Chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland

I successfully saw the Northern Lights on my first attempt! Life achievement unlocked 🥰🥰

This time, I want to share my experience of chasing the Northern Lights in Iceland. I used two apps: Aurora and Veður. These two apps are incredibly simple and user-friendly.

With the Aurora app, once you download it, it will send you a notification if there’s aurora activity in your area. This makes it almost foolproof for aurora hunting. If the KP index is above 2, your camera can capture it. If it’s above 4, you can usually see it clearly with the naked eye. You can also check the app to see the percentage chance of spotting the aurora in your location. If it’s orange or red, the chances are very high.

Of course, even if there’s aurora activity, other factors might prevent you from seeing it. The biggest factors are rain or heavy clouds. That’s where the second app, Veður, comes in handy. When you open it, it automatically locates your position and shows the cloud coverage in your area. If it shows clear skies, congratulations!

Here are some of the most common places in Iceland to see the Northern Lights:

Reykjavik:
- Grótta Lighthouse
- Þingvellir National Park

South Coast:
- Vík
- Reynisfjara (Black Sand Beach)
- Dyrhólaey
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon 👈🏻 This is where I took my photos this time

Snæfellsnes Peninsula:
- Kirkjufell (Church Mountain)

North Iceland:
- Akureyri
- Goðafoss (Waterfall of the Gods)
- Mývatn
- Húsavík

I hope everyone succeeds in chasing the lights! ❤️