Low number, clear sky
Example: Kp 2 with a broad clear patch
Try a nearby dark location and watch. The sensible choice is to use the clear window, rather than wait indoors for a higher number.
A faint green arc. A curtain that folds across the sky. A sudden crown of light overhead. The Northern Lights can change while you are watching, and understanding a little of what is happening makes the evening more rewarding.
The useful questions are quite specific: will it be dark, where will the clouds break, and how do you stay warm while waiting? Below are the science, a monthly calendar, forecast examples, places to watch and camera settings.
Before you make plans
At a glance
- Season
- Late August–April
September–March is easier to plan around; the season's edges offer less darkness.
- First trip
- September or March
Our picks for balancing aurora evenings with daylight for exploring.
- Forecast
- Clouds + Kp
Find a clear sky, then read the activity and short-term solar wind together.
- Camera start
- 5s · f/2.8 · ISO 1600
A starting exposure for moving curtains. Check a test frame and adjust.
What are the Northern Lights?
From solar wind to curtains of light.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, are light emitted by gases high in our atmosphere. Energetic electrons collide with oxygen and nitrogen, giving them extra energy. As those gases return to lower-energy states, they release light. The glow is usually around 80–500 km above us, far above ordinary weather clouds.
Iceland sits close to the northern auroral oval: a shifting ring around the magnetic pole where these encounters are concentrated. A quiet arc can become rippling curtains, rays or a crown overhead as a local auroral substorm develops. The southern hemisphere has its own counterpart, the aurora australis.
01
The Sun supplies the energy
The solar wind is a continuous flow of charged particles carrying a magnetic field. Fast streams and eruptions can increase the energy transferred into Earth's magnetic environment.
02
Earth's magnetic field shapes the show
Energy is stored and released in the magnetosphere. Accelerated electrons follow magnetic field lines toward the polar atmosphere, creating the oval and its changing curtains.
03
Your eyes and camera see it differently
A faint aurora may look like a pale grey-green streak. A camera gathers light over several seconds, recording more colour than your eyes see at once. Bright displays can be vivid to the naked eye too.
Green
Roughly 100–200 kmOxygen produces the familiar green glow. Its light often forms the main body of an auroral curtain.
Red
Above roughly 200 kmOxygen also produces red light higher in the atmosphere, sometimes above the green curtains.
Blue & pink
Different layers below ~200 kmNitrogen can glow blue around 100–200 km; pink and reddish-purple edges often come from below about 100 km. These heights are approximate, and colours overlap.
The best months
The aurora season, month by month.
For a first trip, September or March is a useful starting point: you can combine dark nights with substantial daylight for exploring. October is another strong choice if you want longer evenings. These are our planning recommendations, not a ranking of your chances of seeing a display.
The practical season runs from late August into April, with September through March easier to plan around. Aurora happens all year; summer twilight hides it. More nights in Iceland give you more opportunities to work around clouds, so leave several evenings available and try early in your stay.
Explore the year
Balanced trip
September
- After dark
- Dark evenings return
- By day
- Room for daytime trips
Our autumn starting point: enough darkness to search without the shortest winter days. Early September requires a later start; bring warm layers even after a mild afternoon.
Why people mention the equinoxes
NOAA describes a tendency for larger geomagnetic storms around the spring and autumn equinoxes. That is a broad seasonal pattern, not a forecast for a particular September or March evening. Local cloud, darkness and the night's activity still decide what you see.
A practical evening window
Roughly 10 pm to 1 am is a useful window in Iceland. Displays can happen earlier or later whenever the sky is sufficiently dark. Near the season's edges, let actual twilight times set the start rather than a fixed tour-style schedule.
Leave room to try again
Use your first suitable evening, rather than saving the search for the last night. Plan an easier morning afterwards. A well-rested second attempt is more useful than a long, rushed drive towards an uncertain gap in the clouds.
Read the forecast
There is more to the sky than a Kp number.
A good forecast answers three different questions: will it be dark, can you see through the clouds, and is auroral activity likely? No single number answers all three. In Iceland, a modest Kp under clear skies can be more useful than a storm forecast beneath solid cloud.
