How to plan a trip to Iceland for the northern lights

The northern lights are a fickle beast – often taking even the most avid hunters by surprise with their appearance and/or intensity. However, there are certain conditions that you need in order to be able to see them at all. These include:

• KP index score: The KP index measures geomagnetic activity, and is arguably the most important factor for seeing the northern lights. The index shows the most likely time that you can spot the aurora borealis in Iceland and how strong they will appear. The higher the KP index score, the better your chances of seeing lights, and the more likely you are to see the pink and purple colors, alongside the green, light up the sky.
• Dark and clear skies: The darker the nights, the brighter the lights! are also important for seeing the lights. With darkness being crucial for northern lights hunting, the Icelandic winter brings even more opportunities to see the aurora borealis in Iceland. Heading away from light pollution will maximize your chances of a glimpse, although the brightest aurora can still be seen from cities and even through thin clouds. It’s also worth noting that a full moon can significantly brighten the sky, making it more difficult to enjoy the show.
• Time of night: The time of night can also have an impact on how easy it is to see the aurora in Iceland. Generally, 9pm or 10pm until 2am is considered peak time. The lights also tend to get more visible as the night goes on, so the show can be a long but extremely rewarding one. If you need your beauty sleep, you'll find that many hotels offer an aurora alarm service, calling your room to wake you if there are hints of color in the sky.

You may have also heard that you need cold temperatures to see the northern lights, but this is a common misconception! Cooler weather often brings clearer skies, and it's the lack of clouds that creates the best conditions for seeing the lights, not the temperature.

Iceland's northern lights forecast

If you’ve already got a vacation to Iceland booked and are planning a trip to see the northern lights, the Icelandic Met Office provides a northern lights forecast with predictions for the coming three days. The map shows cloud coverage over Iceland, and there's a numbered KP index scale in the top right corner that shows the level of solar activity. The scale ranges from 0 to 9 (very low to very strong).

The interactive tool allows you to easily view the northern lights forecast for Reykjavík or any other part of Iceland. However, it’s important to bear in mind that the aurora forecast can fluctuate throughout the day. For the most reliable reading, we’d suggest checking Iceland’s aurora borealis forecast at around 6pm on the day you're hoping to try to see the lights.

And if you want up-to-date readings on the go, we also recommend downloading the Aurora Forecast app. It shows the position of the auroral oval around the Arctic Circle and features a probability indicator so you can predict how likely it is that you’ll see the lights where you are.

Ready to plan a trip to Iceland for the northern lights? Here’s a reminder of everything you’ll need to think about before you travel:

• From the month you’re visiting in to the time of night you’re planning on heading out to hunt for the aurora, make sure to time your trip well (year, month, time of night).
• Whether you want to go on a guided tour, combine your trip with other experiences, or head out into the wilderness, decide which style of trip is right for you.
• Do your research on where you want to stay. Choose where you’d like to be based - in the city or somewhere more remote- and then think about whether a hotel, motorhome, or camping is best for you.
• Prepare for the cold conditions with our northern lights packing list. Since you’ll need to bring bulky items, being smart with space is key. Remember to wear your bulkiest clothing while you travel to free up space in your suitcase.
• Reading up on road / general safety info ahead of your trip so you can have a safe and enjoyable time whilst you’re in Iceland.
• And finally, don’t forget to check the aurora forecast for where you’re staying. Even if chances are low, be patient, and you might be rewarded with a glimpse of the lights.