Seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland is one of those experiences that appears on almost every Iceland bucket list.
You’ve probably seen the photographs: enormous ribbons of green stretching across the Icelandic sky, with purple and red aurora dancing above mountains, waterfalls and snow-covered landscapes.
But actually finding the Northern Lights can be considerably more complicated.
Should you look at the KP index? Does it need to be freezing cold? What does Bz mean? Is Reykjavík too bright? What happens if the forecast says there’s only a small chance? And can anyone genuinely predict the Northern Lights several days in advance?
To answer those questions, we spoke to Jérémy Barbet, co-founder of Hello Aurora, for our Icelandic Adventure YouTube channel.
Jérémy has lived in Iceland for around nine years and created Hello Aurora after becoming frustrated with how complicated aurora forecasting could be. What started as a tool to make the data easier for himself to understand eventually developed into an app used by aurora hunters around the world.
And one of the biggest lessons from our conversation was surprisingly simple:
Stop relying on one number to tell you whether you’re going to see the Northern Lights.
In this guide, we’ll explain what you should actually be looking at and how to give yourself the best possible chance of seeing the aurora during your trip to Iceland.
Quick Guide: How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
If you don’t have time to read the entire guide, these are the essentials:
- Visit during the darker months, roughly from mid-August until spring.
- You need darkness and clear enough skies to see the aurora.
- Don’t rely solely on the KP index.
- Pay attention to cloud cover, Bz, aurora strength and real-world sightings.
- Check Icelandic weather and road conditions before driving anywhere.
- You can see the Northern Lights from Reykjavík when conditions are right.
- Don’t assume a cloudy evening means the whole night is ruined.
- Modern smartphones can capture excellent aurora photographs.
- Even when the forecast looks poor, it can still be worth looking outside.
- Never plan your entire Iceland holiday around seeing the aurora.
Let’s get into why.
What Causes the Northern Lights?
Before trying to find the aurora, it helps to understand what you’re actually looking at.
Jérémy was keen to point out during our interview that he isn’t a scientist, but he gave us a straightforward explanation of the process.
Activity on the Sun releases particles into space. When those particles reach Earth and interact with atoms in our atmosphere, energy is released as light — producing the aurora we see above us.
Different interactions within the atmosphere can produce different colours, including the familiar green as well as reds and purples.
That beautiful display above Iceland therefore begins much farther away than the Icelandic atmosphere.
And that leads to one of the biggest difficulties with aurora forecasting: we’re dealing with space weather.
What Do the Northern Lights Really Look Like?
This is something we think more Iceland visitors need to understand.
The Northern Lights do not always look like the photographs you see on Instagram.
Sometimes they absolutely can.
During a strong display, Jérémy explained that the aurora can become extremely obvious to the naked eye, with visible colour and rapid movement across the sky.
But a weak aurora can look considerably less dramatic.
It may appear pale, greyish or almost like a strange cloud.
Jérémy explained that the strength of the solar activity reaching Earth affects how bright the resulting aurora appears. A weaker event can therefore produce a much fainter display.
Is That a Cloud or the Northern Lights?
There’s a very simple trick:
Take a photograph with your phone.
If that faint grey shape suddenly appears green in your photograph, there’s a good chance you’re looking at the aurora rather than an ordinary cloud.
Why Do the Northern Lights Look Better on Camera?
If you’ve ever stood underneath a relatively faint aurora and wondered why your phone photograph looks more colourful than what you can see with your eyes, you’re not imagining it.
A camera can collect light over a longer exposure.
That means the resulting photograph can reveal considerably more colour than your eyes are perceiving at that moment. Jérémy explained that this is why photographs of weaker aurora displays can appear much greener than the display looks to you in person.
That doesn’t mean every photograph of the Northern Lights is “fake”.
It simply means a camera and the human eye don’t perceive a dark night sky in exactly the same way.
When Is Northern Lights Season in Iceland?
One of the most common questions we receive is:
What is the best month to see the Northern Lights in Iceland?
There isn’t one magical month when the aurora suddenly switches on.
Jérémy described the practical Iceland aurora season as beginning around mid-August and continuing through the darker part of the year into spring, potentially April or May depending on usable darkness.
He also highlighted September as a particularly interesting period because darker nights have returned while conditions may still be relatively mild.
The crucial factor is darkness.
