Aurora borealis · Norðurljós

Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours

Coach, minibus, jeep, boat and private hunts from Reykjavík, each with its own answer to a cloudy night

Reykjavik Northern Lights tours take you out of the city glow on a dark night, by coach, minibus, super jeep or private car, or by boat from the Old Harbour. Every card says what your fare does if the sky stays shut, so you choose a night that still leaves you a second chance.

See Top Tours Compare every tour

Every tour here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, so you can book now and decide later.

0–9The Met Office aurora scale

4 hOf daylight in December

From $84A seat on a coach hunt

Hours, prices and access verified by the Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours team — last checked 2026-09-23.

Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours › Tours & Tickets 2026 Updated: 2026-09-23

Start here

Top Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours for 2026

The best northern lights tour from Reykjavik is the one whose fare still works on a cloudy night. Pick yours by what happens if the sky stays shut.

Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour with Pro Aurora Photos Small Group

★★★★★ 4.9 (524 reviews · 3 to 5 hours)

Unlimited free retriesMax 18 guestsPhotos of you and the lights

Hunt the Reykjavik Northern Lights with an experienced local guide and driver, in a small group collected from several spots in Reykjavík. Your guide takes professional aurora and group photos, so you can watch the sky instead of working a camera. If you do not see the aurora on your night, unlimited free retries are in the fare, though a retry ticket is only for the original participant. Snacks are included and alcohol is not, children from seven can join, and Viking weapons and outfits fill the waiting time.

From $159 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

View details Check Availability

Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik

★★★★☆ 4.5 (635 reviews · 2 hours)

Free re-sail if you see nothingBoat, max 150 aboardWarm overalls includedMeet at the Old Harbour

Walk to the ticket office at Ægisgarður 5c in the Old Harbour, 15 minutes before departure, for about two hours on the water with no drive and no pickup. Warm floatable overalls and Wi-Fi on board are in the fare, while snacks and drinks are bought in the heated lounge. If the Reykjavik Northern Lights stay away, you can try again for free on another sailing, and the crew may cancel at short notice when conditions are poor. A light-weight wheelchair is welcome on the larger boats, though steep stairs and high thresholds limit the inside areas.

From $105 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

View details Check Availability

Northern Lights Superjeep Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.7 (357 reviews · 4 hours)

One free retrySuper jeep8pm or 9pm departurePhotos of you and the lights

Ride out on this Reykjavik Northern Lights hunt in a Super Jeep with a driver-guide, collected from your hotel in the Reykjavík area for an 8pm or 9pm departure. Free photos from the tour, local taxes and national park fees are all in the fare, while food, drinks and gratuities are not. See no lights, or have the night cancelled for weather, and you rebook another evening for free, with a full refund only if every night is cancelled. Call around 5pm on the day to hear whether it runs, and note that children must be at least five.

From $244 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

View details Check Availability

Why book with us

Trusted by Thousands of Visitors

⚖

Best Guides

Reykjavik Northern Lights guided tours here are led by local guides who read the cloud and aurora forecasts before each night, then drive towards the clearest sky they can find.

✓

Book With Confidence

Every tour here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead, and each card shows what the fare does if the lights stay away, so a cloudy night never catches your plans unprepared.

★

Experience of a Lifetime

Stand in the dark outside the city while the aurora moves overhead, with a hot chocolate in your hands on many hunts, and go home with photos of the night.

FREE CANCELLATION up to 24 hours ahead on every tour, so a change in the forecast or your plans costs you nothing.

Everything available

All Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours & Tickets

Reykjavik Northern Lights Small Group Tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights small group tours hunt in minibuses and smaller vehicles, each with a stated cap between 14 and 28 guests. Many add photos of you under the lights, and the free-retry terms differ from one to the next.

Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Photos, Snacks & Snowsuits

★★★★★ 4.6 (322 reviews · 4 to 6 hours)

Unlimited free retriesMax 18 guestsPhotos of you and the lightsHot chocolate included

Pull on the warm winter jumpsuits supplied for a four-to-six-hour hunt, with about three hours out in the Southern Region and 18 guests at most. The snacks run from hot cocoa and cinnamon rolls to dried fish, chocolate and premium Icelandic vodka and snaps, with outdoor chairs and tripods set up for you. Unlimited high-res photos are included, the guide helps with your own camera settings, and re-runs are free, depending on availability, until you see the lights. Pickup comes from select locations in Reykjavík, gratuities are extra, and children from five can join.

