#1Skaftafellsjökull
Outlet glacier in South Iceland
Glaciers · Iceland
Iceland Glaciers
173 mapped · 6 regions · Guided tours available · Ice caves: winter only
Eysteinn Guðni Guðnason · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bromr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Bromr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Iceland has roughly 170 named glaciers and ice caps, but a handful define the country: Vatnajökull (Europe's largest ice cap, ~8% of Iceland), Snæfellsjökull (the volcano-glacier on the western tip), and Sólheimajökull and Mýrdalsjökull on the South Coast — the easiest to reach from Reykjavík. Walking on the ice always needs a certified guide.
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Iceland’s biggest ice caps and best-known outlet glaciers, with real access info.
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Outlet glacier in South Iceland
#3Svínafellsjökull
Outlet glacier in South Iceland
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When & how to visit Iceland's glaciers
The South Coast glaciers — Sólheimajökull, Mýrdalsjökull, Eyjafjallajökull — sit close to the Ring Road and make an easy day trip from Reykjavík. Vatnajökull, Europe's largest ice cap, anchors the southeast and feeds the glacier lagoons near Jökulsárlón. Highland ice caps like Langjökull and Hofsjökull often need an F-road and a 4×4, and some routes only open in summer. Ice caves are a winter-only activity — book a certified guide, never attempt one alone. Iceland's glaciers are retreating, so exact access points and cave locations shift year to year.
The glaciers of Iceland, compared
All 168 named glaciers, ranked — our best-documented picks first. Tap any name for the full guide. Elevation and access details come from OpenStreetMap and Wikidata where they exist.
| Glacier | Region | Best season | Known for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Breiðamerkurjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Drangajökull | Westfjords | Summer | Ice cap in the Westfjords |
 | Eyjafjallajökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice cap in South Iceland |
 | Kvíárjökull glacier tongue | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Mýrdalsjökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice cap in South Iceland |
 | Skaftafellsjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Sólheimajökull | South Coast | Year-round | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Svínafellsjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Vatnajökull | Highlands | Year-round | Ice cap in the Highlands |
| Merkurjökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice dome in South Iceland | |
 | Birnudalsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in East Iceland |
 | Brúarjökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands |
 | Brækur | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands |
 | Dyngjujökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands |
 | Eiríksjökull | Highlands | Summer | Ice cap in the Highlands |
 | Eyjabakkajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland |
 | Falljökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Fláajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland |
 | Geitlandsjökull | West Iceland | Summer | Ice cap in West Iceland |
 | Gígjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Heinabergsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland |
 | Hoffellsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland |
 | Holárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Cirque glacier in North Iceland |
 | Hrútárjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Kaldaklofsjökull | South Coast | Summer | Mountain glacier in South Iceland |
 | Kotarjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Kverkjökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands |
 | Langafönn | Highlands | Summer | Mountain glacier in the Highlands |
 | Mávabyggðajökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice stream in South Iceland |
 | Morsárjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Norðlingalægðarjökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice stream in South Iceland |
 | Okjökull | West Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in West Iceland |
 | Síðujökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Skalafellsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland |
 | Skeiðarárjökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice cap in South Iceland |
 | Steinsholtsjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Stígárjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Tindfjallajökull | South Coast | Summer | Mountain glacier in South Iceland |
 | Torfajökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice cap in South Iceland |
 | Tungnafellsjökull | Highlands | Summer | Ice cap in the Highlands |
 | Virkisjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Þórisjökull | West Iceland | Summer | Ice cap in West Iceland |
 | Öldufellsjökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland |
 | Öræfajökull | South Coast | Summer | Ice cap in South Iceland |
 | Öræfajökull glacier | South Coast | Summer | Ice cap in South Iceland |
| Austurtungnajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland | |
| Blesárjökull | South Coast | Summer | Mountain glacier in South Iceland | |
| Eystri-Skíðadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in North Iceland | |
| Fannborgarjökull | Highlands | Summer | Mountain glacier in the Highlands | |
| Fremri-Skriðjökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands | |
| Hjaltadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in North Iceland | |
| Höfðabrekkujökull | South Coast | Summer | Outlet glacier in South Iceland | |
| Jökulkinn | Highlands | Summer | Mountain glacier in the Highlands | |
| Klofajökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands | |
| Köldukvíslarjökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands | |
| Lambárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Cirque glacier in North Iceland | |
| Mænisjökull | Highlands | Summer | Mountain glacier in the Highlands | |
| Norðurtungnajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Outlet glacier in East Iceland | |
| Nyrðri-Skriðjökull | Highlands | Summer | Alternative name for Norðurjökull. It's part of the Langjökull Group. The name comes from “more northerly” glacier of two; the other glacier is Fremri-Skriðjökull. | |
| Rjúpnabrekkujökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands | |
| Skaftárjökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands | |
| Skarphéðinsjökull | Highlands | Summer | Outlet glacier in the Highlands | |
| Skíðadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in North Iceland | |
| Súlujökull | South Coast | Summer | Name for the southwestern margin of Skeiðarárjökull, on the southern margin of Vatnajökull. It's part of the Vatnajökull Group. The name comes from the Súla River. | |
| Sveipsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Cirque glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tungnahryggsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tungujökull | North Iceland | Summer | Snow patch in North Iceland | |
| Vaskárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vestri-Skíðadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Mountain glacier in North Iceland | |
 | Hofsjökull | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands |
 | Langjökull | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands |
 | Snæfellsjökull | West Iceland | Summer | Glacier in West Iceland |
