Reykjavík: Northern Lights Cruise

The best show may begin after dark. This 2.5-hour cruise takes you from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour into Faxaflói Bay, where city lights give way to open sea and a better view of the sky. I like the heated indoor saloon with seats and toilets, and I like that the crew provides warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets. The main drawback is simple: the Northern Lights cannot be promised, and a moving boat is not the easiest place for photography.

The evening also gives you a fine look back at Reykjavík. Harpa Concert Hall and Hallgrímskirkja glow along the shoreline, while the Imagine Peace Tower adds a special stop between October and December. If the lights do not appear, you receive a free chance to try again, which takes some sting out of a cloudy night.

Key points before you book

• A boat gives you darker skies: The cruise leaves Reykjavík’s bright waterfront and heads into Faxaflói Bay, improving your distance from city glare.
• Warmth is built in: Borrowed overalls, raincoats, blankets, a heated saloon, and onboard toilets make the wait far easier.
• The skyline is part of the tour: You see Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrímskirkja, and Reykjavík’s waterfront from the water.
• The Imagine Peace Tower appears seasonally: The boat sails by this illuminated landmark from October through December.
• A free retry protects your budget: If the lights fail to show, you can return another night at no extra charge.
• Photography takes patience: The moving boat can blur images, and faint lights may look white to the naked eye at first.

Leaving Reykjavík’s Old Harbour after sunset

You meet the Elding Adventure at Sea boat at Ægisgarður 5 in Reykjavík’s Old Harbour. The departure point is close to some of the city’s best-known waterfront sights, so it is easy to combine the cruise with an evening around the harbor before boarding.

Hotel pickup is not included, though it can be arranged for an extra charge. If you are already in central Reykjavík, making your own way to the harbor keeps the cost down. The exact departure time depends on availability, so check the schedule when booking.

The cruise lasts about 2.5 hours. That matters because a Northern Lights outing is partly a waiting game. A short trip can feel rushed, while this length gives the captain time to leave the brightest city lights behind and gives the guide time to watch changing conditions.

As the boat moves away from the harbor, Reykjavík becomes part of the view rather than the whole setting. The waterfront lights create a pleasing foreground, while the darker bay opens up the sky ahead.

Faxaflói Bay gives the sky room to work

The main reason to choose a boat is distance. Reykjavík is not an especially large city, but any artificial light can make faint aurora harder to see. Heading into Faxaflói Bay gives you a wider view of the sky and reduces some of the glare from the streets and waterfront.

That does not make the Northern Lights more likely to appear. The weather, cloud cover, and natural activity still control the evening. It does give you a useful position if the aurora does show.

Your guide keeps watch and calls out when the lights begin. This is valuable because early aurora can be very faint. At first, you might see pale or whitish streaks rather than the strong green curtains shown in photographs. One past guest described seeing faint white lines for about an hour before the display grew much more dramatic.

That is a good reminder to give your eyes time to adjust. Do not decide after the first few minutes that nothing is happening. The lights can build slowly, and the strongest display may appear later in the sailing.

The crew also checks the weather and forecast before departure. If conditions are poor enough, the cruise may be canceled or changed, with a chance to reschedule. That practical decision is better than sending a boat into bad conditions simply to keep the timetable.

Reykjavík’s shoreline is a worthwhile second act

Even on a night without a strong aurora, the city views give the cruise something to offer. From the water, Reykjavík’s illuminated shoreline feels different from the street-level view.

Harpa Concert Hall is especially striking at night. Its glass front catches the city’s light, creating a bright, modern landmark along the harbor. Hallgrímskirkja is another easy landmark to recognize, rising above the city and glowing against the dark sky.

The boat’s route lets you enjoy both sights before heading farther into the bay. I like this combination because the evening is not reduced to a single yes-or-no question about the Northern Lights. You get a scenic boat ride, a night view of Reykjavík, and a chance at the aurora.

From October through December, the route includes the Imagine Peace Tower when it is lit. The tower sends a beam into the sky in memory of John Lennon’s peace message, created with Yoko Ono. Seeing it from the water gives the light a fitting setting, with the beam extending upward into the night.

The tower is seasonal, so do not count on this part outside those months. It is also not the main reason to book the cruise, but it adds a distinctive Reykjavík detail to the route.

Warm clothing makes the waiting manageable

Icelandic nights can be cold, especially when you are exposed to wind on open water. The cruise provides warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets, so you do not need to depend entirely on whatever clothing you brought from home.

The overalls are useful when you step onto the outside viewing platforms. You can watch the sky with less distraction from the cold, then return inside when you need a break. The heated indoor saloon has ample seating, toilets, and a café selling hot drinks and snacks.

That setup is one of the strongest parts of the experience. Northern Lights outings often involve long periods of watching and waiting. A warm indoor area means you can take shelter without ending the evening or losing your place on the boat.

You should still dress warmly. The supplied gear helps, but it does not turn the open deck into a heated room. The best plan is to treat the outside platforms as your viewing area and the saloon as your reset point.

The café is not included in the ticket price, so budget separately for drinks and snacks. Several past guests appreciated having this option, and one noted that the prices were reasonable. Still, bring the right expectation: refreshments are available for purchase, not part of the $111 fare.

The crew adds value beyond spotting lights

The English-speaking naturalist guide does more than announce an aurora sighting. The guide explains what you are seeing, keeps the group informed, and helps you understand why the lights may appear weak, change shape, or vanish.

