Hvalfjörður
West Iceland · 64.3620°N, 21.6250°W
Light Pollution
Low light pollution — excellent dark-sky location
Safety
Deep fjord with minimal traffic at night. Road is paved but narrow in places.
Parking
Several pull-offs along Route 47 around the fjord. 45 min from Reykjavík.
Photography Tips
For aurora photography at Hvalfjörður, use a wide-angle lens at f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600-3200, and 8-15 second exposures. A sturdy tripod is essential — Icelandic wind can be strong. Arrive early to scout compositions while you can still see the landscape.
Read our full aurora photography guide for detailed camera settings.
Nearby Viewing Spots
Track Hvalfjörður Live
Get push alerts when aurora conditions turn good at Hvalfjörður. Download the free Aurora Iceland app.
Plan Your Visit
Check current conditions on our Tonight page before heading out. Cloud cover and geomagnetic activity can change rapidly — the app updates scores every 15 minutes so you always have the latest data.
Learn more about the best time to see the northern lights and how to read aurora forecasts.