From $212 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Northern Lights Small-Group Tour From Reykjavik with Hot Choco

★★★★☆ 4.5 (306 reviews · 4 hours)

One free retry, on a big busMax 28 guestsHot chocolate includedHotel or bus-stop pickup

Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle of at most 28 guests, with pickup from one of many approved central locations or a start at Þórunnartún 1. Hot chocolate, Wi-Fi on board and all fees and taxes are in the fare of this four-hour Reykjavik Northern Lights hunt. About two hours of the night are spent at the viewing locations, with the rest on the road. If you miss the lights, one free retry is included, though the retry runs on a big bus rather than the smaller vehicle.

From $118 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Free Photos & Hot Chocolate

★★★★☆ 4.4 (205 reviews · 4 hours)

Free retry, count not statedMinibus, max 18 guestsPhotos of you and the lightsHot chocolate included

Collect a Hraun Icelandic chocolate bar and a hot chocolate on a minibus hunt capped at 18 people, picked up from designated bus stops in Reykjavík. An English-speaking guide leads the four hours, and digital photos of you with the aurora are part of the fare. If the lights do not show, you can join a repeat tour for free. A logo hat-and-gloves set and a neck warmer are on sale rather than included, Wi-Fi is on board, and the minimum age is six.

From $114 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all Reykjavik Northern Lights small group tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights Bus Tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights bus tours run on big coaches from Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg, Harpa or a pickup point, with the lowest fare of the night. The golden circle and northern lights tour Reykjavik sightseeing days add the loop by daylight first.

Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with Hot Chocolate

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2,025 reviews · 4 hours)

One free retryCoach, max 65 guestsHot chocolate included

Meet the coach at Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg or Bus Stop 5 at Harpa, or choose the grade with pickup from designated locations in the city. This four-hour Reykjavik Northern Lights bus tour carries up to 65 guests, with an experienced guide, hot chocolate and Wi-Fi on board. If you do not see the lights, you can join again for free on one other night, the lowest fare here with a second chance built in. Dinner is not included, so eat before you go, and children must be at least six.

From $84 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Golden Circle & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.7 (124 reviews · 12 hours 30 minutes)

No free retry statedCoach, max 59 guestsGolden Circle by dayRestroom on board

Spend the day on the Golden Circle, with about 40 minutes at Þingvellir, an hour and ten minutes at Geysir, 40 at Gullfoss and 30 at Kerið, whose admission is in the fare. After a two-hour break in Reykjavík, you head out again for about four hours hunting the northern lights. The air-conditioned coach has an experienced local guide, Wi-Fi and a restroom on board, and it is marked wheelchair accessible. Lunch is not included, no free retry is stated for the aurora part, and you meet at Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg or take the pickup grade.

From $151 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★ 4.6 (88 reviews · 13 hours 30 minutes)

No free retry statedCoach, max 60 guestsGolden Circle by day

Soak in the Secret Lagoon, entrance included along with Kerið, on a thirteen-and-a-half-hour day that pairs the Golden Circle with an evening hunt. About three hours of the night go to the northern lights bus, once the daytime stops are done. Experienced and enthusiastic guides lead both halves, Wi-Fi is on board, and the coach takes 60 guests at most. Lunch is extra and no retry is stated for the aurora, and you meet at Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg or take the pickup grade.

From $185 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all Reykjavik Northern Lights bus tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights Jeep Tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights jeep tours hunt in 4x4 minibuses and modified super jeeps, shared with other guests or booked private. Several add photos of you under the lights.

Northern Lights and Stargazing Small-Group Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★ 4.8 (314 reviews · 3 to 5 hours)

Unlimited free retriesSuper jeep, max 14 guestsPickup 21:00 to 21:30Photos of you and the lights

Climb into a modified super jeep that takes 14 guests at most, with door-to-door pickup at your central Reykjavík accommodation between 21:00 and 21:30. A stargazing telescope comes with guidance, and homemade hot chocolate and Icelandic pastry keep you going between stops. Photos of you under the northern lights are included, and if you see nothing, you can re-try as often as you need within two years, subject to availability. Pickups run from 1 September to 15 April, the minimum age is ten, and the go or no-go message arrives at 18:30.

