Reykjavík: Northern Lights Cruise

Nature does not follow a timetable. That is exactly what makes this 2.5-hour cruise exciting: you leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbour, head into Faxaflói Bay, and wait beneath a darker sky for the Northern Lights to appear. I like the heated indoor saloon, which gives you a proper refuge from the cold, and I like the friendly crew, who help you make sense of faint activity overhead.

The city views add real value even if the aurora refuses to cooperate. Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrímskirkja church, and Reykjavík’s glowing shoreline look lovely from the water, while the free return trip takes some pressure off an uncertain evening. The main drawback is simple: the boat moves, the weather changes, and you may see only a faint glow or nothing at all.

I would choose this cruise if you want a comfortable first attempt at seeing the aurora and do not want to spend the whole night standing outdoors on land. I would not make it my first choice if your main goal is sharp Northern Lights photography, since a moving boat makes long-exposure pictures difficult.

Key points at a glance

• Sails from Reykjavík Old Harbour: Meet at the Elding Whale Watching boat at Ægisgarður 5, close to the city center.
• The boat offers warm indoor shelter: Heated seating, toilets, borrowed overalls, raincoats, and blankets make the cold easier to manage.
• The skyline is part of the experience: You see Harpa and Hallgrímskirkja lit up from Faxaflói Bay.
• The Imagine Peace Tower appears seasonally: The boat passes it when the tower is lit between October and December.
• You get another chance if the lights fail: A free return trip is offered when the Northern Lights do not appear.
• Photography takes extra effort: Crew members can help with camera settings, but the moving boat can leave images blurred.

Leaving Reykjavík Old Harbour after dark

Your evening begins at the Elding Whale Watching boat in Reykjavík Old Harbour, Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík. Hotel pickup is not included, though it can be arranged for an additional charge, so check that detail when planning your evening.

The harbor location is useful because it puts you close to Reykjavík’s central sights and evening restaurants. You are not heading to a remote meeting point outside the city. Instead, the tour begins amid the working waterfront, then quickly trades streetlights for open water.

The cruise lasts about two and a half hours. That is long enough to get well away from the strongest city glow, while still leaving you time to enjoy another evening activity afterward. Starting times vary, so you need to check the schedule for your chosen date.

Before departure, the crew provides warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets. These are practical items, not fancy extras. A coat that feels fine on a Reykjavík sidewalk may not feel adequate once you are outside on a cold, windy deck for an extended period.

Reykjavík’s lights from Faxaflói Bay

The first part of the trip gives you something to enjoy before the aurora hunt begins. As the boat moves into Faxaflói Bay, Reykjavík’s shoreline becomes a long band of lights behind you.

Harpa Concert Hall is one of the most recognizable sights from the water. Its illuminated glass exterior gives the waterfront a polished, modern look. Hallgrímskirkja church is another useful landmark, rising above the city and appearing especially striking when lit at night.

These views are more than filler while you wait. They help you understand Reykjavík’s setting, with the compact city tucked beside the sea and open water stretching beyond it. I like that the cruise gives you a sense of place instead of treating the Northern Lights as the only reason to be aboard.

Keep your camera ready during this part of the trip, but remember that the boat is moving. City lights are easier to photograph than the aurora, yet a steady image still takes some care. The open viewing platforms give you a broad view, while the heated saloon provides a comfortable place to warm your hands.

The Imagine Peace Tower from the water

Between October and December, the boat sails past the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit. The tower sends a bright beam into the night sky from Viðey Island, creating a memorable sight from the bay.

This seasonal feature gives the tour a special rhythm. You are not simply sailing out, staring into darkness, and hoping for color. During the tower’s operating period, you get a distinct Reykjavik landmark before the guide turns attention back toward the sky.

The timing matters. If you book outside October through December, do not expect to see the tower lit. The city views and the Northern Lights search still remain, but this particular sight is seasonal.

Waiting for the aurora on deck

Once the boat reaches the bay, the main part of the evening begins. The guide watches conditions and keeps you informed about cloud cover, forecasts, and any signs of activity. When the Northern Lights appear, the guide calls it out so you are not left wondering if that pale streak is simply a cloud.

That help matters because the aurora does not always look like the brilliant green curtains shown in photographs. It can begin as a faint white or gray line, then strengthen as conditions change. One past outing saw only a weak glow at first, followed about an hour later by a much clearer display.

You can stand on the outdoor viewing platforms for the widest view of the sky. On a strong night, being surrounded by open sea and darkness can make the spectacle feel much larger than it does from a city street.

The cold is the price of that view. The supplied overalls, blankets, and raincoats help, but they do not turn the deck into a warm room. I would plan to move between the outside platforms and the heated saloon rather than trying to stay outdoors for the entire cruise.

A warm saloon when the weather turns sharp

The heated indoor saloon is one of the strongest practical features of this trip. It has comfortable seating, toilets, and a place to sit while you wait for the sky to change.

An onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks, though refreshments are not included in the ticket price. That gives you an easy way to warm up without leaving the boat, but you should budget separately if you want something from the café.

The indoor area also makes this cruise more approachable for people who do not enjoy standing in cold weather. Families, older visitors, and anyone traveling with limited winter clothing may appreciate having a reliable indoor base.

