Aurora destinations · Iceland & Greenland
Northern lights in Reykjavík
Iceland · 64.15°N, 21.94°W
Reykjavík lies under the auroral oval, so aurora is often overhead: a dark, clear night has good odds even when activity is low (magnetic latitude 64°). Light pollution: city lights brighten the sky. In town you need about Kp 2.2; at a dark site nearby, any Kp.
Open the live forecast for Reykjavík
At a glance
- Good odds: from any Kp at a dark site, Kp 2.2 in town
- Best months: December, October and September
- Best weeks in the coming year: 14–20 Oct · 2–22 Dec · 22 Sept – 12 Oct
- Too light for aurora: 12 May – 3 Aug (bright nights)
Month by month
A typical night: real darkness and moon, average aurora activity (Kp 2014–2025) and satellite cloud cover (NASA, 2001–2025). Long-range odds, not a forecast.
| Month | Typical night | Clear sky | Dark hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5% | 22% | 15 h |
| February | 5% | 21% | 13 h |
| March | 5% | 20% | 9 h |
| April | 4% | 19% | 5 h |
| May | 1% | 20% | – |
| June | Too light | 19% | – |
| July | Too light | 17% | – |
| August | 4% | 21% | 4 h |
| September | 6% | 20% | 9 h |
| October | 6% | 22% | 12 h |
| November | 5% | 22% | 15 h |
| December | 6% | 24% | 16 h |
Tips for Reykjavík
- Clouds decide most nights: check the hour-by-hour forecast, and the “Clearer skies nearby” card for a spot within a drive.
- Aurora is usually best between about 22:00 and 02:00 local time; give your eyes 15 minutes in the dark.
- Get away from the town lights: even 10–20 km makes a difference.
Nearby destinations
Akureyri · Vík · Kangerlussuaq · Nuuk