RECOMMENDED
Walking to the cemetery is ideal, it is about a 15 minute walk each way.
Our top recommendation for aurora spotting.
The town's church is located on a small hillside, making it a great viewing point for aurora hunters. It is only 10mins away on foot.
The small field located behind the hotel building is one of the closest & most ideal locations to spot the northern lights.
Before going outside, check the weather forecast and the chances of aurora. Remember that even if the chance of aurora is high, it will not be visible through the clouds.
Icelandic nights can be very cold. Wear layers, a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear.
It would be a good idea to take something warm to drink in a thermos.
Use a camera with manual settings to capture the lights. Set your camera to a long exposure to get the best shots.
The lights can be unpredictable. Stay outside for a while to increase your chances of seeing them.
It is not possible to determine the exact hour when you can see the Northern Lights, as their appearance depends on various factors like solar activity and weather conditions. The best way to stay informed is to check forecasts using apps and websites you can find below.
The best time to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is from begining of September to early April. The lights can be visible only when it's dark.
No, the Northern Lights are a natural phenomenon, and their appearance depends on solar activity and weather conditions. Clear, cloudless skies greatly increase your chances of seeing them.
No, our hotel does not offer a wake-up service for the Northern Lights. We encourage guests to check the aurora forecast and stay prepared for sightings on their own. The applications and websites we recommend can be found below.
If the aurora is active, you will see it even in front of our hotel. However, if you want to see it in its full glory, check out our recommended places in the area.
The Northern Lights can be visible for a few minutes up to several hours, depending on their intensity and weather conditions. The duration of the aurora is very unpredictable – sometimes it appears briefly, while other times it can dance across the sky throughout the entire night.
The best conditions are dark, clear skies with minimal moonlight. Check the weather and aurora forecast to find the best time for viewing.
Enough Solar Activity is key. Anything above 3 on the Kp-index is great!
To capture the Northern Lights, use a camera with manual settings, such as a long exposure (15-30 seconds), a low ISO (800-1600), and a wide-angle lens.
Dress warmly — wear layers, a hat, gloves, and sturdy footwear. Bring a thermos with a warm drink and a camera to capture this amazing phenomenon. We also recommend taking a tripod with you.
Yes, Hvolsvöllur is a great place to view the Northern Lights due to its location away from city lights and the dark sky.
Disclaimer
This website contains links to external websites. Although we make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, we cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers. If you come across any external links that don't work, we would be grateful if you could report them to us.