Jökulsárlón & Skaftafell
At the foot of Vatnajökull glacier: icebergs on the glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach and winter blue ice caves, plus Svartifoss and glacier hikes at Skaftafell, Iceland's most spectacular glacier region.
Jökulsárlón & Skaftafell lie in southeastern Iceland, on the southern flank of Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, with the Ring Road (Route 1) running along the foot of the ice. At the western end is Skaftafell (the gateway to Vatnajökull National Park, with Svartifoss, glacier tongues and a variety of trails); in the middle are Hvannadalshnúkur, Iceland's highest peak, the Öræfajökull ice cap, Svínafellsjökull glacier, the Hof turf church and Ingólfshöfði; about 55 km to the east are Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, Diamond Beach and Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon; and another 80 km east lie the lobster town of Höfn and Stokksnes. Things to do: glacier lagoon boat tours, glacier hiking, winter blue ice caves, photography, and in summer puffins and kayaking. Seasons: November–March is ice cave season, with short days and the need to watch for storms and road conditions; June–August has long daylight, ideal for hiking and boat tours; September–April offers a chance to see the aurora. Getting there: from Reykjavík it is about 4.5–5 hours by car to Skaftafell; coaches run in summer, but driving yourself is the most convenient. Accommodation is concentrated at Skaftafell, farms in the Öræfi area and Höfn, and should be booked ahead in peak season. We suggest 2–3 days. Notes: glaciers and ice caves must be visited with a certified guide; do not stand on unstable ice blocks at the edge of the glacier lagoon; strong winter winds often close roads, so check road.is and safetravel.is.
Top sights
- Jökulsárlón / Diamond Beach – A glacier lagoon at the foot of Vatnajökull, where blue icebergs drift across the water toward the sea and wash onto the black sand on the…
- Svartifoss – The signature waterfall of Skaftafell, where water falls between black basalt columns hanging like a pipe organ. The round trip takes about…
- Fjallsárlón – A small glacier lagoon 10 km west of Jökulsárlón, where the glacier flows directly into the water. It is quieter and feels more untouched.
- Vatnajökull Blue Ice Caves – In winter, you can explore natural blue ice caves at the base of Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. The translucent walls look like sapphire, maki…
- Stokksnes & Vestrahorn – The jagged peaks of Vestrahorn are reflected in black sand dunes and tidal water, making this one of Iceland’s most iconic photo spots.
- Skaftafell Visitor Centre & Skaftafellsjökull – The gateway to Vatnajökull National Park and the starting point for its trails and glacier tours, where a flat 40-minute walk reaches the t…
- Falljökull Glacier Hike – Walk on the 'Falling Glacier' with a guide and crampons, seeing crevasses, ice potholes and blue ice ridges. It is the most popular glacier…
- Hvannadalshnúkur – Iceland's highest peak, at about 2,110 metres, on the rim of the Öræfajökull volcano. The climb is a 12–15 hour guided glacier ascent.
- Svínafellsjökull – A glacier tongue beside Skaftafell with broken ice towers and a moraine lake right in front, the filming location for Game of Thrones, Inte…
- Höfn – The largest fishing port in the southeast and Iceland's 'langoustine capital', where harbour restaurants serve langoustine soup and langous…
- Hofskirkja – A small turf-roofed church in the Öræfi district, built in the 1880s, and one of only six turf churches still standing in Iceland.
- Ingólfshöfði – Ride a tractor-drawn hay wagon across the tidal flats to the cape, get close to puffins and great skuas, and learn that Iceland's first set…
- Kvíárjökull – A glacier and small lake enclosed by towering moraine ridges, with few visitors, known as the 'secret little ice lake' of Jökulsárlón.
- Múlagljúfur Canyon – A deep canyon covered in lush green moss, with a two-tier waterfall opposite and a glacier in the distance. The round-trip hike takes about…
- Skeiðarársandur & Bridge Memorial – One of the world's largest glacial outwash plains, with twisted steel bridge girders by the roadside from the 1996 glacial flood.
- Hoffell Glacier Lagoon & Hot Tubs – A small glacier lagoon and geothermal hot pots just north of Höfn, where icebergs drift on the water and you can soak in outdoor hot pools…
- Heinabergslón – A quiet lagoon where the glacier flows straight into the water. Kayak tours paddle among the floating icebergs, offering a more intimate ex…
- Lómagnúpur – A giant cliff-faced mountain rising at the western edge of the Skeiðarársandur plain, about 767 m tall, and one of the most dramatic roadsi…
- Kristínartindar Trail – Skaftafell's most classic full-day hike, climbing to a summit of about 1,126 m with views over both the Skaftafell and Morsár glaciers.
Where to eat
- Hali Farm Restaurant (Þórbergssetur Cultural Centre) – A farm restaurant 10 km east of the glacier lagoon, serving traditional Icelandic dishes made with farm-raised Arctic c…
- Heimahumar Langoustine Truck – A popular food truck at the Jökulsárlón car park, serving langoustine rolls and soup made with langoustine from Höfn.
- Frost Restaurant at Fjallsárlón – The only restaurant inside the Fjallsárlón visitor centre. Enjoy soup and hot dishes while looking out at Vatnajökull t…
- Glacier Goodies Food Truck (Skaftafell) – A food truck beside the Skaftafell visitor centre, where you can get a bowl of langoustine soup or fish and chips befor…
Itineraries
- Classic Iceland Ring Road – Drive counter-clockwise around the Ring Road, connecting the Golden Circle, South Coast glaciers, East Fjords, Lake Mýv…
- Grand Iceland Ring Road & Westfjords Self-Drive – Add the Westfjords to the classic Ring Road, using the Baldur ferry to connect back to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.
- Winter Iceland Aurora & Blue Ice Cave Self-Drive – Explore the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Golden Circle, and South Coast in winter, culminating in the Blue Ice Cave at the Gl…