Kp is a planetary measure of geomagnetic disturbance on a 0–9, quasi-logarithmic scale, grouped into three-hour intervals. Kp 4 does not mean a 40% chance, and Kp 6 is not simply twice as strong as Kp 3. It describes broad magnetic activity, not the brightness above your particular car park. Check whether an app is showing a prediction or an observed estimate.
Understanding Kp
Global activity · 0–90
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0–2
Quiet
The oval is usually nearer the poles. Iceland can still have aurora; clear darkness is worth checking even when the number is low.
3–4
More active
The oval tends to expand, with more activity possible. A useful reason to be ready, though local bursts can change faster than Kp.
5–6
Storm levels
Kp 5 begins NOAA's geomagnetic storm scale. Wider visibility becomes possible, while cloud and local timing still decide what you see.
7–9
Major activity
Strong to extreme storm levels can push the oval much farther south. Iceland does not need numbers this high for a memorable display.
Read the evening in this order
Start with the Icelandic cloud map
On the Met Office aurora map, green means cloud and white means clearer sky. Move the time slider to when you will actually be outside. Inspect low, middle and high cloud layers: a gap in low cloud is less useful if another layer covers it. Check wind and travel conditions before choosing a destination.
Use Kp to prepare, not to book a minute
A multi-day forecast can flag promising nights, but storm arrival times and strength can change. The Met Office's displayed aurora activity is for midnight; it is not an hourly guarantee. Keep several evenings available and revisit the forecast on the day.
Check the short-term oval
NOAA's OVATION map usually looks roughly 30–90 minutes ahead using upstream solar wind measurements. Read its timestamp and position relative to Iceland. It does not include your local clouds. When upstream data are unavailable and the model falls back to Kp, there is no forecast lead time.
Let the sky have the final word
At a safe viewing spot, look for stars and scan the whole sky, including overhead. Give your eyes time away from bright screens. A faint arc can strengthen; a promising app can stay quiet. Reassess the clouds before moving, and allow time to watch rather than spending the whole evening driving.
Reading the solar wind: beyond Kp
Bz · magnetic direction
Southward / negative helpsBz is the north–south component of the solar wind's magnetic field, measured in nanotesla (nT). Sustained negative Bz generally lets energy enter Earth's magnetic system more efficiently. Watch the trend: one brief dip is not a promise of an immediate show.
Bt · magnetic strength
Read it alongside BzBt is the total strength of that field, also in nT. A stronger field has more potential to drive activity when its orientation is favourable. A large Bt with northward Bz is a different situation from the same strength pointing south.
Solar wind speed
Measured in km/sFaster wind can strengthen the interaction with Earth, but speed alone cannot predict a local display. Use it with magnetic strength, direction and duration; there is no universal speed that guarantees northern lights.
Solar wind density
Particles per cm³Density describes how much material the wind carries. A sudden increase can accompany a compression or arriving disturbance. It is supporting context, not a target score: high density by itself does not tell you whether aurora will appear.
Three evenings, three decisions
Big number, no stars
Example: Kp 6 beneath thick cloud
Look for a reachable clearing on the cloud forecast. If safe access is poor, stay put: the space-weather number cannot remove cloud.
The live data improve
Example: sustained southward Bz
Be ready outside if your sky is clear. Treat it as a favourable signal, not a countdown or a guaranteed burst at your location.
Read moreIcelandic Met Office · Cloud and aurora forecast (opens in a new tab)NOAA · Planetary K-index (opens in a new tab)ISGI · How the Kp scale works (opens in a new tab)NOAA · Solar wind observations (opens in a new tab)NOAA · What drives geomagnetic storms (opens in a new tab)NOAA · OVATION short-term aurora forecast (opens in a new tab)
Where to go
From Grótta to the countryside.
Choose the place after checking the clouds. A clear patch near your accommodation can beat a famous viewpoint under solid cloud. Look for open sky, limited nearby lighting, legal parking and a simple way back to warmth.
These are starting points for planning, not a list to complete in one night. Check current weather, road conditions and local access before leaving. Never stop in the carriageway or use a private driveway to photograph a display.
