Northern Lights Cruise from Downtown Reykjavik

Reykjavik’s Northern Lights Cruise gives you a different way to chase the aurora: from the water, with the city glowing behind you and open sky ahead. You sail past Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrímskirkja, and, from October through December, the Imagine Peace Tower before turning toward the darker northern sky.

I like the heated cabin and outdoor decks, since you can step outside for a clear view, then retreat indoors with hot chocolate. I also like the free return policy if the lights fail to appear. The main catch is simple: a boat cannot outrun cloud, and the harbor remains close enough to Reykjavik’s light pollution that a bus tour may find darker skies.

Key points at a glance

• The cruise lasts about two hours, making it a shorter evening option than many land-based aurora trips.
• Warm floatable overalls are available, but you still need a hat, gloves, and warm layers.
• The boat combines open-air viewing with a heated saloon, café, Wi-Fi, toilets, and several decks.
• The free sighting guarantee matters: if you see no northern lights, you can try again at no extra cost, with tickets valid for two years.
• The city views are part of the experience, especially Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, Faxaflói Bay, and the Imagine Peace Tower.
• Conditions decide the night. Cloud, wind, weak aurora activity, and boat movement can all affect what you see.

Leaving Ægisgarður for Faxaflói Bay

You meet at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, in Reykjavik’s harbor. The tour returns to this same point after roughly two hours. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your route to and from the harbor before you leave your accommodation.

Once aboard, you can choose between the indoor saloon and the outside viewing areas. The boat is large enough to offer several places to watch from, though the most popular decks can feel crowded on a busy departure. A maximum of 150 people may be aboard, which is worth keeping in mind if you prefer a quiet, private outing.

The first part of the cruise gives you a pleasant city view even if the aurora does not cooperate. Reykjavik’s waterfront lights shimmer across the bay, while the boat provides a new angle on the city’s best-known buildings.

Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, and the Peace Tower

The illuminated skyline is not just something to fill time while you wait for the sky to change. Harpa Concert Hall is particularly striking from the water, with its glass facade catching the city light. Hallgrímskirkja appears farther inland as a strong landmark on the Reykjavik skyline.

From October through December, the route passes the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit. The beam is an unexpected highlight for many people because it is easier to appreciate from the harbor than from central Reykjavik. It gives you something definite to see early in the trip, before the crew turns attention toward the aurora.

Your guide also explains the sights and the natural conditions needed for northern lights. One guide named Mia received special praise for making the evening memorable, and several guides have helped people understand where to look and how to set up their cameras.

Searching for the aurora from the upper decks

After the city portion, the boat heads into Faxaflói Bay and the crew watches the northern sky. You can move between viewing areas, which is useful because the best direction may change during the evening.

The top deck gives you the widest view, but it is also where the cold and wind are strongest. Even when the boat feels steady, the upper level can rock more than the indoor areas. Bring warm clothing, and use the provided overalls as an extra shell rather than your only protection.

The overalls are waterproof, windproof, and floatable. They have proved especially useful in January and during colder October evenings, when people have stayed outside for long periods. Still, your hands, head, and face remain exposed, so bring gloves and a hat. The café sells hot drinks and snacks, and hot chocolate has been a popular choice.

Some people have seen the aurora within minutes of leaving the harbor. Others have waited an hour or more before a display appeared. One good night produced lights for nearly the full two-hour sailing, while another offered only faint flashes for a few minutes. That range is the nature of the aurora, not a flaw that a tour operator can control.

What the boat does well, and where it falls short

The boat offers a useful mix of comfort and access. You get outdoor viewing platforms, a warm indoor saloon, toilets, Wi-Fi, and a café. You can take photos outside, warm up inside, then return to the deck when the guide spots activity.

The vessel has also been described as stable and comfortable, though conditions vary. A few people have felt motion sickness when the boat moved quickly or the sea became choppy. If you are prone to seasickness, take your usual medication before sailing, as one passenger specifically advised. The crew may also have sea sickness tablets available.

Crowding can affect the experience. On busy evenings, the top deck may have blocked sightlines, and indoor tables may be shared with people you do not know. Safety announcements and guide commentary can be difficult to hear when music or conversation continues. English is the operating language, so you should be comfortable following instructions in English.

Photography brings another practical issue. The boat’s motion can blur long exposures, especially on the outside decks. The crew can help with camera settings and point out where the aurora is visible. Turn off your flash, use a stable position, and expect phone photos to show more color than your eyes sometimes do. A faint green arc may look subtle in person but stronger on a camera screen.

