capital-region · Iceland
Aurora Reykjavík: el centro de la aurora boreal
About Aurora Reykjavík: el centro de la aurora boreal
Aurora Reykjavík en Old Harbour es la principal exposición dedicada a la aurora boreal y explica la ciencia, la mitología y el arte de la aurora boreal. Lo más destacado es una sala panorámica de simulación de auroras que recrea la experiencia de ver las luces para los visitantes que se las perdieron o quieran comprender el fenómeno más profundamente. Los consejos fotográficos para capturar la aurora son una parte popular de la exposición.
History & Background
Las auroras boreales se han registrado en Islandia desde que llegaron los primeros colonos en el año 874 d.C. La mitología nórdica ofrecía múltiples explicaciones: reflejos de los escudos de las Valquirias, el puente Bifröst entre los mundos o los muertos bailando. En el siglo XIX, la ciencia comenzó a explicar el fenómeno como partículas cargadas del viento solar que interactúan con la magnetosfera de la Tierra, un proceso que todavía produce la misma maravilla.
Did You Know?
- Panoramic aurora simulation room
- Over 100 aurora photographs on display
- Science, mythology and art of the Northern Lights
- Photography tips for capturing the aurora
- Located 5 minutes from Harpa concert hall
Tours Near Aurora Reykjavík: el centro de la aurora boreal
Best-rated Iceland experiences — book with free cancellation
Why Visit
Photography tips for capturing the aurora are a popular part of the exhibition.
Did You Know?
Iceland lies directly beneath the auroral oval — a permanent band of aurora activity around the magnetic pole. Reykjavík itself is often too light-polluted to see the lights clearly, but drive 30 minutes out of the city and the sky can be extraordinary.
Chasing the Fire of the North
For a thousand years Icelanders watched the lights dance overhead and called them many things — fire, bridges, ghosts. The truth turned out to be even stranger: charged particles from the sun.
Stories & Legends
Icelandic sagas and folklore from this area
Hidden Gems Nearby
The Photography Masterclass Section
The practical photography section with real camera settings, recommended locations and timing advice is free with admission and probably worth the ticket price alone for photographers.
The Mythology Room
The Norse and indigenous mythology section reveals how profoundly different the pre-scientific explanation was — and how many of the metaphors (fire, dancing, bridges) were actually quite apt.
Practical Information
Best Time
Any time — good to visit before or after aurora hunting
Duration
1 hour
Access
Grandagarður 2, Old Harbour
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the simulation replace seeing the real Northern Lights?
No — nothing replaces the real aurora. But the simulation gives a genuine sense of the experience and the exhibition helps you understand what you're looking at when you do see them.
What are the best months to see real Northern Lights in Iceland?
September to April, when nights are dark enough. Peak activity is often around the autumn and spring equinoxes.