From $221 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Northern Lights 4x4 Tour with Pastries and Cocoa from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.8 (514 reviews · 4 hours)

Lifetime free rebooking4x4 minibus, max 16 guestsPhotos of you and the lightsHotel pickup

Head out in a 4x4 minibus with Wi-Fi on board, collected and dropped off in Reykjavík, with 16 guests at most. Hot chocolate, traditional pastries and a lunch are in the fare, the guide hands out hand warmers, and nice photos of the night are taken for you. If the Reykjavik Northern Lights do not show, you can re-book free for life. Some departures run in English and Spanish, alcoholic drinks are not included, and children from eight can join.

From $174 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Northern Lights & Hot Choco: Private 4x4 Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.9 (37 reviews · 4 hours)

No free retry statedPrivate, your group onlyHot chocolate includedHotel pickup

Book a private 4x4 night of about four hours, with pickup and drop-off in Reykjavík and guides fluent in English and Spanish. The air-conditioned vehicle carries hot chocolate, traditional Icelandic pastries, hand warmers and Wi-Fi for your party alone. The fare is quoted per person, so the total grows with the size of your group, and tips are extra. No free retry is stated, so pick a night early in your trip that leaves room to go again if the sky stays shut.

From $649 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all Reykjavik Northern Lights jeep tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights Boat Tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights boat tours sail from the Old Harbour for about two hours, with no pickup and no drive. If the lights stay away, you can sail again for free.

Northern Lights Boat Cruise from Reykjavik

★★★★☆ 4.3 (71 reviews · 2 hours)

Free re-sail if you see nothingBoat, max 75 aboardRestroom on boardMeet at the Old Harbour

Sail across Faxaflói bay for about two hours from Old Harbour House at Ægisgarður 2, arriving 30 minutes before departure. Spacious observation decks give panoramic views, and a restroom, Wi-Fi and all fees and taxes come with the fare. Drinks and snacks are for sale on board rather than included, and infants sit on a lap. If the Reykjavik Northern Lights do not show, you are offered a free tour, and there is no pickup, so you make your own way to the harbour.

From $86 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all Reykjavik Northern Lights boat tours

Private Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours

Private Reykjavik Northern Lights tours put a vehicle and a guide with your party alone, collected from your hotel. Fares are quoted per person or per group, so compare the total for your party.

Private Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik

★★★★★ 4.8 (80 reviews · 3 hours)

No free retry statedPrivate, your group onlyHotel pickup

Keep the car and a local guide to your party alone for about three hours, with hotel pick-up and drop-off in Reykjavík. Bookings start at two adults and take up to eight, and the fare is priced per person. The night is marked wheelchair accessible for transport and surfaces, as long as you bring your own assistance. Food, drinks and gratuities are extra, no free retry is stated, and the schedule runs from 5 September 2026 to 4 April 2027.

From $260 per person (minimum 2)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Reykjavik Private Northern Lights Tour with Pro Photographer

★★★★★ 5.0 (86 reviews · 3 to 4 hours)

One free retryPrivate, your group onlyPhotos of you and the lights

Share the night with a photographer-guide for three to four hours, collected from your Reykjavík hotel in the evening, with one fare for a group of up to four. You receive at least five photos with the northern lights if they appear, plus help with your own camera settings. Coffee or tea is served under the starry sky, and the night can go off-road to find the view. If the sky stays shut, one extra tour comes free of charge, gratuities are not included, and the guiding is in English or Polish.

From $1,618 per group (up to 4)

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all private Reykjavik Northern Lights tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights Late Night Tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights late night tours start between 20:00 and 21:30, or are sold as a midnight run, and bring you back after midnight. They suit night owls and anyone with a full day planned before.

Northern Lights Midnight Adventure Small-Group from Reykjavík

★★★★★ 4.8 (993 reviews · 3 to 5 hours)

Free retry, count not statedMinibus, max 18 guestsSold as a midnight tourPhotos of you and the lights

Stay out late on the Midnight Adventure, an air-conditioned minibus hunt for 18 guests at most, picked up from your hotel or a numbered bus stop. Pickup starts 30 minutes before the tour, and hotels in central 101 use the bus stops. Hot chocolate, free photos, Wi-Fi and USB charging are in the fare, and a free retry comes if the Reykjavik Northern Lights are not seen. Weather cancellations are rescheduled to another evening for free, though a tour that has run is not refunded.

