Jökulsárlón — Glacier Lagoon★★★
Iceland's Most Magical Place
The Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is breathtakingly beautiful and simultaneously a testament to climate change. At the edge of the Vatnajökull (Europe's largest glacier), massive icebergs calve into a lagoon that has been continuously expanding since the 1930s — today, it is 25 km² large and up to 248 meters deep, the deepest lake in Iceland.
The lagoon did not exist 100 years ago — it only formed when the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier retreated. Today, new icebergs calve daily, slowly drifting toward the sea. Some remain in the lagoon for months, others disappear within days.
The icebergs drift slowly toward the sea, and their colors are surreal: turquoise, crystal blue, white, and black-striped from volcanic ash. The black stripes come from historical volcanic eruptions — the ash was trapped in the glacier and is now reappearing centuries later. Seals frolic in the icy water, and with luck, you might see Arctic foxes on the shore.
The lagoon served as a filming location for James Bond: Die Another Day (2002) and A View to a Kill (1985), for Tomb Raider (2001), and Batman Begins (2005).
Boat Tours on the Lagoon
- Amphibian Boat: 40 min., sails between the icebergs. From 6,500 ISK (43€). The standard tour — the amphibian boat goes from land into the water and back. Ideal for families and beginners
- Zodiac (Inflatable Boat): 1h, closer to the icebergs and glacier edge. From 11,900 ISK (79€). The Zodiac can maneuver between the icebergs and goes directly to the glacier front — you hear the ice cracking and crunching. Intense and highly recommended! The guide breaks off a piece of glacier ice that you can touch (and taste!) — the ice is hundreds to thousands of years old
Both tours from May to October. Book at least 1–2 days in advance, especially in high summer!
The Ring Road Bridge
The single-lane bridge over the lagoon's outflow to the sea is a bottleneck of the Ring Road. Here you can watch icebergs drifting under the bridge into the open sea — sometimes particularly large specimens get stuck for days. From the bridge, you can also regularly see seals lounging on the icebergs.
💡 Tipp
For the best photos: Come in the morning or evening when the sun is low and the icebergs glow in gold and pink. The lagoon constantly changes its face — every visit is different. In winter: The lagoon under the northern lights is one of Iceland's most spectacular natural spectacles. No boat tours in winter, but the shore path is accessible year-round.
