Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland
Iceland is an absolute must-see destination for anyone craving some adventure. The nature there is eerily beautiful and every time I go back, it puts me in awe. There are plenty of things to see while you’re there but most people will usually stick to the South Coast of Iceland as it is easily accessible via day trips from Reykjavik. To see glaciers, big and small in such a convenience way, makes the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon on the South Coast the top destination in the country.
In this post, you’ll see my latest video from Iceland, my best photos of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and tips on how to get there.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, A Brief History
The lagoon is part of the Vatnajökull National Park and the ice that occupies the lake are from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier. Quite alarmingly, the lake housing these small icebergs has grown fourfold since the 1970s and the bay is one of the deepest in Iceland at over 284 meters deep. Unfortunately, global warming is the culprit for such observations. This probably should make seeing the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon a higher priority during your visit.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon Photos
How to get to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
You can find the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Fellsfjara on the South Coast of Iceland. To get to Iceland, just take a flight to the capital city of Reykjavik (Airport Code: RKV). Many operators fly there, perhaps the most popular being IcelandAir.
(Side note: My first time taking IcelandAir to Reykjavik from when I lived in Washington DC, I remember them dimming the cabin lighting and the remaining light above the airplane aisle were hues of green, purple, and white that were gently flickering throughout the cabin. This was to mimic the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, of which seeing in Iceland is famous for. I thought it was such a cool, subtle design detail from the airline).
Once you have landed at Reykjavik airport, you can take the Flybus from Reykjavik Excursions or the Gray Line bus to the Reykjavik City Center. (If you are taking the bus back to the airport, the Flybus from Reykjavik Excursions also includes transport from your hotel to the Reykjavik bus terminal, that then departs for the airport).
Now if you have rental a car, you can just drive from the airport to Jökulsárlón in just a matter of a few hours. However, most people book South Coast day tours that cover places like Jökulsárlón and Fellsfjara. Sometimes these tours can go for three days, depending on what you book. For example, Reykjavik Excursions does any length from 1-3 days on Iceland’s South Coast.
Personally, the first time I went to Iceland, I did one of these tours which was pretty decent. The next two times I went to Iceland, I rented a car and found that to be much more enjoyable. This is because we were able to see places like Jökulsárlón during non-peak times, which made the experience much more memorable.
Also, Fellsfjara is just a short 2 minute walk from the parking lot of Jökulsárlón.
When to see Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
When it comes to see the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, the best times to see it during the day are morning and evening times. That is because so many tours come through this part of Iceland all times during the day. If you coincide your trip there during golden hour in the morning or evenings, you will find the place nearly deserted.
Iceland is gorgeous to see in all seasons however due to how the wintry snow can impact road conditions, I would recommend visiting in spring, summer, or fall, just to make sure you can access all the places that you’d like, this lagoon included.
The great thing is, no matter what time of year, you will always find glaciers in the lagoon.
How to Photograph Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
You don’t need special gear to photograph the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon in Iceland. I would say the most useful pieces of kit you need are:
Wide Angle lens (10 mm focal length) - Get close to the water line and grab a photo of the entire landscape with this type of lens.
Telephoto lens (200-300 mm focal length) - Really great for getting close-ups of individual icebergs throughout the lagoon.
Tripod - I would definitely not forget this piece of kit as it is useful for cool timelapses around sunrise and sunset as well as getting crisp clean shots of the entire landscape.
I saw the Ondverdarnes lighthouse when I was traveling around Iceland in a campervan. The road was quite rocky getting here in a vehicle that wasn't four wheel drive but that didn't stop me. I loved the bright orange color of the lighthouse juxtaposed with the earthy primal landscape of the grass, rocks, and ocean water in this drone photo. The Snaefellsnes Peninsula, where this lighthouse is, is just a short drive away from Reykjavik, though few people venture this way on their trip to Iceland.