From $135 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos

★★★★★ 4.7 (2,192 reviews · 4 hours)

Free retry, count not statedMinibus, max 19 guestsPickup from 20:30 or 21:30Photos of you and the lights

Wrap up in Icelandic woollen blankets on a minibus of never more than 19, with a professional driver-guide and live commentary on board. Hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries are included, and photos come too if conditions allow. Pickup from designated meeting points starts at 20:30 from October to March and at 21:30 from mid-August to September and in April, so the night runs late. Without lights you can join again free on another day, subject to availability, but there is no refund, and children under five cannot come.

From $166 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

See all Reykjavik Northern Lights late night tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights Combination Tours

Reykjavik Northern Lights combination tours pair the evening hunt with something more: an hour inside a lava tunnel, or four days of sights with hotel nights.

From Reykjavík: Evening Lava Tunnel Tour and Northern Lights Tour

★★★★★ 4.7 (68 reviews · 5 hours)

Free retry, lights part onlyMax 28 guestsLava tunnel with a caving guidePhotos of you and the lights

Explore the Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel for about an hour with a certified caving guide, helmet and torch supplied, before the evening hunt. About two and a half hours then go to the northern lights, with an English-speaking expert guide, hot cocoa, chocolate and a blanket. Northern lights photos are included, and a free retry covers the northern lights part if you see nothing. Snacks and dinner are not included, the tunnel floor is uneven, and children from six can join you.

From $210 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

4-Day Iceland: Golden Circle, South Coast, Volcano Hike & Northern Lights

★★★★☆ 4.5 (52 reviews · 4 days)

No free retry statedMinibus, max 19 guests3 nights' hotel and breakfastsHotel pickup

Cover the Golden Circle, the South Coast and a volcano hike in four days, with guided volcano and glacier tours and three nights in a double or twin room. Breakfast is included on three mornings, while lunch, dinner and the single-room fee for solo travellers are extra. The northern lights come into the evenings only if the skies cooperate, and no retry is stated, so count them as a bonus to the trip. Pickup runs from select Reykjavík locations, Wi-Fi is on board, the group tops out at 19, and you must be at least eight.

From $1,389 per person

Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.

Check Availability

Compare every tour in the table

The aurora

About the Reykjavik Northern Lights

The northern lights need a dark and partly clear sky, which is why every Reykjavik Northern Lights tour starts in the evening and heads away from the city glow. The Icelandic Met Office forecasts auroral activity at midnight on a scale of 0 to 9, and NOAA puts the best displays within an hour or two of midnight. Join us for a night that has no gate and no ticket: what you book is the guide, the vehicle, and what the fare does if the sky stays shut.

When the Nights Are Dark

In December Reykjavík gets about 4 hours of daylight, and around 21 June about 21 hours, with no truly dark night at all. The almanac shows no full darkness between mid-April and late August, so the tours' own calendars run from mid-August to mid-April. Book an early night of your stay to leave room for a retry.

Reading the Forecast

Two Met Office maps matter: the cloud forecast, where green areas are cloudy and white ones clear, and auroral activity at midnight on its 0 to 9 scale. Clear sky comes first, because a strong display behind cloud stays hidden. Operators make the go or no-go call in the late afternoon and message you.

Where the Hunts Go

No hunt promises a place: the guide picks a direction on the night from the forecast. The itineraries name the Southern Region, the Reykjanes Peninsula and the West Region, while the boats stay on Faxaflói bay. In town, the darker edges and the harbour help on a strong night.

Faint green aurora over a snowy road running straight out into the dark

An aurora arc over a dark bay, a single beam of light rising from an island

An aurora rising over a railed viewing platform in the dark

What you will see

Named Highlights of a Reykjavik Northern Lights Night

What the night is built around, from the drive out of town to the hot chocolate at the last stop.

The aurora overheadA dark, partly clear sky is all the lights need, and NOAA puts the best displays within an hour or two of midnight, between 22:00 and 02:00.
The drive out of the city glowCity light washes out weaker displays, so the land hunts head into the countryside: the itineraries name the Southern Region, the Reykjanes Peninsula and the West Region.
A second night if the first is cloudyMost hunts carry a free retry, from one extra night to unlimited re-runs, and the first chip on every card says which.
Photos with you in themOn many small groups and jeeps the guide takes photos of you under the aurora, and some also help you set up your own camera.
Hot chocolate in the coldHot chocolate, often with Icelandic pastries or cinnamon rolls, is poured on many hunts while you wait for the sky to open.
The harbour by boatThe boats leave the Old Harbour for two hours on Faxaflói bay, with no drive at all, and the cruise from Ægisgarður 5c hands out warm floatable overalls.

