Discover Vatnajökull National Park
The territory of the national park is spectacular, shaped by the dynamic nature of fire and ice.
Winter conditions by Dettifoss
At the beginning of October it started to snow at Dettifoss and temperature dropped below zero. This means that, even though there may be warmer days in between, winter conditions can still be expected until spring. The conditions of the trails in the area can therefore change often and quickly due to quick changes in the weather. For safety reasons, the trails near the edges of the canyon have been closed for the winter. Instead, a winter route to the viewing platform north of the waterfall has been opened. Read more
Temporary closure of the platform at Botnstjörn in Ásbyrgi
From Oktober 14th and the following 1-2 weeks the platform at Botnstjörn will be closed due to construction. Read more
Come visit
– Explore the areas
Click on the dots to explore areas and visitor centres
Winter program in Skaftafell
Ice Cave Tours and Glacier Hikes
Ice Cave Tours and Glacier Hikes - Regarding the decision on withdrawal of advertisement and extension of contracts
Rules for the use of drones for recreational purposes
Dettifoss area closed due to dangerous conditions
Hiking route S3 in Skaftafell open
Plan your visit
Vatnajökull National Park offers wide a range of traditional outdoor recreational activities for visitor enjoyment including hiking, driving, camping and bird watching. We recommend exporing the website and then starting at our visitor centres to get updates on services, roads and weather.
Travel & safety advice
Travelling in Iceland requires preparation because the weather is ever-changing and circumstances can vary greatly. Vatnajökull National Park mostly encompasses mountainous territory and land near to mountains, including parts of the highlands of Iceland where summers are short and weather conditions can change suddenly.
The National Park of fire & ice
- Learn & explore
The National Park of fire & ice
- Learn & explore
Vatnajökull National Park is unique on a global level due to its geological history, which has been largely written by the protracted conflict between fire and ice.
Unesco World Heritage
Vatnajökull National Park was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List on 5 July 2019 on the basis of its unique natural characteristics.
Melting glaciers
Information about climate change and the associated consequences for glaciers in Iceland and elsewhere.
Nature & history
The landscape of the National Park is shaped by the synergy between volcanoes and glaciers. Vatnajökull National Park and the neighbouring areas have many and varied cultural remains and there are tales of human habitation and farming in the area over the centuries.
Management and Conservation Plan
The Management and Conservation Plan is the principal tool for managing the National Park. The current version (3rd edition) of the Management and Conservation Plan entered into effect on 5 July 2022.
Contact us
We try to make all information available on the website. Try searching this site using the keyword search at the top of the page. You may find the answer to your question faster than emailing us. We do our best to answer all inquiries in good time.