Chasing icebergs: 5 top must-see glaciers in Iceland
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If you are coming to Iceland and want to see those spectacular blue ice giants, then you’ve come to the right place, because I’ve made a list of the top places to see glaciers in Iceland, which are easy to access and don’t require extra equipment.
From the dramatic ashy layers of Sólheimajökull to the iceberg-filled waters of Jökulsárlón, visiting glaciers in Iceland is like visiting the Colosseum in Rome – you simply can’t skip it! During our three-week road trip in Iceland, we managed to visit all the best spots.
In this blog post, you’ll find Iceland’s most spectacular glaciers with photos, descriptions, and locations on Google Maps, so you can add them to your Iceland itinerary. Enjoy your time in the Land of Fire and Ice! Cheers!
1. Sólheimajökull Glacier: Home of the Sun
Located in Southern Iceland, Sólheimajökull is one of the most easily accessible glaciers in Iceland! This is actually the first glacier we visited during our road trip around Iceland!
This beautiful ice giant is actually an outlet glacier of Mýrdalsjökull, the fourth-largest ice cap in the country, and its name translates to Home of the Sun.
The glacier is known for its dramatic mix of bright blue ice and streaks of black volcanic ash from past eruptions. We sent up a drone, and you can clearly see the black ash lines on the ice!
Getting to the glacier is incredibly convenient. Sólheimajökull sits along the way between such popular tourist attractions as Skógafoss Waterfall and Reynisfjara Black Beach, so it is very easy to include in your itinerary.
You can drive up close to the glacier, leave your car in a big parking lot (for a fee), and then walk about 300 meters to the first viewpoint that overlooks the glacier and its lagoon.
If you want to explore it up close, then continue along the same path that leads down to the lagoon right by the water and further up to the big wall of ice.
Yep, you can touch it without a problem, which isn’t always possible at other glaciers in Iceland!
We had enough fun climbing on the side of the glacier, but I do not recommend hiking on it any further without expert guides or proper equipment.
The ice is melting, especially in the summer months, and can break, making it very dangerous to explore alone.
If you are looking for more than a quick look, there are some guided tours available on the glacier as well. After all, a glacier hike is a bucket list thing to do in Iceland, so you might as well do it here! Sólheimajökull is one of the best places in Iceland for such activities!
Location: Sólheimajökull Glacier – Parking lot
2. Jökulsárlón: icy crown jewel of Iceland
Now let’s head to some of the glaciers sliding down the massive Vatnajökull ice cap, the largest one in Iceland and also in Europe (no, we are not counting that larger one in Russia)!
Jökulsárlón, part of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, is the most famous glacier lagoon in Iceland, and it’s definitely the most visited one for a reason!
It is famous for a number of reasons. First of all, it is very accessible. The lagoon sits right by the Ring Road by the coast and is connected to the Atlantic Ocean.
No detours needed – simply pull over and look at giant, 1,000-year-old icebergs floating just meters away.
Second, there are boat tours available that allow you to weave between the massive ice blocks and see them up close.
If you are lucky, like we were, you might even see some curious seals swimming in the lagoon or lounging on the floating ice.
Furthermore, right next to the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, you will find the famous Diamond Beach, one of the most visited places in Iceland.
Jökulsárlón is connected to the ocean by a short river where pieces of ice float out toward the sea.
The ocean waves then push them back onto the shore, leaving the crystal-clear ice chunks shining on the black sand like massive diamonds. The view is magical, especially when the sun hits them!
And finally, Jökulsárlón has been a filming location for everything from James Bond to Game of Thrones! Such a multi-talented glacier!
The only downside to this place is that it can get very crowded because it’s so popular. But even with the crowds, standing on the shore and listening to the icebergs crack and groan is a memorable experience you simply can’t miss!
Location: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – Parking lot
3. Fjallsjökull Glacier
Located just a 10-minute drive from the popular Jökulsárlón, you will find the lesser-known of all the glaciers in Iceland – Fjallsjökull!
If you want to escape the crowds, then head straight to this wonderful lagoon. It was one of my favorite hidden gems we visited in Iceland!
Fjallsjökull and its lagoon, Fjallsárlón, are also part of the Vatnajökull National Park, Europe’s largest glacier. While it is smaller than others, we actually found this spot to be much more intimate and peaceful.
We loved being able to sit on the shore and take in the view!
The water was full of ice chunks when we visited, so I used the opportunity to catch some of them. So cold, haha! If you are looking for that raw, authentic feeling in the Land of Fire and Ice, you definitely cannot miss this place!
Location: Fjallsjökull Glacier – Parking lot
4. Svínafellsjökull: The Hollywood Glacier
Svínafellsjökull is one of the most majestic outlet glaciers of the massive Vatnajökull ice cap, the biggest glacier in Iceland. If it looks familiar to you, it’s probably because you’ve seen it on the big screen!
Svínafellsjökull was featured in Game of Thrones as the place “beyond the wall,” and it has also served as a filming location for Interstellar and Batman Begins.
Getting to this glacier is very easy. There is a dirt road in good condition that leads very close to the glacier. Simply drive as far as you can until you reach the parking lot, and then continue on foot on the path that goes in the direction of the glacier.
The walk is quite short – only about 400 to 500 meters until you reach the very shores of the glacial lake. The big icebergs are very close to the shore, so you can really see the intense blue color and the jagged ridges up close.
This is why I loved this glacier a lot – no need to hike long distances in order to see ice!
When there, make sure to look around at the surrounding peaks. If you turn to your right, you will see a tall, snow-covered mountain, Hvannadalshnúkur. It is the highest peak in Iceland, standing at an impressive 2,110 meters!
Location: Svínafellsjökull Glacier – Svínafellsjökull Parking
5. Skaftafell Glacier
Skaftafellsjökull is another massive outlet of the Vatnajökull ice cap on the South Coast of Iceland.
To visit this glacier, you need to drive to the Skaftafell Visitor Center and then embark on a 20-minute hike up to the rim of the glacier lagoon. Sometimes there’s more water in the field below you, sometimes there’s less (like when we visited!).
The glacier is a geography lesson. It has been melting away at an alarming rate for decades, and along the path, you will see markers showing exactly where the glacier’s edge used to be in recent years.
It has significantly reduced in size due to climate change (and due to volcanic eruptions!).
As you approach the end of the trail, the view is spectacular. You’ll see a large glacier, a lake filled with icebergs, and a wide lava field.
We stopped to admire the glacier from the viewpoint, however, there is a path on the left side of the lava field where you can hike closer to the ice and see it up close!
This is also one of the most popular places for glacier tours, hikes, ice cave tours, ice climbing, and other ice-related activities. If you are looking to do something like that, this is the perfect place for that!
Location: Skaftafellsjökull Glacier – Parking lot
Happy exploring!
We loved exploring these Icelandic glaciers! They form an important part of Iceland’s landscape. From the dramatic, ashy layers of Sólheimajökull to the magical, diamond-filled shores of Jökulsárlón, Iceland’s glaciers are just as diverse as Iceland itself!
We spent around three weeks traveling around Iceland and exploring everything the Land of Fire and Ice had to offer (yes, far beyond the touristy Golden Circle), yet I feel like there are still many more places to discover and experiences to enjoy!
What I love most about Iceland is how packed full of breathtaking places it truly is – mountains, volcanoes, waterfalls, natural ice caves, and these incredible blue glaciers. There’s something for everyone, and I hope you enjoy this country as much as we did!
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