r/VisitingIceland 5d ago

Travel Partners Megathread Fall/Winter 2026-2027

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Post here if:

* You are travelling solo and looking for a partner
* You are travelling with someone but still want a partner/partners
* You want a partner for the whole trip
* You want a partner for just a part of the trip
* You want a partner to share costs (for example car rental)
* You want to meet up for a chat
* You want to meet up for a drink or to party
* etc. etc.

Please include:

* When you will be in Iceland
* A rough itinerary
* Your gender and approximate age
* What country you are from
* What languages you speak
* Other pertinent information

Tip: Use the Find command (Ctrl+F on Windows / Cmd+F on Mac) and type in the month you're looking for to find posts from fellow redditors travelling in the same month as you.

Here's a link to the previous megathread for Spring Summer 2026


r/VisitingIceland 13d ago

Northern Lights Megathread

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The Northern Lights will always be a hot topic, so we've created this thread to answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Please post any general northern lights-related questions and discussion here. To avoid redundancy and confusion, the moderators may lock or remove other northern lights posts and redirect them here.

Travel Planning and General Considerations

You're considering Iceland for the Aurora Borealis, and that is a great choice!

Is there a "best time"?

Given Iceland's high geographic latitude, darkness varies and nights completely disappear during the summer. Aurora season is generally considered to be early September to mid-April though Auroras can be seen as early as the beginning of August and late April to early May. Auroras are impossible to be seen between mid-May to late July.

Around the fall / autumn and spring equinoxes (late September to early October, late March to early April), the Russell McPherron effect increases the likelihood for Aurora activity though nights are somewhat shorter. December is darker for longer but the Solstice might also dampen Aurora activity slightly. This breakdown will show you success rates by month for the 2025-26 season.

How many nights should one plan for?

Ideally 5-7 nights. Icelandic weather and aurora activity can change quickly and one should expect a third to half of those nights to be too cloudy or activity too weak.

Where is the best place to see them? Can you see them from Reykjavík?

The Auroras sit 100-150km (60-90 miles) above the earth and are generally visible from anywhere in Iceland as long as skies are clear. They can be seen from Reykjavík during strong activity and during clear skies, but it's best to drive a short distance out of town (ie. Grótta) to escape the bulk of light pollution. Locations with the least light pollution are Hvalfjörður, Þingvellir National Park and parts of Reykjanes, all within about 1-hour of Reykjavík.

Should we book a tour, is it worth it?

You don't have to, but it is highly recommended. For first-timers, expectations of what they might find can be skewed by images and videos and Aurora chasing is generally a difficult undertaking. Going with a reputable and knowledgeable guide and tour company will teach people vital information about the weather, the Icelandic landscape and Aurora science that will make it much easier to chase them on one's own thereafter.

Is driving in Winter safe?

That depends. Weather conditions in late fall / autumn and during the Winter months can be harsh and rapidly deteriorate. Some roads don't get frequently cleared, if at all, even within city limits. It's crucial to check road.is and vedur.is for road and weather conditions. For people with no experience driving in winter and snow conditions it's perhaps safest to avoid driving in difficult conditions.

How cold does it get in Iceland?

Temperatures vary greatly within Iceland. Southwestern coastal areas like Reykjavík and the South Coast are temperate and mild during the Winter (-5C to 5C / 23F to 41F) whilst inland and highland areas can fall as low as -25C (-13F). Windy conditions will enhance the cold significantly and it's important to dress and layer properly. Here's a guide on how to layer and dress.

Which forecast apps or websites would you recommend?