Plan your visit

Everything You Need Before You Go

What a fare buysPickup pointsWhat to wearWhere to stay

There is no gate and no ticket to the sky. A fare pays for the guide, the vehicle and the drive out of the city light, and on most hunts a free retry if the lights stay away. A weather cancellation is different: you are offered another date or a full refund.

What a tour includes

Most land hunts collect you from your hotel or a nearby numbered bus stop, and hotels in central 101 use the bus stops. The coaches also meet at Bus Stop 12 at Höfðatorg on Þórunnartún. Pickup starts about 30 minutes before the tour, so be at your stop from the start of the window.

Find your pickup point

You stand still outside for long stretches at night, so bring warm, windproof and waterproof layers, a hat, gloves and a scarf. On the Reykjavík normals for 1961-1990, January is the coldest month at −0.5 °C and October the wettest at 85.6 mm. Some fares add snowsuits, overalls or wool blankets.

Month-by-month weather

Stay inside the pickup zone and the hunt comes to your door or to a bus stop nearby; the widest zone reaches the suburbs around the city. The boats have no pickup at all, so a room near the Old Harbour lets you walk to the quay.

Where to stay for pickup

Straight answer

Do You Need a Tour for the Reykjavik Northern Lights?

Not to see them. Reykjavik Northern Lights tickets do not exist, because the sky has no gate, and on a strong, clear night the aurora can show even from the darker edges of the city. Reykjavik Northern Lights ticket prices are really tour fares, from $84 for a coach seat to $1,618 for a private photographer's night for up to four.

Yes, if you have no car or would rather not drive dark winter roads. A tour buys the forecast reading, the driving at night, the distance from the city light and, on most fares, a free retry, while the boats get you off the city's light with no drive at all. Reykjavik Northern Lights booking is done tour by tour for the night you pick, and every Reykjavik Northern Lights reservation here refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.

See Top Tours Without a tour?

Book with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, and a change of plan costs you nothing.

Which one is me

Choosing the Right Northern Lights Night for You

Start from what you want the night to give you; the right tour follows from that.

The lowest fare

The big-coach hunt from Bus Stop 12 starts from $84 and gives you one free night more if you see nothing. Compare every northern lights bus tour from Reykjavik side by side.

A smaller group with photos

The small-group hunt with guide photos carries unlimited free retries. Weigh up the rest on the northern lights tour Reykjavik small group page.

No drive at all

The cruise from the Old Harbour spends two hours on the water with overalls in the fare. See each northern lights boat tour Reykjavik compared.

A bigger vehicle

The Super Jeep hunt leaves at 8pm or 9pm with photos in the fare. Every northern lights jeep tour Reykjavik is weighed up on one page.

Just your party

A private car and guide put the night on your clock, priced per person or per group. Find each private northern lights tour Reykjavik with its retry terms.

A late start

Busy day? A late night northern lights tour Reykjavik collects you at 20:00 or later and brings you back after midnight.

Compare

Which Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour Is Right for You?

Every one of the Reykjavik Northern Lights tours and tickets you can book here, most reviewed first. Before you pick a Reykjavik Northern Lights tour on price, read what each fare does if you see nothing.

