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Best Time to Visit Jökulsárlón, Month by Month

Every month works for the icebergs. What changes is what runs on the water and on the glacier, and how long it stays light.

Updated 4 October 2026

In shortFor the boats, kayaking and glacier walks, come between May and September; the amphibian keeps running into November. For ice caves, come between October and March. October and November are the only months when you can do both a boat and an ice cave. Midsummer gives almost 21 hours of daylight, late December about four.
May–Sepeverything on the water runs
Oct–Novboats and ice caves overlap
21 hdaylight on 21 June
4.2 hdaylight on 21 December

What runs when

ActivitySeason
Amphibian boatMay–November
ZodiacMay–October
KayakMay–September
Glacier walk from the lagoon1 May – 30 September
Ice cave tours1 October – 31 March
Fjallsárlón boatApril–November
Northern lights (dark nights)September – April
Kayaking in summerGlacier ice in winter lightIcebergs on a grey day

Choosing by what matters to you

Day trip from Reykjavík with the boat ride

The easiest way to get the lagoon and Diamond Beach in one day, boat included.

14 hours · from $292 · ★ 4.7 (450 reviews)

Check availability →

Daylight through the year

Sunrise and sunset at the lagoon on a few dates. In June the sun barely sets; in December plan the drive inside a four-hour window.

DateSunriseSunsetDaylight
21 June02:3323:3821.1 h
15 March07:2619:0111.6 h
15 November09:3016:096.6 h
21 December10:5715:084.2 h

Visiting in winter →

Time of day

In summer the boat departures and the café are busiest around the middle of the day, so arrive early or in the evening if your plan allows. Low sun in the morning and evening also lights the ice from the side, which helps on Diamond Beach.

Seasons: icelagoon.is, iceguide.is, fjallsarlon.is and the Viator listings. Daylight calculated for the lagoon's position (Iceland keeps UTC all year). 4 October 2026.

Plan by season

Winter

Winter

Northern lights

Northern lights

Boat tours

Boat tours

Dates picked?

Find a tour for your month

Each tour page shows its season and length.

Compare the tours →