Sólheimajökull Glacier, Iceland
Sólheimajökull Glacier, an outlet of the larger Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, is a striking landmark you definitely have to visit along the South Coast of Iceland.
If standing at the edge of a massive wintry swathe of ice (or actually walking on a glacier) has been on your bucket list, you can check that off at easy-to-access Sólheimajökull Glacier.
Sólheimajökull translates to “Home of the Sun.”
Wedged between two volcanoes, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull, Sólheimajökull Glacier is a dramatic study in contrasts, as black ash deposits from volcanic eruptions and white ice combine to create a unique landscape.
❄️ ❄️ Looking to hike Solheimajokull Glacier? Guided glacier hikes are offered both from Reykjavik and from the parking area at Solheimajokull. 🥾 🥾 🥾
>>> Check price and availability and book your glacier hike now!
More About Solheimajokull Glacier
Sólheimajökull is a “glacier tongue” — an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, one of the largest ice caps in Iceland that sits atop the Katla volcano.
Most glaciers in Iceland are a pristine white or shimmering blue, but not Solheimajokull Glacier. Ash deposits from eruptions of the Katla and Eyjafjallajökull volcanoes have left streaks of grey, making this glacier look like a charcoal drawing on white canvas.
With deep crevasses, crisp ridges, and inlets of blue ice, the landscape at Solheimajokull Glacier makes for fascinating exploration. There is a picturesque lagoon formed by the meltwater, and the Jökulsá á Sólheimasandi river runs from the lagoon to the ocean.
Walls of ice provide opportunities for ice climbing, and visitors that ascend the glacier on a hike can get gorgeous views over the surrounding landscape.
Located near the town of Vik on the southern coast of Iceland, Sólheimajökull Glacier is currently estimated to be about 8 kilometers (5 miles long) and about 1 to 2 kilometers (0.62-1.24 miles) wide. It is easy to visit Solheimajokull from Reykjavik or Vik via Iceland’s Ring Road.
The ice at Sólheimajökull Glacier is reported to be 200 meters (about 656 feet) thick!
Sadly, Sólheimajökull Glacier is receding quite rapidly, earning it the nickname of “Shrinking Glacier.” But currently there is plenty of icy terrain to engage in activities like hiking and ice climbing.
Although winter, when the landscape is at its icy, snowy best, is the time travelers like to visit and hike on Solheimajokull Glacier, it is picturesque and stable enough in the summer that you can hike it in the warmer months with a guide familiar with the terrain.
On this helpful Sólheimajökull Glacier website, you will find all the information you need to plan your visit.
Complete 2026 Guide to Solheimajokull Glacier, Iceland
One of the top attractions along the scenic South Coast of Iceland, Solheimajokull Glacier can be visited year round.
With charcoal grey streaks of volcanic ash etched across swathes of ancient ice, a tranquil lagoon with floating mini-icebergs, and the opportunity for activities like hiking, ice climbing, and kayaking, Solheimajokull Glacier is well worth visiting.
This comprehensive Solheimajokull website is your one-stop site for all the details you need to plan your visit.
Solheimajokull Glacier is located along Iceland’s south coast, a short distance from the town of Vik.
You can conveniently visit Solheimajokull Glacier from Reykjavik either on your own in a rental car or as part of a guided South Coast tour.
View the location of this easy-to-visit glacier on our map of Solheimajokull Glacier, which also shows you nearby attractions, and get driving directions to Solheimajokull from Reykjavik or Vik.
You will find a nice-sized parking lot quite close to the glacier. The parking lot at Solheimajokull Glacier accommodates cars as well as campervans.
While there is no entrance fee for Solheimajokull Glacier, you will need to pay for parking if you drive up on your own.
And of course, if you do not want to drive on Icelandic roads, there are a number of Solheimajokull Glacier tours from which to choose.
Visiting Solheimajokull Glacier in summer offers more stable weather and longer days (you can even visit late and enjoy the midnight sun!).
