The Most Popular Northern Lights Locations in Iceland | 2025 data

The Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) are one of Earth's most extraordinary natural phenomena, and Iceland stands among the world's premier destinations for witnessing this celestial spectacle. While many travelers dream of seeing the aurora, success depends on being in the right place at the right time under optimal conditions.

Hello Aurora, Iceland's leading real-time aurora forecast and reporting app, bridges this gap by combining real-time community sightings with real-time forecasts to maximize viewing opportunities. This guide, backed by Hello Aurora's comprehensive community data and local insights, examines the most successful aurora viewing locations based on actual user reports from January to April 2025.

Record-breaking aurora activity

The first four months of 2025 witnessed exceptional aurora activity, with over 10,000 aurora reports submitted through the Hello Aurora app globally. This surge reflects the impact of Solar Cycle 25, which has increased aurora visibility worldwide, with sightings reported from unexpected locations including Germany, France, Mexico, and California.

Iceland, positioned within the aurora oval, particularly benefited from this enhanced solar activity. The country recorded more than 6,000 aurora reports during this period, providing robust data for identifying the most reliable viewing locations.

Top 5 aurora locations in Iceland

1. Reykjavik and Surrounding Areas (1,400 reports)

Surprisingly, Iceland's capital city emerged as the top aurora destination, generating over 1,400 reports. As the world's northernmost capital, Reykjavik offers excellent aurora viewing opportunities despite urban light pollution. Remarkably, 40% of reports originated from downtown Reykjavik, proving that strong aurora conditions can overcome light interference.

For optimal photography conditions, consider visiting Grótta Lighthouse at the tip of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. This accessible location offers wide ocean views away from central light pollution while remaining easily reachable by car.

2. Reykjanes (500+ reports)

Reykjanes claimed second place with over 500 reports, particularly from the area around the old Garðar Lighthouse. This stunning double lighthouse complex, featuring the original 1897 orange and white structure alongside the taller 1944 lighthouse provides a picturesque and relatively dark viewing environment.

Notably, over 100 reports also came from downtown Keflavík, confirmed that strong aurora activity can be visible even from urban areas on the peninsula.

3. Hella/Hvolsvöllur Area

These charming southern Iceland towns ranked third in aurora sightings, slightly behind the Reykjanes Peninsula. Popular overnight stops for travelers exploring Iceland's south coast, both locations offer numerous accommodation options and serve as excellent bases for aurora hunting.

4. Selfoss (400 reports)

With 400 reported sightings, Selfoss proved its worth as an aurora destination. This popular Golden Circle base town provides convenient access to Iceland's famous attractions while offering solid aurora viewing opportunities.

5. Vík

The picturesque coastal village of Vík rounded out the top five. Known for its dramatic black sand beaches (Reynisfjara) and remote location with minimal light pollution, Vík has long been recognized as one of Iceland's premier aurora destinations.

Please note that Reynisfjara beach has a tragic history of fatal accidents, including the recent death of a 9-year-old tourist. Exercise extreme caution if visiting this area. For your safety, we recommend choosing alternative locations for Northern Lights viewing rather than visiting Reynisfjara, especially during nighttime hours.

The Northern Lights remain a natural phenomenon of breathtaking beauty, and while somewhat predictable, success requires proper planning and preparation. These statistics, drawn from thousands of real user experiences, provide valuable guidance for choosing your aurora hunting locations.

For the best results, check aurora forecasts regularly, plan your trips carefully, and consider using specialized apps like Hello Aurora with personalized notifications for precise, location-specific forecasts.

Good luck, and enjoy this magnificent natural wonder 💚