty of magic in Iceland during summer (just of the daylight variety).

Equinox Seasons

Equinox seasons occur twice a year—around March 20 (spring equinox) and September 22 (autumn equinox). On these dates, Earth’s axial tilt is perpendicular to the Sun, meaning day and night are approximately equal in length worldwide.

These periods are linked to increased geomagnetic activity, which enhances the visibility of auroras. This effect is explained by the Russell-McPherron effect: during equinoxes, the orientation of Earth’s magnetic field relative to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) allows more efficient magnetic reconnection. This process opens Earth's magnetic field to the solar wind, allowing more charged particles to enter the atmosphere.

As a result, geomagnetic storms are more likely around the equinoxes, increasing the frequency and intensity of auroral displays at high latitudes, including Iceland.

Experience the Aurora Borealis with Travel Reykjavík

During the Aurora months you can experience the northern lights in Iceland with Travel Reykjavík by Snæland Travel. We've been a family-run company since 1945, and after 80 years chasing auroras across lava fields, fjords, and glacier valleys, we've learned a thing or two about doing it right.

However you want to experience the aurora, in a private superjeep or a small group, we'll help you find the perfect way to do it.

Book Your 5-Day Northern Lights Hunt Today!

Sources

Palmroth, M., Grandin, M., Ala-Lahti, M., Aikio, A. T., Partamies, N., & Vanhamäki, H. (2020). Understanding space weather to shield society: A global road map for 2015–2025 commissioned by COSPAR and ILWS. Journal of Space Weather and Space Climate, 10, A01. https://www.swsc-journal.org/articles/swsc/pdf/2020/01/swsc190051.pdf

Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy. (n.d.). Auroral ovals around the two geomagnetic poles. Retrieved from https://www.aeronomie.be/en/encyclopedia/auroral-ovals-two-geomagnetic-poles

NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. (n.d.). Coronal holes. Retrieved from https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/coronal-holes

NASA. (n.d.). What is a solar flare? Retrieved from https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/space-weather/solar-flares/what-is-a-solar-flare