Solheimajokull Glacier in winter is a white wonderland, and while weather can be tricky, you may see the Northern Lights!
❄️ 🥾 ❄️ Spoiler alert! You need to join a guided Solheimajokull Glacier hike to be able to safely walk on the ice. Your tour operator provides crampons and safety gear and chooses safe areas on the glacier for exploration. Book your hike now or choose a South Coast tour that includes the hike! ❄️ 🥾 ❄️
Things to Do at Solheimajokull Glacier
Admire Views of Solheimajokull Glacier from Viewpoint
Possibly the most popular thing to do at Solheimajokull Glacier is simply to gawk at its massive size and stark beauty.
Fronted by a tranquil lagoon and backed by mountains, Solheimajokull Glacier makes for striking photos with its white ice streaked with grey and black volcanic ash.
The Solheimajokull Glacier Viewpoint is the perfect spot from which to snap photos of the glacier. It’s an easy walk from the parking lot and a quick stop if you are strapped for time.
Hike Solheimajokull Glacier on a Guided Glacier Walk
Guided Solheimajokull hikes offer you the chance to explore the glacier in greater depth.
You can walk on the glacier, explore its ridges and crevasses, and even drink the melt or eat chips of glacier ice your guide will break off for you.
Some glacier walk excursions leave from the Solheimajkull parking lot, convenient if you are self-driving the South Coast of Iceland. If you are based in Reykjavik and don’t want to drive, you can opt for a tour that includes round trip transport.
Your outfitter will provide crampons and safety equipment. All you need to do is show up in appropriate attire and high-ankle hiking boots or shoes.
>> Check price and availability for this Solheimajokull hike (from Reykjavik) now!
>> Book your Solheimajokull guided glacier walk (leaving from parking lot at the glacier) now!
Kayak the Solheimajokull Glacier Lagoon
In the summer, you can join a guided kayaking excursion on the Solhemajokull Lagoon: the body of water at the tip of the glacier snout created by the meltwater.
Solheimajokull kayaking tours give you the chance to admire the walls of the glacier from a different perspective and it is fun to maneuver around the little floating icebergs in the water!
>> Check price and availability for a Solheimajokull kayaking tour now!
Go Ice Climbing at Solheimajokull Glacier
Solheimajokull Glacier offers awesome ice walls that are very attractive to ice climbers.
As a beginner, you can join a guided ice climbing excursion to try this adventurous activity under the watchful eye of your team guides.
Not only will you climb an ice wall on this tour, you will also hike on the glacier.
Outfitters provide the equipment you will need, from crampons and harnesses to ice axes, and will set up climbing ropes at a suitable location. The ropes are attached to your harness to help keep you safe as you try climbing an ice wall at Solheimajokull!
>> Check price and availability for this Solheimajokull ice climbing tour now!
Things to Do near Solheimajokull Glacier
Join a snowmobile tour at Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
Want to enjoy a unique and very cool experience on your visit to Solheimajokull Glacier?
Just a short drive from Solheimajokull Glacier is the base camp for a snowmobile adventure on the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, the main glacier of which Solheimajokull is a tongue.
At the base camp, you will get geared up and then head in a glacier truck to the start point of the snowmobile tour.
Your guide will teach you how to maneuver your snowmobile, and then you’ll be off on a guided exploration of the ice cap on top of the Katla volcano.
Your snowmobile tour offers you the chance to explore around the top of the ice cap, with superb views over South Iceland and insightful commentary from your guide.
It’s an opportunity you must not pass up when you visit — check price and availability now!
Ride an ATV to the Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
Not too far from Solheimajokull Glacier is the famous Solheimasandur Plane Wreck that has featured in movies.
The plane is a United States Navy Douglas C-117D transport plane that ran out of fuel and crashed on the black beach at Solheimasandur in 1973.
The wreck has been sitting on the beach since and is now a tourist attraction and a spot to get fabulous photos. You can pose inside the plane, on it, and by it. As a bonus, the black sand on the beach is gorgeous and the ocean within walking distance.
