Reykjavík: Northern Lights Cruise

The Northern Lights cruise gives you two shows in one evening: Reykjavík’s lit-up waterfront first, then the dark skies of Faxaflói Bay. I like the way the boat gets you away from some city glare while still giving you fine views of Harpa Concert Hall and Hallgrímskirkja. I also like the practical comforts, especially the heated saloon, warm overalls, blankets, and toilets.

The main drawback is simple: the aurora follows its own schedule. A faint display may be hard to see with your eyes, and photographing it from a moving boat is difficult. If the lights do not appear, you receive a free chance to try again on another night, but you still need patience and flexible plans.

Key points to know before you book

• The cruise lasts 2.5 hours, giving you time to leave the city lights and search across Faxaflói Bay.
• Reykjavík’s shoreline is part of the tour, with views of Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja from the water.
• Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are supplied, with indoor seating when the cold bites.
• The crew checks weather and forecasts, then adjusts the search to improve your odds.
• The Imagine Peace Tower appears on the route from October through December, when its beam is lit.
• A sighting guarantee protects your booking, since you can return free of charge if the lights fail to show.

Setting out from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour

The meeting point is the Elding Whale Watching boat at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. This is a useful starting point because you are already close to the city center, restaurants, and the harbor’s evening lights. Hotel pickup is not included, though it can be added for an extra charge.

The cruise lasts about two and a half hours. That is long enough to get beyond the brightest part of the waterfront, but not so long that you lose an entire evening. I would plan this for one of your first nights in Reykjavík if your schedule allows. You then have time to use the free return option later in the trip if the weather turns poor or the aurora stays quiet.

Before departure, collect the provided outerwear. The warm overalls are especially useful because the cold feels sharper on open water than it does on a city street. Raincoats and blankets are also available, and you can move between the outdoor viewing platforms and the heated indoor saloon.

Reykjavík from the water: Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja

The first part of the cruise is not only a waiting period for the aurora. As the boat moves out from the harbor, Reykjavík becomes a bright line of landmarks and shoreline lights. Harpa Concert Hall is easy to pick out by its striking glass exterior, while Hallgrímskirkja rises above the city as a strong vertical marker.

From the boat, you get a different view than you would from the streets. The city appears compact, and its lights reflect across the water when conditions are calm. This section gives you something worthwhile even on a night when the aurora refuses to cooperate.

From October through December, the boat also passes the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit. Its beam rises into the night sky from Viðey Island, creating a quiet, unusual sight before the cruise heads farther into the bay. The tower is a seasonal detail, so do not expect it on every departure.

I like this city portion because it helps the cruise feel like more than a single-purpose aurora gamble. You are not simply sitting in darkness hoping for green lights. You get Reykjavík at night, the harbor, the major buildings, and possibly the tower before the focus shifts to the sky.

Out into Faxaflói Bay

Once the boat reaches darker water, the search begins in earnest. The guide keeps watch and explains what is happening, including when the crew expects conditions to improve. The captain and guide check the forecast and weather before the trip, which helps them choose the best available route.

That planning matters, but it cannot control the result. The Northern Lights need suitable darkness, clear enough skies, and enough solar activity. Even when the forecast looks promising, the aurora may be faint, appear only briefly, or remain hidden.

Your best approach is to treat the cruise as a search rather than a guaranteed performance. The guide calls out when the lights begin, which saves you from constantly scanning every part of the sky. On stronger nights, the aurora can build from faint pale lines into the curtains and arcs people hope to see. On weaker nights, you may notice only a subtle glow.

One advantage of the boat is that it can move away from Reykjavík’s strongest light. That does not make the sky perfectly dark, and the city remains part of the view, but it can improve the contrast. The water also gives you a broad, open view with fewer buildings in the way.

Warmth, seating, and the onboard café

The boat’s indoor saloon is an important part of the setup. You can sit inside to warm up, then return to the outer deck when the guide spots activity. There are ample seats, toilets, and a café selling hot drinks and snacks.

You should still dress for Icelandic winter weather. The supplied overalls and blankets help, but they are not a replacement for warm layers, gloves, and a hat. The best viewing often happens outside, and standing on deck for a long stretch can become uncomfortable even with the extra clothing.

The indoor area also makes this a more practical choice for people who do not want to spend the whole evening exposed to wind. You can alternate between comfort and sky watching instead of committing to one or the other. On a cold night, that flexibility can make the difference between enjoying the outing and simply enduring it.

Refreshments are not included in the ticket price. The onboard café provides an easy option, but you should budget separately for drinks and snacks. The café also gives you somewhere to pause during a quiet stretch, when there is nothing to see overhead.

What the guides and crew add

The English-speaking naturalist guide does more than point toward the sky. The guide explains the search, gives information about the lights, and alerts you when something appears. That is useful because a faint aurora can be easy to miss, especially when you are looking in the wrong direction.