The aurora doesn’t disappear during Iceland’s summer simply because it’s June or July. The problem is that Iceland’s summer nights are so bright that you generally can’t see it.
Can You See the Northern Lights in Iceland in September?
Yes.
September can be a fantastic time to go aurora hunting because properly dark nights have returned.
Can You See the Northern Lights in Iceland in Winter?
Absolutely.
Winter provides long hours of darkness, giving you a large window in which an aurora could potentially become visible.
But remember:
More darkness doesn’t guarantee more aurora.
You still need the other conditions to cooperate.
Does It Need to Be Cold to See the Northern Lights?
No.
This is one of the classic Northern Lights myths.
The aurora is associated with freezing winter nights because winter provides darkness, not because freezing temperatures create the aurora.
Jérémy was very clear during our interview that temperature itself has nothing to do with whether the aurora occurs.
So you don’t need to wait until Iceland is -10°C before going outside.
That said, if you are standing outside for hours waiting for the Northern Lights in Iceland, dress warmly regardless!
What Is the Best Time of Night to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?
There is no guaranteed hour when the Northern Lights appear.
Jérémy explained that Iceland commonly experiences aurora activity across a broad evening and overnight window, roughly from 18:00 through to 04:00 or 05:00, with particularly active periods often occurring around 23:00 to 01:00.
But don’t turn those times into another rigid rule.
The aurora can appear earlier.
It can appear later.
And it can change remarkably quickly.
If conditions look promising, don’t automatically sit in your hotel until midnight because somebody told you that midnight is “aurora time”.
How Far Ahead Can You Predict the Northern Lights?
This was one of the most interesting parts of our conversation.
You’ll often see Northern Lights forecasts extending several days into the future.
But that doesn’t mean somebody can confidently tell you at breakfast on Monday that a huge aurora will appear over Reykjavík at exactly 10:30pm on Friday.
Jérémy explained that the most useful real-time information can provide a much shorter window — approximately 30 to 60 minutes — while longer-range information should be treated more as guidance than certainty.
That distinction is important when planning an Iceland trip.
A long-range forecast can help you understand whether a period might be promising.
Closer to the time, real-time data becomes considerably more useful.
Stop Obsessing Over the KP Index
If you’ve researched the Northern Lights for more than five minutes, you’ve probably encountered the KP index.
And if there’s one thing we took away from speaking to Jérémy, it’s this:
KP isn’t everything.
In fact, Jérémy identified people’s reliance on KP as one of the biggest sources of confusion for first-time aurora hunters.
What Is the KP Index?
The KP index is a measure used to represent global geomagnetic activity.
Jérémy explained that it represents a three-hour global average, calculated using measurements from magnetometers around the world.
You’ll commonly see it represented on a scale from 0 to 9.
That makes KP incredibly tempting to use as a simple traffic-light system:
High KP = go outside.
Low KP = stay in bed.
Unfortunately, aurora hunting isn’t that simple.
The number represents broad geomagnetic activity. It does not tell you everything happening above your exact location at this exact moment.
When we asked Jérémy how important KP actually is, he estimated it at only around 10–15% of the overall picture when deciding whether conditions are favourable.
Does a Low KP Mean You Won’t See the Northern Lights in Iceland?
No.
And a high KP doesn’t magically remove clouds from the sky either.
If Iceland is sitting beneath thick cloud, the most incredible aurora in the world could be happening above it and you still won’t see anything.
What Is Bz and Why Does It Matter for the Aurora?
Now we get into one of those terms that looks terrifying when you first open an aurora forecast:
Bz.
Jérémy gave us a brilliant way of thinking about it.
Imagine Bz as something like a door controlling how effectively particles can interact with Earth’s magnetic environment.
When Bz turns negative, conditions can become more favourable for aurora activity.
When it remains positive, that interaction may be less favourable.
Jérémy describes negative Bz as essentially having the “door” open for those particles.
You don’t need a degree in space physics to go Northern Lights hunting.
The simple takeaway is:
Negative Bz = something worth paying attention to.
What Is Solar Wind Speed?
Solar wind speed tells us how quickly particles travelling from the Sun are moving towards Earth.
Jérémy explained that faster-moving particles can contribute to more energetic interactions when they reach Earth.
Again, it isn’t a magic number that guarantees an aurora.
Think of it as another piece of the puzzle.
That phrase is probably the best way to think about every aurora metric.
No individual number tells the whole story.
