A Guide to Visiting Iceland’s Blue Ice Caves (2025)

Affiliate Disclosure: This Blue Ice Caves Iceland post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. 

INTRODUCTION

I first discovered the breathtaking beauty of Iceland’s crystal blue ice caves on Instagram and couldn’t believe such an extraordinary place was accessible to an ordinary traveler like me.

As someone the adventure travel industry calls a “soft adventurer”, ( I love incredible outdoor experiences that do not involve much training, strenuous effort, or risk), this was the perfect activity for me!

That first experience seeing a blue ice cave in Iceland was so unforgettable, that it inspired a second winter getaway with a girlfriend a few years later. While our itinerary was jam-packed with amazing activities like seeing the northern lights, and soaking in geothermal pools, visiting the crystal ice caves was our one must-have experience.

I wrote this post to help you find the best ice cave tours in Iceland, because there are a few key things you need to know before you go (like where the top caves are located).

Please use the menu below to find what you need quickly. If you want a sneak peek first, start with this 1-minute video on ice caving in Iceland.

ICELAND ICE CAVE TOUR VIDEO

Want to see what it’s like to be on an Iceland ice caves tour? Here is a short little Instagram reel. Not on Instagram? You can also see them in this YouTube video highlighting some of Iceland’s best winter attractions (at the 0:55 mark).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Better Beyond 🌿 Tara Cannon 🌿 Travel Content Creator (@thebetterbeyond)

WHERE TO FIND BLUE ICE CAVES IN ICELAND

If you want to see Iceland’s incredible blue ice caves (also referred to as crystal ice caves), you need to know a few things. First of all, while there are several places to go on ice cave tours in Iceland, not all of those caves offer those bright blue hues.

You also want to pay careful attention to the location when booking Iceland ice cave tours, as not all caves are easily accessible on a day trip from Reykjavik. (I’ve marked their locations on a Google map in the next section to help guide you.)

Finally, it’s important to note that natural ice caves change every year. These vibrant, colorful caverns form during the summer months as meltwater flows through cracks in the glacier. Because of this, the caves’ appearance varies annually, so what you see in promotional photos may not reflect their current look. To avoid surprises, I recommend checking recent visitor photos before booking a specific tour.

Here are the main spots to see Iceland glacier caves:

1. VATNAJÖKULL GLACIER (BreiðamerkurjökuL)

• Overview: Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Europe, is the top destination for blue ice cave tours. Its vast ice mass and dynamic formations create breathtaking crystal ice caves, including those found in its glacier tongues like Breiðamerkurjökull.

• Tours: Most Vatnajökull ice cave tours depart from the parking lot for Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon making it a convenient base for exploring the area. Many visitors combine ice caving with other activities like lagoon boat tours or a visit to Diamond Beach.

• The Need to Know: These ice caves are too far from Reykjavik to be done as a day-trip. They are best experienced as part of a multi-day Iceland South Coast tour. If you are self-driving, you may wish to spend a night in one of the hamlets to the east of the tour meeting point (Jökulsárlón Lagoon parking lot). A Kirkjubaejarklaustur hotel (90 min. drive) or a Skaftafell hotel (40 min. drive) are both good options. The closest major hotel is Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon (30 min. to meeting point).

See Viator Tours:

• Half Day Blue Ice Cave Tour from Jökulsárlón Lagoon
• 2 Day Blue Ice Caves and South Coast from Reykjavik
• 3 Day Blue Ice Caves and South Coast from Reykjavik

While it’s on the pricier side, another excellent option for exploring the South Coast is to book a private tour where everything is taken care of. For this, I highly recommend Hidden Iceland. I’ve been working with this award-winning Iceland tour company almost since their inception, and they’re absolutely fantastic.

See: 2 Day Private Glacier Lagoon and Ice Cave Tour (Hidden Iceland)

2. MÝRDALSJÖKULL GLACIER (KATLA ICE CAVE)

• Overview: This south coast glacier, near the town of Vík, is home to the Katla Ice Cave, famous for its mix of blue ice and black volcanic ash layers. Katla is an excellent choice for those visiting the southern coast but without enough time to get to Vatnajökull Glacier further to the east.

• Tours: While it is a long day, you can see Katla on an ice cave tour from Reykjavik. (These tours also often include two beautiful waterfalls.) Alternatively, if you are self-driving the South Coast, most Katla ice cave day tours leave from the town of Vík, which also has some other good attraction nearby, include Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. See Vík hotels.

• The Need to Know: Katla can be spectacular, but it really depends on the year. The hues are also a little darker than the bright light blues found in the Vatnajökull ice caves further east. (Check photos from recent tour reviewers!)

See tours:

• 1 Day Katla Ice Cave Tour from Reykjavik
• Half Day Katla Ice Cave Tour from Vík

3. LANGJÖKULL GLACIER

• Overview: Located in western Iceland, Langjökull is known for its man-made ice tunnel, allowing visitors to explore carved passages within the glacier. Often combined with snowmobiling or other glacier activities, Langjökull tours are a great option for travelers looking for a mix of adventure and accessibility.

