Reykjavík: Northern Lights Cruise

The Northern Lights cruise gives you two very different Iceland experiences in one evening: Reykjavík glowing along the shore and a dark stretch of Faxaflói Bay where the aurora may appear. The boat offers a better chance of escaping city glare than a walk through town, though no captain can order the sky to perform.

I especially like the heated indoor saloon, which gives you a real refuge when the wind picks up, and the crew’s practical help with warm clothing and camera settings. The main drawback is simple: a boat is a moving platform, so photographing faint lights can be difficult, and you may spend two and a half hours seeing nothing more than clouds.

Key points to know

• The cruise leaves from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour: Meet at the Elding Adventure at Sea boat at Ægisgarður 5.
• You get a city-and-sea view: Harpa Concert Hall and Hallgrímskirkja look striking from Faxaflói Bay at night.
• Warmth is built in: Borrow overalls, raincoats, and blankets, then use the heated saloon when you need a break.
• The Imagine Peace Tower is seasonal: The boat passes it when it is lit from October through December.
• The sighting guarantee matters: If the lights do not appear, you can return on another night free of charge.
• Photography takes patience: The moving boat and faint aurora can make sharp pictures hard to capture.

Leaving Reykjavík’s Old Harbour after dark

Your evening starts at Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, at the Elding Adventure at Sea boat on Ægisgarður 5. The harbour is close to the city center, but hotel pickup is not included unless you pay extra, so allow time to reach the meeting point yourself.

The cruise lasts about 2.5 hours. That is long enough to get well away from the brightest part of Reykjavík, but not so long that the evening takes over your whole night. Check the available departure time when booking, since the exact start time can vary.

As the boat pulls away, you get an immediate reward even before the Northern Lights appear. Reykjavík’s shoreline begins to glow against the dark water, and the city’s best-known buildings become part of the evening show.

This first section is useful for getting your bearings. You can see the city from a fresh angle rather than simply looking toward the harbour from land. It also gives the guide time to explain what to watch for, how the forecast is being assessed, and why the aurora can change from a faint smear to a bright ribbon in minutes.

Faxaflói Bay gives the sky room to work

The cruise heads into Faxaflói Bay, where the boat can search for darker conditions than you usually find in central Reykjavík. That does not guarantee a sighting, but reducing nearby light is one of the sensible reasons to go by sea.

The captain and guide check the weather and Northern Lights forecast before departure. They use that information to improve the odds, but the aurora remains a natural event. Clouds, wind, low solar activity, and simple bad timing can still defeat a well-planned evening.

Your guide calls everyone outside when the lights begin. That matters because the first signs can be easy to miss. A weak aurora may look gray or white to the naked eye, especially near city light, while a camera can record green tones more clearly. One especially useful pattern from past departures is patience: faint lines can appear first, then strengthen later.

The crew’s role is more than pointing at the sky. They help explain what you are seeing and can assist with camera settings. That practical help is valuable if you have never photographed the aurora before, though you should not expect a moving boat to behave like a tripod on solid ground.

Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja from the water

The city views are not filler while you wait. From the bay, Harpa Concert Hall and Hallgrímskirkja church are lit against the night, giving you a clear sense of Reykjavík’s shape and character.

Harpa’s glass facade reflects the city lights, while Hallgrímskirkja’s tall form is easy to pick out above the lower buildings. Seeing both from offshore gives you a simple visual contrast: Iceland’s modern concert hall on one side, and its most recognizable church rising above the center.

I like this part of the cruise because it makes the outing worthwhile even on a cloudy night. You are not only sitting in darkness, hoping for green light. You also get a calm nighttime view of Reykjavík that is hard to reproduce from the streets.

The tradeoff is that the city remains visible for part of the route, so this is not a pure wilderness aurora expedition. If your only goal is the darkest possible sky, a remote land-based excursion may suit you better. If you want an easy evening from Reykjavík with scenery built in, the city view is a strong part of the value.

The Imagine Peace Tower from October through December

From October to December, the boat sails by the Imagine Peace Tower when its beam is lit. The tower is on Viðey Island, and its light reaches upward from the island into the night sky.

This is a short but memorable addition to the route. It connects the cruise to Reykjavík’s nearby islands and gives you something specific to look for during the early part of the outing. It also adds a human-made light to an evening built around natural light.

The tower is seasonal, so do not count on seeing it outside those months. Its inclusion also depends on the cruise route and lighting period described for the experience. If you are visiting during the October to December window, it is a worthwhile extra, but the Northern Lights remain the main reason to book.

Warm overalls make the waiting easier

Icelandic winter conditions can turn a pleasant viewing stop into a cold endurance test. This cruise handles that better than many basic boat outings by providing warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets on board.

You can borrow the overalls before stepping onto the open viewing platforms. That lets you spend more time outside without relying only on the clothes you wore for walking around Reykjavík. Still, dress in warm layers. The supplied gear helps, but it does not remove wind or damp air from the equation.

The heated indoor saloon is just as important. It has ample seating, and you can go inside to warm up before returning outside when the guide calls out a sighting. Toilets are available, which makes the long wait more comfortable.

An onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks. These refreshments are not included in the price, so bring money or a payment method suitable for onboard purchases. The café is a practical comfort rather than a full meal option, and you should not book the cruise expecting dinner.

The combination of indoor seating, toilets, warm clothing, and a café makes this a better fit for families and for anyone who does not want to stand outdoors for hours. It also gives you a sensible way to manage the cold: watch from outside, warm up inside, then go back out when conditions improve.

What happens when the lights do not appear

This is the most important point to understand before paying for any Northern Lights activity. The aurora is not guaranteed, and the boat cannot manufacture clear skies or solar activity.

If the lights do not appear, the operator offers a free return trip on another night. This is a useful safety net if you have several nights in Reykjavík. It gives you another chance without buying a second cruise.

The guarantee is less useful if you are leaving Iceland the next morning. In that case, you may not have time to use the return option. Book early in your stay if the Northern Lights are a major priority, since a failed first attempt can then be followed by another outing.

Bad weather may also lead to a cancellation or rescheduling. That can be frustrating when you have arranged your evening, but sailing into poor conditions would not improve your odds or your comfort. A sensible cancellation decision is better than a rough, cold trip under a solid cloud cover.

The experience has a 4.1 rating from 104 reviews, which fits the nature of the activity. Sightings can be breathtaking, but a night without the aurora will naturally feel less successful, even when the crew handles it well.

Why photography is harder from a moving boat

If you mainly want perfect Northern Lights photographs, think carefully before booking. It is possible to take pictures from the boat, but the moving deck can make long exposures blurry.

The guide may help you adjust your camera settings, as the crew has done for past passengers. That is useful, especially if you are unfamiliar with night photography. Still, the boat’s motion, wind, darkness, and faint aurora can work against sharp images.

Your eyes may also see less color than your camera. Early aurora activity can appear as pale or gray lines, then grow stronger. Do not dismiss the first faint glow. One of the pleasures of this outing is watching the sky change, not simply waiting for a scene that looks like a professionally edited photograph.

For the best chance of enjoying the experience, treat photography as a bonus. Keep your camera ready, but spend time looking up without a screen. If you need a perfectly stable platform for a camera, choose a land-based tour instead.

How the $111 price holds up

At $111 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the aurora. The price makes more sense when you count what comes with the boat: a 2.5-hour cruise, an English-speaking naturalist guide, warm overalls, raincoats, blankets, indoor seating, toilets, city views, and a free return trip if the lights fail to appear.

You are also paying for a different setting. A boat gets you away from some of Reykjavík’s immediate light and gives you open water in every direction. That change of viewpoint is the central value.

The price is harder to justify if you are focused only on the Northern Lights and have a tight budget. A land-based outing may offer more time under darker skies, while a simple walk around Reykjavík costs nothing. The cruise earns its price through comfort, scenery, and the chance to combine a city view with an aurora search.

Hotel pickup costs extra. That is not a major issue if you are staying near central Reykjavík and can reach the Old Harbour easily, but it matters if you are staying farther out or traveling with young children.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a comfortable first attempt at seeing the Northern Lights without committing to a long road trip. The heated saloon and loaned clothing make the waiting more manageable, and the city views give the evening another purpose.

It also suits you if you are staying in Reykjavík for several nights. The free return option has real value when your schedule allows a second attempt.

Families may appreciate the toilets, indoor seating, and café. Couples and first-time visitors will likely enjoy the mix of illuminated Reykjavík and open bay. The friendly crew and clear safety focus are useful for anyone who feels unsure about a nighttime boat trip.

I would hesitate if you have only one night in Iceland and need a guaranteed highlight. The Northern Lights cannot be guaranteed, and the free return policy cannot help if you are already leaving. I would also choose a different tour if serious photography is your main goal.

Practical details before you book

Meet at the Elding Adventure at Sea boat in Reykjavík Old Harbour, Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík. Hotel pickup is available for an extra charge, but it is not part of the standard booking.

The tour is conducted in English. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and reserve now while paying later if that option is offered for your date.

Bring warm layers even though overalls, raincoats, and blankets are supplied. Use the outdoor decks when the sky is clear, then return to the heated saloon whenever you need to warm up.

Keep your schedule flexible enough for a possible second night. The sighting guarantee is one of the cruise’s most useful features, but only if you have time to use it.

Should you book the Reykjavík Northern Lights Cruise?

Book it if you want a well-supported aurora search from the city, with a warm place to sit, helpful crew, Reykjavík views, and a free second chance if nature refuses to cooperate.

Skip it if you need guaranteed lights, flawless photographs, or the darkest possible setting. At $111, the cruise is best understood as a comfortable evening experience built around the possibility of the aurora, not as a promise that the sky will put on a show.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights cruise leave from?

The cruise leaves from the Elding Adventure at Sea boat in Reykjavík Old Harbour at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately 2.5 hours.

Are warm clothes provided?

Yes. Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are available on board. You can also use the heated indoor saloon, which has seating and toilets.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You are offered a free return trip on another night if the Northern Lights do not appear.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup is available for an additional charge, but it is not included in the standard experience.

Can I buy food and drinks on the boat?

Yes. The onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks, but refreshments are not included in the tour price.