Northern lights in Akureyri

Viewing spots

• Krossanesborgir nature reserve Protected area of rocky knolls and ponds a few minutes' drive north of town, with an open view over the fjord. Mostly dark skyAbout 5 min from Akureyri
• Kjarnaskógur woods Large planted forest just south of town, sheltered from the wind; watch from the playground clearings or the car parks. Mostly dark skyAbout 6 min from Akureyri
• Hlíðarfjall ski area car park Akureyri's ski area on the mountainside above town; lifts often close around 19:00, after which the car park is a… Mostly dark skyAbout 13 min from Akureyri
• Gásir medieval trading site Open grassland at a medieval trading-site ruin by the fjord about 17 minutes' drive north of town, with very little… Mostly dark skyAbout 17 min from Akureyri
• Goðafoss Well-known waterfall on the Ring Road about 37 minutes east of Akureyri, with free car parks on both banks; the paths… Dark skyAbout 35 min from Akureyri
• Höfði · Mývatn Wooded lava headland on the east shore of Mývatn with paths down to the lake; Visit North Iceland names Mývatn its top… Dark skyAbout 1 h 17 from Akureyri
• Skútustaðagígar pseudocraters Pseudocrater field on the south shore of Mývatn by Route 848, with a short loop path from the car park. Dark skyAbout 1 h 12 from Akureyri
• Hverir · Námafjall Steaming geothermal field beside Route 1 east of the Námaskarð pass. Very dark skyAbout 1 h 25 from Akureyri
• Grjótagjá Lava fissure with a hot-water cave; the car park on the open lava gives a wide, dark sky close to Reykjahlíð. Very dark skyAbout 1 h 20 from Akureyri
• Laufás Turf-house museum farm and church on the east shore of the fjord, on the road to Grenivík. Dark skyAbout 34 min from Akureyri
• Svalbarðseyri Small lighthouse at the tip of the Svalbarðseyri spit, the quickest east-shore spot from Akureyri. Mostly dark skyAbout 10 min from Akureyri
• Húsavíkurviti · Húsavík lighthouse Lighthouse on the point north of Húsavík harbour, facing the open bay. Mostly dark skyAbout 1 h 16 from Akureyri
• Ásbyrgi Horseshoe-shaped canyon in Vatnajökull National Park that Visit North Iceland lists for aurora viewing. Very dark skyAbout 1 h 55 from Akureyri
• Héðinsfjörður · between the tunnels Free car park in Héðinsfjörður, the empty fjord the road crosses between Ólafsfjörður and Siglufjörður. Visit North… Very dark skyAbout 1 h 23 from Akureyri
• Dimmuborgir car park · Mývatn Free public car park at Dimmuborgir lava field, named by Visit North Iceland in its Mývatn aurora entry. Dark skyAbout 1 h 19 from Akureyri
• Hverfjall crater car park · Mývatn Paid car park at the foot of Hverfjall, the tephra crater named by Visit North Iceland in its Mývatn aurora entry. Very dark skyAbout 1 h 21 from Akureyri
• Arctic Henge (Heimskautsgerðið) · Raufarhöfn Free car park below the Arctic Henge, a basalt monument aligned to the sun and stars on the hill above Raufarhöfn… Dark skyAbout 3 h 06 from Akureyri
• Eyrarlandsvegur viewpoint A bench on the hillside street above the town centre, opposite the Útilegumaðurinn statue and St Peter's Church… Bright skyAbout 1 min from Akureyri
• Súlur trailhead car park Gravel car park at the end of Súluvegur, where the trail up Akureyri's home mountain starts. It sits on open moorland… Mostly dark skyAbout 7 min from Akureyri
• Grenivík pier Small harbour village near the mouth of Eyjafjörður on its eastern shore. Visit North Iceland's Arctic Coast Way names… Mostly dark skyAbout 43 min from Akureyri
• Strákagöng car park · Siglufjörður Free car park just past the western end of the Strákagöng tunnel, beyond Siglufjörður at the tip of the Tröllaskagi… Dark skyAbout 1 h 37 from Akureyri

Drive times are estimates from Akureyri by straight-line distance, as the app estimates them before it knows your route; ferries and winter closures are not counted.

Good to know in Akureyri

• Use the Icelandic Met Office cloud map IMO's aurora page shows a cloud-cover map beside an activity index. In the north, the cloud map decides whether to stay by the fjord or drive inland. Source
• Leave the town centre Street lighting in the centre of Akureyri washes out all but strong displays, but dark places such as Krossanesborgir and Kjarnaskógur are only minutes away. Source
• The tunnel east has an online toll Driving east towards Goðafoss usually means the Vaðlaheiðargöng tunnel. There are no booths; pay online by number plate shortly before or after your trip, or a collection fee is added. Source
• Check road cameras and conditions Vegagerðin's cameras and road conditions cover the mountain passes around Akureyri, such as Öxnadalsheiði and Víkurskarð. Source

Nearby destinations

• East Iceland 180 km
• South Coast 210 km
• Westfjords 230 km
• Reykjavík 250 km
• Snæfellsnes 250 km