A Guide to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon in Iceland — LAIDBACK TRIP (2024)

As you probably know, Iceland has an epic nickname. It is often called the Land of Ice and Fire.

During your trip, regardless of whether you travelRing Roadclockwise or counterclockwise, you've already probably seen many volcanoes, the source of the fire.

Today it's time to explore the element of ice. And we couldn't wish for a better place than Jökulsárlón in Vatnajökull National Park.

The scenic drive between Vik i Myrdal and Höfn in Southeast Iceland offers one of those experiences that you will never forget.

It features an endless list of fantastic stops such asFjadrargljufur CanyonorSkaftafell National Park.

But the true highlight of almost every singleIceland itineraryis something else.

It's the iconic Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

This Iceland's deepest glacial lake, located in the biggest national park in the country, Vatnajökull National Park, is an unparalleled natural wonder.

Jokulsarlon is a strikingly blue lagoon featuring huge chunks of icebergs drifting into the Atlantic Ocean, with a short stopover on a so-called Diamond Beach.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon is a well-known location for keen photographers and adventurous travelers who want to get to the icebergs as close as possible.

In general, it is a must-see attraction for anyone who loves nature at its very best.

This travel guide includes everything you should know about visiting Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

You will also learn more about the famous Diamond Beach just across the road and less-traveled Fjallsarlon Lagoon.

These three natural sights should be on your itinerary when traveling the southern stretch of the Ring Road.

Nowadays, travelers to Iceland cannot imagine their trip without taking photos of the smaller yet cute Fjallsarlon Lagoon, exploring Jokulsarlon Lagoon both from the shore or on a boat trip, or watching how the ice slowly migrates to the ocean and then back to the black sand beach.

History

Therefore, it is hard to imagine that Jokulsarlon Lagoon has only recently celebrated its 100th birthday.

Around 1920, Breiðamerkurjökull, an outlet of the Vatnajökull Glacier, started to melt and created this lagoon.

Many other glacier lagoons in the area have a very similar origin story.

When standing on the shore of Jokulsarlon Glacier, it is not easy to forget that climate change is a threat that the entire planet has to deal with.

Name

To be honest, Jokulsarlon was one of the few names we were able to pronounce and remember even after we returned home, as some other Icelandic names were real tongue twisters.

We are looking at you, Seljalandsfoss and Namafjall Hverir.

One of the main reasons why we could not wait to visit this place, together with the epic photos you can see everywhere, was that we did not have to refer to it as that lagoon with icebergs or that waterfall you can walk behind.

Jokulsarlon literally means glacier's river lagoon. Well, locals could not have given the lagoon a more fitting name.

How Much Time Do I Need

It's not easy to answer this question. Every traveler has a different itinerary and preferences, so it's highly individual.

If this is just a quick photo stop, then 15 minutes for Jokulsarlon and additional 15 minutes for Diamon Beach should be enough. You probably can skip Fjallsarlon entirely if time is pressing.

We spent about three hours at Jokulsarlon, including the Diamond Beach and Fjallsarlon Lagoon.

We didn't take any of the tours, although we spent quite some time walking along the beach.

Keep in mind that the boat tours take between thirty minutes to one hour, and the glacier tours usually four to six hours.

Camping

Remember that there is no campsite at Jokulsarlon, and wild camping is not allowed in Iceland.

As we traveled by car, we spent the night before visiting Jokulsarlon in Skaftafell Campsite and the night after at the Djupivogur Campsite.

Here, you can read our guide oncamping in Icelandto learn more.

It is pretty obvious what is the main attraction here and what are the best things to see and do at Jokulsarlon.

It's the massive glacier, deep-blue lagoon, wildlife, and floating icebergs.

Wildlife, weather, and floating icebergs are random, so be prepared that your experience might be completely different from ours.

When you plan yourtrip to Iceland, it is hard, if not impossible, to avoid seeing those incredible, almost otherwordly sunset or sunrise photos of the Jokulsarlon Lagoon.

Same as it is challenging to avoid photos of floating icebergs, it is also almost impossible to avoid the rain during your holiday, as the weather in Iceland can be very unpredictable.

South Coast is one of the rainiest places in the country, and we had a firsthand experience with this fact.

Fortunately, we had seen a four-hour-long rainless gap on the forecast weather radar for the next day, so we got up at 5 AM and enjoyed both lagoons and the beach without getting drenched to the bone.

Still, even though we were in Iceland in the summer, the weather did not exactly cooperate when we arrived at Jokulsarlon.

Despite the weather forecast, it was a drizzly morning accompanied by fog and clouds, and we have to admit that the weather conditions were far from ideal.

To be completely honest, Jokulsarlon Lagoon was one of two places in Iceland that did not live up to our expectations.

One of those places was the super famousKirkjufellsfoss, and the other one was Jokulsarlon.

It's not that these places are not worth a trip. It's just the massive hype can be a burden at times.

As the tours were not running this early in the morning, the only thing we could do was explore the area on foot.

So we walked along the lagoon's shore, watched the slowly floating icebergs, and enjoyed the area's serenity from the well-maintained trail.

While it was delightful to enjoy Jokulsarlon without crowds, we arrived here after the iceberg show was over.

As it was the turn of June and July, there were not many icebergs floating on the water surface near the shores.

