DIY Aurora Guide: See Iceland's 2025/26 Peak Northern Lights

We just wrapped up an amazing early August trip in Iceland and were settling into Helsinki when our social media feeds began glowing with aurora photos, taken from the spots we had just left behind.

And we thought you cannot see auroras during Iceland’s Summer!

This sent us down a research rabbit hole. We discovered that the Sun is currently entering a "solar maximum," a peak in its 11-year cycle. This means 2025 and 2026 are primed to be the most spectacular years for Northern Lights activity in over a decade!

What we researched was so compelling that we are considering a trip to Northern Europe in 2026 to witness this peak firsthand. But we also realized that most guides were overly technical. That’s why we created this simple, no-nonsense DIY guide we wish we had, designed to help you stack the odds and see the incredible 2025/26 aurora peak for yourself.

Why 2025/26 Is Your Golden Ticket to the Northern Lights

Success in seeing the Northern Lights is not guarantee. Our goal is to strategically stack the odds in our favour, and the biggest odd is already tipped on our side. The Sun operates on an 11-year cycle, and it is currently near solar maximum. This means more solar storms are creating the potential for the most frequent and intense auroras we have seen in over a decade.

A successful sighting is about being in the right place at the right time. A perfectly timed solar flare can be blocked by a blanket of clouds. That is where our guide comes in. We will show you exactly how to use the right forecasting tools to find clear skies and be in the perfect spot, dramatically increasing your chances of witnessing an incredible 2025/26 aurora peak.

Why Iceland is a DIY Aurora Hunter's Dream

While countries like Norway and Finland also offer stunning aurora viewing opportunities, Iceland holds a special advantage for the DIY traveller. Its secret is that the entire island lies under the auroral oval. You can potentially see the aurora from almost anywhere, even just outside of Reykjavík.

DIY gives you a massive advantage over joining a tour. Tour have fixed schedule and limited range, but with your own car, you have the ultimate flexibility. You can use real-time forecasts to escape a patch of clouds or drive towards a promising burst of solar activity, dramatically increasing your chances. The famous Ring Road makes this incredibly easy, letting you hunt for clear skies against a backdrop of glaciers, volcanoes, and waterfalls.

The core strategy and simple tools in this guide, however, are universal. The forecasting methods we will cover work just as well for Finnish Lapland or the Norwegian coast. So, while we focus on Iceland as the perfect DIY arena, this playbook will help you stack the odds in your favour wherever your aurora adventure takes you.

DIY Aurora Hunting Toolkit: Forecasts Made Simple

Many aurora guides will overwhelm you with a dozen websites, complex solar wind data, and confusing scientific jargon. After sorting through all of them, we have learned that you don't need all of that. To successfully hunt the aurora on your own, you only need to check three key factors: cloud cover, solar activity, and real-time sightings. We have distilled everything down to these three simple, free, and incredibly effective tools that give you all the information you need, and nothing you don't.

Step 1: Find Clear Skies

This is the most important step, and it is where most people go wrong. An "epic" aurora storm is worthless if it's hidden behind a blanket of clouds. We want find a patch of clear sky without low and middle clouds, high clouds are mostly fine. Click on Clouds in Perlan Aurora Forecast and avoid areas under middle clouds (purple) and low clouds (blue). The official Icelandic weather website also has the same cloud forecast for aurora.

Using the cloud forecast, you can plan locations to drive to for clear skies. If there are lots of low and middle clouds, there is no point staying up for auroras even when solar activity is high.

Step 2: Check the Solar Activity Forecast

Your next stop should be the Perlan Aurora Forecast. There are many indicators in this dashboard. We want to focus on “Solar Wind” and “Real Time Space Weather Data”. We want high Solar Wind speed (in km/s) and low Interplanetary Magnetic Field (Bz level).

A higher Solar Wind speed expands the aurora oval, and higher density leads to more colours. A negative Bz level (south), indicates stronger interaction with Earth’s magnetic field for a more beautiful aurora dance in the sky. A Bz value of -1 or lower is your green light to stay up! Note that it can take 15-60mins to see auroras when Bz turn south, so be patient.

Step 3: Use the Community's Eyes

To get a massive real-time advantage in Iceland, download the Hello Aurora app. While it also has forecasts, its killer feature is a live map where users post photos and report sightings as they happen. If you see recent activity popping up an hour's drive away, you know exactly where to go. Hello Aurora turns a guessing game into a crowd-sourced targeted mission. My Aurora Forecast is a completely free app that puts all these information at your fingertips, albeit without the community feature.

For trips to Norway or Finland, the YR.no weather map is an excellent all-in-one tool. Its map allows you to click any spot on the world map, “see weather forecast” and check the specific aurora forecast under the "Other conditions" tab. Tromsø Geophysical Observatory also has 1hr and 4hr forecasts for different locations in Norway.

Essential Tips for a Successful Aurora Night

You have a great forecast and a clear sky. Now it is time to execute the hunt. Here are a few essential tips to make sure your night is a success.

1. Escape the City Glow

Light pollution is the enemy of the aurora. While you can sometimes see the lights from Reykjavík, your experience will be a thousand times better if you drive just 20-30 minutes out of the city. You do not need a special "dark sky park." A simple rule of thumb is - if you can clearly see a lot of stars, you are in a good spot.