Tour	Rating	If you see nothing	Vehicle	Fare	Best for
Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Hot Chocolate & Photos	4.7 (2,192)	Free retry, count not stated	Minibus, max 19 guests	From $166 per person	Late risers who want blankets and pastries	Book
Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik with Hot Chocolate	4.2 (2,025)	One free retry	Coach, max 65 guests	From $84 per person	Budget travellers who want one free retry	Book
Northern Lights Midnight Adventure Small-Group from Reykjavík	4.8 (993)	Free retry, count not stated	Minibus, max 18 guests	From $135 per person	Night owls who want pickup near their hotel	Book
Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik	4.5 (635)	Free re-sail if you see nothing	Boat, max 150 aboard	From $105 per person	Travellers without a car who want no drive	Book
Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour with Pro Aurora Photos Small Group	4.9 (524)	Unlimited free retries	Max 18 guests	From $159 per person	First-timers who want photos and unlimited retries	Book
Northern Lights 4x4 Tour with Pastries and Cocoa from Reykjavik	4.8 (514)	Lifetime free rebooking	4x4 minibus, max 16 guests	From $174 per person	Travellers who want a 4x4 and lifetime rebooking	Book
Northern Lights Superjeep Tour from Reykjavik	4.7 (357)	One free retry	Super jeep	From $244 per person	Adventurous couples who want a Super Jeep night	Book
Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Photos, Snacks & Snowsuits	4.6 (322)	Unlimited free retries	Max 18 guests	From $212 per person	Photographers who want jumpsuits, tripods and chairs	Book
Northern Lights and Stargazing Small-Group Tour with Local Guide	4.8 (314)	Unlimited free retries	Super jeep, max 14 guests	From $221 per person	Stargazers aged ten and over in a super jeep	Book
Northern Lights Small-Group Tour From Reykjavik with Hot Choco	4.5 (306)	One free retry, on a big bus	Max 28 guests	From $118 per person	Travellers who want a smaller bus and a retry	Book
Northern Lights Small-Group Tour with Free Photos & Hot Chocolate	4.4 (205)	Free retry, count not stated	Minibus, max 18 guests	From $114 per person	Budget travellers who want a minibus and photos	Book
Golden Circle & Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik	4.7 (124)	No free retry stated	Coach, max 59 guests	From $151 per person	Visitors who want the Golden Circle and a hunt	Book
Northern Lights Small Group Tour from Reykjavik with Free Photos	4.5 (92)	Free retry on the coach hunt	Max 21 guests	From $134 per person	Phone photographers who want help with their settings	Book
Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and Northern Lights Tour	4.6 (88)	No free retry stated	Coach, max 60 guests	From $185 per person	Bathers who want a lagoon soak before the hunt	Book
Reykjavik Private Northern Lights Tour with Pro Photographer	5.0 (86)	One free retry	Private, your group only	From $1,618 per group (up to 4)	Groups of four who want a photographer to themselves	Book
Private Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik	4.8 (80)	No free retry stated	Private, your group only	From $260 per person (minimum 2)	Couples and wheelchair users who want a private car	Book
Reykjavik: Northern Lights Coach Tour with Local Hunters	4.6 (71)	One free retry	Coach, max 57 guests	From $85 per person	Families who want a coach and photo tips	Book
Northern Lights Boat Cruise from Reykjavik	4.3 (71)	Free re-sail if you see nothing	Boat, max 75 aboard	From $86 per person	Families with small children who want a short night	Book
From Reykjavík: Evening Lava Tunnel Tour and Northern Lights Tour	4.7 (68)	Free retry, lights part only	Max 28 guests	From $210 per person	Active travellers who want a cave before the lights	Book
4-Day Iceland: Golden Circle, South Coast, Volcano Hike & Northern Lights	4.5 (52)	No free retry stated	Minibus, max 19 guests	From $1,389 per person	Travellers who want four days with hotels included	Book
Northern Lights & Hot Choco: Private 4x4 Tour from Reykjavik	4.9 (37)	No free retry stated	Private, your group only	From $649 per person	Spanish speakers and families who want a private 4x4	Book
Northern Lights Small Group Tour from Reykjavik	4.5 (27)	No free retry stated	Max 19 guests	From $121 per person	Teenagers and adults who want a smaller group	Book

A cloudy night, but the guide's equipment found two places where the lights came through. The second stop was the best of the evening.Richard K. · The small-group hunt with guide photos

Only a glimpse of the aurora on our booked night, so we were given free tickets for another sailing. The second night gave us a couple of hours of lights overhead.Rachel H. · The boat from the Old Harbour

Nothing appeared on a clear first night, but the second attempt brought a beautiful aurora. Riding in the jeep felt like a night safari.Nicole M. · The Super Jeep hunt

What to expect

How a Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour Runs

Pick what a cloudy night costs

Unlimited retries, one free night or none stated: the first chip on each card says what your fare does if the sky stays shut.

Book an early night

Book one of the first nights of your stay, so a free retry or a weather reschedule still has nights left behind it.

Check the go or no-go

Operators decide in the late afternoon from the cloud and activity forecasts, then e-mail or message you.

Dress for standing still

Warm, windproof layers, a hat and gloves, because most of the night is spent outside watching the sky.

