Reykjavik in November: Lights, Events and Things to Do

What November actually feels like

Expect daylight roughly between 09:30 and 17:00 at the start of the month, shrinking to about 10:45–16:45 by the end, so plan outdoor sights for the middle of the day. Temperatures hover near freezing, and the wind off Faxaflói bay makes it feel sharper than the number suggests. Pavements in the old centre — Austurstræti, Laugavegur, Skólavörðustígur — get icy, so bring shoes with grip rather than smooth soles. Daylight is short, but the long evenings are exactly why aurora tours run from September through April.

This is also one of the cheapest months to sleep in the city. Outside the Airwaves festival window, room rates sit noticeably below June–August levels, and you are not competing with the summer cruise crowds. The trade-off: a few countryside attractions and some whale-watching departures wind down for winter, and self-drive trips to the Westfjords or the highlands become a bad idea without a guide. Base yourself in Reykjavik and take day tours rather than relocating every night.

Northern lights: how to raise your odds

Reykjavik's own light pollution is the problem, so you need to leave the city. The closest practical spots are around Heiðmörk forest and the Kleifarvatn area on Reykjanes, both roughly 30–45 minutes by coach. Dedicated minibus tours usually run 20:00–01:00 and cost more than a standard coach because groups are smaller; they also monitor cloud cover and reroute if the forecast turns. Book a tour for your first or second night, not your last, so you have spare evenings to try again if it clouds over.

Check the Icelandic Met Office aurora forecast and the cloud map before you commit — a strong KP number is useless under overcast. You need dark, clear sky and patience; sightings are never guaranteed, and any operator promising them is overselling. Dress as if you will stand still outside for three hours, because you will. If you would rather not gamble on a late return, a hotel on the eastern side of the centre near Hlemmur square puts you closer to the main pickup points and gets you back to bed faster.

Events and the local calendar

Iceland Airwaves, the city's long-running music festival, usually lands in early November and takes over venues around Laugavegur and Hverfisgata; if you want it, book accommodation months ahead, and if you do not, avoid those dates entirely because town is full and loud. Later in the month the Christmas lights go on and the small Christmas markets open around Ingólfstræti and in Hafnarfjörður, which is a short drive south. The Reykjavik Art Museum and the National Museum are solid rainy-day options, and both sit within walking distance of the main hotel cluster.

Swimming is the local evening habit and it works in November: the geothermal pools at Laugardalslaug and Vesturbæjarlaug stay open, with outdoor hot pots you can sit in while it snows. Entry is inexpensive by Icelandic standards, and you need to shower before entering, which is normal here. For a splurge, the Sky Lagoon and Blue Lagoon are both driveable, but they are tourist-facing and priced accordingly; I would pick one, not both, and go on a weekday evening when it is quieter.

Where to stay and how to get around

The compact centre splits into three useful zones. Miðborg, around Austurvöllur square and the Parliament building, is closest to bars, restaurants and the main bus stops — best if you want to walk everywhere. Skólavörðustígur and the streets below Hallgrímskirkja are quieter and slightly cheaper, still ten minutes on foot from the action. The area around Hlemmur and Laugardalur suits anyone relying on tour pickups and the Laugardalslaug pool, and parking is easier there if you hire a car.

Skip staying out near Keflavík airport unless you have a very early flight; it is about 45 minutes from the city and you will spend your evenings on a bus. Airport transfers run on the Flybus and Airport Direct coaches, and the journey is roughly 45–50 minutes. Within Reykjavik, Strætó buses cover the city, but the centre is genuinely walkable, and taxis are expensive. I would book a mid-range hotel in Miðborg or near Hlemmur for three nights, then add a guided Golden Circle day trip rather than moving hotels.