Aurora Reykjavík Northern Lights Museum

The Aurora Reykjavík northern lights museum is a good stop any time of year, even outside aurora season. Interactive exhibits cover the science, mythology and photography of the northern lights, and a 360° VR film shows real aurora footage filmed around Iceland.

• Learn the science and folklore behind the northern lights, with no need for clear skies or luck
• Watch a 30-minute film, Iceland Under the Northern Lights
• Try the 360° Northern Lights VR experience, filmed across Iceland
• Audio guide available in several languages
• A relaxed, indoor activity that works well on a cloudy day or in daylight hours

Your day, stop by stop

2Audio guide and exhibitsExplore interactive displays on aurora science, mythology and photography.

A QR-based audio guide, available in several languages, guides you through interactive displays on aurora science, mythology and photography at your own pace. Allow about 20 to 30 minutes. There is a café and gift shop.

Time here · about 20–30 minutesFacilities · cafe and gift shop

3Cinema filmWatch Iceland Under the Northern Lights, a 30-minute film.

Iceland Under the Northern Lights is a 30-minute documentary-style film about the aurora, shown in the museum's cinema.

Time here · about 30 minutes

4360° Northern Lights VRTry the VR experience, filmed across remote Icelandic landscapes.

A 360° virtual reality piece using real aurora footage, filmed across remote Icelandic landscapes, giving a sense of standing under the lights. It is included with admission.

5End of visitBrowse the gift shop or cafe before you leave; there is no fixed finish time.

Browse the gift shop or café before you leave. There is no fixed finish time, and most visits take about 1.5 hours.

About the northern lights museum Reykjavík

Seeing the aurora in person depends on clear skies and solar activity, which nobody can guarantee, so this museum is a good way to understand what you are hoping to see, whether you visit before an evening aurora hunt or instead of one. It sits in the Grandi harbour area, a short walk or bus ride from downtown Reykjavík.

Exhibits use a QR-based audio guide, so you move through at your own pace, reading and listening about the science of the aurora, the mythology around it in Icelandic and other cultures, and tips for photographing it. The 360° VR film is the highlight for most visitors, showing real northern lights footage from around the country.

It works well as an evening activity paired with a northern lights tour, or as a daytime stop if the forecast looks poor. There is a cafe and gift shop on site, and the building is wheelchair accessible.

• Northern Lights guidebook
• Earphones for the audio guide
• Coffee or hot chocolate
• Entry to the Whales of Iceland museum
• Mug with the Northern Lights photo of the year
• Aurora bead bracelet to buy

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