Be at your stop early

Pickup starts about 30 minutes before the tour, and the boats want you at the quay 15 to 30 minutes before they sail.

See Top Tours

Traveller reviews

Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours Reviews

Travellers’ own words about the coaches, the minibuses, the jeeps and the boats, with the stars each of them gave.

★★★☆☆

The Reykjavik Northern Lights small-group hunt with photos

Too cloudy, and the window when the lights showed was very short. Still worth the risk, and I would go again.

Sharon G. · September 2026

★★★★★

The Reykjavik Northern Lights cruise from the Old Harbour

Good value for the money. Brave the cold and sit on the top deck for the best view, and the photos they sent afterwards were a nice touch.

Meghan F. · Couple · March 2026

★★★★★

The Reykjavik Northern Lights minibus with pastries

Three sightings in one night. The driver-guide knew the lights well, drove well and told funny stories on the way.

Cindy K. · Solo · September 2026

★★★★★

The Reykjavik Northern Lights bus tour

Nobody can promise you the lights, but the team did everything to improve our chances. Pickup and drop-off came with clear, easy directions, and we saw them.

Leesa M. · Family · September 2026

★★★★★

The Reykjavik Northern Lights midnight minibus

The lights appeared soon after we left the city. The guide knew where to go and talked about the aurora all night.

Debrah H. · Friends · March 2026

★★★★★

The Reykjavik Northern Lights 4x4 minibus

The odds were low that night. The guide took us to one of the few gaps in the cloud, and within minutes the lights filled the sky.

William T. · Friends · September 2026

★★★★★

The minibus hunt with photos

The forecast gave a low chance, but the small van reached places big coaches cannot, and we stayed out later. The photos were a real bonus.

Darren F. · Solo · November 2025

★★★★★

The boat with a café on board

A friendly crew and a roomy boat that never felt crowded while we watched. Blankets are provided, and hot drinks are sold at the bar.

Victoria W. · Friends · April 2026

★★★★★

The lava tunnel and northern lights evening

Bring rain gear for the lava tunnel, where the caving guide was excellent. The lights escaped us, but the hunt was still an adventure.

Terri B. · Solo · September 2026

★★★★★

The Golden Circle and northern lights day

We were lucky with a clear night and a strong show at the end of a long day. Bring your patience.

Anabelle T. · Couple · April 2026

★★★★★

The Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon and aurora day

The daytime half was a success, with the waterfall and the Secret Lagoon the highlights. The evening hunt was cancelled for weather two days in a row.

David F. · Couple · January 2026

★★★★★

The Reykjavik Northern Lights smaller-bus hunt

Punctual from the start, and the guide worked hard to find the best place to watch from. The view of the lights was worth it.

Cosimo C. · Couple · March 2026

Read all reviews

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need tickets for the Reykjavik Northern Lights?

No. The aurora has no gate and no ticket, so what you book is a seat on a hunt. The fare pays for the guide, the drive out of the city light, and on most fares a free retry if the sky stays shut.

Are the Reykjavik Northern Lights guaranteed on a tour?

No listing can promise the sky, so treat any “northern lights guaranteed” line as a promise about the retry, not the lights. What a fare can give you is another night: unlimited on some hunts, one extra night on others, and none stated on a few. Check the first line on each card before you book.

What happens if I don't see the northern lights?

Most hunts let you join again free on another night, subject to seats. A tour that ran under cloud counts as performed and is not refunded. A tour the operator cancels for weather is different: you are offered another date or your money back.

How much is a Reykjavik Northern Lights tour?

The big-coach hunts start from $84 a person. Small groups run $114 to $221, shared jeeps $174 to $244 and the boats $86 to $105. Private hunts run from $260 a person to $1,618 for a group of up to four.

What time do northern lights tours leave Reykjavík?

In the evening. Stated pickups run from 20:30 in mid-winter to 21:30 at the start and end of the season, and the late tours collect from 21:00. Pickup starts about 30 minutes before the tour, so be ready early.

How long is a northern lights tour?

Most hunts are about four hours, and some run three to six depending on the sky. The boats sail for two hours. On a late departure expect to be back after midnight.

What is the best month to see the Reykjavik Northern Lights?

The lights need a dark, clear sky, so the dark months. The operators' own calendars run from mid-August to mid-April. December has about 4 hours of daylight and June about 21 hours, so summer nights are too bright.

Bus, small group or jeep: which northern lights tour?

