Complementary Activities for Northern Lights Trips to Iceland

Since time immemorial, the phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, has captured the imagination of travellers the world over. As mysterious and ethereal as it is beautiful, the natural light show synonymous with the polar regions of Europe has long driven travellers and wanderers to that part of the continent, in the hopes of witnessing one of these breath-taking displays.

But where once upon a time this was a daunting endeavour – involving weeks of planning and as much as several months' travel – advancements in the tourism industry throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries have helped ensure that Northern Lights trips are now not only within everyone's reach, but also comprise a number of other activities and side-trips to engage in, in order to add variety to a polar holiday.

Below are just a few suggestions of parallel or complementary sights to see when taking Northern Lights trips to Iceland or Sweden.

Around Reykjavik

One of the most popular destinations to go hunting for the Aurora Borealis is Iceland. Devoid of the high profile of its Scandinavian neighbours as far as tourism is concerned, this country has made the possibility of witnessing these mysterious lights its main tourism selling point – and it worked. Nowadays, thousands of tourists from all over the world flock here on Northern Lights trips, hoping to feast their eyes on the grandest and most famous natural light show on Earth.

While on that mission, however, plenty of these same tourists end up discovering Iceland – and the capital, Reykjavik, in particular – have more to offer than just lights in the sky. Travellers staying in the Icelandic capital will have access to a number of other sights to beautifully complement their trip's main attraction.

Examples of these include the 244ft high Hallgrimskirkja Tower - the tallest in Iceland and a prime spot from which to witness the Aurora Borealis. You'll be able to enjoy a stunning panorama over over Reykjavik from the top.

There are also several museums well worth visiting. These include the history-centric National Museum; the 871 +/- 2 Museum (where visitors may get a good feel for the country's millennial history); the Maritime Museum; and the Northern Lights centre, which is dedicated in its entirety to the fascinating phenomenon. The National Gallery may interest art buffs, with its collection of 19th and 20th century paintings.

Aside from cultural attractions, anyone looking to relax and enjoy something very different in nature (and extremely enjoyable) can head towards any of the city's outdoor thermal pools – including the famous Blue Lagoon. Other things to do in Iceland include whale-watching tours, Super Jeep tours to explore the stunning volcanic landscape, horse riding excursions and so much more. Those who come to Iceland on the hunt for the Aurora Borealis will not be disappointed by spending some time in and around Reykjavik on Northern Lights trips. The Icelandic capital offers a wide variety of sights and attractions to keep anyone entertained.

Abigail Collins is director of Aurora Nights, who offer a select range of trips to see the Northern Lights. For Northern Lights trips, Iceland and Swedish Lapland offer an excellent chance to encounter the aurora borealis. Aurora Nights is part of Weekend a la Carte, a family-run company passionate about client service, with a vast in-depth knowledge based on extensive travels to region of the Aurora Borealis.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.