Northern Lights: How to see them during your stay in Iceland

For many winter visitors to Iceland, the reason that drives their trip is the chance to see the Northern Lights. This magical phenomenon is fickle and can be fleeting, yet the sight of the aurora borealis dancing across the sky is likely to be an experience that remains a powerful memory long after you return home. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the factors that need to align for you to have the opportunity to see the Northern Lights and how to see them during your stay at Black Sand Hotel in Iceland.

The season

The Northern Lights occur in our atmosphere throughout the year. Why then, you might ask, does everything you read say that there’s a Northern Lights season? The answer’s simple: daylight, or rather the lack of it. While the aurora borealis could merrily be doing its stuff throughout a July evening, in practice there’s so much light you won’t see a thing.

All that changes as Iceland approaches the end of August. As the nights begin to draw in, the skies darken and it’s against this backdrop that you’ll have the chance to see the green, purple and red ribbons, arcs and curtains that will take your breath away. At either end of the season, however, the nights are shortest. By the end of April, there’s usually too much light once more.

During this period, you’ll have a briefer window of opportunity in which to see the Northern Lights. In contrast, in December – midwinter – it’s dark for almost 20 hours a day which means you could see the aurora without having to stay up late. Statistically, however, sightings are greatest around the spring and autumn equinoxes (March and September), so to maximise your chances by booking a stay at Black Sand Hotel around this time of year.

Solar activity

Once you’ve planned to be in Iceland at the right time of year, you’ll need other factors to fall into place. The most crucial is solar activity, which isn’t steady throughout the year. It’s as unpredictable as the Icelandic weather – we’ll come to that next – and so you’ll need to prepare for the possibility that you won’t see them at all.

That’s not just the case in Iceland, of course, it’s everywhere. In fact, the good thing about coming to Iceland for a winter vacation is that there are so many unique and unusual activities to do that you’re guaranteed a memorable trip even if the aurora borealis is conspicuous by its absence.

Keep an eye on the Icelandic Met Office’s website which displays the Kp index for the upcoming days. This measure isn’t foolproof, but the higher the number on a scale from 0 to 9, the better your chances could be. Another reliable technique is to follow Northern Lights enthusiasts on social media and pay attention if they claim activity is about to kick off. Apps will also help you determine your chances especially those that map current activity and record sightings in real time.

The weather forecast

You’ll also need clear skies in order to be able to see what’s going on in the atmosphere. Low cloud and dense cover will be frustrating to anyone hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights in Iceland during their stay. However, there’s hope: wind can shift cloud quickly and the situation can change rapidly over the course of just a few hours. You only need the tiniest patch of clear sky.

Back to the Icelandic Met Office’s website: take a close look at the cloud cover map that goes with the weather forecast. Where you see gaps in the cloud, you have a chance to see the aurora borealis so long as other conditions are right. If you have hired a car, you’ll have the flexibility to head in different directions according to what looks the most promising. Guided tours tend to do the same.

The correct orientation

You’ll also need to be oriented correctly. The aurora borealis oval is centred over the northern Arctic, which means that this is the direction you need to look if you’re hoping to catch sight of the Northern Lights. Make sure that you are facing the right way and have an uninterrupted view of the sky when you pick a spot to wait for the Northern Lights to show up during your aurora hunt.

As it can be challenging to identify the right position during the evening, we’d recommend you pay attention while you are out and about during the daytime. Scope out potential spots that have adequate parking and are legally accessible. In the dark, you don’t want to be stumbling along uneven trails.

Also, you’ll need to ensure you are well away from light pollution – this washes out the colours and makes it much harder to see what’s going on in the sky. Choosing a rural location distant from the city lights of Reykjavik is a good idea – somewhere like the Black Sand Hotel is the ideal starting point for your aurora hunt as you’re in the heart of the Icelandic countryside.

Naked eye versus camera

One of the common misconceptions about the Northern Lights has a lot to do with the intensity of the colour. We are bombarded with images on social media and from businesses actively promoting Northern Lights tours. Some of these images will have undergone significant processing and won’t be an accurate representation of what conditions were like on the night.

Be realistic about what you might see and also be aware that while the activity is building, it may be tricky to see the Northern Lights with the naked eye. You might at first only see grey ribbons or arcs in the sky. This is often the case as your eyes adjust from being in a light-filled space.

A good trick is to hold up your camera or your smartphone to the sky and view it through the screen. This will make it far easier to determine whether what you are seeing are wisps of cloud or are in fact the Northern Lights. Once you know, you can settle in to view the aurora properly and, if you’re keen to record the moment, set up your tripod and other camera gear.

Get started on your aurora hunt as soon as you arrive

If you’ve booked a stay of several nights at Black Sand Hotel you might be tempted to hold off attempting to view the Northern Lights on the first night. However, depending on what conditions are like, that first night may prove to be the only time they make an appearance. Imagine how you’d feel if you didn’t make the effort and went home with a bunch of regrets instead of pictures of the aurora.

Make sure you’ve checked the relevant forecasts and if they look promising, seize the opportunity to get outside and scour the sky. Even if you’re tired after travelling to Iceland, you’ll get your second wind as the lights begin to dance across the sky. If it proves to be a late night you can always sleep in – and where better than in one of Black Sand Hotel’s comfy beds?