Coaches carry up to 57 to 65 people, cost least and usually give one free retry. Small groups cap at 14 to 28 and more often photograph you under the lights. Jeeps can leave the main road, but every vehicle reads the same forecast.

Is a northern lights boat tour worth it?

It is two hours from the Old Harbour with no drive, warm overalls on the larger boat, and a free re-sail if you see nothing. What it cannot do is move far to find a gap in the cloud, which a land hunt can.

Will I be picked up at my hotel?

Most land hunts collect from your hotel or a nearby numbered tour bus stop. Central downtown hotels use the bus stops, because tour buses may not drive or stop in some streets. The boats have no pickup, so you walk to the harbour.

What should I wear on a northern lights tour?

Warm, windproof and waterproof layers, a hat, gloves and a scarf, because you stand outside for long stretches at night. Some fares include snowsuits, overalls or wool blankets, and each card says so.

Can children go on northern lights tours?

Many hunts take children, from ages that vary by listing: some from 5, others from 6, 7, 10 or 13. The nights end late, so check the minimum age on the listing before you book.

How do I know if my tour is running tonight?

Operators decide in the late afternoon from the cloud and activity forecast, often between 17:00 and 18:30, and send you a message. Check your email, spam folder included, before you wait for the pickup.

Can I cancel my northern lights tour?

Yes: every listing here gives a full refund if you cancel up to 24 hours before the start. Inside 24 hours, or once the tour has run, the listing's own rules apply.

Can you see the Reykjavik Northern Lights from the city itself?

On a strong, clear night, yes, but the street light washes out a weaker display. The dark edges of the city and the shore help. A tour drives or sails much further from the light.

See all FAQs

Photographs

Reykjavik Northern Lights Gallery

A lone figure in a long coat standing on snow under aurora curtains

Two 4x4s parked on open ground under a band of green aurora

A photographer kneeling in the snow with a tripod under a green aurora

A pale green aurora arc over a lake and a line of dark trees

View full gallery

Beyond the tour

Beyond the Tour

What else Reykjavík holds for an aurora trip, by day or on a cloudy night.

An aurora show indoors

Perlan on Öskjuhlíð screens Áróra, a northern lights planetarium film in 8K, and is open 9:00 to 21:00, a plan for an evening when the clouds win.

A tidal island at the city's edge

Grótta, at the tip of Seltjarnarnes, is an island joined to land by a narrow spit that goes under at high tide, and access is closed from 1 May to 15 July for nesting birds.

Underground before the hunt

Raufarhólshellir, 1,360 metres long in all, was formed by lava about 5,200 years ago and lies less than 30 minutes' drive from Reykjavík, and an evening tour pairs it with the hunt.

Read before you go

Reykjavik Northern Lights Travel Guides and Advice

Visitor guide

How to See the Reykjavik Northern Lights: Times, Forecasts and Retries

No gate and no admission. What decides your night is darkness, a gap in the cloud and enough activity, and what your fare does if all three fail.

Read post →

The night

A Reykjavik Northern Lights Night, Hour by Hour

The go or no-go message, the pickup window, the drive out of the city glow, the stops, the photos and the cocoa, and the ride home after midnight.

Read post →

Facts

Reykjavik Northern Lights Facts That Will Surprise You

A forecast set for midnight on a scale of 0 to 9, four hours of December daylight against twenty-one in June, and retries that last two years.

Read post →

Read all posts Planning guides

Where it is

Visitor Information for Reykjavik Northern Lights Tours

Perlan
Öskjuhlíð, 105 Reykjavík

Nothing is loaded from Google until you press it.

Name

Perlan, home of Áróra, a northern lights planetarium film in 8K.

Address

Öskjuhlíð, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland. Telephone +354 566 9000. Tours start at the hotel, bus stop or quay each card names.

Hours

Perlan opens 9:00 to 21:00. The sky has no gate and no opening hours: the hunts run in the dark.

Getting there

Perlan stands on Öskjuhlíð in Reykjavík, but no hunt starts there: every tour begins at your hotel, a numbered bus stop or the Old Harbour quay. See the Reykjavik Northern Lights pickup points.

Book Your Reykjavik Northern Lights Tour

Pick what you want your fare to do on a cloudy night, then choose your date. Fares here start at $84, you complete your booking at the price shown on each card, and every tour refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.

See Top Tours