A Guide to Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Here is our comprehensive guide on Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland. Including tips on the best things to do and see, when to go, where to stay, and how to get there.
Skaftafell, a part of Vatnajökull National Park, is a must-visit destination in South Iceland.
The park offers plenty of outdoor activities, such as hiking, glacier trekking, and exploring ice caves or waterfalls.
Therefore, we believe it is an essential stop on every Iceland itinerary for every avid hiker and outdoor lover.
What word describes the former Skaftafell National Park the best? Glaciers. Glaciers everywhere you look.
It's not that surprising considering the fact that Vatnajökull is the largest ice cap in Europe.
While the glaciers are one of the main reasons to visit Skaftafell, this wonderful area offers so much more.
Even the drive to the park was spectacular.
Unfortunately, the views on the day of our visit were quite limited because of rainy weather. Still, it could have been worse. Much worse.
So, in the end, the visibility was not that bad, and we still made frequent stops to enjoy the scenery and take photos.
We were not sure what to expect from Skaftafell, as the information we could find was not exactly as helpful as we expected.
Therefore, we decided to create this Skaftafell travel guide to help you plan your trip better.
Things to Know About Skaftafell
Before we dive into the article, there are a few things you should know about Skaftafell before you go.
Skaftafell National Park
When we searched for more information about Skaftafell, we were a bit confused by another name, Vatnajökull National Park, which was popping up all the time.
Therefore, we were not sure where we actually wanted to go or what area we should see.
It turned out that previously independent Skaftafell National Park became part of the larger Vatnajökull National Park in 2008.
Vatnajökull is one of the largest national parks in Europe and has several entry points.
And Skaftafell is one of the best places to explore the vast Vatnajökull National Park from the southern side.
In a nutshell, Skaftafell is an easily accessible area of Vatnajökull National Park, and it has a good network of trails, a visitors center, and a campsite.
By the way, Vatnajökull National Park is home to Iceland's highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, which is also right in this area.
How Much Time Do I Need
The drive to this national park is incredibly scenic.
The truth is that many travelers only pass by Skaftafell when traveling to the more famous Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, the unofficial jewel crown of southeast Iceland.
Do not make the same mistake, and plan at least three to four hours for this national park if your schedule allows it.
Of course, the more time you spend in the area, the better your experience will be.
When we arrived at the Skaftafell parking lot, it rained really hard, so we decided to wait a bit.
That's one of the advantages of traveling in Iceland during the summer, as the daylight does not limit you.
As our trip to Iceland was very spontaneous, we had at least some time in our campervan to read a bit more about the best things to see and do in Skaftafell's area of Vatnajökull National Park.
Despite the bad weather, we wanted to explore this area on foot.
Had we had more time for Skaftafell, we would have opted for one of the most popular activities, glacier hiking.
Unfortunately, it was too late to make a reservation, plus the weather was quite bad, so we opted for hiking instead.
It turned out to be an excellent decision.
When we climbed up a bit, the weather and visibility were surprisingly much better there than at the parking lot.
Visitors Center
In case you still feel that you need a bit of help, there is an excellent Visitors Center right at the entrance to the park.
Here, helpful staff will give you advice on the best activities that are suitable for actual weather conditions and your level of fitness.
As we were still not sure if the trail we had picked was sensible, we visited the visitors center anyway and got some good advice from one of the local rangers.
What to See and Do
Vatnajökull National Park is all about wonderful nature, so lace up your hiking boots and set off.
Before you do that, it is necessary to figure out what to see and do while there.
When traveling Iceland's Ring Road, packed with natural highlights and must-see attractions on every step, we know it is hard to decide what place is worth your time and what destination is better to skip.
Still, after traveling around the country for two weeks, we have great memories connected with Skaftafell.
And we recommend you to spend there at least a couple of hours, no matter whether you opt for an organized tour or decide to explore the park on your own.
