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Vatnshellir

Guided tour requiredModeratehelmet, flashlight
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CaveWest Iceland

Vatnshellir

West IcelandGuided tour requiredModeratehelmet, flashlight

About

A cave in West Iceland. Formed by volcanic activity over centuries.

Bring a light and watch the shadows play on ancient rock walls. Iceland from the inside.

Formed during volcanic eruptions when lava flowed beneath a hardened crust. When the lava drained, it left behind these tunnels.

Some caves require booking tours in advance. Check before driving out to remote locations.

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Plan your visit to Vatnshellir

Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Vatnshellir

Map

64.7481°N, 23.8180°W · West Iceland

Plan your visit

Getting there
Road 574 (Hellnar-Helliss.)
Off the main road
17.6 km from Route 54
Nearest town
Ólafsvík — 17 km away
Distance from Reykjavík
112 km in a straight line
What else is close
185 mapped places within 20 km

Tours near Vatnshellir

Vatnshellir Lava Cave Tourfrom 5.900 ISK · 50 minSnæfellsjökull Glacier Snow-cat Tourfrom 18.000 ISK · 3 hBuggy tours around Snæfellsjökull. 1 hour tourfrom 17.900 ISK · 1 hBuggy tours around Snæfellsjökull. 2 hour tourfrom 26.900 ISK · 2 h 30 minWhale Watching Ólafsvík - Snaefellsnesfrom 14.000 ISK · 3 hSnæfellsjökullfrom 59.900 ISK · 6 hATV Tour - Snæfellsjökull Glacier & Lava Fieldsfrom 19.900 ISK · 2 hSnæfellsnes Peninsula Tour from Grundarfjordur Portfrom 26.240 ISK · 5 hPuffin Tourfrom 8.500 ISK · 1 h 30 min
All 1,648 tours
ToursIn season nowInto The Glacier - From Húsafellfrom 27.900 ISK · 4 hSnowmobile on Langjökull Glacier - Meet us in Husafellfrom 33.490 ISK · 2 hGolden Circle and Laugarás Lagoon Lerki Admissionfrom 23.039 ISK · 9 h 30 minAll 1,648 toursBy activity and region

Vatnshellir weather and conditions

Last updated

6°Covercast · feels 1°C6 m/swind9 h 47 mdaylight · 08:27 – 18:14
In season now · Winter in IcelandInto The Glacier - From Húsafellfrom 27.900 ISK · 4 h
See the tour
All 1,648 tours

Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellationKEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Dacia Duster 4x4
SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol/diesel
Seats5
Drive4WD
From
5,355 kr6,300 kr/day
Reserve −12%
VW Caravelle
9-seater

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic
FuelDiesel
Seats9
Drive2WD
From
12,750 kr15,000 kr/day
Reserve −12%
Key Camper Wild Duo
Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

TransmissionManual
FuelPetrol
Sleeps2
Drive4WD
From
5,304 kr6,240 kr/day
Reserve −12%

Photos & videos

Vatnshellir — photo by Domenico Convertini from Zurich, Schweiz · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: Domenico Convertini from Zurich, Schweiz · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0

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

Nearby

km column = your drive

  1. 1Sönghellir7 km
  2. 2Vegamannahellir8 km
  3. 3Draugarlág9 km
  4. 4Grasholshellir15 km
  5. 5Búðahellir20 km
All caves in West Iceland →

Waterfalls

  1. 1Rauðfeldsgjá10 km
  2. 2Snekkjufoss13 km
  3. 3Klukkufoss13 km
All waterfalls →

Hot springs

  1. 1Geothermal hot spring near Snæfellsbær30 km
  2. 2Natural hot pot near Grundarfjarðarbær33 km
  3. 3Geothermal hot spring near Grundarfjarðarbær42 km
All hot springs →

Fuel

  1. 1Arnarstapi9 km · 308.7 kr/L
  2. 2Ólafsvík17 km · 310.9 kr/L
  3. 3Hellissandur19 km · 310.9 kr/L
All fuel →

Supermarkets

  1. 1Kassinn17 km
  2. 2Kjörbúðin33 km
  3. 3Bónus63 km
All supermarkets →

Tours

  1. Day Trek to Akrafjall: The Troll's Mountainfrom 17.656 ISK · 6 hours 30 minutes
  2. From Grundarfjörður Port: Private Snaefellsness Tourfrom 269.900 ISK · 8 hours
  3. Grundarfjörður Cruise Tour: Snæfellsnes Peninsula from the portfrom 24.500 ISK · 5 hours 30 minutes
All tours →

Frequently
asked
questions

Can I visit Vatnshellir without a guide?
No — Vatnshellir requires a guided tour to enter safely. Caves in Iceland are dark, cold and easy to get lost or injured in; book a tour with a licensed operator rather than going in alone.
How do I get to Vatnshellir?
Vatnshellir is in West Iceland. Many Icelandic caves sit off highland tracks that need a 4WD — check live road and weather conditions on this page before you drive, especially in winter when routes close.
What should I bring to Vatnshellir?
A helmet and a proper head-torch or flashlight are the minimum — there is no daylight inside and the floor is broken lava rock. Add warm layers and sturdy boots; the cave stays near freezing year-round. Recommended gear: helmet, flashlight.
Does Vatnshellir cost anything to visit?
Visiting Vatnshellir involves a cost — either a paid guided tour or an access fee. Book ahead where a tour is required. Conditions change with weather, so plan around the forecast.

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Spotted an error, or have something to add? Help us keep this page accurate.

All caves18 caves in West Iceland, mapped with photos, distances and live conditions
Iceland nowfrom 19 Sep 06:10
8°C · overcastWind 2 m/sRing Road (R1) openAurora Kp 2.67Daylight 07:02 – 19:39Webcams