Reykjavík Northern Lights Cruise & Aurora Exhibition

Search for Aurora Borealis away from the city lights, on this thrilling winter cruise. The Northern Lights are best displayed under dark, clear skies. You can find these conditions from September until the end of April.

Watching the lights constantly change in intensity, colour and movement in the vast starry space with the gentle lull of the ocean beneath is a thrilling, unique experience. The Northern Lights Cruise commences at our ticket office by the Ægisgarður pier in the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavik where you exchange your voucher for admission slips. On the tour we will take you out into the dark blue yonder of Faxaflói bay in search for the mystical phenomenon we call the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, leaving behind the bright city lights of the capital.

Our open-top viewing decks provide the perfect platform for witnessing the dazzling spectacle while our heated indoor lounge is a great place to take a break and warm up in between sightings. Our expert guide will be at hand to answer your questions while you enjoy Mother Nature’s light show and starry skies wrapped up in one of our warm overalls. On board you will find several outdoor viewing platforms and a large indoor saloon with toilet facilities and even café where you can buy light refreshments or a beverage to your liking (we recommend the Northern Lights punch!). Pleases note that this tour is subject to weather, conditions at sea and visibility.

Aurora Reykjavík exhibition: This ticket is flexible, meaning you can come down and stroll through the exhibition in your own time and therefore no need to make a set reservation. Take a walk through history and learn how people and cultures around the world saw the Northern Lights via legends and myths connected to this amazing phenomenon.

There are interactive displays as well as a specially equipped ‘photo booth’ where you can learn how to adjust your camera’s settings should you want to try your hand at capturing the auroras yourself. The high point of your visit to the centre will certainly be our theatre where a continuously running HD film is playing throughout the day. Projected onto a 7-metre wide screen, you can sit back and enjoy this 20-minute film that features some of the most magnificent auroral displays seen over Iceland. The film is accompanied by soft music in surround-sound, making this a therapeutic and restful experience.

You’ll feel like you have just come back from a blissful holiday! The knowledgeable and friendly staff are on hand to answer any questions you may have about the lights and about Northern Lights photography.