Svartifoss falling over a cliff of dark hanging basalt columns into a boulder-strewn gorge

National park · Skaftafell, Öræfi, South-East Iceland

Vatnajökull National Park & Skaftafell

UNESCO-listed park of ice caps and volcanoes, with Skaftafell's trails, glaciers and Svartifoss

Photo: Denys Nevozhai (@dnevozhai) / Unsplash

Discover Vatnajökull National Park & Skaftafell

Vatnajökull National Park covers about 14 per cent of Iceland and centres on the Vatnajökull ice cap, which hides several active volcanoes beneath its ice. UNESCO describes it as a landscape shaped by the interplay of fire and ice, where eruptions under the glacier unleash sudden floods that have built vast black sand plains.

Skaftafell, on the park's southern rim beneath Öræfajökull, is where most visitors first meet this world. A visitor centre and campsite sit at the foot of green, birch-covered slopes, with trails leading to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns, to viewpoints over glacier tongues, and to the edge of Skaftafellsjökull itself.

Don’t miss

01Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns
02Skaftafellsjökull glacier tongue, reached on an easy walk from the visitor centre
03Views of Öræfajökull and the glacier-topped Hvannadalshnúkur
04Skeiðarársandur, the black sand plain built by glacial floods
05Skaftafellsstofa visitor centre with geology exhibition and film

History & culture

The story of Vatnajökull National Park & Skaftafell

Skaftafell was once a substantial farm, and local assemblies were held on its land soon after Iceland was settled. The great Öræfajökull eruption of 1362 devastated the district, which later became known as Öræfi. Farming at Skaftafell continued for centuries and ended in 1988.

Skaftafell National Park was founded in 1967 and Jökulsárgljúfur National Park in the north in 1973. Both were merged into the new Vatnajökull National Park when it was established in 2008. In 2019 UNESCO inscribed the park on the World Heritage List as Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice, recognising its active volcanic systems, glacial floods and rapidly retreating ice.

Local life & traditions

Öræfi is one of the most isolated districts in Iceland, hemmed in between glacier rivers and the sea, and its people long depended on farming and knowledge of crossing dangerous glacial rivers. Today rangers, guides and a handful of farms keep the district alive, and the story of living beside volcanoes and floods is woven into local identity.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

The marked trails at Skaftafell range from short, easy walks to the glacier tongue to longer loops via Svartifoss and the moorland viewpoints above. Ask at the visitor centre about current trail conditions. Guided glacier walks and, in winter, ice-cave tours start nearby; these should only be done with certified guides and proper equipment, never independently.

Beyond Skaftafell, the park stretches to Jökulsárlón in the south-east and to the Dettifoss canyon in the north, so it can be explored on several parts of a Ring Road trip. Scenic flights from the Skaftafell airstrip are another way to grasp the scale of the ice cap.

When to go

June to August offers the longest days, the most open trails and the widest range of services. September and spring bring fewer visitors and good light. In winter, Skaftafell is accessible by the Ring Road and is a base for ice-cave tours, but days are short, weather can change quickly and some trails may be icy. Always check the weather and road conditions before setting out.

Plan your visit

Verified information

UNESCO: Inscribed in 2019 as Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice, criterion (viii). Source: whc.unesco.org ↗
Park history: Vatnajökull National Park was established in 2008, incorporating Skaftafell (founded 1967) and Jökulsárgljúfur (founded 1973). Source: south.is ↗
Visitor centre: Skaftafellsstofa, Skaftafell, 785 Öræfi: information desk, exhibition, film, shop and cafeteria; campsite open all year. Source: south.is ↗
Park size: Covers over 1,400,000 hectares, around 14% of Iceland, centred on the Vatnajökull ice cap. Source: whc.unesco.org ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Never walk onto a glacier without a certified guide and proper equipment; crevasses can be hidden.
Stay on marked trails and check the visitor centre for current conditions before hiking.
Pack waterproof layers and sturdy footwear; weather near the ice changes fast.
Fill up with fuel when you can; service stations are far apart along this stretch of Route 1.
Combine Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón in one day, or better, stay nearby to see both without rushing.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Vatnajökull National Park & Skaftafell: food, markets & places to stay

Skaftafell has a visitor centre with a cafeteria and a year-round campsite, and a fuel station and restaurant about 5 km away. Jökulsárlón lies about an hour's drive east along Route 1, with the town of Höfn beyond it. Seasonal long-distance buses and many guided tours stop at Skaftafell, but a rental car gives the most flexibility.

Vatnajökull National Park & Skaftafell & what’s nearby

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Vatnajökull National Park & Skaftafell in pictures

Dettifoss plunging over a wide basalt edge into a misty canyon, with green moss in the foreground

Waterfall

Jökulsárgljúfur, North Iceland

Dettifoss

A 45 m high, 100 m wide waterfall on the glacier-fed Jökulsá á Fjöllum, described by the national park as the most powerful in Europe. Reached by road 862 (west) or 864 (east).

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Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image.

Vatnajökull National Park - Dynamic Nature of Fire and Ice — UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Skaftafell Visitor Centre — South Iceland (Visit South Iceland)
Jökulsárlón area — Vatnajökull National Park
Skaftafell — Wikipedia

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