Hiking
Vatnajökull National Park at Skaftafell offers good hiking trails, one better than the other, but not all of them are equally difficult.
Therefore, choose carefully and select a hike according to your fitness level.
Svartifoss Waterfall
The most popular trail in this area is the one leading to Svartifoss Waterfall.
There are many beautiful waterfalls in Iceland, so it would be strange not to find one here as well.
The trail leads uphill, but it is fairly short and not that challenging. That's why most travelers to the national park choose this rewarding hike.
Svartifoss, also known as the Black Waterfall, is surrounded by dark lava columns that were formed by volcanic activity.
You've probably already seen these basalt columns a day or two earlier when visiting Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach or Litlanesfoss if traveling the Ring Road counterclockwise.
Sjonarnipa Viewpoint
The trail to Svartifoss is well-maintained, but as we wanted to spend more time in the park, we decided to extend our stay here and hike the S6 trail to the Sjónarnípa Viewpoint.
This hike takes anything between 2.5 and 3 hours, and if you have time, we can highly recommend it.
Overall, the scenery and the trail are much more interesting than the one leading to the waterfall. Moreover, the trail is mostly flat and allows you to admire the surrounding snow-capped mountains.
We even saw a black arctic fox, but it was gone before we took out the camera.
Once we got to the viewpoint, we could not believe our eyes.
Most of the people were probably discouraged by the weather that day, so we had most of the trail for ourselves.
It was an incredible experience to stand above Skaftafellsjokul Glacier and the lagoon with floating icebergs alone.
The view was worth the effort, and even the weather allowed us to enjoy it for a moment.
It is possible to walk back the same way, but we think it makes much more sense to follow the S5 trail.
S5 trail returns from this point to the Visitors Center, and it is easy as it leads downhill all the time.
Glacier Hiking
Skaftafell area of Vatnajökull National Park is one of the best places in Iceland where you can try glacier hiking.
For obvious reasons, it is not possible to do the glacier hike without a guide.
What can you expect from a Vatnajökull Glacier hike? For sure, it's going to be an unforgettable experience.
You'll be walking on ice, across deep crevasses, around water cauldrons.
Simply, hiking on a glacier is everything but boring as the glacier's surface is surprisingly much more diverse than what it looks from a distance.
Depending on your fitness level, you can choose between a Skaftafell 3-hour Glacier Hike or a longer, Skaftafell 5-hour Glacier Hike.
We strongly recommend you make a reservation in advance, especially if you travel on a strict schedule.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Ice Caving
Another exciting thing to do in Skaftafell is ice caving.
Have you ever thought to go inside an ice cave, to the place where water runs beneath a glacier? Well, it is possible to try it here.
If you plan on doing this activity, it is necessary to know that ice caving is not available year-round, unlike glacier hiking.
Most of the tours run between October and March due to safety reasons, as it is necessary to wait for the lower temperature to ensure the glacier does not melt that quickly.
One of the most popular tours in Skaftafell will take you to Vatnajökull Ice Cave.
All of you looking for an ultimate adventure, you can combine ice caving and glacier hiking.
Here you can reserve a popular and well-rated Skaftafell Ice Cave and Glacier Hike Tour.
Glaciers
What makes Skaftafell so special? For sure a large number of outlet glaciers around.
When we were at the Sjonarnipa Viewpoint, we noticed another tongue of a glacier in the valley and decided to get there later.
Svinafellsjokul Glacier
The glacier's name was Svinafellsjokul, as we found out later, and it was another beautiful place we visited in Vatnajökull National Park.
How do you get to Svinafellsjokul?
It is only a short drive from the Skaftafell parking lot, but it is good to know that the road is full of holes, and you should not attempt to drive there without a 4WD car, especially when the weather is bad.
In case you have a regular 2WD car or campervan, it is possible to walk to the mouth of the glacier.
It is approximately 2 kilometers one way, but it might be quite challenging when it is rainy and windy, which were the conditions on the day of our visit.
