elegant, bubble-shaped hotel room nestled in the Icelandic wilderness, ideal for viewing the Northern Lights. The transparent bubble provides a 360
Iceland is one of the world’s premier destinations for viewing the magical Northern Lights. This natural phenomenon occurs when charged particles from solar winds collide with molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, creating a dazzling display of green, purple, red, and blue colors dancing across the night sky.
Seeing the Northern Lights is often on top of travelers’ bucket lists when visiting Iceland. But capturing the perfect view hinges largely on finding the right accommodation from which to experience these elusive lights. Fortunately, Iceland offers many hotels, resorts, guesthouses, and unique lodgings designed specifically for Northern Lights viewing.
Here is my list of the 10 best hotels for seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, based on prime locations, optimal viewing opportunities, and extra amenities to enhance every aspect of your Iceland Aurora adventure.
The Best Northern Lights Hotels in Western Iceland
Western Iceland boasts wide-open spaces and limited light pollution—the perfect backdrop for Northern Lights hunting. This region contains some of Iceland’s most renowned Aurora viewing hotels situated near top attractions like the Golden Circle route.
Hotel Húsafell
Hotel Húsafell blends remote wilderness with luxury in one sophisticated package. Located deep amid the canyons of Borgarfjörður, this 4-star property places you far from city lights with endless vistas for spotting Auroras.
Outfitted with floor-to-ceiling windows, Hotel Húsafell’s rooms optimize night sky visibility. The hotel also maintains an Aurora wake-up service to alert you when the lights occur. Guests can unwind after dark adventures with a cocktail in Aurora Restaurant or treatments in the spa.
The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon
Bathing in the Blue Lagoon while gazing up at the Northern Lights makes for an unforgettable experience. The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon brings this to reality with its scenic hilltop hotel adjacent to the world-famous spa.
All rooms feature large verandas, floor-to-ceiling glass walls, and dimmable lights—perfect for Aurora viewing from your private balcony, the pool’s edge, or while soaking in a geothermal lagoon as colors shimmer overhead.
Book The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon Here➤
Northern Light Inn
Family-owned Northern Light Inn resides on a quiet peninsula within easy reach of Reykjavik and Keflavík airport. Its exclusive position allows views of mountainous fjords where Auroras often appear. Custom Jeep tours enhance guests’ experience under the stars.
Northern Light Inn’s 20 cozy rooms all offer Northern Lights wake-up calls. Large, plush beds invite deep slumber between nighttime excursions. Free Wi-Fi and breakfast energize each new day.
Hotel Budir
Watching Auroras reflect across the still waters of Iceland’s westernmost lake makes Hotel Budir a top choice for nature lovers. This boutique 4-star hotel occupies a stunning setting amid Snaefellsjokull National Park with the glacier itself visible in clear weather.
Hotel Budir’s rooms and cottages boast peak waterfront placement to experience nightly light shows over the sea. The charming restaurant has the same vistas for dining under possible Auroras. Guests also appreciate extras like spa services and bike rentals.
The Best Northern Lights Hotels in Southern Iceland
Some of Iceland’s most unique places to experience the Aurora are tucked within its southern region. Rustic countryside merged with geothermal phenomena yield an abundance of optimal viewing spots. The following hotels allow you to watch this celestial show in comfort.
Hotel Rangá
Located far from interfering light pollution, Hotel Rangá has built a reputation as Iceland’s premier Aurora hunting hub. This 4-star countryside retreat offers personalized Northern Lights wake-up calls, an onsite Aurora expert for photography guidance, and a viewing terrace with Hot Tubs idea for soaking while spotting Auroras overhead.
For further entertainment, Hotel Rangá boasts a gourmet restaurant, conference spaces, massage studio and 18-hole golf course. Accommodations ranging from suites to standalone cottages ensure all guests’ preferences are met.