The Three Things an Aurora Expert Would Check
We put Jérémy on the spot.
If he could look at only three pieces of information before deciding whether to go aurora hunting, what would he choose?
His answer was:
- Aurora strength
- Live reports
- Bz
That is a considerably different checklist from simply opening an app, seeing “KP 2” and going back to sleep.
And there’s another enormous factor:
Cloud.
Cloud Cover Can Make or Break Your Northern Lights Hunt
You can have fantastic space-weather conditions and still see absolutely nothing if your view of the sky is blocked.
That’s why cloud forecasts matter so much in Iceland.
More importantly, cloud conditions can change.
If it’s cloudy at 8pm, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should give up for the entire night.
During the true-or-false section of our interview, the idea that you should simply go to bed because it’s cloudy at 8pm was rejected. Conditions can evolve during the evening.
This is where having a vehicle can be incredibly useful.
You may be able to move towards an area with clearer skies rather than waiting underneath cloud.
Before Chasing the Aurora: Check Iceland’s Roads
This might be the most important piece of advice in this entire guide.
When we asked Jérémy what somebody arriving in Iceland should check before going aurora hunting, his first answer wasn’t KP.
It wasn’t Bz.
It wasn’t solar wind.
It was road closures and conditions.
That’s particularly important during Icelandic winter.
There is absolutely no Northern Lights display worth putting yourself in danger for.
Conditions can deteriorate, roads can become difficult or impassable and driving at night in Icelandic winter conditions requires proper judgement.
If conditions aren’t safe, don’t go.
There will always be another photograph.
Can You See the Northern Lights From Reykjavík?
Yes!
This is another myth that refuses to disappear.
You do not always need to drive hours into the Icelandic wilderness to see the Northern Lights.
Light pollution certainly matters. Getting somewhere darker can make a weaker display easier to see.
But during stronger activity, the Northern Lights can absolutely be visible from Reykjavík.
Jérémy specifically mentioned Grótta as a useful location around Reykjavík because you can get away from some of the city’s light pollution without travelling enormous distances.
Even more interestingly, when discussing where he’d recommend driving, Jérémy said that around 40% of reports received by Hello Aurora during the previous year were around the Reykjavík area.
So don’t automatically assume:
Reykjavík = no aurora.
Do You Need to Look North to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?
Not necessarily.
The clue might be in the name Northern Lights, but that doesn’t mean you should spend your entire Iceland trip staring at the northern horizon.
Jérémy explained that Iceland’s position relative to the auroral oval means the aurora can appear overhead or in different parts of the sky.
The advice to look north becomes more relevant when viewing the aurora from locations farther south.
In Iceland:
Look around you.
You don’t want an incredible display happening behind your head while you’re religiously staring north!
Where Is the Best Place to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?
There isn’t one single “best” location.
When we asked Jérémy where he would drive, he mentioned locations including Grótta and Þingvellir, but emphasised that there are good aurora-viewing opportunities all around Iceland.
The best location tonight may be completely different from the best location tomorrow.
Think about:
- Cloud cover
- Light pollution
- Road conditions
- Weather
- Aurora activity
- Live sightings
- Where you can safely stop
Don’t drive three hours to a famous Instagram location if there are clear skies and an active aurora 20 minutes away.
How Hello Aurora Works
This complexity is exactly why Hello Aurora was created.
Jérémy explained that the idea was to bring complicated aurora information together and present it in a way that’s easier for ordinary people to understand.
The app combines forecasts, cloud information and community reports with tools designed to make aurora hunting easier.
One of the features we particularly like is community sightings.
Users can report what they’re seeing, indicate the intensity and share photographs. Other users can then see information about activity occurring nearby.
And that solves a major problem with aurora forecasting.
Instead of only asking:
“What does the forecast think might happen?”
you can also ask:
“Is somebody actually seeing it right now?”
Download Hello Aurora
You can download Hello Aurora for free before your Iceland trip:
Download Hello Aurora on Android
We’d recommend setting the app up before your trip so you have time to familiarise yourself with the forecasts and different measurements before you’re standing in an Icelandic car park at midnight trying to work out what Bz means!
Why Real-World Aurora Sightings Matter
Forecast numbers can tell you a lot.
A photograph from somebody standing outside underneath an aurora tells you something else entirely.
Jérémy explained that real-world reports give users visual confirmation that an aurora is actually happening at that moment.
