- When the lagoon began to form as Breiðamerkurjökull retreated
- 1930s
- Lagoon area today, up from about 8 km² in 1975
- 25 km²
- East of Skaftafell, according to Wikipedia and Visit South Iceland
- 60 km
What it is and whether it is worth the drive
Jökulsárlón is a lagoon at the front of Breiðamerkurjökull, one of the southern outlets of the Vatnajökull ice cap. The park says lakes began to appear here in the 1930s as the glacier pulled back. Wikipedia puts the lagoon at about 25 km² today, up from about 8 km² in 1975.
Chunks of ice break off the glacier and drift towards a shallow outlet. They melt down there and slip out to sea, and some end up on the black beach across Route 1, which we cover on the Diamond Beach page.
From Skaftafell this is one of the longest drives in this guide, and the park lists the lagoons among the most popular places to visit in Iceland, so expect company. If you have one day and want to hike, Svartifoss and the glacier walk will fill it. With a second day, the lagoon is the best use of the drive. Start with the main Svartifoss guide if you have not planned the Skaftafell side yet.
What to do and how long to allow
The simplest visit is a walk. The park’s B1 trail is 1.2 km, about 15 minutes and easy. It heads north from the main car park towards the glacier and up the low ridge called Helguhóll. A visitor path with information boards runs from the Eystri-Fellsfjara car park under the road bridges to the main area. The park asks you not to walk over the bridge, so use the path underneath.
There are flush toilets and privately run restaurants at the lagoon, and Visit Vatnajökull lists the café as open all year. Seals sometimes rest on the ice, but Visit South Iceland says sightings vary by season and conditions.
Allow the walk, time to park and queue, and the boat if you take one. The boats are the main reason to plan a longer stop.
Boat tours (checked October 2026)
The operator’s own site is icelagoon.is. At our October 2026 check:
- Amphibian boat: 30 to 40 minutes among the icebergs with an English-speaking guide. It runs from May to November. Adults (13 and over) paid ISK 7,100 (about €52), children aged 6 to 12 ISK 3,500 (about €26), and under-6s were free.
- Zodiac: 1 hour 15 minutes in a small open boat, with flotation suits and life jackets provided. It runs from May to October. Adults paid ISK 16,600 (about €122) and ages 10 to 12 ISK 8,300 (about €61). When conditions allow, the operator says it goes close to the glacier. Check in 30 minutes before departure.
- Hours: tours ran from 10am to 5pm in May, 9am to 7pm from June to September, and 10am to 5pm from October to 15 November. The operator says the amphibian runs about 40 trips a day in July and August.
Euro figures use the 14 October 2026 rate of about ISK 136 to the euro. The zodiac page gives a minimum of 10 years old or 130 cm tall, while the operator’s FAQ mentions only the height, so check before booking for children. Wind and ice conditions can change or cancel departures.
Kayaking on the lagoon is also offered, according to Visit Vatnajökull. From October to April the operator’s tour list links to a separate company’s glacier trip of 2.5 to 3 hours. Winter ice cave options are on our ice caves page.
For a plain boat ride, booking with the operator is simple. Our tours page lists kayaking and ice cave tours through GetYourGuide, where we earn a commission on bookings.
Parking and the area fee
The park charges a regional fee at the Jökulsárlón car parks, payable in the Parka app or online, as the park’s fee page explains. The park’s price list, checked October 2026, showed ISK 1,110 (about €8) for a car with up to five seats, valid until midnight on the day you pay. If you have already paid at another fee-based area that day, such as Skaftafell, the park gives 50% off the second fee.
The main car park has closed briefly for building work. The two Fellsfjara car parks across the road stayed open each time, so check the park’s news page before you set off.
Getting there from Skaftafell
Wikipedia and Visit South Iceland both put the lagoon about 60 km from Skaftafell. Route 1 runs past it, with the lagoon on the north side and the beach on the south. Fjallsárlón is 10 km west, so you reach it first when driving from Skaftafell. Reindeer winter on the eastern side of the plain and can run across the road, the park warns. Our getting there page covers the drive from Reykjavík.
One practical tip: stay off the ice
Visit South Iceland warns never to step onto floating ice in the lagoon, because it can roll over or break apart without warning. The same sense applies to any stranded block on the shore. Keep to the paths, and if you want to be close to the ice, let a boat do it.
How it fits with a Svartifoss day
The Svartifoss, Sjónarsker and Sel loop is 5.8 km and about 2 hours by the park’s figures, and our Svartifoss hike page has the route. A morning walk followed by an afternoon at the lagoon works if you start early, but you will be on the road for a long stretch. Staying nearer the lagoon cuts the driving, so see our where to stay page. If you want a quieter lagoon with its own boat tour, see Fjallsárlón.
