Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• 3-Day Ice Cave, South Coast, Golden Circle and Northern Lights

• 8-Day Small Group Tour Around Iceland From Reykjavik

• 2-Day Blue Ice Cave, Glacier Lagoon and South Coast - Small Group

• Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach & South Coast Day Tour

• 6-Day Minibus Tour Around Iceland From Reykjavik

Fees to bring a vehicle into the Jökulsárlón area start at 1,040 kronur for a car with five or fewer seats. Many travelers opt to visit on a tour from Reykjavik: Day trips from Reykjavik start at around US$200, or US$270 for trips that include a boat ride on the lagoon.

Yes, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is definitely worth visiting. With its dancing icebergs and lazing seals, it's a classically Icelandic destination—and Diamond Beach, where the bergs come to rest, is equally spectacular. If the idea of a 10-hour round trip from Reykjavik does not appeal, consider joining a tour: Day trips are possible, but multi-day tours let you see even more of the south coast.

Per one customer who booked the Reykjavik: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & South Coast Full-Day Tour, "The highlight of my trip to Iceland. Nice, big luxurious bus. Definitely splurge for the boat tour. Worth every penny."

Yes, you can go to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, it’s one of Iceland’s most popular natural attractions and receives around one million annual visitors, a lot for this nation of only 400,000 people. Once you arrive, you can hike around the lagoon’s perimeter or even admire it from the water on a boat tour.

Just note that it’s roughly 5 hours from Reykjavik by car each way, so you’re in for a long day if you decide to do it in just one day. If you can, try to spend the night in the neighboring towns of Höfn, Vik, or Kirkjubæjarklaustur where you’ll find small hotels, rentals, and places to camp.

Not including the considerable transit time, you should set aside a minimum of 2-4 hours to explore Jökulsárlón Glacier Lake. This gives you enough time for a short hike and the obligatory boat tour. Most zodiac boat tours take approximately one hour.

With four hours you should also have enough time to stop at neighboring attractions such as Diamond Beach, a black sand beach littered with icebergs, and the ice caves of Skaftafell National Park. Skaftafell is also home to many hiking trails including one that goes to the highest peak in Iceland.

If you’re planning to visit Jökulsárlón Glacier Lake on a day trip from Reykjavik, you’ll need the whole day. The landmark is 5 hours by car each way, so you’ll be spending at least 10 hours on the road. Most tours are 14 hours long, so pack snacks and don’t plan any other activities for the day.

Given the cinematic scenery, it’s no surprise that Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a star of the silver screen. The Icelandic landmark has appeared in several Hollywood blockbusters over the years, including Batman Begins (part of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy) and the James Bond film Die Another Day. Several commercials and music videos, including Justin Bieber’s “I’ll Show You” and “Holocene” by Bon Iver also include shots of the lagoon.

There is tons of incredible nature outside of Reykjavik. According to travelers, these are some of the top natural attractions within driving distance of the city:

• Blue Lagoon

• Thingvellir National Park

• Gullfoss

• Vatnajokull National Park

• Skógafoss

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in and around Reykjavik.