Best Place to See the Northern Lights Without the Crowd

Each winter, thousands of visitors flock to Iceland in the hope of seeing the Northern Lights. So, it’s no surprise you might bump into a few fellow travelers at popular photo spots like Kirkjufell on the Snæfellsnes peninsula or easy-to-reach places near Reykjavík like Grótta lighthouse.

If you’re someone who prefers quiet moments and wide-open skies, you’ll love the more remote, lesser-known spots for seeing the Northern Lights. And while finding these peaceful places takes a bit of planning, we’ve done the legwork for you. Let us guide you to some of our favorite hidden gems on your Icelandic adventure.

In this article, we’ve rounded up some suggestions of places where you can improve your odds of seeing the Northern Lights without the crowds. Let’s take a look.

Some will argue that the best place to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is within the Golden Circle region. As with Reykjanes, this remarkable part of the country lies within easy reach of Reykjavik. Within it, you will discover many popular landmarks, so finding a crowd-free spot takes a little insider intel - that’s where we come in.

For instance, you could set your sights on Skálholt Church, which dominates its rural surroundings. At Kerið, seeing the Northern Lights reflected in the water that fills this ancient volcanic explosion crater is a real treat. Flexibility in this part of Iceland is the key to losing the crowds.

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North Iceland has many promising locations for aurora hunters. The unusual shape of a rock formation called Hvítserkur makes it a tempting prospect for Northern Lights hunters, as does its location on the eastern coast of the Vatnsnes peninsula. And if you’re after waterfalls, skip the ever-crowded Goðafoss by the ring road and head to Aldeyjarfoss instead, it is equally pretty but far quieter.

To the far northeast, the arches of Arctic Henge will delight any photographer who’s made it out to this remote spot as the Northern Lights dance overhead. The dramatic horseshoe-shaped cliffs of Ásbyrgi Canyon sit well under the aurora, though you’ll need to ensure you step back from the trees that fill this tucked-away space.

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These sparsely populated regions should deliver solitude to anyone touring the country in winter. Some roads close seasonally, and gravel roads can be more challenging in icy conditions, so opting for a multi-day tour is a bonus on both counts, as you can entrust the driving to us.

In the Westfjords, try positioning yourself near the 635-metre-high mountain called Bolafjall (close to Bolungarvík and within easy reach of Ísafjörður), or even an iconic landmark such as Dynjandi waterfall.

Over in East Iceland, Mount Snæfell and Dyrfjöll afford good prospects, as does the broad outlook offered by Breiðdalsvik.

You won’t need to venture far from Reykjavík to chase the Northern Lights. The Reykjanes Peninsula, a quiet stretch in Iceland’s southwest, offers dark skies and dramatic scenery just 45 minutes from the city. It’s also home to the famous Blue Lagoon (beautiful, yes, but often bustling).

Easy to find and with ample parking, the Bridge between Continents ticks a lot of boxes. It straddles the boundary of the North American and Eurasian plates, and it’s just a short walk from the car park to the bridge itself over flat ground. On the peninsula’s windswept west coast, try Hvalsneskirkja. The dark basalt stones used in its construction create a moody focal point, letting the colorful Northern Lights pop against the black sky.

When it comes to viewing the Aurora Borealis, not all places are created equal. These tips will help you pin down some potential locations.

• You’ll need an uninterrupted view of the northern skies as the aurora oval is most often centred over the Arctic region. Scout out possible spots in daylight when you can make sure there are no buildings, trees, or other obstacles getting in the way of your line of sight.

• Consider whether you can safely access the place after dark. Though the remotest spots are likely to be the least crowded, you might not wish to find yourself stumbling along unlit rural trails to reach the location you identified. Likewise, be wary of beach locations, particularly where the waves might be strong.

• Don’t rule out tourist favorites completely. For sure, there’ll be more people at popular and accessible locations such as Skógafoss and Diamond Beach on the scenic South Coast. Yet if you can lose most of your neighbors by shifting your position just a little, these could be strong contenders also.

• Be mindful of other people’s privacy. It’s never acceptable to venture onto private land without permission, so make sure you are fully aware of the boundaries. Choosing a rural hotel with a view to whether its outside space is suitable for watching the Northern Lights might be a way of accessing somewhere that will be off-limits to the general public.

The best place to see the Northern Lights in Iceland? It’s wherever the skies come alive just for you. Join us on a northern lights private tour through Iceland’s most breathtaking landscapes, and with a little luck, you’ll witness a light show so magical, it’ll stay with you forever.