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CanyonSouth Coast

Eldgjá

South Coast, IcelandStay behind rim edges
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CanyonSouth Coast

Eldgjá

South Coast, IcelandStay behind rim edges

About

Eldgjá is a volcano and a canyon in Iceland. Eldgjá is part of the Katla volcano; it is a segment of a 40 kilometres (25 mi) long chain of volcanic craters and fissure vents that extends northeast away from Katla volcano almost to the Vatnajökull ice cap.

A unique Icelandic experience. Worth your time.

Check local conditions before visiting. Iceland's weather changes fast.

Map of Eldgjá

Eldgjá is on Iceland's South Coast at 63.9667°N, 18.6092°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Eldgjá on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Off the main road
32.7 km from Route 1
Nearest town
Kirkjubæjarklaustur — 34.6 km away
Distance from Reykjavík
163 km in a straight line
What else is close
121 mapped places within 20 km

Eldgjá weather and conditions

At Eldgjá in South Coast, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 06:15 (Iceland time): 1°C (feels like -4°C), clear, wind 5 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 40 m (sunrise 05:55, sunset 20:35). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 06:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

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Visit now · Open year-round · 30 min stop · Visibility —
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Daily conditions for your trip

Roads, weather, and aurora for your exact travel dates — one short email each morning, nothing else. Unsubscribe any time.

Photos & videos

No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Eldgjá, no lookalikes. Search YouTube

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

How do I get to Eldgjá?
Eldgjá is located in South Coast. Check live road conditions on this page before you drive — some highland canyons are reached by F-road and need a 4×4, and those routes only open in summer.
Is Eldgjá safe to visit?
Treat every canyon rim as loose and undercut. Stay on any marked path, keep well back from unmarked edges, and remember that rock gets slippery when wet. Iceland's weather changes fast — canyon conditions can differ from the surrounding area.
Do I need a guide for Eldgjá?
No — Eldgjá can be visited on your own. The care is in staying on the trail and away from the edge, not in needing a guide. Never climb down into a gorge that has no marked route.
When is the best time to visit Eldgjá?
Summer gives the clearest access, especially if the road in is a gravel or F-road that closes for winter. Check live road status before you drive, and bring layers — it can be several degrees colder and windier inside a canyon.

Nearby

km column = your drive

  1. 1Sveinsgil19 km
  2. 2Fjaðrárgljúfur31 km
  3. 3Markarfljótsgljúfur46 km
  4. 4Raufargil50 km
  5. 5Hvítárgljúfur55 km

Hot Springs

#1.Strútslaug
19 km·~23 min drive

Pool hot spring

#2.Geothermal hot spring near Rangárþing ytra
21 km·~26 min drive

Natural hot spring

#3.Landmannalaugar Hot River
22 km·~27 min drive

Highland hot river where streams mix - find your perfect temperature spot. Surrounded by…

#4.Brennisteinsalda
22 km·~27 min drive

Natural hot spring

4 hot springs near South Coast

Campsites

#1.Skælingar
4.5 km·~5 min drive

Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Facilities…

#2.Hólaskjól
6.5 km·~8 min drive

The camping site Hólaskjól is on the way to the highlands

#3.Strútslaug
19 km·~23 min drive

Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Iceland's…

#4.Landmannalaugar
22 km·~27 min drive

The colorful highland hot spring campsite. Rainbow rhyolite mountains, natural hot pools,…

4 campsites near South Coast

Supermarkets

#1.Gvendarkjör
34 km·~41 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#2.Krónan
64 km·~77 min drive

Krónan supermarket — supplies

#3.Krambúð
85 km·~102 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

#4.Kjörbúðin
89 km·~107 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near South Coast

Gas stations

#1.Kirkjubæjarklaustur
34 km·~41 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#2.Hrauneyjar
42 km·~50 min drive

Olís · 315.8 kr/L petrol

#3.Vík í Mýrdal
64 km·~77 min drive

Orkan · 308.2 kr/L petrol

#4.Árnes
80 km·~97 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near South Coast

Tours

#1.Adrenaline Combo: Off-Road Buggy & Mega Zipline Experience
3 hours

The Buggy Iceland and Mega Zipline Combo Tour offers an exhilarating adventure for thrill-seekers exploring Iceland.

from 29.300 ISKView tour →
#2.Buggy Adventure-Þórsmörk
5 hours

"Þórsmörk has a spot in every Icelander's heart.

from 89.990 ISKView tour →
#3.Bus transfer from Landmannalaugar to Hella / Reykjavik
4 hours

Our transfer service offers a comfortable and safe way to travel from the heart of Iceland's highlands, Landmannalaugar, to the…

from 12.220 ISKView tour →
3 tours near South Coast

Data & sources

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