In shortIn December the sun climbs only about 2.5° above the horizon at noon, so the whole short day is side light; in June it reaches about 49° and barely sets. Drones are banned at Jökulsárlón from 15 April to 15 July for nesting birds, and outside that period may fly only early or late in the day, never over people, and never in the red-shaded visitor area.
2.5°highest sun on 21 December
49°highest sun on 21 June
15 Apr – 15 Juldrone ban (nesting)
21 hdaylight on 21 June
Light through the year
Because the lagoon is so far north, the sun stays low for most of the year. In winter it skims the horizon all day, which lights the icebergs from the side and keeps the blue in the ice; in summer the long evenings give the same low light late at night.
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Highest sun |
|---|
| 21 December | 10:57 | 15:08 | about 2.5° |
|---|
| 21 March | 07:05 | 19:19 | about 26° |
|---|
| 21 June | 02:33 | 23:38 | about 49° |
|---|
Drone rules at Jökulsárlón
Vatnajökull National Park allows recreational drones at Breiðamerkursandur only outside the nesting season and only in set hours. Never fly near or over people or in the red-shaded area on the park's map, and do not disturb wildlife. Commercial filming needs a permit from the park.
| Period | Drones allowed |
|---|
| 15 April – 15 July | not allowed (bird protection) |
|---|
| 15 July – 21 September | before 09:00 or after 18:00 |
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| 22 September – 21 October | before 10:00 or after 17:00 |
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| 22 October – 21 November | before 11:00 or after 15:00 |
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| 22 November – 21 January | before 12:00 or after 14:00 |
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| 22 January – 21 February | before 11:00 or after 15:00 |
|---|
| 22 February – 21 March | before 10:00 or after 17:00 |
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| 22 March – 15 April | before 09:00 or after 18:00 |
|---|
Practical tips
- Diamond Beach: arrive at low sun, and watch the waves rather than the screen; they run far up the sand.
- A polarising filter cuts the glare on the water and on the ice.
- Cold drains batteries fast; keep spares in an inside pocket.
- On the boats, a short lens and a dry bag are more useful than a tripod.
Day trip with time on Diamond Beach
A 30-minute boat ride among the icebergs and half an hour on Diamond Beach, from Reykjavík.
14 hours · from $292 · ★ 4.7 (450 reviews)
Drone rules: Vatnajökull National Park (vatnajokulsthjodgardur.is/en/thenationalpark/drone-rules). Sun times and heights calculated for the lagoon's position. 4 October 2026.
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