| Hofsjökull (kalo nga yelo sa Islandya, Austurland) | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Jökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Kistufjallsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Syðri-Holárfjallsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tröllafjallsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tungufjallsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vífilsfjallsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
 | Glámujökull | Westfjords | Summer | Glacier in Westfjords |
 | Gljúfurárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland |
 | Heljargnípujökull | South Coast | Summer | Glacier in South Coast |
 | Skaftárkatlar | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands |
 | Snæhetta | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands |
 | Tröllajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland |
 | Vinðeimajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland |
 | Þrándarjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland |
| Afviksjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Austurdragsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Barkárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Brennihnjúksjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Bröndujökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Bungujökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Bægisárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Deildardalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Einstakijökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Eystri-Grýtudalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Eystri-Loðmundarjökull | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands | |
| Eystri-Reykjadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Eystri-Vatnsdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Fossdalsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Fossskarðsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Gíslajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Glámajökull | Westfjords | Summer | Glacier in Westfjords | |
| Gloppujökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Grasárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Grímslandsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Grjótárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Grýtujökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hamrajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hausafönn | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hellisdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hóladalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hrafnabjargajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hrútatóajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Húsárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Hvarfdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Illárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Ingjaldsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Ingjaldsskálarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Kaldbaksjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Kerlingarbaksjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Kirkjufjallsdragsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Klaufajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Kóngsstaðajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Lambatungujökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Melrakkadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Myrkárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Nautárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Nyrðri-Hestárjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Nyrðri-Hvítalækjarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Nyrðri-Tungnajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Olnbogahnjúksjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Regnbuðajöklar | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands | |
| Sauðhamarsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Skarðsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Skriðudalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Snækollsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Stangalækjarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Sveinsstaðajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Syðratindsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Syðri-Brettingsstaðajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Syðri-Hraunárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Syðri-Hvítalækjarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Syðri-Króksárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Syðri-Tungnajökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland | |
| Sýlingarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Teigardalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tjarnhólajökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Trölladalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tröllaskálarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Tungnaárjökull | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands | |
| Tungnakvíslajökull | South Coast | Summer | Glacier in South Coast | |
| Unadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Valagilsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vestri-Grýtudalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vestri-Vatnsdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vesturárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vindárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Víkingsdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Vörðufellsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Þjófadalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Þverárdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Þverárjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Þverárskálarjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Þverdalsjökull | North Iceland | Summer | Glacier in North Iceland | |
| Ögmundarjökull | Highlands | Summer | Glacier in Highlands | |
| Öxarfellsjökull | East Iceland | Summer | Glacier in East Iceland |
Glacier
questions
Can I walk on a glacier without a guide?
No. Crevasses are often hidden under fresh snow and can be lethal. Every glacier walk needs crampons, ropes and a certified guide — book through a licensed tour operator, never freelance it.
Are ice caves open in summer?
No. Natural ice caves are a winter-only experience (roughly November–March). In summer the ice is unstable and caves can collapse, so guided operators close them for the season.
Which glaciers can I see from the Ring Road?
Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull are visible from Route 1 on the South Coast without leaving the car. Vatnajökull is visible from several points near Jökulsárlón and Skaftafell.
Are Iceland’s glaciers shrinking?
Yes — most Icelandic glaciers have retreated measurably over the past few decades, and several smaller ice caps have disappeared entirely in recent years. Glacier tours and lagoons change year to year as the ice retreats.
Do I need 4WD to reach a glacier?
It depends on the glacier. South Coast glaciers like Sólheimajökull have paved or gravel access roads suitable for any car. Highland glaciers often require an F-road and a 4×4, and some are only reachable in summer.
What’s the biggest glacier in Iceland?
Vatnajökull, in the southeast Highlands — Europe’s largest ice cap by volume, covering roughly 8% of Iceland. It feeds numerous outlet glaciers, including the one behind the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon.
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from 31 Aug 06:10