Hidden Gems · Iceland
Vatnajökull National Park
Vatnajökull National Park covers about 14 percent of Iceland and is one of the largest protected areas in Europe, built around the ice cap of the same name. In practice most visitors meet it at two places on the Ring Road: Skaftafell in the south, and the glacier lagoon at Jökulsárlón.
I did a guided glacier walk on Falljökull, which is about ten minutes from the Skaftafell campsite — that is the logistics tip worth having: stay at Skaftafell and the glacier is on your doorstep instead of a drive away. Go with a guide. This is not a place to walk out onto by yourself, and every operator here will tell you the same thing.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
Four out of five. Not for one view but for the range of them — glacier tongues, meltwater plains, basalt, and the ice cap itself sitting above all of it.
Vatnajökull National Park is accessible by car with several visitor centers and trailheads, especially around popular areas like Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. Guided glacier tours are the safest and recommended way to explore the glaciers, with expert guides providing equipment and safety briefings. Tours vary to accommodate different fitness levels and skills—from easier glacier walks lasting a few hours to more demanding ice cave explorations and multi-day hikes.
The park is free to enter; you pay for parking at the busy sites — 1,040 ISK at Skaftafell and the same at Jökulsárlón, with 50 percent off the second one on the same day. Guided glacier hikes start at around 16,900 ISK. Checked August 2026.
Vatnajökull National Park is a major tourist attraction, especially in summer months, leading to busier periods at popular spots like Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón. Booking tours in advance is advised
Before you go
Planning your own Ring Road trip?
Iceland Ring Road Campervan Guide
My full 14-day route — roughly 2,500 km, every campsite I used, what I actually spent, and the stops worth the detour. The plan I drove, in one PDF.
Advertising disclosure: The rental links below are affiliate links. If you book through one of them I earn a small commission — the price stays exactly the same for you.
How I booked my campervan
I compared three rentals before I chose mine. These are the ones worth checking — Lava gives 5% off with code CREATOR.