Choose the sky first
A familiar place under clear sky is a better starting point than a long drive towards a famous photograph.
Seltjarnarnes · capital area
Grótta shore
A local option near Reykjavík
An open coastal horizon makes this a practical first place to try while staying in the capital. Nearby city light remains, but you do not always need a countryside drive to see aurora.
- Getting there
- Watch from the mainland shore and public paths; the lighthouse is visible without crossing to it.
- Keep in mind
- The lighthouse crossing is tidal. Stay on the mainland for your evening search and take care on slippery, exposed shoreline paths.
Golden Circle · inland
Þingvellir
Choose it when inland skies are clearer
A large landscape of lake, lava and mountains gives you room to compose a photograph away from the capital's lights. Scout your viewpoint in daylight if you can.
- Getting there
- Use designated parking such as P1, P2 or P5, pay the applicable parking fee and follow marked paths.
- Keep in mind
- Paths may be icy and snow can hide fissures. A walk into the rift or down to the lake is unnecessary just to watch the sky.
Reykjanes · volcanic lake
Kleifarvatn
Road 42 / Krýsuvík area
The lake and surrounding volcanic ridges offer a simple, striking foreground. The Krýsuvík area is among Visit Reykjanes' suggested aurora locations.
- Getting there
- Pick an established parking area and view from firm ground. Check the road and current Reykjanes access notices first.
- Keep in mind
- This is an exposed stop. Avoid steep banks and the water's edge in darkness, and choose somewhere closer if wind or road conditions make the journey difficult.
West Iceland · fjord
Hvalfjörður
The fjord starts roughly 45 minutes from Reykjavík in good conditions
Mountain outlines and the fjord can make a beautiful setting when clearer skies lie north of the city. Treat it as an area to explore, not one guaranteed viewing point.
- Getting there
- Choose a marked public stopping place along the fjord and check that it is usable before committing to the evening.
- Keep in mind
- The scenic road adds distance compared with the tunnel. Allow for the return journey and keep clear of farm entrances, private land and roadside shoulders.
Eyrarbakki · Stokkseyri
The South Coast lighthouse trail
A useful option when staying in South Iceland
The official lighthouse route offers broad coastal skies around the villages south of the Golden Circle. It suits a night close to a South Iceland base.
- Getting there
- Scout a public viewing area by day, use signed parking and stay on established landward paths.
- Keep in mind
- You do not need to stand on a beach, sea wall or cliff edge to see aurora. Keep well back from the sea, particularly after dark.
West Iceland · peninsula
Kirkjufell & Snæfellsnes
Best with an overnight stay nearby
Kirkjufell's silhouette is a memorable photographic foreground. Make it part of a Snæfellsnes stay so you can wait for a clear night without a long drive home.
- Getting there
- Use the paid Kirkjufellsfoss parking area and designated viewpoints. The mountain can be photographed from below.
- Keep in mind
- Wind and icy paths matter more than getting the familiar waterfall composition. Do not climb the mountain for an aurora view.
The sky in motion
Watch the curtains move.
Two films from the Norse Adventures YouTube channel: an aurora evening with our group, and a night in timelapse. The timelapse compresses time; every display has its own pace when you are there beneath it.
Photographing the aurora
Camera settings for a changing sky.
Start with manual exposure, a sturdy tripod and a wide lens. Something around 14–24 mm on full frame, or an equivalent field of view, leaves room for the landscape and sky. An f/1.8–f/2.8 lens helps, but use the widest aperture your lens allows and adjust the exposure to suit.
Shutter time decides how much movement you record. Aperture controls how much light enters. ISO changes the camera's response to that light; raising it brightens the result but can make noise more visible. These ranges are starting points, not three guaranteed recipes. Moonlight, lens, sensor and aurora brightness all change the answer.
Choose the display you see
- Shutter
- 3–8 sec
- Aperture
- f/1.8–2.8
- ISO
- 1600–3200
A useful everyday starting range. Try 5 seconds at f/2.8 and ISO 1600, then check the image and adjust.
Starting points for a camera on a tripod. Adjust for your lens, the sky and the photograph on your screen.
