Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Vatnajökull
7,700 km², up to 1,000m thick. Covers 8% of Iceland. Multiple outlet glaciers and Vatnajökull National Park.
Best for
Europe's largest glacier
Glaciers
Glaciers of Iceland: Complete Guide to All Icelandic Glaciers
Iceland's glaciers cover about 11% of the country—from vast ice caps hiding active volcanoes to outlet tongues feeding turquoise lagoons.
Updated February 1, 2026By the Iceland.org Travel Team
Safety
Never walk on glaciers alone
Hidden crevasses are invisible under snow. Always go with a certified guide and proper equipment.
Independent Ice Caps
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Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Langjökull
953 km², second-largest. Man-made ice tunnel open year-round. Feeds Hvítá river and Gullfoss waterfall.
Best for
Ice tunnel + snowmobiling
Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Hofsjökull
925 km², third-largest. Covers an active volcano. Unreachable by normal vehicles—highland interior.
Best for
Remote highland ice cap
Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Mýrdalsjökull
596 km², fourth-largest. Covers Katla volcano with jökulhlaup risk. South coast location.
Best for
Katla volcano beneath the ice
Independent Ice CapsStratovolcano glacier
Snæfellsjökull
1,446m peak. Journey to the Center of the Earth. Snæfellsnes Peninsula national park, rapidly retreating.
Best for
Jules Verne's famous peak
Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Drangajökull
160 km². Lowest-elevation glacier in Iceland (~925m). Not retreating as fast as others.
Best for
Westfjords' only glacier
Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Eyjafjallajökull
100 km². Covers a 1,651m volcano. 2010 eruption disrupted European air travel for weeks.
Best for
Famous 2010 eruption
Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Tungnafellsjökull
48 km². Small ice cap in the highland interior between Vatnajökull and Hofsjökull.
Best for
Remote highland glacier
Independent Ice CapsIce cap
Tindfjallajökull
19 km². Small ice cap near Þórsmörk valley. Feeds rivers flowing into popular hiking areas.
Best for
Highland glacier near Þórsmörk
Independent Ice CapsTable mountain glacier
Eiríksjökull
1,675m, ice-capped tuya. Between Langjökull and Hofsjökull. Remote and rarely visited.
Best for
Iceland's highest table mountain
Independent Ice CapsSmall ice cap
Þráinstarindur
Small glacier in the eastern highlands. Rarely visited and difficult to access.
Best for
Remote eastern highland glacier
Vatnajökull Outlets
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Breiðamerkurjökull
Vatnajökull outlet. Feeds Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach. Rapidly retreating.
Best for
Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Skaftafellsjökull
Vatnajökull outlet in Skaftafell. Popular hiking destination, visible from visitor center.
Best for
Skaftafell hiking
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Svínafellsjökull
Vatnajökull outlet. Dramatic ice formations. Accessible glacier hikes and film location.
Best for
Interstellar filming location
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Falljökull
Vatnajökull outlet in Skaftafell area. Steep drop gives it the name 'falling glacier.'
Best for
Steep 'falling glacier'
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Hoffellsjökull
Vatnajökull outlet near Höfn. Less visited with proglacial lagoon. Scientific monitoring site.
Best for
Proglacial lagoon near Höfn
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Kvíárjökull
Vatnajökull outlet. Steep crevassed tongue. Not safe for independent glacier walks.
Best for
Dramatic crevassed tongue
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Fláajökull
Vatnajökull outlet in southeast. Retreating rapidly with proglacial lagoon. Near Höfn.
Best for
Southeast proglacial lagoon
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Heinabergsjökull
Vatnajökull outlet. Heinabergslón lagoon with kayaking tours and dramatic icebergs.
Best for
Kayaking among icebergs
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Morsárjökull
Vatnajökull outlet. Source of Morsárfoss (227m), Iceland's tallest waterfall. Skaftafell area.
Best for
Source of Iceland's tallest waterfall
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Skeiðarárjökull
Vatnajökull's largest outlet. Skeiðarársandur outwash plain. 1996 jökulhlaup destroyed a bridge.
Best for
Largest outlet + 1996 jökulhlaup
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Dyngjujökull
Large northern outlet of Vatnajökull. Flows toward the highland interior. Remote access only.
Best for
Northern Vatnajökull outlet
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Brúarjökull
Northeast Vatnajökull outlet. Known for dramatic surges—last major surge in 1963–1964.
Best for
Surge-type glacier
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Eyjabakkajökull
Eastern Vatnajökull outlet. Proglacial lagoon and remote highland setting.
Best for
Eastern outlet with lagoon
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Tungnarjökull
Southwestern outlet flowing toward highland rivers. Source of hydroelectric power.
Best for
Southwest Vatnajökull outlet
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Síðujökull
Southern outlet glacier near Grímsvötn. Part of Vatnajökull's extensive glacier system.
Best for
Southern Vatnajökull outlet
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Öræfajökull
Vatnajökull outlet covering Iceland's highest volcano (2,110m). Hvannadalshnjúkur summit.
Best for
Iceland's highest peak
Vatnajökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Kverkjökull
Northern Vatnajökull outlet near Kverkfjöll. Geothermal activity creates unique ice caves.
Best for
Geothermal ice caves
Mýrdalsjökull Outlets
Mýrdalsjökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Sólheimajökull
Mýrdalsjökull outlet. South coast, easily accessible from Route 1. Top glacier hike destination.
Best for
Popular glacier hiking
Mýrdalsjökull OutletsOutlet glacier
Kötlujökull
Mýrdalsjökull outlet on the east side. Access point for Katla ice cave tours in winter.
Best for
Katla ice cave tours
Other Outlet Glaciers
Other Outlet GlaciersOutlet glacier
Hagafellsjökull
Langjökull outlet glacier. Splits into east and west branches. Accessible for super jeep tours.
Best for
Langjökull's main outlet
Other Outlet GlaciersOutlet glacier
Blágnípa/Blájökull
One of Hofsjökull's outlet glaciers. Remote highland location, difficult to access.
Best for
Hofsjökull outlet
Other Outlet GlaciersOutlet glacier
Gígjökull
Outlet of Eyjafjallajökull. Dramatically reshaped by the 2010 eruption. Historical interest.
Best for
Eyjafjallajökull outlet
Other Outlet GlaciersOutlet glacier
Steinsholtsjökull
Southern Eyjafjallajökull outlet near Þórsmörk. Known for a massive 1967 landslide from its face.
Best for
Eyjafjallajökull outlet near Þórsmörk
Planning help
Glacier FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.
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