Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Iceland

Jökulsárlón is one of the most spectacular natural landmarks in Iceland. We spent a couple of hours admiring the ice sculptures and exploring the scenery.

In this travel guide, I’ll share useful information to help you plan a trip to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon

Jökulsárlón is a glacier river lagoon located right beside the Ring Road between Höfn and Skaftafell.

This magnificent natural wonder hosts luminous blue icebergs from Breiðamerkurjökull, an offshoot of Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajökull.

Diamond beach

After exploring Jökulsárlón, we walked across the road to Diamond beach.

Ice boulders and icebergs rest photogenically on the black-sand beach before their final journey to the sea. I caught a bit of light illuminating the icebergs, which was beautiful. 

Things to do at Jökulsárlón & Diamond beach

Take a boat trip

In the summer, several boat trips depart the eastern car park by the cafe.

During the excursion, you’ll sail among the gigantic icebergs and get a close-up look at the beautiful icebergs.

The trip usually lasts about 40 minutes and includes an English-speaking guide who explains the lagoon’s geology and facts.

Walk along the shore.

Walking along the shore, you can get close to the icebergs and crystals.

We went here during the sunset, and the whole area was breathtaking. The sky was lighted in pink, blended with the striking color of the ice crystals.

I’d never seen any glacier lagoon before, and I was stunned. It was indeed a once-a-lifetime experience and probably my favorite moment on the trip.

I also love listening to the cracking sound of the icebergs and seeing them fluctuate towards the river mouth. 

Hike the Breiðármörk Trail

If you love hiking, you can take a walking trail from the western car park at Jökulsárlón to the lagoons Breiðárlón (10km one way) and Fjallsárlón (15.3km).

How to get from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón by car?

You can drive along the Route 1 to get to Jökulsárlón from Reykjavik. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours, and the scenery along the way is awe-inspiring.

I recommend stopping at famous landmarks and making a couple of day trips. We didn’t reach Jökulsárlón until day 5, and we visited several spots along the way.

Parking: You can find car parks on the ocean side of Ring Road, on both sides of the bridge over the river.

How to get from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón by bus?

Sterna Bus

In July and August, you can take Sterna Bus 12/12a from Reykjavík (8¾ hours, 12,000kr) or at several towns along the South coast to Jökulsárlón runs daily.

The bus returns to Vík after two hours at the lagoon. You can stay overnight and return to Reykjavík the following day (return from Reykjavík 24,000kr).