Visit Reykjanes

Iceland’s a great place to catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis, and within it, the Reykjanes peninsula is one of its top destinations for seeing the Northern Lights. To have any chance of success, certain conditions need to be met. For instance, you’ll benefit from a strong aurora forecast, coupled with clear skies free of cloud. But you’ll also find it much easier to spot them when they do show up if the place you’re standing is dark – such as in many places across Reykjanes. Let’s take a look at why the peninsula is so well suited to an aurora hunt.

At the International Geological Conference held in Busan, South Korea between August 25 - 31, a new list of one hundred geological sites on the planet was presented, including two sites in Iceland, Reykjanes and Vatnajökull.

There is currently no ongoing eruption. The eruption that began in Reykjanes on the evening of August 22 ended on the 6th of September. This eruption was the 9th one since the eruptions began in March 2021, and the 6th one in the current location. The eruption area is closed to visitors. Follow any updated news here.

It’s often said, but that doesn’t make it any less true: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. And although you won’t want rain, sleet or snow ruining your chances of seeing the aurora borealis, there’s a good chance that if the hunt is on, you’ll have to contend with cold temperatures and gusty winds. So let’s take a look at how to dress for a Northern Lights expedition in Iceland so you can give your full concentration to what’s going on in the sky rather than the distraction of numb feet, frozen fingers or a cold nose.