Driving to the wreck is not permitted but you can hike to it from the main road, about an hour each way if you are in good shape. Only attempt the hike in good weather!
Although there isn’t a sign on the Ring Road for the wreck, you can look for the turnoff on a map.
Better than hiking the stark landscape is this exciting ATV tour that will take you through different terrains on the South Coast, including to the abandoned plane.
>>> Check price and availability for this South Coast ATV tour now!
Gape in awe at Skogafoss
The South Coast of Iceland is known for its stunning waterfalls, and Skogafoss, on the way from Reykjavik to Solheimajokull Glacier, is a must-stop!
One of the largest waterfalls in Iceland, Skogafoss is located on the Skoga River.
With a drop of 60 meters (about 197 feet) and a width of 25 meters (82 feet) Skogafoss is VERY impressive and can overwhelm you with its sheer power. Prepare to be drenched if you venture close!
On sunny days, you can expect to see a rainbow or two in the massive amounts of mist generated by the waterfall.
If you are up for the challenge, you can climb the 500+ steps to a viewing platform for another perspective of the falls and views of the surrounding landscape.
You can see Skogafoss from the Ring Road, but you will want to park and walk up to the waterfall to enjoy its beauty up close. Currently, parking is free!
Stand behind a curtain of water at Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is another must-stop waterfall en route to Solheimajokull Glacier from Reykjavik.
While Seljalandsfoss is not wide, it has an elegant drop of 60 meters (about 197 feet) and the most fun part about visiting this waterfall is that you can walk behind it!
A path encircles the waterfall, and in the summer months, you can walk to behind the curtain of water for some amazing photos. It is a much coveted destination for photographers, especially at sunset.
From Seljalandsfoss, you can walk to another gorgeous waterfall that is hidden in a gorge: Gljufrabui.
Parking is available at Seljalandsfoss but you have to pay a fee. The waterfall, and the mini-hike to Gljufrabui, are worth the fee!
Admire the Black Sand at Reynisfjara Beach
A little beyond Solheimajokull Glacier as you drive the Ring Road from Reykjavik, the stunning Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach offers memorable photo ops.
Admire the beautiful basalt columns stacked on the sand, the picturesque Reynisdrangar sea stacks in the water, and the long stretch of black sand created by volcanic lava.
While you can admire the waves at Reynisfjara Beach from well above the water line, the surf is too dangerous to enter the water.
Reynisfjara Beach is also home to the Halsanefshellir Cave, which affords superb photo ops. But exercise extreme caution, since the waves at Reynisfjara are notorious. Also be alert to rocks falling from the roof of the cave if you choose to enter.
Reynisfjara Beach is a stunning location from which to experience the midnight sun in the summer or the northern lights in the winter.
Visit the Town of Vik
Vik is a tiny must-explore village not too far from Solheimajokull Glacier. It’s also a great place to spend the night!
Ascend to the top of the Vik Church for superb views. The church itself makes for striking photos as well.
Walk to the Vikurfjara Black Sand Beach, look for puffins at the Dyrholaey cliffs in the summer, or join a tour of the Katla Ice Cave.
Where to stay near Solheimajokull Glacier
While you can visit Solheimajokull Glacier on a day trip from Reykjavik, staying in the area allows you to experience this part of Iceland’s South Coast in greater depth.
Staying nearby allows you to experience Solheimajokull Glacier late during the time when the midnight sun is out in the summer, or maybe see some dancing Northern Lights in the night in winter.
Hotel Skogafoss by EJ Hotels is about a 12-minute drive from Solheimajokull Glacier and right by one of the most gorgeous waterfalls on the South Coast. Hotel Burfell is about a 20-minute drive away on the eastern side of the glacier.
The town of Vik is just about 30 minutes away from the parking lot at Solheimajokull Glacier and offers plenty of options for stays and dining. Hotel Vík í Mýrdal is a popular 3-star hotel. Hotel Kria is another top-rated option just a short walk from the black sand beaches!
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