The authoritative source and owner of space weather data is the Space Weather Prediction Centre and it issues the SWPC's 30-minute forecast, 3-Day Forecast and ACE Solar Wind which is the source for most of our Apps and Services we have today. Consumers of this data that are relevant for Iceland:

- Emeraldskies.is (web app, my own forecast for wider Reykjavik and Iceland)

- HelloAurora (Global App, realtime solar wind and Aurora activity)

- AuroraVision (Local App, forecast provider)

- Iceland At Night (Local web based forecast)

- Guide to Iceland (Local web based forecast)

- Glendale App (UK based, web app for global activity)

- SpaceWeatherLive (Solar Wind and Aurora data)

Northern Lights myths and "good to know's"

Does it need to be really cold to see them?

No, all that is required are clear skies. Cold weather might mean clearer skies, but it's not required to be cold

You can't really see them with the naked eye and need a camera.

Generally not true. Auroras vary in strength and intensity, changing often within minutes. Weak and growing Auroras might resemble wispy clouds, and during cloudier conditions a camera in night mode will greatly help to tell the difference. Once Auroras release energy, intensity increases and so does visibility, making them very obvious to the naked eye. Colour perception will depend on people, and it is true that colours will generally "pop" on cameras due to the more sensitive sensor technology.

Iceland is too cloudy to see Auroras.

False. Due to its oceanic climate, Iceland is indeed cloudier than other inland locations like Fairbanks, Alaska or Rovaniemi, Finland. But "clouds happen to them all". Experienced guides in Iceland know where to go depending on the weather and it can be snowing in Reykjavík whilst being completely clear in Keflavík, 45 minutes away. Great cloud forecasts are weatherandradar.com and windy.com with local vedur.is being somewhat less reliable but necessary for wind conditions and general weather warnings.


r/VisitingIceland 6h ago

Might want to look outside the airplane window

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r/VisitingIceland 14h ago

Aurora is visible from the south coast tonight (07-Sept)

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~10:00pm Vik
Changing shape so quickly. Couldn't snap the same picture twice.


r/VisitingIceland 2h ago

Picture/s My best puffins pictures

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Sharing my pictures of my probably favourite bird in the entire world


r/VisitingIceland 5h ago

Nice aurora last night at Hofn

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r/VisitingIceland 14h ago

My phone sucks but Aurora in Vestmannaeyjar right now!

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r/VisitingIceland 13h ago

Picture/s Thingvellir 7 sept 21pm-23pm

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r/VisitingIceland 4h ago

Trip report I saw the northern lights last night for the first time!

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Man, what a beautiful thing we just saw. We're in the Westjords, north of Reykjavik and woke up at around 3:30am when I could help but notice the sky and just within minutes you could see it, I couldn't help but tear up at how beautiful the sky got.

To my surprise that thing flies by quickly lol. Also, it wasn't that "green" (maybe it was an exception? Or I missed it). None of the photos I took were able to capture it unfortunately but I'm glad I was still able to experience it

I was only up for a little bit as it was cold AF last night and I didn't prepare for it to be that cold (I barely slept too) but glad I got to experience it a little bit.


r/VisitingIceland 4h ago

Activities Is this really the only way to pass to the other side of Glymur waterfall? With a rope and wood? (Image taken from a 360 of google maps)

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r/VisitingIceland 20h ago

Picture/s Iceland with the tiny Xhalf

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Saw so many waterfalls, and fortunate to have some sunny days so saw quite a few rainbows! My favorite was the icebergs

the photos are essentially straight of the camera; just added a frame. loved the wide focal length of the xhalf, and just how pocketable it was in my coat's pocket. literally carried it everywhere, and whipped it out if there was anything interesting


r/VisitingIceland 1d ago

Video You never forget those Eye Contacts…

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r/VisitingIceland 1d ago

Picture/s last day in Iceland and got to see the aurora 😭🙏

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I’m near Keflavík rn and I know you can see it in Hella too according to the aurora app! I’m so happy!

