All regions / aurora forecastNorth Iceland tonight
Akureyri is the aurora capital if you're staying north. Clear weather patterns, less Atlantic storm activity than the south, and world-class landmarks like Goðafoss and Lake Mývatn within a 30-minute drive.
Where to watch in North Iceland
Goðafoss waterfall
'Waterfall of the Gods' — wide, powerful, and easy to access. The north-facing viewpoint is perfect for aurora compositions.
40 min east of Akureyri
Paved parking, gentle path, well-lit even at nightLake Mývatn
A shallow volcanic lake surrounded by pseudo-craters and geothermal areas. Huge dark sky, and you can warm up at Mývatn Nature Baths afterwards.
1h east of AkureyriMany gravel roads, some close in winterAkureyri harbour viewpoint
The fjord narrows the view but Eyjafjörður is long — you get 30° of open sky to the north. Good backup when you don't want to drive far.
You're hereTown, some light pollution, open sky to the northHow to get there
Tips for this region
North Iceland averages more clear nights than the south in winter — the Atlantic fronts tend to dissipate before crossing the central highlands.
Mývatn is active geothermally. Sulphur vents steam at night — dramatic in aurora photos but can irritate lungs in still air.
Akureyri has a domestic airport — fly instead of driving 4.5h each way if you have limited time.
North Iceland is 4.5 hours from Reykjavík. You need a car.
The ring road is plowed but icy in winter. Rent a 4WD with winter tyres. Code mapoficeland saves 15% on all KeyCar vehicles.
Book a car15% off