I have noticed that one of the main sights our foreign visitors want to see in Iceland in the wintertime is the Northern Lights.
I am often asked whether there will be Northern Lights tonight or in January, February, etc., and at what time the lights will be on, as it were, but we locals honestly never know when they will show up.
Check out the best Northern Lights Tours: Northern Lights Tours in Iceland.
Top photo: Northern Lights as seen from my balcony
Northern Lights as seen from the 12th floor in my mother-in-law's block of flats in Reykjavík
A clear and dark sky is of the essence so that the Northern Lights can be visible to us, and they start appearing to the naked eye around mid-August.
By that time, the nights start to get dark again after almost unlimited daylight during the Icelandic summer months.
The Northern Lights can often be seen in the city, and despite the light pollution, I often get to witness some fantastic Northern Lights shows from my balcony here in Reykjavík.
Northern Lights as seen from my balcony in Reykjavík
The Northern Lights in my photos were the first Northern Lights I saw last September from my balcony.
It started with a single pillar of light in the sky, which then turned into one of the most fantastic shows I have ever seen in Reykjavík.
The Northern Lights were dancing and flickering in the sky, changing from green to white to the most beautiful pink colour.
The videos don't capture their real beauty, though; you have to see them with your own eyes.
Northern Lights in November as seen from my balcony - they exploded in the sky!
When it is dark outside in wintertime, I often look out of my window to see if there are any Northern Lights, as we never know when or if they will show up.
When I see a glimpse of them, or the full show, I used to rush out with my camera, take some photos, and marvel at this extraordinary sight.
I now use my mobile phone solely for taking photos and videos.
Photos are from my balcony
My photos are not at all professional, as I go outside and take pictures on the spot, without a tripod or the necessary preparations.
But I post them here anyway to show you what the Northern Lights can look like in the city.
You will get much better photos of the Northern Lights if you use a tripod and long exposures, as the Northern Lights flicker and move at an incredible speed.
Northern Lights in Reykjavík as seen from my balcony
You can join many guided Northern Lights tours from Reykjavík, where the guides will take you on a Northern Lights hunt.
I added a link to one of the tours, but you can choose from a very varied selection of Northern Lights tours. You can browse through them and see which tour suits you the best.
The photographer Iurie Belegurschi has taken very professional photos of the Northern Lights and offers many photography tours around Iceland.
Northern Lights at Mývatn in North Iceland as seen from the summer cottage
My husband's family owns a summer cottage in North Iceland, in the amazing Mývatn area, and there, away from the city's light pollution, I have seen the longest-lasting Northern Lights I have ever witnessed in my life.
The lights were flickering in the sky all night long, and the next night as well! My photo above was shot at the cottage in September, in total darkness except for one light inside the summer cottage.
Northern Lights above Þingeyri in the Westfjords of Iceland
And, in Þingeyri village in the Westfjords, I witnessed the absolutely most magnificent Northern Lights show that I have ever seen.
I stood outside with the sky flickering above me, and I was speechless.
This is what happens when the sky all of a sudden explodes right above you. I have no words to describe it!
Northern Lights above Þingeyri village
They were travelling across the sky at such a great speed, and I leaned against the hood of the car and took photos left and right with my phone, without looking at what I was doing, as I was in awe looking up at the sky.
And a little afraid, as this was just too much for the senses to take in. The Northern Lights were green, white, red, pink, and violet. I hope you will be able to see a show like this one day.
The Aurora Reykjavík - the Northern Lights Center
Aurora Reykjavík
If you happen to be visiting Iceland in the summertime, when the Northern Lights are not visible, then I recommend that you visit Aurora Reykjavík - the Northern Lights Centre, where you can watch the sky dancing all year round.
At Aurora Reykjavík, you will get to know all about the Northern Lights, how they are formed, and where they come from.
The very knowledgeable staff will help you set your camera to the proper Northern Lights settings and share tips on photographing the Northern Lights.
At Aurora Reykjavík
At Aurora Reykjavík, you can watch a beautiful film on the Northern Lights, where you will be able to see some extraordinary photos of the Northern Lights all over Iceland.
The 30-minute-long film runs nonstop while the exhibition is open, and you can either sit in one of the chairs or lie on the floor on beanbags or on fur and stay as long as you like.
Photo taken at the Aurora Reykjavík exhibition, my Finnish friend and I enjoying the virtual Northern Lights :)
I want to revisit Aurora Reykjavík, if just for the serenity of sitting in a beanbag on the floor and watching the film - highly recommended :)
It is also quite spectacular to put on the 360° virtual reality goggles and watch the Northern Lights up close.
Another alternative is to visit the Aurora Basecamp Northern Lights Observatory Entry near Reykjavik.
Winter weather in Reykjavík
Reykjavík center in November - a snowed-in car
I have often been asked the question: "What will the weather be like in November, December, January, etc?"
That is difficult to answer, as the weather changes so much here in Iceland that we never know what to expect.
But to get a better idea of what winter is like here in Iceland, you can read one of the many winter articles on Guide to Iceland. Articles have been written about what to expect when visiting Iceland in any given month of the year, e.g., Iceland in February and Iceland in March.
Reykjavík in November
Fortunately, we have the Gulf Stream to warm us up a bit, but we can also experience some cold days with heavy snow.
So do come prepared for cold weather, as it can get very windy and we often experience blizzards.
Wear layers and bring a parka, a hat, a scarf, and gloves. And wear sturdy, non-slippery winter boots.
If you plan to rent a car in Iceland and drive around, make sure you get good winter or studded tires for better grip, as the roads are often snowy and icy.
An ice cave in Breiðamerkurjökull glacier
During your winter visit, don't miss the ice caves; they are absolutely amazing.
We have ice caves in Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and the Katla ice cave by Vík, to name a few of them.
You can book an ice cave tour here: the Best Ice Cave Tours in Iceland.
An ice cave in Breiðamerkurjökull glacier - the black ice is ash trapped inside the ice
Katla ice cave is open year-round, but seasonal ice caves are only open in the winter when it is safe to enter them.
You can see more information in my travel blog about my visit to Katla ice cave:
The Spectacular Katla Ice Cave in South Iceland
You can also visit an Ice Cave in Perlan - the Pearl, if you don't have time to visit the ice caves in South Iceland.
Perlan - the Pearl in Reykjavík
The Ice Cave in the Pearl is 100 meters long and is located inside one of the water tanks of the Pearl, one of Reykjavík's landmarks.
Here you can buy tickets for admission to the Wonders of Iceland Exhibition at Perlan Museum in Reykjavik.
Inside the ice cave in Perlan
And admission to the 25-Minute Northern Lights Show at Perlan Museum in Reykjavik, which is amazing.
You will see Reykjavík bathed in the Northern Lights, much as I have seen on many occasions from my balcony.
Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon and the Ice Diamond Beach at Breiðamerkursandur are also very popular destinations, and glacier hikes are always popular.
Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon
For more information on the Northern Lights, read Nanna's article about the Northern Lights in Iceland. And you can find the Northern Lights forecast here.
Have a wonderful winter visit to my country - I hope you get to experience some beautiful snow and see the Northern Lights:)