Hello Aurora can also provide notifications as conditions improve, including alerts connected with aurora strength.
That makes community information particularly useful when deciding whether it’s finally time to put your coat on and head outside.
The New Hello Aurora App
Our conversation with Jérémy coincided with the launch of the newly updated Hello Aurora app.
A major focus of the update has been making complicated aurora information easier to understand.
Jérémy discussed improvements to the forecast experience, guide and longer-range outlook, as well as changes intended to make the app more user-friendly.
The updated app also includes improvements around Moments and aurora photography.
For Jérémy, however, the redesigned forecast itself remains one of the features he’s particularly excited about.
If you’re travelling to Iceland during aurora season, you can download the updated app here:
Download Hello Aurora for iPhone/iOS
Download Hello Aurora for Android
Do You Need an Expensive Camera to Photograph the Northern Lights?
No.
Modern smartphones have become remarkably capable at photographing the aurora.
Jérémy explained that an expensive dedicated camera isn’t essential and that modern phones can produce excellent results.
The important thing with longer exposures is keeping your device steady.
A tripod can help, particularly when your phone or camera is exposing an image for several seconds, but keeping your phone as stable as possible can also help.
And then there’s arguably the most important photography tip:
Put the camera down occasionally.
During our conversation, we talked about how easy it is to spend an incredible aurora display staring at a phone screen.
Jérémy agreed: get your photograph, but sometimes you should simply enjoy the show.
We couldn’t agree more.
Should You Book a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland?
Not necessarily.
When we asked Jérémy whether somebody visiting Iceland for the first time should automatically book a Northern Lights tour, he explained that travellers who already have a rental car can use forecasting tools and apps to hunt independently.
There are advantages to both approaches.
A Northern Lights Tour Might Suit You If:
- You aren’t comfortable driving at night.
- You’re visiting during winter and don’t have winter-driving experience.
- You don’t have a rental car.
- You’d prefer somebody else to interpret the conditions.
- You simply want the convenience.
Hunting Independently Might Suit You If:
- You already have a rental car.
- You’re comfortable interpreting conditions.
- Roads and weather are safe.
- You want flexibility.
- You’re happy to wait or change location.
The most important thing is not forcing yourself to drive in conditions beyond your experience simply because you want to avoid paying for a tour.
Northern Lights Iceland: Myths vs Reality
We finished our interview by putting a series of Northern Lights statements to Jérémy.
Here are some of the biggest misconceptions discussed throughout our conversation.
“Higher KP Always Means Better Northern Lights”
Not that simple.
KP is only one metric and shouldn’t be treated as your entire aurora forecast.
“You Can’t See the Northern Lights From Reykjavík”
False.
You absolutely can.
“It Needs to Be Freezing Cold”
False.
Temperature doesn’t create the aurora.
“A Full Moon Ruins the Northern Lights”
Not necessarily.
“If It’s Cloudy at 8pm, Give Up”
Definitely don’t assume that.
Conditions can change throughout the evening.
“The Northern Lights Only Appear Really Late at Night”
No.
Aurora activity can occur throughout the hours of darkness.
“You Need to Drive Miles From a Town”
No.
Getting away from light pollution can help, but strong displays can be visible around Reykjavík and other populated areas.
What If the Northern Lights Forecast Says Your Chances Are Low?
Still look outside.
That’s one of the simplest pieces of advice from our conversation.
When we asked Jérémy whether somebody should bother looking if the forecast suggested a low chance, his answer was yes.
Aurora forecasting isn’t perfect.
Conditions change.
Sometimes Iceland surprises you.
Which leads to perhaps our favourite piece of advice from the entire interview.
Don’t Visit Iceland Just for the Northern Lights
This might sound strange in an article entirely about seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland.
But Jérémy made a fantastic point:
Don’t make the Northern Lights the sole reason your Iceland trip succeeds or fails.
The aurora is a natural phenomenon.
Nobody can switch it on.
Nobody can guarantee clear skies.
And no forecast can promise you the display you’ve imagined.
Instead, go to Iceland to experience Iceland.
See the waterfalls.
Explore the landscapes.
Visit the geothermal areas.
Enjoy Reykjavík.
Get in a hot spring.
Drive somewhere incredible.
And if the sky suddenly explodes into green above you one night?
That’s the bonus.
Jérémy’s advice was essentially to enjoy Iceland first and allow the Northern Lights to surprise you rather than building your entire trip around something you cannot control.
