All regions / aurora forecast
West Iceland tonight
The Snæfellsnes peninsula is called 'Iceland in miniature' because every landscape type is packed into 90 km: glacier, volcano, lava field, black beach, craggy coast. And aurora over all of it.
Where to watch in West
Three curated viewing spots with drive times, conditions, and why they work.
Kirkjufell mountain
The most photographed mountain in Iceland, and on a clear night with aurora overhead, you'll see why. Classic shot: Kirkjufellsfoss waterfall in the foreground, Kirkjufell reflected, aurora above.
2h 30min from Reykjavík
Free parking, 5-min walk to falls, popular with Game of Thrones fans
Ytri Tunga beach
Seal colony during the day, pitch-dark aurora foreground at night. Look for seals hauled out on the rocks even after sunset.
2h from Reykjavík
Gravel parking, rocks can be slippery
Arnarstapi cliffs
Basalt columns and sea arches south of the Snæfellsjökull glacier. Stunning foreground for aurora, but very exposed to wind.
3h from Reykjavík
Keep distance from cliff edges, especially at night
How to get there
Driving times from where most visitors arrive.
Tips for this region
Specific-to-West knowledge, not generic advice.
In West, the weather moves fast. A rental car is how you keep up.
Clouds roll in. Clouds roll out. Tours stick to a schedule — with your own car you drive to where the sky is open. Code mapoficeland saves 15% on KeyCar.
Book a car 15% offOther regions
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