Two photographs. Two starting points.
These are the recorded settings from the original Norse photographs.
01
Set up before the sky changes
Plant the tripod firmly, keep it low in wind and use a two-second timer or remote release. Turn off flash. Follow your camera's guidance for stabilisation on a tripod. Compose with a simple mountain, shoreline or silhouette so the photograph has a sense of place.
02
Focus on a star, then check it
Switch to manual focus. Magnify a bright star in live view and turn the focus ring until it becomes the smallest, sharpest point. Do not assume the infinity mark is exact. Make a test shot, inspect the stars at full magnification and recheck after changing zoom or bumping the lens.
03
Shoot RAW and choose a steady colour balance
RAW keeps more freedom to adjust exposure and colour later. A manual white balance around 3500–4000 K is a useful starting look, not a scientific requirement. Keep it consistent across a sequence; adjust later if snow, moonlight or nearby lamps make the colour look wrong.
04
Expose for the moving lights
Choose shutter time for the aurora's speed, then adjust ISO for brightness. If rays become a smooth wash, shorten the exposure. Check the RGB histogram, especially the green channel, for clipped highlights. A bright camera screen can make an underexposed frame look convincing, so inspect the actual file information too.
05
Protect your time outside
Carry charged spare batteries in an inside pocket and check the front element for fog or frost. Keep a lens cloth handy. Practise finding manual focus, shutter time and ISO with gloves on before you leave; the best burst is a poor moment to learn the menu.
Only bringing a phone?
You can still make a photograph.
Clean the lens, turn off flash and begin with the main 1× camera. Support the phone on a small tripod or stable surface; use a timer so tapping the screen does not move it.
Use Night mode or Night Sight if available. Let the first shot use the phone's automatic exposure, then compare a shorter option if moving curtains look smeared. The longest setting is not always the best one, and controls vary by model.
Keep the phone still until capture finishes. Review the result at a dim screen brightness, then take a moment to watch with your own eyes. A phone can reveal colour in a faint arc, but it cannot see through thick cloud.
Fix the photograph
- The sky is a green smear
- Shorten the shutter first. If 10 seconds becomes 5 seconds, doubling ISO gives approximately the same brightness at the same aperture, with less motion blur and potentially more visible noise.
- The stars are soft or streaked
- Check focus and tripod movement. If stars form short trails, shorten the exposure; the limit depends on focal length, sensor resolution and where you point, not one universal number.
- The aurora has lost its detail
- If bright areas clip, reduce exposure. Shorten shutter time or lower ISO. Recovering a slightly dark RAW file is easier than reconstructing colour and texture that were overexposed.
- The foreground is almost black
- Try a silhouette or include naturally moonlit ground. A longer exposure for the whole scene may blur the aurora. Advanced photographers can make a separate foreground exposure and blend it later.
Read moreNikon · Northern lights settings and field technique (opens in a new tab)Nikon · Movement, focus and the RGB histogram (opens in a new tab)Canon · Photographing faint and dancing aurora (opens in a new tab)Nikon · Exposure and ISO (opens in a new tab)Apple · Night mode and keeping a phone steady (opens in a new tab)
What to wear
Dress for the waiting, as well as the walk.
Dress for waiting outside, not for the walk from your hotel to the car. You generate much less warmth while watching the sky or standing behind a tripod. Even September and April deserve a winter-minded packing check.
Build warmth in layers and make the outer layer block wind and rain. Put extra insulation on before the long wait. On a tour, check whether warm overalls are included; still arrive with proper footwear, headwear and gloves.
BASE→INSULATE→SHIELD
Next to your skin
- Wool or synthetic thermal top
- Thermal leggings
Cover both halves of your body. Avoid cotton as your outdoor base layer; jeans alone are a poor choice for a long cold stop.
Trap the warmth
- Fleece or wool sweater
- Insulated jacket for the wait
Bring more insulation than you needed while walking. An extra jacket is easy to add when you get out of the vehicle.
Stop the wind
- Windproof, waterproof outer jacket
- Weatherproof trousers
A warm sweater needs protection from the weather. Close cuffs and zips, and leave enough room for the layers underneath.
