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Grímsvötn

Highlands, IcelandActive1725 m

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VolcanoHighlands

Grímsvötn

Highlands, IcelandActive1725 m

About

Grímsvötn is an active volcano with a fissure system located in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. The central volcano is completely subglacial and located under the northwestern side of the Vatnajökull ice cap.

Standing on a volcano puts things in perspective. The earth beneath your feet is alive and restless.

The central volcano is completely subglacial and located under the northwestern side of the Vatnajökull ice cap. The subglacial caldera is at 64°25′N 17°20′W, at an elevation of 1,725 m (5,659 ft). Beneath the caldera is the magma chamber of the Grímsvötn volcano.

Check road conditions before heading to volcanic areas. Some roads close seasonally or after weather events.

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Plan your visit to Grímsvötn

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

Map of Grímsvötn

Grímsvötn is in the Highlands, Iceland at 64.4081°N, 17.3378°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Grímsvötn on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Elevation: 1,725 m above sea level
Nearest town: Kirkjubæjarklaustur — 79.6 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 224 km in a straight line
What else is close: 6 mapped places within 20 km

Grímsvötn weather and conditions

At Grímsvötn in Highlands, conditions as of 31 August 2026, 21:30 (Iceland time): -6°C (feels like -10°C), partly cloudy, wind 1 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 43 m (sunrise 05:48, sunset 20:31). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 31 August 2026, 21:30· 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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Highlands Reykjavík South Coast West North East Westfjords Reykjanes

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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation

KEF airport pickup 24/74.8

SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

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

VW Caravelle

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

TransmissionAutomatic

12,750 kr15,000 kr/day

Reserve −12%

Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

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

Tours near Grímsvötn

Free cancellation

Small groups

Sightseeing

(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

Duration6 hours 30 minutes

HighlightsNorth Iceland

(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

Duration6 hours

HighlightsNorth Iceland

A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

Duration8 hours

HighlightsReykjavík area

Photos & videos

Grímsvötn — photo by Roger McLassus · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Roger McLassus · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

Is it safe to visit Grímsvötn?

Grímsvötn is listed as an active volcano. Whether you can approach it depends entirely on current conditions — during an eruption, authorities set an exclusion zone and you must never cross a closure line. Check safetravel.is and the Icelandic Met Office (vedur.is) before you go, and follow all official instructions on site.

How do I get to Grímsvötn?

Grímsvötn 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 Grímsvötn?

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 Grímsvötn?

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.

Nearby

km column = your drive

Waterfalls

#1.Núpsárfoss

39 km·~47 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

#2.Hvítárfoss

39 km·~47 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

#3.Morsárfoss

39 km·~47 min drive

Morsárfoss is a waterfall in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland. Measurements showed that…

#4.Svartifoss

46 km·~55 min drive

Black Falls. A waterfall framed by dark hexagonal basalt columns that inspired…

4 waterfalls near Highlands

Hot Springs

#1.Guðlaug

28 km·~34 min drive

New seaside hot pot on Langisandur beach in Akranes. Ocean views.

#2.Víti

77 km·~92 min drive

Water hot spring

#3.Víti Askja

77 km·~93 min drive

Volcanic crater lake at Askja. Highland destination, not always safe for bathing - check…

#4.Geothermal hot spring near Skaftárhreppur

77 km·~93 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

4 hot springs near Highlands

Campsites

#1.Campsite Reception

47 km·~56 min drive

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

#2.Skaftafell

47 km·~57 min drive

The camp site is spacious with trees as shelter. The camp site is divided into several…

#3.Kverkfjöll / Sigurðarskáli

51 km·~61 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

#4.Nýidalur

51 km·~61 min drive

Highland campsite accessible in summer only. F-road driving required. Basic facilities…

4 campsites near Highlands

Supermarkets

#1.Gvendarkjör

77 km·~92 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#2.Nettó

104 km·~125 min drive

Nettó supermarket — supplies

#3.Krónan

137 km·~164 min drive

Krónan supermarket — supplies

#4.Krambúð

139 km·~166 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near Highlands

Gas stations

#1.Freysnes

51 km·~61 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

#2.Fagurhólsmýri

67 km·~81 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#3.Kirkjubæjarklaustur

76 km·~91 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#4.Hrauneyjar

97 km·~116 min drive

Olís · 315.8 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near Highlands

Tours

#1.(Cruise Ships) Lake Mývatn and Goðafoss

6 hours 30 minutes

Lake Mývatn and the surrounding area are an absolute must if you're exploring the North!

from 25.300 ISKView tour →

#2.(RS) Lake Myvatn & Godafoss Waterfall Day Tour from Akureyri

6 hours

Discover the wonderland of Lake Myvatn and Godafoss Waterfall with an experienced local tour guide.

from 25.900 ISKView tour →

#3.A Gourmet golden circle - a taste of Iceland combined with amazing nature attractions!

8 hours

Embark on a private adventure through the Golden Circle with Northern Adventurer.

from 159.000 ISKView tour →

3 tours near Highlands

Data & sources

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

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Roger McLassus · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
OpenStreetMapVisitor 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