Jökulsárlón Lagoon
About
What It Is
Jökulsárlón is a large glacial lake in the southern section of Vatnajökull National Park, southeastern Iceland, situated where the outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull meets the sea [1][2]. The lagoon began forming around 1934–35 as the glacier retreated, and it has grown continuously since then, now covering roughly 25 km2 and reaching depths exceeding 284 m, making it the deepest lake in Iceland as of 2009 [1]. The glacier front sits approximately 8 km from the ocean, and the lake has expanded fourfold since the 1970s as glacial melt accelerates [1]. In 2017, the Icelandic State purchased the surrounding land and incorporated it into Vatnajökull National Park [1].
Activities & Experiences
Visitors can take two types of guided boat tours among the icebergs: a 35-minute amphibious vehicle tour and a one-hour Zodiac boat tour, with the Zodiac allowing closer approach to the ice formations [2]. The lagoon and its icebergs are viewable from a large parking area on the east side of the lagoon, and a second elevated viewpoint with a smaller parking area sits on the west side [2]. A nearby beach receives ice blocks washed in from the lagoon; the east-side beach is oriented for sunrise viewing in winter, while the west-side beach aligns well for sunset [2]. Wildlife watching is also possible, as seals regularly swim in the lagoon or rest on icebergs, and seabirds including Arctic terns and skuas gather to feed, particularly in summer [1][2].
Practical Access
The lagoon sits directly on Route 1, the Ring Road, roughly 50 km from Skaftafell and 60 km west of Hofn, and is accessible by private car or public bus, with buses able to drop passengers at the site [2]. Parking areas are available on both the east and west sides of the lagoon, with additional parking tracks near the beach a few hundred meters from the road [2]. There is no entrance fee to visit the lagoon [2]. Boat tours operate from 1 May to 15 November; as of December 2021, the amphibious vehicle tour costs 6,000 kr for adults (13 and over) and 3,000 kr for children aged 6–12, with infants free, while the Zodiac tour costs 11,000 kr for adults and 5,800 kr for children aged 10–12 [2]. A small on-site office handles tour bookings and sells light refreshments including coffee, soup, and hotdogs [2].
Restrictions
Children under 1.3 m in height are not permitted on the Zodiac boat tour [2]. Skuas nesting around the lake in summer are known to act aggressively toward people who approach their nests [1][2]. Visitors are advised to stay alert near the beach due to the risk of large rogue waves that can sweep people into the sea [2].
What Makes It Distinctive
Jökulsárlón is the largest and most active glacial lake in Iceland, and its icebergs appear in two distinct shades — milky white and bright blue — produced by the interplay of trapped air, light, and ice crystals [1]. Some icebergs carry visible layers of volcanic ash from ancient eruptions, giving them a naturally sculpted appearance unlike ice formations found elsewhere [1]. The lagoon has served as a filming location for four Hollywood productions, including two James Bond films, and was commemorated on an Icelandic postage stamp in 1991 [1][2]. Its position directly on the Ring Road makes it one of the most accessible major glacial landscapes in Iceland, reachable without specialist equipment or guided overland travel [2].
Sources
- Best months: May–September
- Typical duration: 3h
Access & fees
- book tours at icelagoon.is/booking/
Things to do
- northern lights viewing (winter, weather permitting)
- take a boat tour (amphibian)
- take a boat tour (zodiac)
- view floating icebergs
- visit diamond beach
- walk along the lagoon shoreline
- watch sunrise or sunset
- wildlife photography
Best time to visit
- summer (may–september): boat tours, wildlife, long daylight
- winter (october–march): blue ice, northern lights, dramatic scenery
Features
- family friendly
- pet friendly (on a leash)
Photos
