Frequently asked questions

Yes. You can walk the 1.2-kilometer flat trail to the glacier lagoon viewpoint for free. However, you cannot walk onto the actual glacier ice without booking a guided tour.

Yes. You must have a certified guide and specialized equipment like crampons and an ice axe to step onto the ice. Unguided exploration is highly dangerous due to hidden crevasses.

Parking at the main lot costs 750 ISK per vehicle. You must pay this fee using the Parka app. See Parking & Tickets for details.

Drive east on Route 1 (the Ring Road) for 161 kilometers. Turn left onto Route 221 and drive 4 kilometers to the parking lot. The total trip takes about 2.5 hours.

It is safe if you go with a certified guide and follow their exact footsteps. The guides provide necessary safety gear and navigate safely around deep moulins and unstable ice edges.

At Sólheimajökull, operators generally require children to be at least 8 years old. They must also have a minimum shoe size of EUR 34/35 to properly fit safety crampons. Check Visiting with Kids.

The walk takes about 15 minutes. It is a flat, 1.2-kilometer gravel trail that starts at the parking lot and ends at the edge of the glacial lagoon.

The ice depth at Sólheimajökull is estimated to be up to 200 meters (656 feet) in its thickest sections.

The ice is heavily streaked with black volcanic ash. This ash comes from historic eruptions of nearby volcanoes, such as Eyjafjallajökull and Katla.

The Icelandic name Sólheimajökull translates to "home of the sun glacier".

Yes, natural blue ice caves form in the winter. You can only explore them safely between mid-October and March by booking a specific ice cave tour, like the ice cave and walk.