Glaciers of Iceland
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Glaciers cover about 11% of Iceland, and active volcanoes lie beneath many of them. The table below gathers six of the best known glaciers with their area, type and region, while the FAQ answers questions about glacier hikes, ice caves and melting.
Glaciers of Iceland: area, type and region
| Glacier | Area, km² | Type | Region | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vatnajökull | 7,700 | Ice cap | Southeast | Largest in Iceland, ~8% of the country |
| Langjökull | 870 | Ice cap | West, highlands | Man-made ice tunnel |
| Sólheimajökull | — | Outlet glacier | South | Retreats ~60 m/year |
| Svínafellsjökull | — | Outlet glacier | Southeast, Skaftafell | Game of Thrones filming |
| Snæfellsjökull | ~10 | Ice cap on a volcano | West, Snæfellsnes | Volcano from Verne's novel |
| Fjallsárlón | 4.0 | Glacial lagoon | Southeast | Icebergs, near Jökulsárlón |
| Jökulsárlón | ~20 | glacial lagoon | Southeast | icebergs + Diamond Beach |
Places7
FAQ4
Can you walk on a glacier on your own?
No. You should only go onto the ice with a guide and crampons: the surface is riddled with crevasses, often hidden under snow, so walking alone is dangerous.
Which is the largest glacier in Iceland?
Vatnajökull. It covers about 8% of the country and is the largest glacier in Iceland.
Can you visit an ice cave?
Yes. Natural crystal ice caves are visited in winter and only with a guide, since in summer they are unsafe due to melting. Langjökull also has a man-made ice tunnel open all year.
Is it true that Iceland's glaciers are melting?
Yes. Sólheimajökull shrinks by about 60 metres a year, and the small Ok glacier was officially declared 'dead' in 2019.