Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
Chunks of vibrant blue ice float through Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon flowing out to the ocean and washing up on the dark black sand of the Iceland Diamond Beach. On the South Coast of Iceland, at the base of Vatnajokull Glacier, this amazing beach and Lagoon offer stunning views of these ice pieces and is one of the most amazing places to visit on your trip to Iceland.
The color and shape of the ice contrasts with the black of the beach making for an amazing site (and some great photos).
The famous Iceland Diamond Beach is just a 1 minute’s drive from Jokulsarlon Lagoon. It is easy to stop at both these sites on the same visit and also work in a visit to one of the nearby waterfalls or a glacier hike.
How to Get to Diamond Beach, Iceland, and Jokulsarlon Lagoon
Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Lagoon are located along the southern coast of Iceland. The drive from Reykjavik to Diamond Beach takes about 5 hours. It is easy to visit Diamond Beach by driving your own car, and you do not need to be on a tour. It is also possible to visit Jokulsarlon Lagoon on your own, but if you want to get out on the water, you will need to book a tour.
Here are some common driving times to get to Diamond Beach:
- Reykjavik to Diamond Beach: 5 hours
- Vik to Diamond Beach: 2.5 hours
- Skaftafell to Diamond Beach: 45 minutes
- Hofn to Diamond Beach: 1 hour
As you can see in the map of Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Lagoon below, both sites are directly off the main road and are very easy to visit. There are parking lots at both sites and you can walk a short distance to the beach and along the lagoon.
The Iceland Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach, Iceland is magical and is absolutely worth visiting on your South Coast trip. Just a short walk along the Black Sand Beach from the parking lot, you will start to see chunks of ice washing up on the beach. It’s important to note that the amount, size, and even presence of ice on the beach all depend on current conditions and ocean currents. It is completely possible to arrive to find no ice on the beach, only to wait for 30 minutes and have the ice come floating in.
How Long do You Need to Visit Diamond Beach
You should plan about 1 hour to visit Iceland’s Diamond Beach with more time to visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. An hour will give you time to walk along the beach and take some creative photos of the ice on the beach. It is possible to visit in less time, but if you have 1 hour, this gives you time to wait if the ice isn’t on the beach when you arrive.
Where Does the Ice on Diamond Beach Come From?
The ice on Diamond Beach comes directly from the nearby glacier. Chunks of ice break off from this massive glacier and float on the waters of Jökulsárlón Lagoon. From here, the ice chunks continue to break up into smaller pieces and eventually float out to sea. Black Diamond Beach is located directly outside Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the ice chunks wash up on the shoreline.
Is Diamond Beach Safe?
Diamond Beach is generally safe to visit and does not get the same sneaker waves that are found on Reynisfjara. You should still take caution when visiting as the weather can be cold and the large chunks of ice frequently move and shift.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Located just inland of Iceland Diamond Beach, Jökulsárlón Lagoon is full of floating ice as it makes its way from the glacier to the ocean. The large chunks of ice are a beautiful shade of blue and are a popular spot for all types of birds and seals. It is possible to visit Jökulsárlón on your own and take a walk along the shore, but there are also many tours that can get your out on the water, Many of the tours leave directly from the parking lot and can be booked online. Check out Viator for more tour options.
What to See When Visiting Jökulsárlón Lagoon
You need about 30 minutes to visit Jökulsárlón Lagoon if you are just visiting from the shore. There are some basic facilities in the parking lot including bathrooms and food. The lagoon is directly next to the parking lot, so to visit, you can simply walk out along the sidewalk toward the Lagoon. You can also follow the rougher hiking trail that leads along the shoreline.
You can also take a longer hike along the glacier lagoon by crossing the bridge and taking the 4.5-mile hike along the shore in a clockwise direction.
Make sure you walk from the parking lot down to the bridge. The strong current here is what pushes the ice around and provides an incredible environment for wildlife. In just a few minutes, we saw seals and birds fishing in the current. It’s also fascinating to watch the ice flow here, and you will find some signs describing the wildlife and landscape along this path.
Things to Know About Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach in Iceland
When is the best time to visit the famous Iceland Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón?
Jökulsárlón and the Iceland Diamond Beach are open year round. In the summer, you can visit any time of the day, and in the winter, the long sunrise and sunset offer stunning views of the ice against the dark beach. We visited late in the day at the end of June. The beach was crowded when we visited, but the area is so large it wasn’t really a problem.
Since it was late in the day when we visited Jökulsárlón, the tours had already stopped running which meant the parking lot and shoreline were mostly empty. We heard that visiting early in the day can be much more hectic, so try to avoid morning or early afternoon visit.
What is the cost to Visit Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach?
Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon are both free to visit. There are some limited facilities you can pay to use, but there is no entry fee or parking fee.
Is Jokulsarlon Worth Visiting?
Yes! Both Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach are worth visiting and since they are directly next to each other, you can easily visit both in one visit. You should plan about 1.5 hours to visit both sites and longer if you plan to do one of the boat tours on the lagoon.
