Northern Light View Point

Preparation plays a big role in catching the aurora at this celebrated viewpoint just beyond Reykjavik’s city bustle. While no tickets are required, some nights see plenty of visitors, especially after a promising solar forecast. Dress warmly—temperatures dip quickly, and waiting for the lights can take time. For the best odds, choose dates around the heart of winter, and set out when the sky looks clearest.

• Best time to visit: September to April, especially between 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. on clear, moonless nights.
• How to get there: A short 15-20 minute drive from central Reykjavik; taxis, rental cars, or Northern Lights shuttle tours all run regularly at night. Local buses serve nearby, but may be less frequent in winter.
• Accessibility: Well-maintained paths with moderate slopes; accessible for families and most seniors, though icy patches can be slippery. Strollers and wheelchairs may need caution during icy months.
• Average visit duration: 1-2 hours, depending on aurora activity and weather.

While the northern lights take center stage, the surrounding site offers more than a night’s wait beneath the sky. Several gently-lit trails weave through windswept grass, past boulders dusted with frost. The hill’s summit, marked by a stone sculpture, delivers wide-open views over Mount Esja and Faxaflói Bay—a natural theater for Iceland’s greatest light show. With the city’s subtle skyline glowing in the distance, cameras find plenty to focus on, even before the aurora swirls in.

• Key sights: The summit lookout with its stone marker; sweeping vistas over Reykjavik and the bay.
• Unique experiences: Watching the aurora shimmer in silence; spotting shooting stars on especially dark nights; taking winter night walks along the trail.
• Photo-worthy locations: The main viewing platform at the summit; the lower hillside for wide-angle shots with city lights behind.
• Cultural or historical facts: Icelandic folklore often links the aurora to ancient spirits; local storytellers sometimes gather small groups in the area for late-night tales when conditions are right.