The crew’s practical help also matters. On one reported outing, a crew member helped with camera settings. That kind of assistance can be valuable if you are trying to take a quick photograph, though the tour is not designed primarily for photography.

The crew is also responsible for safety and weather decisions. Departures can be canceled or shifted when conditions are poor, and the free return option gives the operator a sensible way to deal with a disappointing forecast. You may not get the exact evening you planned, but postponing a bad-weather trip is better than sailing into low cloud with little hope of seeing anything.

The friendly service is one of the strongest parts of this outing. You can expect an organized boat, clear guidance, warm clothing, and a crew that understands the difference between a visible aurora and a faint suggestion on the horizon.

The photography problem

I would not choose this cruise as your main Northern Lights photography plan. Taking pictures from a moving boat is hard because the vessel shifts, the deck vibrates, and long exposures can turn the lights into blurred streaks. Even a display that looks clear to your eyes may produce a disappointing photograph.

You might get a decent image with the right settings and a steady hand, but you should regard any successful photograph as a bonus. The guide or crew may help you adjust your camera, yet there is no promise of professional-looking results.

This is a better outing for seeing the aurora with your own eyes than for building a carefully composed photo collection. If photography is your top priority, the boat’s motion is a serious consideration. If you mainly want the experience of being on the water beneath a dark sky, the problem matters much less.

Price and what you receive for $111

At $111 per person, this is not a cheap way to spend an evening. The value depends on what you want from a Northern Lights outing. You are paying for a 2.5-hour boat trip, a naturalist guide, a captain and crew, warm overalls, rain protection, blankets, indoor seating, toilets, and access to a sighting guarantee.

The guarantee improves the value considerably. If the lights do not appear, you can try again free of charge on another night. That does not make the first evening successful, and you need enough time left in Iceland to use the second chance, but it lowers the risk of paying once for a completely empty sky.

The cruise also includes the Reykjavík waterfront sights, which makes it more useful than an outing that only waits in darkness. Harpa, Hallgrímskirkja, and the Imagine Peace Tower give the evening a second focus.

I would consider the price reasonable for someone who values comfort and a supported search. It is less appealing if you have a rental car, plenty of time, and are happy to search for the aurora on your own. The included clothing and indoor space are meaningful in Iceland, especially during the colder months.

Who should book this cruise?

This cruise suits you if you want a straightforward Northern Lights outing from central Reykjavík. It is also a good fit if you prefer not to drive at night, would rather have a guide watch the forecast, or like the idea of combining city views with open water.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the heated saloon, seating, toilets, and the ability to step inside between sightings. You can enjoy the evening even if you do not want to stand outdoors for the full two and a half hours.

It also works well for first-time aurora viewers. The guide can help you understand what you are seeing, and the crew can point out the first faint signs. Several previous departures produced only weak lights at first, followed by a stronger display later, so patience is part of the plan.

I would hesitate if you have only one night in Iceland and need a guaranteed result. No Northern Lights tour can promise that. I would also hesitate if your priority is photography, since the moving boat makes sharp images difficult.

Timing, cancellations, and practical planning

The cruise runs at scheduled starting times, so check availability for the date you want. Since hotel pickup is extra, allow time to reach the Old Harbour on your own if you have not added transport.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland plans are still shifting.

Weather can affect the schedule. If conditions are poor, the operator may cancel or arrange another night. Keep at least one flexible evening in your itinerary if seeing the aurora is important to you.

The best booking strategy is to choose an early night in your stay rather than the final night. That leaves room for the free return trip. It also means you can enjoy the city views and the boat even if the sky does not perform.

Should you book it?

Book this Northern Lights cruise if you want comfort, a helpful English-speaking guide, city views, and a second chance when the lights fail to appear. The heated saloon and supplied overalls make the outing much easier than standing outside for hours, while the route through Faxaflói Bay gives you a broad view of the sky.

Skip it if you are mainly chasing perfect photographs or if $111 feels too high for an experience that nature may cancel. For most visitors with limited time in Reykjavík, though, the combination of waterfront sights, warm facilities, professional crew, and a free return option makes this a sensible way to search for the aurora.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights cruise depart from?

The tour meets at the Elding Whale Watching boat in Reykjavík Old Harbour, at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts 2.5 hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are available on board. The boat also has a heated indoor saloon with seating.

Are food and drinks included?

No. The onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks, but refreshments are not included in the ticket price.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup is available for an extra charge.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You are offered a free return trip on another night if the Northern Lights do not show.

Can I photograph the Northern Lights from the boat?

You can try, but photography is difficult from a moving boat. The tour is not recommended if taking Northern Lights photographs is your main goal.

Can I see the Imagine Peace Tower?

The boat passes the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit, from October through December.