You should still treat the saloon as a viewing aid rather than the main viewing spot. Glass, interior lighting, and your distance from the open deck may make it harder to see a faint aurora. When the guide announces activity, you will want to put on the supplied gear and head outside.

What the crew adds to the evening

The crew receives strong praise for being friendly, professional, and helpful. That is especially important on an experience built around uncertainty. A good guide cannot produce the Northern Lights, but can explain what you are seeing, point you toward the best view, and keep the mood sensible when the sky stays dark.

The guides also help with camera settings. That assistance can save you from wasting the night with a phone or camera set for ordinary daylight photography. One particularly useful lesson from the experience is that even with proper settings, a moving boat can blur Northern Lights images.

The crew also takes weather seriously. If conditions are poor, the cruise may be canceled or moved to another night. That can disrupt your plans, but it is better than sailing into heavy cloud with little chance of seeing anything.

Safety is another positive. The captain and crew manage the boat carefully, and one account specifically praised the attention given to safety. Some trips may also run longer than the advertised two hours, though you should plan around the stated two-and-a-half-hour duration rather than count on extra time.

The free retry changes the value

At $111 per person, this is not a cheap sightseeing ride. The price pays for the boat, crew, guide, warm equipment, indoor facilities, and the chance to reach darker water without arranging transport yourself.

The real value comes from the sighting guarantee. If the Northern Lights do not appear, you are offered another trip free of charge. That does not guarantee that you will eventually see a strong display, and it does not make an unsuccessful first night feel completely successful. Still, it lowers the risk for anyone staying in Reykjavík long enough to try again.

You need to understand the practical limit. A free return helps only if you have another suitable night available. If you are leaving Iceland the next morning, the guarantee may not be useful. If you have several nights in Reykjavík, booking early in your stay gives you room to make a second attempt.

The experience has earned an overall rating of 4.1 from 104 reviews, which fits the nature of the outing. The best nights can be unforgettable, while cloudy or weak nights will naturally feel less satisfying. The city views, warm cabin, and retry policy help soften that gamble.

Why boat photography is tricky

I would not book this cruise mainly for photography. The boat moves, the deck vibrates, and you may need a long exposure to capture faint aurora activity. That combination can produce blurry images even when you see the lights with your own eyes.

You can still bring a camera and ask the crew for help. Guides have assisted with settings, and stronger displays can produce worthwhile pictures. But you should treat photography as a bonus, not the measure of success.

For most people, the better plan is to watch first. The Northern Lights may begin faintly, and your eyes need time to adjust. Once you have enjoyed the sight, try a few photos rather than spending the entire cruise staring at a screen.

Who should book this Reykjavík cruise?

I think this tour suits you best if you:

• Have only one or two evenings in Reykjavík and want a guided attempt.
• Prefer a boat with indoor heating instead of standing outside on land.
• Like combining city views with a natural spectacle.
• Want the reassurance of a free return trip.
• Appreciate having a guide explain the forecast and point out activity.
• Are willing to accept that the Northern Lights may be faint or absent.

You may want another option if your priority is serious night photography, total quiet, or a long stay far from city light. A boat also introduces motion, wind, and a fixed departure time. That is part of the adventure, but it is not the easiest setup for a tripod or carefully planned shots.

The tour works well as an early-evening Reykjavík activity. You can see the city from the water, visit the Imagine Peace Tower in its season, and spend the rest of the time waiting in comfort. If the lights appear before the boat leaves the harbor, even better. One outing had that pleasant surprise.

Practical details before you reserve

The tour is conducted in English with a live guide. The meeting point is the Elding Whale Watching boat at Ægisgarður 5 in the Old Harbour.

Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are included. Hot drinks and snacks are available for purchase, but other refreshments are not included. Hotel pickup costs extra.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option is useful if your Iceland plans are still changing.

Most important, leave room in your schedule. Forecasts can force a cancellation or a change of date, and the Northern Lights themselves remain unpredictable. Book early enough in your stay to make use of the free return if the sky does not cooperate.

Should you book the Northern Lights Cruise?

Book it if you want a comfortable, well-supported chance to see the aurora without committing to a cold land excursion. The heated saloon, warm clothing, city skyline, seasonal Imagine Peace Tower, and helpful crew make the evening worthwhile even before the sky performs.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed green spectacle or professional-quality photographs. At $111, the free retry is a meaningful safety net, especially if you have several nights in Reykjavík. For a short visit, I would choose a date early in your stay, keep your expectations flexible, and treat any clear aurora as a wonderful bonus rather than a promised result.

FAQ

Where does the Northern Lights cruise depart from?

It departs from the Elding Whale Watching boat in Reykjavík Old Harbour, at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

How long does the cruise last?

The stated duration is 2.5 hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup is available for an extra charge.

Are warm clothes provided on board?

Yes. Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are available on board.

Is there a heated indoor area?

Yes. The boat has a heated indoor saloon with comfortable seating and toilets.

Can I buy food and drinks during the cruise?

Yes. The onboard café sells hot drinks and snacks. Refreshments are not included in the ticket price.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You are offered another trip free of charge if the lights do not appear.

Can I photograph the Northern Lights from the boat?

You can try, and the crew may help with camera settings. However, photography can be difficult because the boat is moving, so blurry images are possible.

Can I see the Imagine Peace Tower?

You can see it when it is lit between October and December. The boat sails past it during that period.