Is Iceland or Alaska better for northern lights?

Fairbanks does offer statistically better weather for aurora viewing: It has clear skies more often than Reykjavik, particularly in March when the Alaskan city experiences them around 45 percent of the time (compared to about 25 percent for Reykjavik). But you'll have to be able to tolerate the cold.



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Yellowknife is known as the Aurora Capital of the World, and for good reason! Imagine traveling on a dogsled along a snowy trail, and the Aurora borealis glowing overhead! That's how millions of visitors imagine the Northwest Territories, a winter wonderland that is surrounded by glowing lights.

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However if you want to see a totally different country and take a bit more of a chance with the Northern Lights then Iceland is for you. The scenery is totally different to anywhere else and there is a lot to see by day. Weather is more unpredictable.

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The best place to see the northern lights in Iceland is the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, which lies by the Vatnajokull glacier. You can drive to the lagoon along the Ring Road from Vik or find one of the black sand beaches of South Iceland to enjoy the view of the lights dancing across the sky.

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The best time to see the aurora borealis in Alaska is from August 21 to April 21. We call it the Aurora Season. So yes, there are some very lucky cruise passengers who will see the northern lights in the Inside Passage late in the summer and fall, but don't bank on it.

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