Taken September 6th 2026 1117pm - 1201am


r/VisitingIceland 13h ago

Picture/s Reykholt, Iceland - 7. September 2026 - 10:25pm

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r/VisitingIceland 1h ago

[ Removed by Reddit ]

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[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]


r/VisitingIceland 1h ago

Great experience with Troll.is for Iceland Glacier Hike

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I dont know about labor law violations, but I can tell you the staff of Troll.is seemed to love their jobs and get along great with one another. I'm 65 and in decent shape and just did a 5 hour intermediate glacier hike with Troll last week (Sep 2026) and I cant speak highly enough about the experience and our group leader Sterre. Walking on ice on a mountain requires you to be in shape and there are inherent risks. But they were very concerned about every aspect of the experience, and my daughter and I had a great time and felt challenged but safe. If you're not in good physical shape and used to hiking on uneven surfaces, I would think twice about this kind of adventure. But it's not a reflection on Troll.is.


r/VisitingIceland 1d ago

Picture/s Aurora borealis in Lake Mytvan at 11 pm last night

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I have dreamt about seeing the Aurora Borealis since I was a little girl. It felt like a spiritual experience for me. The Aurora app only gave my area a 17% chance of seeing them. But something made me open my eyes at 11pm and there they were right out my window. So grateful!


r/VisitingIceland 2h ago

What are usual discounts for big groups? Like 15-20 ppl?

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I'll be bringing a pretty big group of my friends with their parents to Iceland this winter.

I will definitely negotiating some group discounts for us and I'm wondering how big these discounts might be?

Maybe someone had a similar experience negotiating?

I am particularly interested in tours. Like Katla Ice Cave or Whale Watching (something requiring low activity level)


r/VisitingIceland 3h ago

Planning for road trip in early October

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Hi all, I've been planning for a road trip with my partner in early October, and trying to do research based on all the information out there and we're a bit confused about what to do.

We arrive on 30 Sep late night and depart on 10 Oct morning, meaning have a full 9 day available to spend in Iceland.

The original plan was to do a ring road trip, but I kept being told that 9 days are too tight for a ring road unless you want to spend half the day just on the road. While some people say it's okay but 1-2 days extra would be better.

Then we planned just do the Snaefellsnes + Golden Circle + South coast and have something like this:

  • Oct 1: Drive to Snæfellsnes — Ytri Tunga, Búðir.
  • Oct 2: Arnarstapi, Djúpalónssandur, Kirkjufell. Stay in Borgarnes.
  • Oct 3: Golden Circle — Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss, possibly Brúarfoss. Stay near Hella.
  • Oct 4: Seljalandsfoss, Gljúfrabúi, Skógafoss, Dyrhólaey, Reynisfjara. Stay in Vík.
  • Oct 5: Fjaðrárgljúfur, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach. Stay near Hali.
  • Oct 6: Guided blue ice cave + glacier hike, still unbooked.
  • Oct 7: Fjallsárlón, Skaftafell/Svartifoss. Stay near Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
  • Oct 8: Drive back to Reykjavík, catching any missed South Coast stops.
  • Oct 9: Reykjavík sightseeing, Blue Lagoon in the afternoon. Stay near KEF.

As someone who's never been to Iceland before, I literally had no idea what this plan will look like in practice. And we would really appreciate any advice:

Are we wasting too much time if we spend almost 4 days in the south coast + 1 day to drive back? If we do the ring road, what would it really be like 4-5 hours of driving each day?

Also I heard suggestions like decide the route when arrive depending on the weather. I wonder does that apply only to people travelling in campers or in general this is doable? I worry that accommodation prices will be insane, or all booked out if we just "pay-as-you-go"


r/VisitingIceland 3h ago

Transportation Solo traveler

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Is there a highland bus that goes from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Landmannalaugar or any drivers that I can pay to take me? My rental will not make it there :/


r/VisitingIceland 4h ago

Planning a 3-week campervan trip in summer: Dates, ferry savings, and campsite recommendations?

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Hi everyone!

My family and I are planning a 3-week trip to Iceland next year during the summer school holidays. We’ll be traveling in our own campervan, taking the Smyril Line ferry from Denmark.

