Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
The south coast of Iceland is filled with beautiful scenery, but the landscapes around Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón are unlike anywhere else. It’s hard to beat the incredible mountains, stunning glacier lagoons, and beaches where small icebergs wash onto black shores.
There are so many unique experiences that you can only have in this area, like hiking on a glacier and visiting blue ice caves, or taking a boat tour between icebergs. Diamond Beach, where small icebergs wash onto the black sand on shore.
If you only have one day, it is possible to visit Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier on this a highly rated day tour from Reykjavík. However, Reykjavík is around five hours’ drive away. If you have time, we’d recommend joining a longer two or three day South Coast tour, or staying nearby to make the most of the area. One of the closest options is Hótel Jökulsárlón (Glacier Lagoon Hotel), around a 10-minute drive from both Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
In this guide, we've covered everything you need to plan your visit, including the best tours and hotels near Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón.
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Quickly compare the best hotels near Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Here is a quick overview of the best hotels near Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón, with more details on each one below. The prices per night can vary greatly based on the season and room type, but we’ve included a starting range for easy comparison:
Hotels closest to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Glacier Lagoon Hotel (Hótel Jökulsárlón): The most stylish stay with mountain and glacier view rooms, about 10 minutes’ drive from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón.
Prices from US $450 per night.
Hali Country Hotel: A peaceful countryside hotel. This is a more affordable option still within 10 minutes’ drive from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón.
Prices from US $230 per night.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon: A more upscale option with modern rooms, a restaurant and bar, sauna, gym and hot tubs. Located around 20-25 minutes’ drive from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón.
Prices from US $440 per night.
Hotels in the nearest town (Höfn)
Milk Factory: A dairy that has been converted into a simple guesthouse, located just outside of central Höfn.
Prices from US $250 per night.
Höfn - Berjaya Iceland Hotels: A convenient hotel in the centre of Höfn, right near the harbour and restaurants.
Prices from US $170 per night.
Hotel Höfn: A central, practical option for staying in the centre of Höfn.
Prices from US $185 per night.
Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Tips for travelling to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón, Iceland
The best time of year to visit Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Diamond Beach is a black sand beach that is famous for the small icebergs that wash ashore. The ice breaks off from a nearby glacier, is carried down Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, and pushed onto the beach by ocean waves.
For the largest and most impressive icebergs, the best time to visit Diamond Beach is generally from November to March.
However, the amount of ice is constantly changing. The best conditions will depend on glacial melt, tides, waves and weather, so some days can have a lot of sparkling ice while others have very little.
How to drive to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Diamond Beach is around a 5 hours’ drive from Reykjavík, on Route 1 for roughly 380km. We visited Diamond Beach on day 4 of our Ring Road trip around Iceland, but it can also be reached on a shorter trip.
If you’re also planning to drive, we’d recommend booking a car in Iceland through Rentalcars.com because it compares prices across all of the major hire companies. You can check for available hire cars here:
Driving in Iceland
Driving in Iceland is not difficult and honestly the best way to get the most out of your time in Iceland. Everything you need to know about driving in Iceland is:
Iceland drives on the right side of the road;
most of the roads on the Ring Road are paved, and pot holes are rare (a standard rental car is generally suitable in good conditions);
you may have to be conscious of the wind when you open the doors sometimes, but it will be obvious when;
check road conditions and weather forecasts before setting off, particularly during winter;
most attractions will charge for parking which can be done through the QR codes or parking metres at each parking lot (don’t overcomplicate your trip with needless phone apps);
the left lane has right of way in roundabouts, but the road markings make this clear.
Where to stay near Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
The nearest main town to Diamond Beach is Höfn, around 80 km away, or about one hour’s drive along Route 1. If you’re planning a longer trip around Iceland, we’ve included the best hotel options in Höfn for your stay.
However, you don’t need to book hotels only in the main towns around Iceland. There are more accommodation options right near the attractions as well, and most have restaurants for breakfast and dinner.
We’ve included the best hotels close to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón if you want to spend more time exploring this part of the south coast.
How to book the best hotels in Iceland
We’ve narrowed down the best hotels near Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón based on their location and ratings, and would recommend checking the reviews to see if they suit your trip.
Diamond Beach is a popular destination on the south coast of Iceland and there are only a limited number of hotels within driving distance. We’d recommend comparing the options in this post and checking your travel dates as early as possible. If you book through Agoda, most hotels will also offer free cancellation for a certain period in case you need to change plans.
We’d also recommend using search filters if you’re looking for specific things in your stay, like kitchens, onsite restaurants or private terraces.
Mobile data in Iceland
We compared many mobile data plans for our trip and found the best options are Holafly’s Iceland and Europe eSIMs which come with unlimited data.
Phone coverage with Holafly was very good all over Iceland, even in some of the more remote areas. You can use our code ‘LINGANDJACE’ for 5% off Holafly’s eSIM for Iceland or Europe with this link.
Tours to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Tours from Reykjavík
Day trip from Reykjavík to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Diamond Beach can definitely be visited in a day trip from Reykjavík, but just note that the driving time is quite long. If you have just one day and don’t want to drive there, we’d recommend this highly rated Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon tour through GetYourGuide which will take you to both attractions.
