Best place to see the northern lights in Iceland

The best place to see the northern lights in Iceland is where you are. Sound funny? Well, the northern lights travel at the speed of light which means you're not going to chace after them and catch them. Fact of the matter is, that you need to have clear skies, and solar activity. In 2013 the solar activity is at its maximum. Statistically this means that you should expect the best possible northern lights this year. The cycle takes 11 years which means that the lights are still pretty good in 2014 and 2015. However, the ligths are fickle. One never knows when they show up. The picture above was taken near Reykjavik. Guided Tours Available.

Fantastic Northern lights last night in Reykjavik

I was in Reykjavik 9 October 2012 at about 9:20 PM when the northern lights decided to appear. What a wonderful display of greens above the city lake - Tjornin. The green colour is produced as a result of a collision of space particles against some gases 100-200 km above ground, Oxygen in particular.

This display lasted for at least half-hour and I am sure that many tourists in Reykjavik did see the lights on one of the many northern lights tours offered. I was booked to to do a private norhtern lights tour for a family but some of the participants were rather young and could not stay up too late. As a result the cancelled the trip that night. Fifteen minutes later I saw the lights above Reykjavik City Hall.

Stefan Helgi Valsson

Reykjavik Bike Tours