Since our holiday dates are flexible within the summer break, I have a few questions and would love to get your insights!

* Best timeframe: Out of early, mid, or late summer (July vs. August), which 3-week window would you recommend in terms of weather, crowds, and wildlife (e.g., puffins)?

* Ferry costs: Are there any practical tips to keep the Smyril Line ferry tickets reasonably affordable, or is high-season pricing pretty much unavoidable?

* Campervan practicality: How is the overall experience of traveling around Iceland in a campervan for 3 weeks? Are campsites easy to navigate on the fly, or do we need to pre-book everything?

* Campsite tips: What are 2–3 of your absolute favorite campgrounds in Iceland that we shouldn't miss (especially ones with great views or cool locations)?

Thanks so much for any advice!


r/VisitingIceland 1d ago

Gardur weak Northern light

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r/VisitingIceland 1d ago

Picture/s Northern Lights Over Hellissandur

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Saw these on 9/7/2026 around 2 am!!


r/VisitingIceland 1d ago

Picture/s Akureyri has a beautiful botanical garden (and a cat!)

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Visited this morning, and a precious little beauty accompanied!

I called her 'Katla" because of her orange, black, and white colours, a cat version of Iceland's volcano. Highly recommend. She was absolutely precious, walked alongside about 15 minutes before she got distracted by a bug.


r/VisitingIceland 9h ago

Recommendations for a trip in Iceland in early November?

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Hi everyone, me and my partner have booked a flight and hotel in Reykjavik for 9 nights in early November. We are aware that Iceland is quite expensive and we would like to make the most of it without taking many private tour experiences. We won't have access to a car throughout the trip so we'll be restricted close to Reykjavik unless we take some day trip tours. I guess the reason I made this post is because after spending lots of hours researching, I want to make sure that the schedule won't be heavy but memorable.

List won't be in order but our plans include:

  1. Walking around Reykjavik, seeing the rainbow street and Hallgrímskirkja church, sólfar, whales of iceland museum, the settlement exhibition, the grotta lighthouse, the Dómkirkjan cathedral. Any others I'm missing that would be free close to these places? We'll be getting a day city pass for this.

  2. Day Trip Tour to see the South Coast (Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss Waterfalls, Reynisfjara Black sand beach, Vík).

My question is should I split this into a 2 day trip instead, where we can stay in a place closeby and also have the chance to visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon properly and walk through blue ice cave? There's many different tours that are being offered with lots of good and some bad feedback, I guess I'm trying to find the one that goes through many places but gives us time to take everything in, really see everything and take our time without rushing..

  1. Another day trip to the classic golden circle 😂 it would include visiting Þingvellir National Park, Geysir / Strokkur, Gullfoss Waterfall and a Kerid Crater. Not sure if we should add the secret lagoon or a snowmobile experience with it?

4.We will book a night tour for northern lights of course in the first few days so that if we fail to see them we can rebook.

  1. Another Day Trip to Snæfellsnes Peninsula this time. This day trip would be the most expensive one as we want to choose a smaller group with a visit to an Icelandic horse farm which includes a homemade meal!

  2. We want to leave the lava show, the parlan museum and the phallological museum as options for the last few days as something light before we leave.

  3. We would like to either visit sky lagoon or blue lagoon. I have read so many posts but I would also like to ask for people (natives or visitors) which one they prefer or would be more worth it during November.

  4. Would Katla Ice cave be worth it considering all the other things I have listed as an add-on?

Should I maybe exclude one day trip tour and try exclusively make it a hike or going through a cave? What are your thoughts about our plans? Another thing we could use help with is recommendations for more affordable food places. I hope you guys are kind haha. We are pretty excited for this trip and we just want to make the most of it without spending a fortune (but we of course want to support to local shops instead of bigger chains)

Thank you for taking the time to read through all of that, we'd appreciate any help.