Is Fjallsárlón worth visiting if you have seen Jökulsárlón?

Yes, if you want fewer people and a boat tour without the main lagoon's traffic. The park describes it as popular with people who want fewer crowds, but it is a smaller lagoon (about 4 km² against 25 km²), so choose Jökulsárlón if you only have time for one.

How long is the Fjallsárlón boat tour?

The operator gives about 75 minutes in total. Its FAQ says roughly 45 of those minutes are on the water, with the rest spent getting kitted out.

How far is Fjallsárlón from Jökulsárlón?

The national park gives 10 km. Fjallsárlón is the western of the two, so you reach it first when driving east from Skaftafell.

Is parking free at Fjallsárlón?

The operator's site describes the parking as free and plentiful. Jökulsárlón, by contrast, has a national park regional fee, so confirm the signs when you arrive.

Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon: A Quieter Alternative to Jökulsárlón

Distance from Jökulsárlón, according to the national park: 10 km
Lagoon area, against about 25 km² at Jökulsárlón (Wikipedia): 4 km²
Total length of the operator's open zodiac iceberg tour; minimum age 5: 75 min

What it is and whether it is worth your time

Fjallsárlón is a lagoon in front of Fjallsjökull, another outlet of the Vatnajökull ice cap. Wikipedia gives its area as 4.0 km², and the Öræfajökull volcano rises above it. The park points visitors here if they want a glacier lagoon with fewer people around.

It is smaller than its neighbour, which Wikipedia puts at about 25 km², so do not expect the same wide spread of icebergs. What you get is a quieter shore, a view of the glacier landscape and its own boat tour. If you can only fit one lagoon into your day, Jökulsárlón is the bigger one. If you plan both, do Fjallsárlón first, because it comes first on the road from Skaftafell.

How it compares with Jökulsárlón

Size: about 4 km² against about 25 km².
Glacier: Fjallsjökull here, Breiðamerkurjökull at Jökulsárlón.
Boats: open zodiacs only at Fjallsárlón. Jökulsárlón also has the larger amphibian boat.
Price at our October 2026 check: the Fjallsárlón iceberg tour was ISK 11,300 (about €83). At Jökulsárlón the zodiac was ISK 16,600 (about €122) and the amphibian ISK 7,100 (about €52).
Season: Fjallsárlón listed April to November. Jökulsárlón listed amphibians from May to November and zodiacs from May to October.
Parking: the Fjallsárlón operator says it is free. Jökulsárlón has the national park’s regional fee.

Euro figures use the 14 October 2026 rate of about ISK 136 to the euro.

What to do and how long to allow

Walking to the shore takes minutes. The park lists toilets and a cafeteria next to the car park, and the operator runs a restaurant called Frost. The park’s B4 trail to the lagoon is 1.5 km and about 45 minutes, but it rates the path challenging, so do not treat it as a stroll. The longer B3 Breiðármörk trail links the two lagoons over 15 km and takes 4 to 5 hours, also rated challenging.

The sandy plain around the lagoons is a nesting ground for birds such as the great skua, the red-throated diver and two kinds of goose, the park says. Keep to the paths.

Allow about 75 minutes for the boat tour, plus time to park and check in.

Boat tour (checked October 2026)

The operator’s own pages are at fjallsarlon.is. At our check:

The tour: open zodiac boats, about 75 minutes in total and about 45 on the water, running from April to November. The price was ISK 11,300 (about €83).
Who can go: minimum age 5, and under-14s must travel with an adult. Each boat takes up to 12 people.
Kit: a flotation jacket and life vest are provided. Wear warm layers, a hat, gloves and closed shoes.
Meeting point: the Fjallsárlón tour reception, behind the Frost restaurant. Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.
Booking and weather: the operator strongly recommends booking ahead, since tours often sell out in peak season. If it cancels for weather or safety reasons, you get a full refund.

The operator also sells private and luxury boat trips and, in winter, ice cave trips. Its FAQ says natural ice cave season usually runs from mid-October to mid-April, depending on weather. Our ice caves page covers that side. At the time of writing the Fjallsárlón boat is not among the options on our tours page, so book it directly with the operator.

Getting there from Skaftafell

The park puts Fjallsárlón 10 km from Jökulsárlón and slightly further west, so it sits between Skaftafell and the bigger lagoon. The operator describes a short turn off the Ring Road, which is Route 1. Our getting there page covers the drive.

One practical tip: stay off the ice

Visit South Iceland warns never to step onto floating ice in a lagoon, as it can roll over or break apart without warning. That applies to any block that has drifted against the shore. Book the boat if you want to be near the ice, and stay on the shore if you do not.

How it fits with a Svartifoss day

A lagoon trip is a long day after the Skaftafell walks in our main guide, so most people pick one lagoon. Fjallsárlón saves a little driving and avoids the main car park at Jökulsárlón. On the way back, Hofskirkja is a quick stop on Route 1. For general safety planning, see our safety page.