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Old Harbour, Reykjavík, Iceland. Photo: Frugal Flyer, Unsplash License
A northern lights boat tour is a 1.5–3 hour cruise from Reykjavík's Old Harbour out to dark water, and it's worth it if you want a short, easy night with no driving. On a cloudy night a minibus that can chase clear sky is the better bet.
Key takeaways
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In short You sail from the Old Harbour at 21:00 or 22:00, reach dark, open water within about 15 minutes, step outside to watch, and are back 1.5–3 hours later.
In short Elding charges ISK 14,500 for an adult and Special Tours from ISK 12,998; both leave around 21:00 and give you another ticket if you see nothing.
| Elding | Special Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | ISK 14,500 | from ISK 12,998 |
| Child 7–15 | ISK 7,250 | ISK 6,499 |
| Leaves from | Ægisgarður 5c, Old Harbour | Ticket office, Geirsgata 11 |
| Departs | 21:00; 22:00 on some September and March–April dates | 21:00; 22:00 from 15 March |
| Length | 1.5–2.5 h | About 2–3 h |
| Hotel pickup | ISK 3,750 extra | Starts 60 min before departure |
| If you see nothing | "Complimentary tickets" for another night | Another ticket, "valid indefinitely" |
| On board | Heated indoor areas, thermal overalls, refreshments | Warm overalls, café/bar, toilets |
In short It suits a short trip without a car, with a chance of seeing the aurora reflected in the sea, but not cloudy nights, seasickness, pin-sharp long exposures or true darkness.
Good for
Not for
Cloud decides. In Reykjavík the sky is 70–75% covered in every month from September to April. A minibus can drive an hour or two to wherever the cloud map shows a gap. A boat can't, and the sky over the bay is broadly the sky over Reykjavík.
Measured from Reykjavík airport weather reports, 2012–2026, three nights in March give a 58% chance of at least one proper display (Kp 2 or more plus a clear hour) if you stay in the Reykjavík area, and 35% for a strong show (Kp 3 or more); Keflavík, the conservative figure, gives 47% and 26%. A boat is a stay-put option. How much a minibus gains by driving to clear sky is our estimate, not a measurement (how we work it out). The figures and caveats are on the best time to see the northern lights in Iceland.
The sea decides too. The North Atlantic can be lively. Elding says its cruise "may be cancelled if deemed unsafe"; Special Tours reserves the right to cancel for unfavourable weather. The free second ticket is for a sailing that saw nothing, not one that never left, and it only helps if you have a night left: book the boat early in your trip.
In short Pick the boat when the forecast shows clear sky over Reykjavík; pick a minibus when Reykjavík is under cloud with gaps inland, or you have only one or two nights.
More on the minibus side in Iceland's northern lights tours compared.
Pick the boat
An easy, short night
Pick a minibus
The better odds
Elding's advice:
Two GetYourGuide listings, checked 24 September 2026. Check who runs the boat, and the pickup, on the listing. We have not taken these tours ourselves.
Boat · Old Harbour
Meets at Old Harbour House. No refund if there are no sightings, but a free return ticket valid for up to 3 years.
Yacht · Reykjavík
Two hours out of the harbour on a smaller vessel. If the lights don't show, the listing says you can reschedule for free with the operator.
Yes, for a short night with no driving when the forecast is clear over Reykjavík. On a cloudy night a minibus has the better chance.
ISK 14,500 for an adult with Elding and from ISK 12,998 with Special Tours, on their own sites in September 2026. Under-7s go free on both.
Both operators give you a ticket for another night. It covers a sailing that saw nothing; if the weather cancels the trip, check what the operator offers.
Possibly. Elding says to expect movement and offers antiemetics at its ticket office. If you're prone to it, take a bus tour.