Having travelled to Iceland ourselves multiple times, that’s advice we completely agree with.
One Final Warning: Respect Icelandic Winter Roads
When we asked Jérémy for his biggest piece of advice for somebody visiting Iceland for the first time, he returned to something much more important than the aurora:
Road safety.
Winter driving in Iceland can be challenging, and conditions need to be taken seriously.
Don’t allow an aurora notification to override common sense.
Check conditions.
Don’t stop somewhere unsafe.
Don’t drive onto a closed road.
Don’t push onwards because an app says there’s a strong display somewhere.
The Northern Lights aren’t going anywhere.
Watch Our Full Northern Lights Expert Interview
There is considerably more detail in our full conversation with Jérémy, including his explanations of KP, Bz, solar wind, Hello Aurora, real-time sightings, photography and some of the biggest Northern Lights myths.
🎥 Watch: How to REALLY See the Northern Lights in Iceland | Expert Explains
Watch the full Jérémy Barbet × Icelandic Adventure interview on YouTube
A huge thank you to Jérémy Barbet and the Hello Aurora team for taking the time to speak with Icelandic Adventure and share their knowledge.
Northern Lights in Iceland FAQs
What Is the Best Month to See the Northern Lights in Iceland?
There isn’t one guaranteed “best” month.
You need sufficient darkness as well as suitable aurora and weather conditions. Jérémy describes the practical season as beginning around mid-August and extending into spring, with September being an interesting option once dark nights return.
Can You See the Northern Lights From Reykjavík?
Yes.
Light pollution can make weaker displays harder to see, but the aurora can absolutely be visible from Reykjavík. Grótta is one location Jérémy mentions for getting away from some of the city’s lights.
What KP Is Best for Northern Lights in Iceland?
Don’t choose whether to go outside based solely on KP.
Jérémy describes KP as only one part of the overall picture and recommends looking at other real-time information too.
Can You See the Northern Lights With a Low KP?
Yes, potentially.
A low KP does not automatically mean you won’t see an aurora. Iceland’s location and real-time conditions mean KP should not be treated as an on/off switch.
What Is Bz for the Northern Lights?
Bz is one of the measurements used when assessing space-weather conditions.
Jérémy uses the analogy of a “door”, with negative Bz representing more favourable conditions for particles to interact with Earth’s magnetic environment.
Does It Need to Be Cold to See the Northern Lights?
No.
Cold temperatures aren’t what causes the aurora. Darkness is why Northern Lights viewing is associated with Iceland’s colder months.
Can You See the Northern Lights Through Clouds?
Cloud can block your view of the aurora, which is why cloud cover is so important when choosing where to go.
What Time Do the Northern Lights Appear in Iceland?
There is no guaranteed time.
Jérémy discusses a broad Iceland viewing window of approximately 18:00 through to 04:00–05:00, with particularly active periods often around 23:00–01:00.
Can You Photograph the Northern Lights With an iPhone or Android Phone?
Modern smartphones can be very capable of photographing the aurora.
Keeping the phone steady during longer exposures is particularly important.
Should I Book a Northern Lights Tour in Iceland?
Not necessarily.
If you already have a rental car, understand the conditions and are comfortable driving safely, you can hunt independently.
A tour can be a better choice if you don’t want to drive or interpret the forecasts yourself.
What App Can I Use to Find the Northern Lights in Iceland?
Hello Aurora brings together aurora forecasts and real-world community sightings to help users understand current conditions.
You can download it free here:
Download Hello Aurora on Android
Final Thoughts: How to See the Northern Lights in Iceland
If there’s one lesson we took away from our conversation with Jérémy, it’s that aurora hunting isn’t about finding one magic number.
Don’t just look at KP.
Look at the bigger picture.
Check the weather.
Check cloud cover.
Look at Bz.
Look at current aurora strength.
Check whether other people are actually reporting sightings.
And, above everything else, make sure it’s safe to go out.
You might spend hours waiting and see nothing.
You might step outside your Reykjavík hotel and unexpectedly see green dancing above the city.
That’s part of what makes the Northern Lights so special.
You can’t control them.
You can only give yourself the best possible chance of being in the right place, beneath the right sky, when they decide to appear.
And when they do?
Sometimes the best thing you can do is take one photograph, put your phone back in your pocket and look up.h, put your phone back in your pocket and look up.
Leave a Reply