Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
Seeing the stunning Northern Lights in Akureyri is guaranteed to be a highlight of any trip in Iceland. Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the lights can only be seen with the right conditions and a little bit of luck. If you know the best places to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri then it’s possible to see them even when the Aurora activity is relatively low. Tours are available if you want help finding the lights, but if you’re hoping to see them without a tour then it’s best to check the Northern Lights forecast for Iceland and/or a live Aurora tracking app. Find out the best place to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri below so that you have the best chance of success in seeing the Aurora.
Akureyri is one of the best whale watching spots in Iceland, so don’t miss the chance to see humpback whales and more in the wild during your stay. Check out our guide to whale watching in Akureyri to find out more!
How to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri
If you’re hoping to see the Northern Lights in Iceland, then one of the most important things is to find a dark spot without much light pollution. The town centre of Akureyri has light pollution from buildings, street lights and more, so it can be hard to see the Northern Lights unless the Aurora activity is particularly strong.
In order to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri the best advice we can give is to head away from the town centre into a more remote location. Having a car is a big help in seeing the Northern Lights as you don’t have to drive far to reach almost complete darkness, which gives you the best chance of seeing the sky light up with colour!
For that reason we strongly recommend renting a car for your trip to Iceland. As well as giving you the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights in Akureyri, it also gives you the opportunity to see more of Iceland’s beautiful nature including waterfalls, volcanic craters and more.
Renting a car is one of our top money savings tips in Iceland, so it’s worth doing if you want to avoid paying for tours! There are some great rental car deals on the Discover Cars website, so we recommend booking a car for your trip now to get the best price!
Click here to find the best prices for renting a car on the Discover Cars website!
If you don’t plan on renting a car then fortunately it’s also possible to see the Northern Lights from some of the best hotels and places to stay in Akureyri.
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri, Iceland
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri is Gásir, which was the main trading post in Northern Iceland during the Middle Ages. There is plenty of space to park at Gásir and it’s a great place to see the Aurora as there is very little light in the area come nightfall. It’s one of the best places to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri because even when the Aurora activity is fairly low, it’s still possible to see if you have the right conditions.
A useful tool for trying to see the Northern Lights is the Icelandic Met Office Aurora forecast. This forecast gives an indication of how active the Aurora is at any time on a scale from 0 to 9, which is known as the KP Index. Click here to see the Aurora forecast for the next few days!
As well as indicating the Aurora activity, the forecast shows you how clear it is in different parts of Iceland. This can help you predict how likely you are to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri or even Reykjavik tonight or any given night.
It’s sometimes still possible to see the Northern Lights even when there isn’t a great forecast. We were fortunate to see the Aurora in Akureyri when the forecast was just 3 (which is considered moderate activity). The Aurora wasn’t overly strong, but it was still impressive and we were only able to see it by visiting Gásir as the conditions were right due to how dark it is there.
On the right day the Northern Lights can be visible from a number of spots around Akureyri, as long as there is a dark, clear sky and you are facing north. One popular spot to visit is Godafoss – a beautiful waterfall near Akureyri – as you can admire the falls and the Aurora together. Alternatively, as long as you find a dark spot and the activity is good then you have a chance to see the lights!
Another useful tool for seeing the Northern Lights in Akureyri is the Hello Aurora app, which gives a forecast and live tracking for the lights in Iceland. Click here to visit the app’s website and download it for yourself!
Northern Lights Tour in Akureyri, Iceland
The alternative to the above is to take a Northern Lights Tour from Akureyri. It’s a more expensive option, but is worth considering if you don’t have a car or want extra help in your quest to see the Northern Lights.
Get Your Guide offer one of the top-rated Northern Lights Tours in Akureyri led by a professional guide. Tours last for 3 hours and take you into remote spots in search of the Northern Lights.
Having a guide is useful as they know the best spots to visit, and they can help identify and point out the Aurora to you. The guides will also be able to provide tips on how best to photograph the Northern Lights, as it’s sometimes tricky to get a photo that does the lights justice.
The Northern Lights Night Tour from Akureyri costs €132 per person if you book via Get Your Guide, with hotel pick-up and drop-off included in the price. There is never any guarantee that you will see the lights, but the experience of the guides is invaluable in giving you a good chance to see them.
Click here to book a wonderful Northern Lights tour on the Get Your Guide website!
When to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri, Iceland
The best time to see the Northern Lights in Akureyri is from September to April. It’s possible to see the Northern Lights in Iceland outside of these months, but it’s unlikely as the country has a large number of daylight hours during summer and the Aurora is only visible when it’s dark outside.
Between September and April there is much less daylight, so this means there are more hours when the Aurora is potentially visible. Even when you visit at the right time of year you do need to get a bit lucky with the conditions, which can be tough as the sky can often be cloudy during the winter months in Iceland.
To give yourself the best chance of seeing the Northern Lights it’s best to stay in Iceland for as long as possible. The longer you stay, the more chance you have of having an active Aurora with the right conditions for it to be visible to you.
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