Reykjavík's northern lights by boat or by road
Reykjavík offers two shapes of aurora evening. Boats leave the Old Harbour for a couple of hours on Faxaflói Bay, while minibuses drive for four hours or more toward the clearest sky. All three tours on our list go by road, and this guide explains why.
Two ways out of the city
Every aurora tour from Reykjavík tries to get you away from city light under a clear sky. A boat does it by sailing out into Faxaflói Bay, and a minibus does it by driving inland or along the coast.
The two shapes differ most in what they can do when the weather turns. That matters more than the price gap, as the table below shows.
| Harbor cruise | Minibus tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | About 2–2.5 hours | About 4 hours, longer on some nights |
| Group | Big boats, up to roughly 100 guests | 18 to 28 on our three |
| Start | The Old Harbour | Pickup in Reykjavík |
| Keeping warm | Heated lounges plus overalls or blankets on board | The heated minibus between stops |
| Food and drink | Drinks sold on board | Hot chocolate and a snack included |
| Under cloud | Cannot move away | Drives toward the clearest sky |
| Photos | A moving deck blurs long exposures | Firm ground for a tripod |
| Price | Much cheaper seats | ~$165 to ~$200 |
What an evening cruise offers
Aurora cruises leave the Old Harbour in the evening and spend about two to two and a half hours out on the bay. Away from the harbor lights the sky over the water is darker than anywhere in town, and Esja's flat top is a dark shape to the north.
The boats are big, with room for up to roughly 100 guests. Heated lounges give you somewhere to warm up. Crews hand out warm overalls or blankets, and drinks are sold on board.
The short length is the main draw. You are back in town well before a minibus tour returns, which suits travelers with an early start the next day. Some cruises also give you a free ticket to come again if nothing is seen.
Where a boat falls short
A boat cannot drive away from cloud. If the bay sits under a grey lid, the cruise sails under it, and the only hope is a gap opening overhead while you are out.
Wind and swell are the other risk. Cruises cancel when the sea is rough, and several reviews of Reykjavík boat tours mention weather cancellations and rebooking. A clear but windy night can still keep a boat in harbor.
Seasickness is a concern for some people on Faxaflói Bay in winter. If you are prone to it, a road tour removes the question entirely.
Time on board is also fixed. A cruise returns to the harbor on schedule, so if a display starts as the boat turns back, you watch it from the pier or the street, with city light all around.
Why all three of our tours stay on land
We compared boat tours on both GetYourGuide and Viator, and no cruise sold on both sites scored as well as the minibus tours we chose. So our list is three road tours, and we would rather say that plainly than pretend a cruise came close.
That is not a verdict that cruises are bad. Plenty of visitors enjoy them, and on a calm, clear night the bay is a fine place to watch the sky.
What a minibus tour does differently
A road tour lasts about four hours and sometimes longer, with the guide picking the direction on the night. If the coast is cloudy the driver can head inland, and if one valley clouds over, another may be clear.
You stand on firm ground at each stop, which matters for photos. A tripod on a moving deck cannot hold still for a long exposure, while on a lava field it stays steady for several seconds. Our photography guide covers the settings.
The minibus is also your warm room. Between bursts of activity you can climb back in, and all three of our tours serve hot chocolate with something sweet. The viewing spots guide explains which way the minibuses usually go.
A road tour built for dark countryside
Nordur Travel's modified 4x4 minibus heads further from city light with up to 19 guests. Hot chocolate and Icelandic pastries are included, plus two hand warmers each. Free rebooking for up to two years if you see no lights.
Comfort on a cold night
A boat wins on warmth. A heated lounge with a bar is more comfortable than a roadside stop at freezing, and you can step outside only when the guide calls a display.
On a road tour you spend more time standing in the open on ground that is often uneven or icy. Good boots and layers make the difference, and our clothing guide lists what to bring for both shapes.
Who should pick which
- Pick a cruise if you have one short evening, travel on a tight budget, or want to be back in town early
- Pick a minibus if photos matter or you get seasick; the same goes for a patchy forecast that needs a driver who can chase clear sky
- Pick a minibus for a second attempt after a cloudy first night, since moving is its main advantage
- Either works on a calm night with a wide clear forecast
Price is the last piece. Cruises sell much cheaper seats, and our price comparison shows where the three road tours sit. If retry rules decide it for you, our guide to cloudy nights compares them.