Jökulsárlón
Höfn, Iceland
A glacier lagoon full of icebergs that drift out to a black-sand beach.
The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon lies in south-east Iceland on the Ring Road, about 80 km west of Höfn and roughly 380 km from Reykjavík. It is fed by Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, and formed from the 1930s onwards as the glacier retreated. Today it covers about 25 km² (as of October 2026) and is more than 200 m deep, making it the deepest lake in Iceland. Icebergs break off the glacier and drift out to sea through the short outlet channel.
Many icebergs wash up on Diamond Beach, a black-sand beach on the other side of the road, a walk of about 5 to 10 minutes. One car park serves both the lagoon and the beach; it is charged, with payment by app (as of October 2026). Summer brings long days and boat tours, while in winter there is particularly a lot of ice to see. Allow at least one to two hours.
- Nearest town
- Höfn, Iceland
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 64.0784, -16.2306
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Iceland: No motorway tolls for cars. Many roads are gravel; F-roads need a 4×4. Motorway limit for cars: 90 km/h.
Featured in these trip guides
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Nearby
© Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 4.0Fjallsárlón
© Giles Laurent · CC BY-SA 4.0Svartifoss
© Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and if you want send me a message. or… · CC BY-SA 4.0Stokksnes and Vestrahorn
© Andrés Nieto Porras from Palma de Mallorca, España · CC BY-SA 2.0Fjaðrárgljúfur
FAQs
Where is Jökulsárlón?
Jökulsárlón is in Höfn, Iceland, at GPS 64.0784, -16.2306. It is about 114 km from Djúpivogur.
Which road trips pass Jökulsárlón?
Jökulsárlón is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Iceland’s south coast.
What is there to see near Jökulsárlón?
Places worth a stop nearby: Fjallsárlón (10 km), Svartifoss (37 km), Stokksnes and Vestrahorn (64 km) and Fjaðrárgljúfur (101 km).
When is the best time to visit Jökulsárlón?
Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)