The two-hour timing and the value of $105

At $105 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the northern lights. You are paying for a two-hour boat ride, crew guidance, warm overalls, city views, onboard facilities, and the chance to try again free if there is no sighting.

The shorter duration is a real advantage. Some land tours run for five hours or more and drive around based on weather and the aurora forecast. This cruise lets you keep your evening compact, which works well if you have dinner plans or only one free night in Reykjavik.

The tradeoff is reach. A bus can travel inland or away from city light, choosing a new area when clouds settle over one region. This boat follows a set route into the bay and cannot move as far from Reykjavik’s glow. If your main goal is the strongest possible odds, a land tour may be the better use of your money.

The free return ticket changes the value calculation. If you have several nights in Reykjavik, you can treat the first sailing as both an outing and a forecast check. If you are leaving the next morning, the guarantee is less useful because it does not provide a refund for a missed sighting. The replacement tickets are valid for two years, which helps repeat visitors but does not solve the problem for everyone.

The free retry and weather policy

The northern lights are not guaranteed, even on a clear night. A clear sky only means you can see the stars and aurora if solar activity is strong enough. Cloud can hide an active display completely.

If no northern lights appear, you receive complimentary tickets to try again. The return option has been easy to arrange when weather forced a date change, and the operator has also handled booking changes and cancellations smoothly in individual cases.

If conditions are unsafe or poor, the cruise can be canceled at short notice. You should receive notice by phone or email, then be offered another date or a full refund. For your own cancellation, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Check the aurora forecast and cloud forecast before you go, but do not treat either as a promise. A strong forecast can still produce nothing from the boat, while a modest forecast can surprise you.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this cruise if I were staying in central Reykjavik and wanted a simple evening outing without committing half a day to a bus. It suits you if you like being on the water, want city views as part of the night, and value a heated cabin when the cold becomes too much.

It also works well for families and mixed groups. One person can stand outside with a camera while another stays warm inside. Toilets and café service make the experience easier than waiting outdoors beside a road.

You should think twice if you dislike boats, suffer badly from motion sickness, or want the darkest possible sky. The harbor is convenient, but convenience brings light pollution. The cruise also requires patience. You may spend most of the two hours watching empty sky, clouds, or faint light that never develops into a dramatic display.

Passengers with limited mobility are welcome, but the boats are not fully accessible. Steep stairs and high thresholds may make the indoor areas and toilets difficult to reach. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation.

Small details that improve the night

Arrive ready to board in warm layers, not in ordinary city clothes. The provided overalls help, but they do not replace gloves, a hat, and sturdy warm footwear.

Try more than one viewing area. The bow may offer a clearer view when the upper deck becomes crowded, while the indoor saloon is the best place to warm up or buy a drink. If the sea gets choppy, a lower indoor position may feel steadier.

Listen carefully when the guide points out a faint display. The lights may begin as a pale band or a soft green haze rather than the bright curtains shown in photographs. Give your eyes time to adjust, and do not judge the entire night by the first few minutes.

Keep your camera ready, but do not watch only through a screen. The best moments can be brief, and the boat may turn or move before you find the perfect setting. The crew can help, so ask early rather than waiting until the aurora is already overhead.

Should you book the Northern Lights Cruise?

Book it if you want a short, comfortable search from Reykjavik, with city views, warm indoor space, and a free second chance. The crew is helpful, the boat has practical facilities, and a strong display can make the two hours unforgettable.

Skip it if you have only one night and need the best possible odds, or if you strongly dislike cold and moving water. In that case, a land-based tour may give you more freedom to chase clear skies.

For most people, this is a fair choice when you see it as more than a guaranteed aurora show. You get a harbor cruise, Reykjavik after dark, the Peace Tower in season, and a sensible retry policy. Just bring warm clothes, check the forecast, and accept that nature gets the final say.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights Cruise last?

The cruise lasts approximately two hours and returns to the Elding Whale Watching meeting point at Ægisgarður 5c in Reykjavik.

Where does the cruise depart?

It departs from Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What happens if I do not see the northern lights?

You are offered complimentary tickets to try again on another night at no extra cost. The tickets are valid for two years.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm floatable overalls are available to borrow. You should still bring a hat and gloves, since the outdoor decks can be very cold and windy.

Does the boat have indoor facilities?

Yes. The boat has a heated indoor saloon, Wi-Fi, toilets, and an onboard café selling hot drinks and snacks.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Can the cruise be canceled because of bad weather?

Yes. If conditions are unfavorable, the cruise may be canceled at short notice. You will be notified by phone or email and offered a different date or a full refund.