Look after your feet
- Warm waterproof boots
- Wool or synthetic socks
- Suitable ice grips when paths are icy
Standing on cold ground is different from walking around town. Use boots with room for your socks and check the footing before setting up a tripod.
Head, neck & hands
- Warm hat covering your ears
- Neck warmer
- Thin camera gloves plus insulated mittens
Practise camera buttons with gloves on. Thin liners let you make a quick adjustment, then put the warm outer mittens back on.
By the door
The small things that make a long evening easier.
- Pack a warm drink and a small snack for the wait.
- Bring a torch or headlamp, keep its beam low and avoid shining it towards other viewers.
- Keep your phone, spare battery and power bank in an inner pocket; cold shortens battery life.
- A dry lens cloth is useful for glasses and camera equipment; keep it in a pocket where it will stay dry.
- Hand warmers can be a welcome extra. Follow the packet instructions and keep a spare pair of gloves or socks dry in your bag.
Choose your evening
Go with a guide or watch independently?
A guided aurora hunt
- You want a guide choosing the route from the latest clouds, weather and road conditions.
- You would enjoy stories and company, with someone else handling transport.
- You want professional photos or photography help; check what each tour includes.
An independent evening
- You have a suitable place to watch near your accommodation, or a safe route to one.
- You are happy checking forecasts, dressing for the wait and changing plans when needed.
- If you drive, you are comfortable with the conditions after dark and rested for the return.
Good to know
Common questions
Which month is best for Northern Lights in Iceland?
September or March is our starting recommendation for a first trip: both balance dark nights with daylight for exploring. October offers longer evenings, while November–February brings the longest nights and more winter travel considerations. These are itinerary choices, not a guarantee of better sightings. Leave several evenings available in any month.
Can I see the Northern Lights in summer?
Aurora happens throughout the year, but Iceland's bright summer nights hide it. June and July are unsuitable for an aurora trip, and May is outside the dependable season. Opportunities begin to return in late August as darkness returns; early August is still bright.
Can I see Northern Lights from Reykjavík without a tour?
Yes, when it is dark, the sky is clear enough and aurora is active. City lights make faint displays harder to distinguish. Grótta's mainland shore is one starting point with an open horizon; you do not need to cross to the lighthouse. A guided trip adds transport and local judgement about where the best available conditions lie.
What Kp do I need to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?
There is no single minimum that guarantees or rules out a sighting. Iceland lies close to the auroral oval and can have displays at low Kp, including 0–2. Kp is a global, three-hour measure of geomagnetic disturbance, not a local percentage chance. Check cloud cover and the actual sky even when the number looks modest.
Does a full moon ruin the Northern Lights?
No. Moonlight can make a faint display harder to distinguish, but bright aurora can still be visible. It also lights the landscape for photographs. Check the moon's position and use test exposures; a moonlit scene may need less exposure than a moonless one.
What camera settings should I start with?
For moving curtains, try manual exposure at 5 seconds, f/2.8 and ISO 1600 on a tripod. Focus carefully on a star and shoot RAW if available. Shorten the shutter for fast rays; a faint, slow arc may benefit from 10–20 seconds. Adjust ISO and check the histogram as the brightness changes.
Can I photograph the Northern Lights with a phone?
Many phones can record aurora with Night mode or Night Sight. Clean the lens, turn off flash and steady the phone on a tripod or secure support. Keep it still throughout the capture. Try a shorter exposure if moving curtains look smeared; results depend on your phone and the brightness of the display.
What should I wear for a Northern Lights tour?
Wear wool or synthetic base layers, warm insulation and a windproof, waterproof outer layer. Add warm waterproof boots, suitable socks, a hat, neck warmer and insulated gloves or mittens. Standing still is colder than walking, so bring extra insulation. Check whether the tour provides overalls and still arrive with proper footwear and accessories.
Should I book a tour near the start of my stay?
Yes, that leaves more flexibility if weather changes your plans. Keep another evening free and read the operator's cancellation and retry terms. A retry depends on the policy and available departures, with no guarantee of clear weather or a sighting.
Keep exploring
A few more field notes
An evening with Norse