• Tours: This ice cave is way closer to Reykjavík than Vatnajökull or Katla. It can be done as a half day tour from the capital. As the glacier access point is close to the Golden Circle route (at Gulfoss waterfall parking lot), these activities could potentially be combined if you are self-driving this popular tourist route. Trips to the ice cave depart at 14:00 from the Gulfoss (waterfall) parking lot.

• The Need to Know: It’s man-made and it’s not blue, but if you are short on time and want to have some kind of glacier experience, this is a decent option.

See tours:

• Half-Day Snowmobile and Ice Caves from Gulfoss
• Full Day Golden Circle and Ice Caves from Reykjavik

ICELAND ICE CAVES MAP

I’ve plotted the main ice cave areas on this simple map. The most important thing to understand, is that the best ice caves in Iceland, with those incredible bright blue hues, are located on the Breiðamerkurjökull tongue of Vatnajokull Glacier within Vatnajökull National Park (the biggest white blob). These are the the furthest from Reykjavik and are not done as a day trip, typically requiring at least a 1-night stay along the south coast. (But worth the effort? Absolutely in my opinion!)

You can click on the following ice cave excursion Iceland map for an interactive version.

IMPORTANT TIPS

• SEASONALITY: Natural ice caves are usually accessible from November to March, when the ice is stable. In recent years, there have been some companies attempting to extend the season, or even offering year-round ice cave tours. This is highly unadvisable, and tragically, resulted in the death of a tourist when a cave partially collapsed in August 2024. If you are visiting outside of the season for Iceland ice caves tours, you can still safely book a trip to go on a glacier hike – you just won’t go inside a glacier ice cave.

• GUIDED TOURS ONLY: Ice caves are unpredictable and can be dangerous without an expert guide. Always book with a professional operator.

• WEATHER DEPENDENT: Tour availability depends on weather and glacier conditions, so check in advance. If visiting a blue ice cave is the experience you most want to have in Iceland, you may want to keep an extra day open to allow for rescheduling if your original date gets cancelled. (This happened to us on our most recent trip when the road to Vatnajökull was temporarily closed due to dangerous driving conditions.)

• CAN KIDS GO ON ICE CAVE TOURS?: It depends on the company, and there are certainly exceptions, but in most cases kids need to be at least 10- 12 years old to visit a glacier ice cave. This is for reasons of safety and also endurance, as some of the best ice caves in Iceland (and the least crowded) can take some time to get to.
  
  
  
  Note: I couldn’t wait for my kids to be old enough to do really interesting stuff like visiting an ice cave in Iceland, but if you have younger children, there are still tons of cool things to do in Iceland with kids. For example, on the same trip we decided to self drive the Golden Circle with some friends  (their youngest being 3 years old).

Whether you choose the expansive caves of Vatnajökull, the ash-layered beauty of Katla, or the unique tunnels of Langjökull, Iceland’s ice caves are an unforgettable adventure for all explorers.

HOW TO DRESS FOR ICE CAVE TOURS

Dressing appropriately for an Iceland ice cave tour is essential, as conditions can be both cold and wet. The recommended attire is similar to what one would wear on a ski mountain: layers, waterproof pants, a waterproof jacket, waterproof gloves, warm socks, and a toque.

Tour companies provide essential equipment such as crampons, helmets, ice picks, and harnesses (the latter three are precautionary only). Waterproof hiking boots are ideal for traversing the rocky terrain leading to the glacier, where crampons are put on. Some companies also offer winter boot rentals.

Note: While I thought I had my ice cave tour apparel choices nailed for my most recent excursion, I made one critical mistake—my pants were not fully waterproof. After several hours, water began seeping through and pooling into my socks below. Don’t make the same mistake! If water doesn’t easily bead on the outside of your clothing, it isn’t truly waterproof. Proper gear can make or break your experience!

While updating this post, I came across this cute video by Inspired by Iceland on how to dress in Iceland. As someone who had often not quite had the right clothing for our travels to the Nordic nations, I find it to be spot on. See it on YouTube here.

OTHER SOUTH COAST ATTRACTIONS

If you do choose to do an Iceland ice cave tour by Vatnajökull Glacier, you will also want to see some of the other amazing South Coast attractions. Here is just a quick peek (in photos) at some of the highlights, including Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach, Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Seljalandsfoss and Skógarfoss waterfalls.

See also: The Best Things to do in Iceland in Winter.

GETTING AROUND

If you do plan to self drive the South Coast in the winter, I highly recommend renting a 4×4. Personally, I am a big fan of Lava Car Rentals. I have used them on my last 3 trips and have been really happy with their service and their vehicles.

See also: 15 Tips for Driving Iceland in Winter.

LEARN MORE

Do you have specific questions about ice caves tours in Iceland? Please feel free to reach out to me via direct message on Instagram, Facebook or by email.

Want to see more unique adventures? I would love for you to follow along with The Better Beyond on Instagram!

FURTHER READING

• Iceland Winter Packing List
• The 10 Best South Coast Iceland Hotels
• 15 Tips for Self Driving Iceland in the Winter
• 10 Best Things to do in Iceland in Winter
• Best Tips for Renting a Car in Iceland
• Self Driving the Golden Circle, Iceland
• Self Driving the Iceland Ring Road
• A Guide to Iceland’s Westman Islands
• 20 Things to do in Reykjavik with Kids