The Magic of Iceland’s Midnight Sun

I first place I saw or heard of the midnight sun was in Alaska when my dad and I road tripped there one summer. Then, I was mesmerized by it once again in Sweden. I stayed up so late the first night waiting for the sun to set, just peeping out the window. However, the first place I experienced the true magic of the midnight sun was in Iceland.

What is the Midnight Sun?

The midnight sun is a phenomenon that occurs only in some of the northernmost countries of the world where the sun is still up and visible after midnight. (Think Greenway, Iceland, USA – Alaska, Norway, Sweden, etc.) This means sunset-like colors around midnight to almost 1 am. It also means that it doesn’t ever really get dark. 24 hours of daylight – even if some of it is a bit dusky. The further north you are, the more likely you are to set your eyes on the sun actually being up at midnight. However, it’s still very visible allover Iceland. Even more than the sun being up, it’s all about the colors that the sun casts across the sky. It’s just magical.

Our experience in Iceland

We experienced the Midnight Sun in two different ways while we were in Iceland. The first, and most common way, that we experienced it was with midnight hikes. Because the sun never stayed below the horizon for long there was a beautiful white/gray sky that was bright enough that you could hike with ease and still take in all the amazing nature. Also, Matt loved this because it made for soft, even lighting for photos. These midnight hikes are such precious and fond memories because we got to experience Iceland’s natural sites in the way we love to experience nature: just the two of us and in the perfect stillness and peace that only nature can bring.

 
The second way we experienced the midnight sun, which is the one most-often cited as the midnight sun, is when it creates the aforementioned array of colors. We only got to experience this once in Iceland, but it was oh-so-spectacular. We had finished up a full day of driving, made dinner and had just settled down for the night after warming up in our BnB room. Our small window had a spectacular mountain view that had already caught our attention. I found myself looking out of it several times, but suddenly, when we looked out at the window one last night, we noticed the sky had exploded with color! It was something that brought so much joy and wonder and magic. We knew we had to get out there. Matt immediately grabbed his camera while I threw on my hiking boots and my jacket over my pjs. We sprinted down the stairs and soaked it up. Matt took some stellar photos while I danced outside under the midnight sun. It was amazing!

Why is seeing the Midnight Sun such a magical travel-experience?

⋙ The brilliant colorcast across the sky – It’s a bit like a sunset but at midnight. It’s just something so special.
⋙ The energy it gives you – It’s absolutely amazing how quickly your body starts to react to the almost-constant (sometimes actually constant) daylight. While it isn’t always a good thing because it’s hard to rest, at least your body gets this crazy energy to complete tasks and/or explore… That is, until the morning. 
⋙ The solitude daylight in the middle of the night brings – Even when the sun isn’t actually visible or the sky isn’t popping with bright colors, the sky is a dusky light gray. This makes for some of the most amazing hiking-time. Matt and I took several midnight hikes, taking advantage of the midnight sun. Even some of the very most popular sights, like Skogafoss, this put us out there completely alone. As with any other hiking trip, don’t forget to look into travel insurance. We love World Nomads.
   

Is there anything we didn’t love about experiencing the Midnight Sun?

All this said, the midnight sun should come with a warning: the midnight sun can give you major insomnia. As I mentioned above, your body reacts to being in constant sunlight. I gained a lot of respect for my body during this time because I learned just how biological many of my functions are: like sleep, awareness and being awake. We went out one night with some friends we made in our Reykjavik AirBNB and stayed out super late. We couldn’t figure out why we were so tired until we looked at our phones and realized it was after 2am! It was so dark in the bar, we were finally exhausted. So we said our goodbyes and headed back to our AirBNB. However, as soon as we stepped outside and into, you guessed it, daylight. We were awake yet again!

How can you be more prepared for this?

The thing we wished we had brought with us a couple of sleep masks. Seems so simple, but for whatever reason, we didn’t even think about packing a couple of these. Now, they’re going to be a staple on any trip north in the summer. Also, you can look at the details of your accommodation to see if they have blackout curtains or shades – those make all the difference.
Here are some sleep mask options:

All-in-all the midnight sun was magical for us. We greatly enjoyed the midnight sun, especially outside of Reykjavik, where we could visit some of the most iconic sites in total solitude. It gives you a whole new perspective on this super popular destination. So use that midnight sun to your advantage. Soak it up. Enjoy the moment. Take in the world through the light of the midnight sun.

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