ION Adventure Hotel
Within the Golden Circle’s Thingvellir National Park rests a place where travelers can get closer to nature while watching for Auroras. ION Adventure Hotel delivers floor-to-ceiling windows in every sleek room, letting guests observe night skies and attractions like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Split without leaving their beds.
The attached Northern Lights Bar offers prime Aurora viewing with specialty cocktails to sip during the show. Free Northern Lights wake-up calls allow everyone equal opportunity to see this colorful phenomenon from their private terraces when it occurs.
Book ION Adventure Hotel Here➤)
Frost and Fire Hotel
Surrounded by Iceland’s legendary volcanic landscape, the new Frost and Fire Hotel makes light pollution nonexistent. Panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass walls in every modern room create unmatched visibility for spotting Auroras on autumn nights.
When not gazing at the sky, guests enjoy views of surrounding mountains and can schedule Jeep tours, super Jeep excursions or snowmobiling adventures via the hotel’s tour desk. Three onsite dining choices supply strength for days filled with activities.
Book Frost and Fire Hotel Here➤
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Positioned beside Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, this hotel lets you view Auroras reflecting across icebergs dotted along the glassy shoreline. Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon features an exclusive cottage wing with private outdoor hot tubs for bathing beneath possible light shows.
Guests inside the main building are still steps from floor-to-ceiling windows inside the Northern Lights bar or restaurant. Complimentary morning sauna sessions prepare bodies for long days of taking in Iceland’s magnificent scenery.
Book Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon Here➤
360 Hotel and Thermal Baths
360 Hotel and Thermal Baths earns a spot among Iceland’s most unique Aurora viewing establishments. Guests overnight inside eco-friendly glass igloos with adjustable temperatures and dimmable lights to fully customize their Northern Lights encounters.
After possible late nights chasing Auroras, travelers rejuvenate sore muscles in the hotel’s geothermal baths and saunas. An onsite Northern Lights probability forecast both online and atop 360 Bar aids planning for optimum viewing chances.
Book 360 Hotel and Thermal Baths Here➤
Hotel Kría
Family-owned Hotel Kría delivers personalized hospitality amid Iceland’s picturesque countryside. Only 20 minutes from Vik’s famed black sand beaches, this 3-star hotel offers exceptional Aurora sightings away from interfering light sources.
Panorama windows in Hotel Kría’s comfortable rooms optimize visibility to fulfil Northern Lights dreams. The hotel’s friendly staff excels at directing guests to nearby attractions to fill days. Then, you can relax over homecooked meals in the cozy dining room after nightfall.
Magma Hotel
Brand new Magma Hotel opened its doors in autumn 2021, instantly garnering attention for bold, modern architecture against Iceland’s volcanic landscape. Located beside the towering Mt. Katla, the hotel’s dedicated Northern Lights complex outfits a comfortable viewing lounge with floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Guests in standard rooms inside Iceland’s first design hotel also find optimal visibility for Aurora spotting thanks to blackout blinds that allow maximum exposure once raised after dark. Boasting 62 rooms and suites, Magma Hotel promises to be Iceland’s hottest 2022 opening.
Read More – 7 Best Northern Lights Hotels in Iceland for Winter 2024
The Best Northern Lights Hotels in Eastern Iceland
Since many Auroras first appear above horizon lines before spreading across night skies, eastern Iceland’s expansive sea vistas create ideal backdrops. These hotels based in Iceland’s remote Eastfjords yield amazing nighttime experiences.
Aurora Cabins
For an ultra-remote, rustic Northern Lights encounter, book an evening inside one of Aurora Cabins’ secluded glass igloos. Nestled near Iceland’s eastern coastline with nothing but open fields surrounding, these insulated domed structures provide unobstructed Aurora visibility from custom beds.
Waking up amongst nature without crowds enhances the magic. Cabins contain basic comforts like Wi-Fi, ensuite bathrooms and tea kettle, though simplicity spotlights Iceland’s natural allure as the real star attraction.