2. Be Patient and Look North

The aurora is most commonly active between 10 PM and 2 AM. This means you will need to stay up late! When trying to catch an aurora, do not just pop outside for five minutes and give up. Give your eyes at least 15 minutes to fully adjust to the darkness. And remember to face north, as this is the direction the aurora usually appears from first.

3. Dress Warmer Than You Think

Standing still in the Icelandic night is much colder than walking around during the day. Layering is key. Think thermal inner wear, a fleece or wool mid-layer, and a windproof outer jacket and pants. Insulated boots, warm socks, a hat, and gloves are non-negotiable. You can always take a layer off, but you cannot add one you did not bring. Bring along a heatpack and hot beverage too!

4. Trust Your Camera More Than Your Eyes

Sometimes, the aurora can start as a faint, greyish-white arc that is hard to distinguish from a cloud. Your phone's camera is much more sensitive to this faint light. If you think you see something, take a photo using night mode. You might be surprised to see a vibrant green glow on your screen, which will then become more visible to your eyes as it intensifies.

5. Use a Tripod for Your Camera/Phone

To get a clear photo or video of the Northern Lights, your camera/phone needs to stay perfectly still. Hand-holding will always result in a blurry shot. A reliable tripod is the single most important piece of camera gear you can bring. For phone users, we like DJI Osmo Mobile 7P Gimbal that is lightweight, has a built-in tripod, and stablizes our iPhone for photo and video taking. Familiarize yourself with your camera’s settings before hunting auroras to increase your chances of getting that perfect aurora shot.

Choosing Your Iceland Basecamp: Best Regions & Hotels for Auroras

With the 2025/26 solar peak on the horizon, the secret is out. Iceland will be THE most popular places on the planet for this celestial show. This means booking your accommodation and rental car well in advance is not just a good idea, it is essential. Waiting until the last minute will likely mean higher prices and fewer choices.

Pro-Tip: Book a Multi-Night Stay

While it is tempting to move to a new hotel every night on a road trip, we highly recommend booking at least 2-3 nights at each basecamp. This gives you a crucial advantage. If one night is cloudy, you have another chance or two without the stress of packing up and moving. It provides the flexibility you need for a successful hunt.

Best Regions and Hotels for Your Basecamp

The key is to choose strategic locations with low light pollution. Many hotels in Iceland recognize this and offer a fantastic perk - an aurora wake-up call service! Here are some top-rated options organized by region with links to check latest prices.

South Iceland (For iconic sights and accessibility)

• Hótel Rangá: This is Iceland's premier luxury aurora hotel. It's situated in a very dark area, has its own observatory, and offers a reliable wake-up service. It is a premium choice for a truly unforgettable experience.

• Umi Hotel: A sleek, modern design hotel in a beautifully isolated location with minimal light pollution, perfect for watching the sky from your room.

• Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon: Perfectly positioned for exploring the glacier lagoons and diamond beach, its remote setting makes it an excellent base for dark skies in the southeast.

• Landhótel: Another fantastic choice, Landhótel is modern, comfortable, and also provides that all-important aurora wake-up call.

East Iceland (For the full Ring Road journey)

• Hotel Höfn: A comfortable and strategic base in the town of Höfn, allowing for easy drives out to the dark, scenic coastlines of the East.

• Hérað - Berjaya Iceland: Located in Egilsstaðir, this is a great, comfortable hub for exploring the remote fjords and dark skies of the East.

North Iceland (For geothermal landscapes and dark skies)

• Fosshotel Mývatn: A beautifully designed hotel focused on sustainability, with large windows perfect for watching the sky. Its location in the Mývatn area is ideal for aurora hunting.

• Hótel Laxá: Also in the Mývatn area, this hotel is praised for its peaceful, remote setting away from any light pollution.

West Iceland (For unique landscapes and fewer crowds)

• Hótel Húsafell: A luxurious hotel in a remote valley with its own geothermal baths, offering a perfect blend of comfort and access to pristine dark skies.

• Hótel Hamar: A great strategic stop near Borgarnes with outdoor hot tubs, ideal for exploring the Snæfellsnes Peninsula by day and hunting for auroras at night.

The Golden Circle (For a short trip from Reykjavík)

• The Hill Hotel at Flúðir: Perfectly located for exploring the Golden Circle's famous sights, this hotel provides a quiet escape from the tour bus crowds and light pollution.

Planning your DIY aurora hunt is an incredible adventure, giving you the ultimate freedom to chase the lights on your own terms. However, we know that navigating unfamiliar winter roads and constantly checking forecasts isn't for everyone. If you would rather relax and let a guide lead you to the best viewing spots, a guided tour is a fantastic option. Here are some well-reviewed aurora tours in Iceland for you to explore:

• Reykjavik: 4x4 Minibus Northern Lights Tour

• Northern Lights Bus Tour from Reykjavik

As for us, the 2026 peak is calling again. After creating this playbook for an Iceland aurora trip, we are leaning towards a different approach - chasing the Northern Lights from the sea on a Norwegian coastal cruise. We might share everything we learn from about this in a future post, so subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when it drops.

The 2025/26 aurora peak is a once-in-a-decade opportunity, which means you will be travelling during a very popular time where prices are much higher. To help you make this bucket-list trip a reality without breaking the bank, check out our post on our best money saving tips and tricks for Iceland.

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