Hotels with Northern Lights views in Iceland
Aurora above a countryside hotel roof
Nine hotels far enough from light pollution to actually see aurora from your bed, with wake-up call services when the KP index tops 4.
The reliable ones
Hotel Ranga ($340) invented the aurora wake-up call and still does it best — staff phone your room when activity starts, and there are three observatory telescopes in the garden. Ion Adventure Hotel ($380) has a glass-walled Northern Lights bar built for the purpose. Hotel Husafell ($420) in the west benefits from truly dark skies and a horizon uninterrupted by anything human-made.
Cheaper aurora bases
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon ($310) faces north over open country. Sel-Hotel Myvatn ($260) sits by a lake with black-basalt foreground for photos. Aurora Cabins in Egilsstadir ($240) have full-glass ceilings if you want lights from the pillow. Skip Reykjavik hotels marketing aurora views — the city's light dome kills anything below KP 5, and the harbour hotels are the worst offenders.
Before you book
What people ask before booking Reykjavik.
Late August through mid-April. September, October and March are statistically the most active months.
Yes at Ranga and Ion. Elsewhere, download the Aurora Forecast app and set an alert for KP 4 or higher.