The crew also receives praise for being friendly and professional. That matters on a trip where nature controls the result. A good guide cannot produce the Northern Lights, but can explain the conditions honestly and keep the evening pleasant when the sky stays dark.

The crew can also help with camera settings. One past guest specifically appreciated assistance with a camera, while another said the moving boat caused blurry photographs even after seeing some lights.

This is not the best tour for someone who mainly wants a perfect Northern Lights photograph. The boat moves, the deck may shake, and the aurora may be faint. If you bring a camera, treat photographs as a bonus and spend some time simply watching.

You can still try. The guide may offer practical help, but you should not expect the same crisp results as the promotional images you see online. Those images often use long exposures, stable tripods, and careful editing. A boat adds motion to the equation.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear

The tour includes a sighting guarantee. If the lights do not show, you are offered another cruise free of charge. This is an important part of the value because no company can control cloud cover or aurora activity.

You do need enough time in Reykjavík to use that option. A free retry helps most when you are staying several nights. If you leave the next morning, it has less practical value, even though the policy itself remains reassuring.

Some departures may also be canceled before sailing because of bad weather. In that case, the crew can help move you to another night. A past guest described being rebooked after a weather cancellation and then seeing the lights on the replacement trip.

The guarantee does not mean you will see a dramatic green display. You might see a faint glow, a short burst, or nothing on the first night. It means you have another opportunity, not a guaranteed performance.

For that reason, I would schedule this cruise early in your Reykjavík stay if possible. That gives you a better chance to use the free retry. This is practical planning rather than a promise about availability, so check the available dates when you book.

Is $111 a fair price?

At $111 per person, this is not the cheapest way to search for the Northern Lights. You are paying for a boat, crew, heated seating, outdoor viewing areas, warm clothing, toilets, a guide, and the possibility of a free second attempt.

The value depends on what you want from the night. If your only goal is to see the aurora as cheaply as possible, a boat trip may feel expensive. If you like the idea of a comfortable evening on the water with Reykjavík views included, the price is easier to justify.

The city sights help protect the value on a quiet aurora night. Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrímskirkja, the waterfront, and the Imagine Peace Tower give the cruise a proper itinerary rather than leaving you in darkness for the full 2.5 hours.

The indoor saloon also matters. A cheaper outdoor-only outing could be miserable if the wind rises or the wait grows long. Here, you can move between the open decks and a heated room.

Hotel pickup costs extra, so you can save money by going to the Old Harbour yourself. Food and drinks are also separate. Add those costs before comparing this cruise with other Reykjavík options.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a comfortable first attempt at the Northern Lights and like having a city sightseeing element included. It suits couples, families, and anyone who does not want to stand outdoors for hours without access to warmth or a toilet.

It is also a good fit if you are staying in Reykjavík for more than one night. The free retry becomes much more useful when you have room in your schedule.

You may want another type of outing if photography is your top priority. The boat’s movement makes sharp aurora images harder, and the available information specifically warns that photography can be challenging.

This cruise may also disappoint if you expect the lights to look like a bright green screen from the moment you leave the harbor. Nature does not follow the timetable. The better approach is to enjoy the skyline, the sea, the guide’s explanations, and the chance of a display.

Past guests have reported both clear sightings and nights without the lights. One saw the aurora on a first night in Iceland. Another saw the display from the boat after failing to see it on land. Others accepted a complimentary return after an unsuccessful outing. That range is exactly what you should expect from a natural phenomenon.

Booking details that affect your decision

The tour is operated by Elding Adventure at Sea and conducted in English. The meeting point is the Elding Whale Watching boat at Reykjavík Old Harbour, Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík.

Cancellation is free 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.

The listed duration is 2.5 hours, but one past guest reported being out longer than two hours. Do not rely on an extended sailing, though. Plan around the stated duration and regard extra time as possible rather than promised.

The cruise has an overall rating of 4.1 from 104 ratings. The most consistent praise goes to the friendly crew, warm clothing, helpful camera advice, the heated cabin, and the free retry when the lights fail to appear.

Should you book the Reykjavík Northern Lights Cruise?

Book this cruise if you want more than a bare search for the aurora. The heated saloon, supplied overalls, skyline views, and free retry make it a sensible choice for a first Northern Lights outing from Reykjavík.

Skip it if your main aim is serious photography or if you have only one short evening and cannot use a second attempt. The $111 price is easier to defend when you value the complete evening on the water, not just the chance of green light in the sky.

My practical advice is to book it early in your stay, dress warmly despite the supplied gear, and keep your expectations flexible. If the Northern Lights appear, the night can be breathtaking. If they do not, you still get Reykjavík by night, Faxaflói Bay, and a professional crew that gives you another chance.

FAQ

How long does the Northern Lights cruise last?

The cruise lasts 2.5 hours.

Where does the cruise depart from?

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

How much does the cruise cost?

The listed price is $111 per person.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup is not included, but it is available for an additional charge.

What happens if the Northern Lights do not appear?

You are offered another cruise free of charge if the Northern Lights do not appear.

Is the cruise conducted in English?

Yes. The live tour guide speaks English.

Are warm clothes provided?

Yes. Warm overalls, raincoats, and blankets are available onboard.

Can I buy food and drinks during the cruise?

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

Is the cruise suitable for Northern Lights photography?

Photography is possible but can be difficult because the boat is moving. The experience is not recommended if taking Northern Lights photographs is your main goal.