Fosshotel Eastfjords
Based beside a tranquil fjord dotted with tiny fishing boats, Fosshotel Eastfjords makes orienting toward the open sea effortless. Its remote perch next to Iceland’s easternmost town creates ideal dark sky conditions for vivid Aurora shows outside floor-to-ceiling lobby windows.
Guests choosing to stay in upgraded suites gain private outdoor hot tubs for possible soaking beneath dancing green, purple and red lights with a front-row view. The hotel’s harbor-fronting restaurant also allows diners to witness any overhead action while enjoying fresh regional cuisine.
Book Fosshotel Eastfjords Here➤
Best Glass Hotels, Arctic Domes & Unique Northern Lights Hotels in Iceland
In addition to lodges purpose-built for Aurora viewing, Iceland contains multiple one-of-a-kind properties letting guests sleep literally surrounded by nature. These creative accommodations range from spherical glass houses to transparent igloo villages that amplify Iceland’s dazzling scenery.
Panorama Glass Lodge
Watching Auroras swirl overhead while nestled inside a private glass orb makes Panorama Glass Lodge’s bubble tents a quintessential Icelandic experience. These fully transparent temporary structures dot a family farm located far from interfering light pollution near Thingvellir National Park on the Golden Circle route.
Panorama Glass Lodge’s heated tents allow Northern Lights enthusiasts to camp in total comfort while maximizing views on all sides. Guests simply unroll the insulating covers to instantly transform their translucent pods into Aurora viewing observatories after night falls.
Book Panorama Glass Lodge Here➤
Bubble Hotel
Iceland’s remote Westfjords region near the city Ísafjörður holds another cluster of spherical glass Bubble Rooms for memorable Aurora encounters. Bubble Hotel’s private tents perch directly atop a hill placing guests eye-level with nothing but open skies once darkness descends.
These comfortable temporary domed structures contain cozy beds plus space heaters, allowing visitors to enjoy optimal Northern Lights viewing opportunities in a transparent bubble with all creature comforts included. Ideal for couples seeking adventure together beneath the dancing lights.
Sky Sightseeing Iglúhús
Located right beside Route 1 near Vatnajökull National Park, Sky Sightseeing touts an entire igloo village custom-built for Northern Lights viewing. These intelligently engineered glass and steel domes balance guest comfort with unobstructed visibility thanks to Diminish Control glass walls eliminating interior light pollution.
Visitors overnighting inside Sky Sightseeing’s Iglúhús sleep surrounded by Iceland’s epic scenery. The rear wall remains opaque for natural darkness that maximizes possible Aurora visibility once awake after midnight. Guests control lighting schemes via personalized tablets with Aurora alerts.
Book Sky Sightseeing Iglúhús Here➤
Reykjavik Domes
No Icelandic Aurora accommodation list would be complete without mentioning luxury Reykjavik Domes. Located minutes from Iceland’s capital city, a tiny village of geodesic domes seemingly levitates atop a mossy hillside with downtown’s colorful tin roofs visible on the horizon.
These sci-fi spheres offer every modern amenity while blurring lines between indoors and out with near 360-degree views through glass walls. Watching the Northern Lights swirl overhead while reclining in Dome bedrooms makes for an unforgettable honeymoon.
Start Planning Your Iceland Northern Lights Hotel Stay
As this list conveys, Iceland overflows with amazing accommodations catering to Aurora hunters. Whether you desire upscale suites at a luxury hotel or a basic but cozy room in a budget-friendly guest house, finding the right place to experience the Northern Lights ultimately comes down to visibility and location.
I suggest researching rural properties far from city lights with transparent glass roofs and northern-facing openings. Hotels that offer extras like free wake-up calls when the Auroras occur make things even easier. Just don’t forget your camera!
With a quality hotel secured, the only thing left is excitement for the magic of seeing those dazzling green, purple and red lights illuminating Iceland’s night skies with your own eyes.
