This blog post is about our trip in January 2026 to see the Northern Lights.
We had wanted to see the Northern Lights in Iceland ever since we saw them in our state. We had heard about how great the Lights are in Iceland and we knew we had to go there to see the Lights! We finally made it to Iceland in January 2026. The Lights did not disappoint, as can be seen in our pictures and videos. Please excuse any photography mistakes we might have made while taking our pictures and videos. (For example, in one of the video clips my fingers make their appearance for one second.)
For this trip, we arrived in Reykjavik and spent one night there, then traveled to Hella to spend two nights in glass igloos in order to try to get some great pictures of the lights without being out in the cold, tried to go to Hnappavellir to see Diamond Beach but a blizzard white-out caused the road to be closed and we had to go to Vík í Myrdal instead (which was still good), and after spending two nights there we travelled back to Reykjavik for our final night in Iceland.
Pictures From Our First Day In Reykjavik
Second Day – From Reykjavik To Hella
On our second day, we started with a delicious breakfast at GRÁI KÕTTURINN (we highly recommend them for breakfast, if you’re ever in Reykjavik), then made a stop at the Icelandic Horse World in Skeiővellir to ride Icelandic horses, and then arrived at the Aurora Igloo South hotel to spend two nights in glass igloos! The second night in the igloos was a spectacular night for us, as the Aurora Borealis arrived to give us a wonderful show. They first started close to the horizon and then moved overhead. There were clouds in the sky, but they didn’t prevent us from being able to see the light show. It was a beautiful night for us, and the glass igloos made it all the more magical!
Fourth Day – Attempted To Reach
Hnappavellir, But Ran Into Blizzard White-Out And Had To Divert To Vík í Mýrdal
We were on our way to Hnappavallir when we drove into a blizzard white-out and ended up getting turned around by the Iceland Search and Rescue. They have a great vehicle for driving in hazardous conditions! We had planned to stay at a hotel in/near Hnappavallir so that we could visit Diamond Beach, but the Icelandic weather had other plans for us. After getting turned back by search and rescue, and the highway being closed, we cancelled our reservations for our hotel in Hnappavallir, added a night to our hotel stay in Vík í Mýrdal (Vík for short) and then drove to Vík.
Fifth Day – Katla Icecave Tour and Katla Glacier Excursion
If you have a day in Vík to do some exploring, this is a must do tour!
After a day exploring Katla Glacier and the ice caves, we enjoyed a very delicious and satisfying dinner at The Soup Company in Vík!
Sixth Day – Drive From Vík To Reykjavik
On the drive to Reykjavik, we stopped at a beach and two waterfalls. At one of the waterfalls, they must’ve had problems with motorcyclists jumping cars in the parking lot, because there was sign stating that wasn’t allowed. We also stopped for lunch at the Faxi Bakery and enjoyed a fantastic sandwich and some wonderful pastries! It’s a definite must stop if you want a great lunch or some pastries!
Seventh And Final Day – Iceland Put On An Incredible Aurora Borealis Display For Our Last Night In Iceland
For our final night in Iceland, we stayed at The Reykjavik Edition and it ended up being the best place for us that night! All of the staff were very friendly, helpful, and exceptionally accommodating! The best part is that the hotel has a rooftop bar, called the Rooftop. We received an alert about the possibility of seeing auroras and went up to the Rooftop bar to watch for the light show. The bar was the perfect spot. We could sit inside to enjoy some drinks and food, and get warmed up, and then step outside onto the roof to take in the views of the city, Harpa Conference & Concert Center, and the harbour. The Auroras arrived, and blew us away! There was a guy that was talking with us about Iceland and he told us the Auroras that night were the best he had ever seen for his entire life in Iceland!