We could only see more of them at the tongue of the glacier far in the distance. And we barely saw the glacier as the low clouds were rolling over the lake.

For sure, we do sound too negative right now, as it's partly our fault.

We haven't read much about Jokulsarlon before the trip, which turned out to be probably the source of our disappointment, together with the bad weather.

Still, due to its accessibility, Jokulsarlon was worth visiting, and it is rightfully among the top things to see and do in Iceland.

Our personal experience was not as mind-blowing as we had expected from the pictures or witnessed ourselves in places such as Patagonia'sPerito Moreno Glacieror Grey Glacier.

On the other hand, the advantage of visiting Iceland in the summer is that it's the bird's nesting season.

Some of those icebergs we could see floating nearby were packed with birds, which was quite an unusual sight.

When we talk about wildlife, except for the birds, it is possible to spot seals swimming in the cold waters or sleeping on the beach.

Watching the remaining icebergs leaving the lagoon and heading toward the ocean's open waters through a narrow channel and under the bridge was fun too.

And the nearby Fjallsarlon and Diamond Beach make this experience even better.

So the only advice we can give you is to lower your expectations to have a better trip.

It seems that every Jokulsarlon experience is fairly random, and many factors affect it.

It's a known fact that Iceland is home to some of the most beautiful black sand beaches in the world.

The most famous one isReynisfjara Beachfeaturing the stunning basalt columns and sea stacks.

Among other ones is, for example, the beach atSolheimasandur Plane Wreck.

Did you know there is one more world-renowned black sand beach just a few hundred meters from Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon?

Breidarmerkursandur, more commonly known as Diamond Beach, is absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth your time.

It is just across the road from the Jokulsarlon parking lot, so it is only up to you whether you get there on foot or drive there by car.

If you want to stay active, follow the trail that connects the lagoon with the beach.

It leads under the bridge, so you do not have to cross the road, even though the traffic is not heavy here.

Diamond Beach has two parking lots, one on each side of the bridge.

It is only up to you which side of Diamond Beach you decide to explore. We recommend exploring both of them if you have time.

Where did Diamond Beach get its name?

It is basically a name made up by tourists who compared large gleaming and melting ice flanks sitting on black sand to diamonds.

Crystal clear icebergs sitting on the black beach create a wonderful contrast.

That's why Diamond Beach is a paradise for enthusiast photographers and is often considered one of the best photo spots in Iceland.

The best thing about visiting Diamond Beach?

You must find your own diamond!

It is only up to you how long you decide to spend on the beach and how far you want to walk, as it all depends on your itinerary and the current weather.

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Only a short drive from Jokulsarlon Lagoon lies a smaller but also less crowded Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

The outlet glacier is Fjallsjökull, but like the Jokulsarlon, it originates from Vatnajökull, the largest ice cap in Europe.

Fjallsarlon also offers boat trips like its more famous neighbor, or you can explore this area on foot. The trail is well-maintained and clearly visible.

As we visited this site early in the morning, the office was still closed.

However, we could enjoy the quiet atmosphere without crowds, where only the large parking lot provided a hint that this place expects more visitors later in the day.

Even though this glacier lagoon cannot compete with Jokulsarlon in terms of size or popularity, it is equally beautiful when the conditions are perfect.

Moreover, it's easily accessible, so you should really consider including it in your itinerary.

There is no entrance fee to Jokulsarlon Lagoon, which makes it so appealing to everyone who travels around Iceland on a budget.

Diamond Beach and Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon are also free to visit.

You can also join a tour which is obviously not free.

You can visit the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon year-round and any time of the day if you plan to observe the lagoon from the shore.

Summer

The summer season can be really busy here. The peak season at Jokulsarlon is approximately between June and August.

This period is regarded to be the best time to visit Iceland in general.

To avoid crowds, we recommend you arrive either early in the morning before tour buses start to fill up the parking lot or later in the evening once they're gone.

Most travelers visitIceland in the summer, and you will enjoy the lagoon during this period as well.

Although, we think it is not the same experience as in the off-season.

Even though the area is quite cold and windy regardless of the season, the summer months are more suitable for exploring the lagoon on a boat.

Off-Season

In our opinion, the best time to visit Jolkulsarlon is from the late autumn till the early months of spring, let's say from November to April.

During the spring, the lagoon will be at its best as the glacier will be melting, and icebergs will be huge and plentiful.

However, no boat tours are available during this period.

Jokulsarlon is located just off Ring Road, and it is really impossible to miss this attraction.

Jokulsarlon is 380 kilometers east of Reykjavik. However, it took us more than two days to get here as there were so many places to see on the South Coast.

Egilsstadir is 330 kilometers northeast of Jokulsarlon, but it takes another full day to get there if you want to get the most out of East Fjords.

Parking

Parking at Jokulsarlon is free.

While it might be tempting, remember that overnight parking is not allowed at Jokulsarlon.

Public Transport

When traveling by public transport, bus 51 departs fromReykjavikand connects some of the popular places in south Iceland, such as Selfoss, Skogar, Skaftafell, and Jokulsarlon.

Therefore, it is possible to get to Jokulsarlon by bus if youtravel on a budgetor simply decide to explore the country without a car.

The only disadvantage is that you will lose flexibility and miss quite a few stops along the way.