The trip follows the South Coast, with stops at Seljalandsfoss (a beautiful, tall waterfall), Vík and Jökulsárlón, before visiting Diamond Beach. The tour has around 1.5 hours at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and there’s also the option to add an amphibian boat ride between the icebergs from May to October, which was one of the highlights of our trip.
The long drive is the main trade-off for this one-day tour, but it saves you from hiring a car and navigating Iceland’s roads yourself, making it the best one-day option if you’re only visiting Reykjavík or planning a short trip.
Two-day tour to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
If you have two days, we’d recommend checking out this overnight tour to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón which is the best option for visiting more of the highlights on Iceland’s South Coast. Like the one-day tour above, this option includes time at Seljalandsfoss, but also visits one of the most impressive waterfalls, Skógafoss, and the unique coastline at Reynisfjara. On the second day, it continues to Jökulsárlón, with stops at the historic Hofskirkja turf church and Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon along the way.
However, the highlights on the second day of this tour are options to add a two-hour glacier hike and boat ride on the glacier lagoon.
Three-day tour to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
If you want to see Iceland’s biggest sights without hiring a car, three day tours combine this area of the South Coast with Iceland’s Golden Circle, with two nights’ accommodation. You’ll visit the highlights of the Golden Circle (like Þingvellir, Gullfoss, Geysir and Kerið on the first day), then continue along the South Coast to Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Reynisfjara, before reaching Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach on day three.
Accommodation, breakfast, Reykjavík pickup and an English-speaking guide are included, making this a good option if you want to cover a lot of Iceland in a few days without dealing with the driving and logistics yourself.
The best summer tour option is available here, or in winter you can also hike to an ice cave hike by booking here.
Iceland glacier tours near Jökulsárlón
Ice cave and glacier tour from Jökulsárlón
If you’re planning to stay near Diamond Beach of Hófn, you can find tours to the glacier from Jökulsárlón. For an unforgettable glacier experience, you can’t beat this blue ice and glacier tour from Jökulsárlón. It is a fully guided walk on Vatnajökull glacier with a visit to a naturally formed blue ice cave. The small group tour is limited to eight people.
Iceberg boat tour and glacier hike from Fjallsárlón
While Jökulsárlón is the best-known glacier lagoon in the area, Fjallsárlón is another lagoon located nearby which was one of our favourite places in Iceland. If you'd like a more adventurous experience, this Fjallsárlón iceberg boat tour and glacier hike combines a Zodiac boat ride through the Fjallsárlón lagoon with a guided hike on Fjallsjökull Glacier.
The four-hour small-group excursion is limited to 10 participants and includes a certified glacier guide, safety equipment and 4x4 transfers. It's a great experience if you want to get closer to the icebergs and glacier rather than simply admiring them from the shore. Just note that the tour departs from Fjallsárlón, so you'll need to make your own way there.
The best hotels near Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Hotels closest to Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón
Glacier Lagoon Hotel (Hótel Jökulsárlón)
You can’t beat the experience at Hótel Jökulsárlón (Glacier Lagoon Hotel) which has spectacular views from the rooms, restaurant and outdoor hot tubs. It is one of the closest hotels to both Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, around a 10-minute drive from each.
Hótel Jökulsárlón has very high ratings for its modern rooms, restaurant, fitness centre, sauna and hot tubs, with dramatic Icelandic scenery all around. Glacier-view rooms are also available, and we’d recommend booking one ahead if you want to wake up to views of Vatnajökull.
Hali Country Hotel
The Hali Country Hotel is a family-run hotel in a peaceful countryside setting. It’s also located around 10 minutes’ drive from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón but is a more affordable option. There are rooms with views towards Vatnajökull glacier or the Atlantic Ocean, and an on-site restaurant for breakfast and dinner.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon is an upscale hotel located around 20-25 minutes’ drive from Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón. It has a modern Nordic design and large windows to make the most of the scenery around it. It is a four-star hotel with a restaurant and bar, sauna, gym and hot tubs, making it a good place to unwind after exploring Iceland’s south coast.
Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon is one of the closest options near Skaftafell, home to Vatnajökull which is the largest glacier in Europe. If you’re interested in a glacier hike on this trip, we’d recommend booking this highly rated extra-small glacier hike tour which departs from Skaftafell airport, just 25 minutes’ drive away from the hotel.
Hotels in the nearest town (Höfn)
Milk Factory
The Milk Factory is a converted dairy located just outside central Höfn. It has been turned into a simple and modern guesthouse and is a good choice if you’re looking for something a bit more unique, while still being close to the town’s restaurants and harbour. It’s one of the highest rated options in Höfn.
Höfn Berjaya Iceland Hotels
Höfn - Berjaya Iceland Hotels is in the centre of Höfn, right near the harbour, restaurants and local attractions. The hotel faces the sea and harbour and some rooms have glacier views. We’d recommend staying here if you’re looking for convenience.
Hotel Höfn
Hotel Höfn is another good option for convenience, especially if you want to stay in a town in Höfn, rather than the countryside. It is a classic hotel with a restaurant onsite, free Wi-Fi and parking.
From central Höfn, Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón are around one hour’s drive away, making this a good base before or after your visit.