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Vatnajokull National Park

One of the largest glaciers in Europe and the fire beneath it - a UNESCO park of ice caps, volcanoes, ice caves and the green oasis of Skaftafell.

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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.

UNESCO World Heritage

Typenational park

WhereEastern Region

Nearest cityHofn

Best seasonYear-round; winter for ice caves

Time to allowA day to several

Getting thereOn the south-east coast; Skaftafell is about four hours from Reykjavik

EntryFree; guided glacier tours charged

Vatnajokull National Park is built around one of Europe's largest ice caps, a vast glacier hiding active volcanoes beneath it, making it a UNESCO site of fire and ice. It contains glacier tongues, blue ice caves, roaring waterfalls, black deserts and the green oasis of Skaftafell, the classic base for glacier hikes and exploration.

What you actually see

Skaftafell - the green oasis, base for glacier hikes and the Svartifoss waterfall.
Blue ice caves - the natural caves in the glacier, explored in winter with guides.
Glacier tongues - the tongues of ice reaching down to the lowlands.
Svartifoss - the waterfall framed by black basalt columns.

When to go

Summer for glacier hikes, waterfalls and the full green landscape; winter for the natural blue ice caves, which need a guided tour. Each season offers a different face of the ice.

Honest expectations

The glacier must never be walked on without a guide and proper equipment, as crevasses are deadly. Ice caves are winter-only and guided. It is far from Reykjavik, so it needs at least an overnight on the south coast.