Svinafellsjokul itself was stunning, and you can get really close to it, which is nowadays very rare due to safety reasons.
We had a feeling that the wind would blow us away, and this time the trip was probably not worth the effort.
When is the Best Time to Visit Skaftafell
Same as most other destinations in Iceland, you can visit Vatnajökull National Park at Skaftafell year-round.
However, there are a few things you should know.
First and foremost, Skaftafell is a hiking destination or an area where people do adventure activities, which means only one thing.
You always have to check out the current weather forecast and wear proper outdoor clothing.
Secondly, it is quite surprising that a place that boasts so many glaciers does not receive that much snowfall in the winter.
Instead of snow, you can expect rain in Skaftafell.
The real danger here is muddy (often icy) trails and the short days, especially between November and February.
The best time to visit Skaftafell is in summer. This period is also regarded as the best time to visit Iceland.
However, if you want to avoid the crowds, you should arrive here in the shoulder season.
What to Pack
What should you pack for Skaftafell? You should come prepared regardless of how long you want to stay there.
If you plan on hiking, then for sure, bring hiking boots, rain pants, and a rain jacket.
You can see from the pictures that a regular rain poncho might also come in handy.
If you plan on glacier hiking, you should ask the agency what clothing is the best for the tour.
They should provide you will all the specialized gear, so you don't need to worry about that one.
Here, you will find more tips on what to pack for Iceland.
How to Get to Skaftafell
Skaftafell is located in South Iceland, approximately four to five hours drive from Reykjavik, but that would be achievable only without making any stops.
In reality, it took us three days of driving to get to Skaftafell National Park as we also visited Golden Circle, Seljalandsfoss, Dyrholaey Peninsula, and tons of other places.
Skaftafell is within driving distance from Vik, Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and Höfn.
Car
Undoubtedly, the best way to get to Skaftafell is by rental car or campervan.
The park is easily accessible even by a 2WD car as it is just off the Ring Road.
From Vik, stay on Road 1 for 140 kilometers, then turn left onto Road 998, which will take you to a large parking lot.
The Skaftafell Parking is a bit less than two kilometers from the junction.
Unlike some other places, Skaftafell parking is not free. In fact, it costs 750 ISK per car, and you can pay by credit card.
Public Transport
If you do not have a car, it is possible to get to Skaftafell by bus, but the drive is long and tiring.
Moreover, you need to take different buses, and you won't get to see some of the best places along the way.
Check the current bus timetable before you go.
Another option is to book a tourist hop-on-hop-off bus that will take you along the South Coast.
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Where to Stay at Skaftafell
It is not that easy to find accommodation near Skaftafell, especially if you are a budget traveler.
What is more important, those few hotels in the area are fully booked well in advance.
Therefore, you should not wait to make the reservation if you've already created your itinerary.
Here, we have selected the best hotels near Skaftafell for every type of traveler and budget.
Budget | Hvoll Hostel - It is not easy to find budget-friendly accommodation in Iceland, and this hostel just proves that. It is approximately 40 kilometers from Skaftafell, but it is the cheapest option you find here if you insist on staying in the area.
Mid-range | Adventure Hotel Hof - Only fifteen minutes drive from the park, this hotel offers clean rooms, an on-site restaurant, and a tasty breakfast.
Luxury | Hotel Skaftafell - This amazing hotel close to Skaftafell features an excellent location, nice rooms with wonderful mountainous views, modern decor, and a rich breakfast.
Camping
If you travel by campervan or car and sleep in a tent, Skaftafell Campsite is the best (and nearest) place you can find in this area.
The campground is large and well-equipped, and it's very affordable if you travel around Iceland on a budget.
Due to its location, Skaftafell Campsite is often regarded as one of the best campgrounds on Iceland's South Coast.
The campground has good facilities, costs 1750 ISK per night, and it's close to all parks' hiking trails.
Here you can find more information on camping in Iceland.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
