The Ultimate Guide to Iceland’s Midnight Sunset

When you think of Iceland, your first thought might be its Northern Lights phenomenon. Iceland is the perfect destination to go hunting for the gorgeous lights. Luckily, winter isn’t the only time of the year to witness a natural wonder. In the summer months, Iceland puts on a colorful show called the Midnight Sunset. And yes, to photograph the beauty, it requires exploring at midnight (hints the name). Don’t freak out, though – it is 100% WORTH IT!

Why does the sun set at midnight?

Due to the country’s proximity to the Arctic Circle, the days are long during the summertime in Iceland. This means that from May through August, you can experience daylight for around 22-24 hours per day. The sun never really sets in the summer, it just gets a bit darker (but never pitch black). Crazy, right?

“The closer you are to the North or South Pole, the more drastic the change is going to be between the summer and winter season. Most people in the world live far enough away from these poles, so the daylight hours and nighttime hours more or less stay the same all year round. That is not the case in Iceland; here, when it comes to daylight hours, it is an all or (barely) nothing experience.” Information found from Guide to Iceland.

Iceland is not the only place that experiences the Midnight Sunset. All countries north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle also produce a late night sunset. These include Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia and the US state of Alaska.

If the sun never sets, how do I sleep?

Sleep shouldn’t be an issue *thankfully* because virtually every hotel/Airbnb/hostel/etc in Iceland offers blackout curtains.

I never encountered problems sleeping in Iceland because my hotel room remained dark. It is funny though to wake up at “night,” look out the window, and see sunlight at 2am!

The best places to photograph the Midnight Sunset

In case you haven’t noticed yet, Iceland is an incredibly photogenic country. Because of its wide variety of open land (mountains, waterfalls, lava fields, beaches, harbors, and more), you can easily spot the sunset. Even in Reykjavík, the country’s major city, there are countless photo opportunities.

With this being said, there are definitely ideal locations for photographing the Midnight Sunset. The only places I have actually gone to for the sunset were around Reykjavík. My two favorite spots were the harbor and Lake Tjörnin.

Some other great places are Gullfoss, Kirkjufell Mountain, and the Sun Voyager sculptor in Reykjavík. I’ve photographed at these spots, just not during the Midnight Sunset. Pretty much anywhere in Iceland that has open land or water is ideal!

Are you also planning on seeing Iceland’s amazing waterfall, Gullfoss? You might enjoy Iceland’s Golden Circle Tour + Secret Stops Along the Way.

Okay, so here is why I love the harbor and Lake Tjörnin in Reykjavík…

Midnight Sunset photography: the harbor

You are most likely staying the night somewhere in Reykjavík. If you plan to photograph the Midnight Sunset, you need to explore the harbor. There are a couple different addresses you can plug into your Maps, but as long as you are strolling along the harbor, you’ll capture great photographs.

The first place is called “Harbor in Reykjavík” (Address: Sculpture & Shore Walk, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland). This is a picturesque spot along the harbor, offering a pedestrian walkway, outdoor sculptures & views of the boats. Walk along this sidewalk for amazing views of the harbor, mountains, and more.

The second place along the harbor is my personal favorite. Plug into your Maps “The Cinema” (Address: Geirsgata 7b, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland). Or, you can reach it by simply walking along the Sculpture & Shore Walk. Eventually you will be brought to the cutest set of Icelandic shops and restaraunts.

Aren’t they adorable? The scenery around The Cinema is my favorite for the Midnight Sunset. Iceland’s sky is extremely beautiful here as it is paired with the harbor water.

If you look closely across the harbor, you will see a yellow lighthouse. I love framing the lighthouse with the mountain landscape in the background.

This image was taken around 1am! Isn’t Iceland beautiful?

Midnight Sunset photography: Lake Tjörnin

Another wonderful destination to see the Midnight Sunset is Lake Tjörnin. Tjörnin is a small, prominent lake in central Reykjavík. Most visitors to the city pass along its shore, as it is situated next to the Reykjavik City Hall and several museums. From Lake Tjörnin, you will have unobstructed views of the Icelandic buildings and the famous Hallgrímskirkja church.

There is a specific viewpoint that you can venture to called “Tjörnin Viewpoint” (Address: Tjarnargata 33, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland). This is a pretty good base to start at, but I recommend walking around all sides of the lake to discover your personal favorite view.

Waking up at midnight to experience this natural phenomenon is one of the best things you can do in Iceland during the summertime. You can always sleep on the plane ride home!

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