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Reykjavik: Northern Lights Cruise & City Skyline

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration2h

GroupUp to 150

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Chasing the Aurora from Reykjavik's Harbor

You board a small heated boat in downtown Reykjavik and sail into Faxaflói bay for a 2-hour search for the Northern Lights, with views of the city's illuminated landmarks along the way. You can stay warm indoors with Wi-Fi and hot drinks, or watch from the outdoor platforms in borrowed overalls. If the aurora doesn't appear, you get free tickets to return another night—no refund, just a genuine second attempt.

Step-by-step itinerary

Board cruise in downtown Reykjavik
Sail into Faxaflói bay
View Reykjavik skyline and landmarks
Admire Imagine Peace Tower if lit
Search for Northern Lights
Enjoy outdoor platforms or indoor saloon
Listen to crew insights about Aurora
Use onboard café and facilities

The Experience

You're standing on the dock in downtown Reykjavik at dusk, and the crew hands you a pair of warm floatable overalls. It's a bit awkward getting into them—you feel like you're suiting up for something more serious than a boat ride—but then you realize that's exactly the point. The Northern Lights cruise leaves from the harbor here, and if the aurora shows up, you want to be ready to stay outside and watch it happen instead of being stuck indoors because you're freezing. The boat itself is small enough to move through the water without too much fuss, but big enough that you're not crammed in with fifty other people all holding their phones up at the same angle.

Once you're out on Faxaflói bay, the city falls away behind you pretty quickly. The first part of the cruise is almost a different tour—you're sailing past the illuminated Harpa Concert Hall and Hallgrímskirkja church, and if it's October through December, the Imagine Peace Tower sends its beam straight up into the dark. Your guide points out what you're looking at and explains how the lights work, which is useful because most people have no idea why the sky might suddenly start moving in green waves, or what you're actually supposed to be looking for. The heated indoor saloon is there if you need a break—there's Wi-Fi, hot drinks, and a café—but most people end up back outside on the platforms, waiting.

Here's the thing nobody tells you: the Northern Lights are genuinely unpredictable. Some nights they don't show. The cruise comes with a sighting guarantee, which means if the aurora doesn't appear during your tour, you get free tickets to try again on another night. It's not a refund; it's a second chance, which is actually more useful because you're already in Reykjavik anyway. The crew knows this, so they're not going to rush you back to shore early just because the sky is dark. They'll keep sailing, keep looking, and keep explaining what conditions would make the lights visible if they were going to appear. It's honest, and it takes the pressure off trying to force a natural phenomenon to perform on schedule.

Bring a hat and gloves even though the overalls are warm—your face gets cold faster than you'd think, and the wind off the bay doesn't care how many layers you're wearing. The boat is wheelchair accessible, though steep stairs and high thresholds mean the indoor areas aren't fully open to everyone, so let the crew know when you book if you need assistance. The whole thing runs about two hours, and you'll either see the aurora dancing across the sky or you'll be back in the city with a voucher and a clear night to try again.

What’s included

Approximately 2-hour Northern Lights cruise departing from downtown Reykjavik.
heated indoor saloon with Wi-Fi and onboard café.
warm floatable overalls.
knowledgeable crew guidance.
views of Harpa Concert Hall, Hallgrímskirkja church, and the Imagine Peace Tower (October–December).
sighting guarantee—free return tickets if no aurora appears during your tour.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Elding Whale Watching

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to search for the Northern Lights without arranging your own boat, timing, or navigation—the fixed schedule and included guarantee mean you can try twice if needed, and the heated cabin keeps you comfortable whether you're watching from inside or outside.