Road 
Weather 
About
The subglacial Esjufjöll volcano is located in the south-east part of the Vatnajökull icecap. Esjufjöll is a strict nature reserve.
Standing on a volcano puts things in perspective. The earth beneath your feet is alive and restless.
Check road conditions before heading to volcanic areas. Some roads close seasonally or after weather events.
Map of Esjufjöll
Map
64.2544°N, 16.5381°W · Highlands
Plan your visit
Elevation- 1,760 m above sea level
Off the main road- 27.2 km from Route 1
Nearest town- Nesjahverfi — 63.7 km away
Distance from Reykjavík- 262 km in a straight line
What else is close- 11 mapped places within 20 km
Tours near Esjufjöll
Kayaking at The Glacier Lagoonfrom 18.500 ISK · 1 h 30 min
Ice Cave & Glacier Exploration Tourfrom 33.500 ISK · 6 h
Ice Cave Tourfrom 23.500 ISK · 2 h 30 min
Vatnajökull Premium Ice Cave Tourfrom 25.900 ISK · 3 h 30 min
Fjallsárlón - Iceberg boat tourfrom 11.300 ISK · 45 min
Glacier Kayaking Icelandfrom 17.500 ISK · 1 h 30 min
Blue Ice Discoveryfrom 24.900 ISK · 4 h
Glacier Hike Captured in Skaftafellfrom 19.000 ISK · 3 h
Remote Glacier Hike and a Natural Ice Cave from Jökulsárlónfrom 36.900 ISK · 5 h 30 min
Blue Ice - Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing from Reykjavíkfrom 32.990 ISK · 13 h 30 min
Golden Circle and Laugarás Lagoon Lerki Admissionfrom 23.039 ISK · 9 h 30 min
Spirit of the Aurora (28 person max vehicle)from 14.990 ISK · 5 hAll 1,648 toursBy activity and regionEsjufjöll weather and conditions
Last updated
-3°Cpartly cloudy · feels -13°C14 m/sgusts 2110 h 03 mdaylight · 07:50 – 17:54
Tonight
Northern lights forecast by region
In season now · Winter in IcelandBlue Ice - Glacier Hike & Ice Climbing from Reykjavíkfrom 32.990 ISK · 13 h 30 minAll 1,648 tours
Cars & campers
−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
KEF airport pickup 24/74.8
Transmission
Fuel
Seats
Drive
SleepsPhotos & videos
No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Esjufjöll, no lookalikes. Search YouTube
Nearby
km column = your drive
- 1Esjufjöll5 km
- 2
Grímsvötn42 km - 3
Kverkfjöll45 km - 4
Thordarhyrna48 km - 5
Tungnafellsjökull53 km
Waterfalls
Hot springs
- 1Guðlaug47 km
- 2Hoffell Hot Tubs58 km
- 3Geothermal hot spring near Hornafjörður60 km
Fuel
Supermarkets
Tours
(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafossfrom 25.300 ISK · 6 hours 30 minutes
(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyrifrom 25.900 ISK · 6 hours 
A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!from 159.000 ISK · 8 hours
Frequently
asked
questions
Is it safe to visit Esjufjöll?
Esjufjöll is not currently erupting, and the surrounding area is generally safe to visit on marked trails. Volcanic and geothermal ground can still be unstable or hide gas — stay on the path, and check safetravel.is for any local closures before you drive.
How do I get to Esjufjöll?
Esjufjöll is in Highlands. Check live road conditions on this page before you drive — highland access often needs a 4×4 and some routes only open in summer.
Can I hike Esjufjöll?
It depends on the volcano and current activity. Some Icelandic cones have short marked trails to the rim; others sit under glaciers or in closed areas and cannot be climbed without a guide. Never approach an active eruption unless the official viewing area is open — conditions change fast.
What should I know about volcanic gas near Esjufjöll?
Volcanic and geothermal areas can release sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, which are toxic in high concentrations and collect in low-lying spots. Stay on marked paths, leave immediately if you smell strong sulphur or feel unwell, and check the Met Office gas forecasts during any eruption.
Data & sources
Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.
Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · rheins · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community
Spotted an error, or have something to add? Help us keep this page accurate.
Iceland nowfrom 19 Sep 06:10