Breidamerkurjokull is the glacier tongue that flows from southern Vatnajokull down to Iceland’s southeast coast, calving the icebergs that fill the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Sitting about 236 miles (380 kilometers) from Reykjavik on the Ring Road, it is one of the most photographed glaciers in the country. Read on to plan your visit.
Breidamerkurjokull is an outlet glacier of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest ice cap, and it feeds the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon in Southeast Iceland. As the glacier retreats, huge chunks of ice break from its face and drift across the lagoon, creating the scene that draws visitors year-round.
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The glacier lies about 236 miles (380 kilometers) east of Reykjavik, roughly a five-hour drive along Route 1, the Ring Road. Most travelers reach it in a rental car or on South Coast tours. Read on for what the glacier is, how it shapes the lagoon, and the best things to see and do nearby.
Key Takeaways About Breidamerkurjokull
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Breidamerkurjokull is a glacier tongue of Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest ice cap, in southeast Iceland.
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It calves the icebergs that float in the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Iceland’s deepest lake at over 248 meters (814 feet).
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The glacier sits about 236 miles (380 kilometers) from Reykjavik, around a five-hour drive on the Ring Road.
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Popular activities are glacier hikes, ice cave tours in winter, and boat tours on the lagoon.
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Nearby highlights include Diamond Beach, the Fjallsarlon Lagoon, and Vatnajokull National Park.
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Never walk onto the glacier or lagoon ice without a certified guide; the crevasses and floating icebergs are dangerous.
What Is Breidamerkurjokull Glacier?
Breidamerkurjokull, spelled “Breiðamerkurjökull” in Icelandic, is a large outlet glacier on the southern edge of Vatnajokull. An outlet glacier is a tongue of ice that flows out from a larger ice cap, and this one reaches almost to the Atlantic coast in southeast Iceland.
The glacier is best known as the source of the icebergs in the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. Its face sits at the head of the lagoon, where the ice meets water and slowly breaks apart. The whole area falls within Vatnajokull National Park, one of the largest national parks in Europe.
How Breidamerkurjokull Feeds Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Breidamerkurjokull supplies the lagoon with all of its icebergs. Blocks of ice break from the glacier’s face, a process called calving, and tumble into the water. There they float for years, slowly melting and rolling as they shrink.
Most icebergs drift around the lagoon for roughly five years before they are small enough to reach the sea. When they finally escape through the short river to the ocean, many wash back onto the black sand of the nearby Diamond Beach, where they glitter against the dark shore. This constant cycle is why the lagoon and beach look different on every visit.
Why Breidamerkurjokull Is Retreating
Photo from Space Europa, showing retreat of the Breidamerkurjokull Glacier as of November 2025.
Like most glaciers in Iceland, Breidamerkurjokull is retreating as the climate warms. It has been receding since the late 1800s, pulling back about 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) over the past hundred years. As the ice retreats, meltwater collects in the basin it leaves behind.
That basin is the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, which began forming in the 1930s. It is less than a century old but is already the deepest lake in Iceland, measured at over 248 meters (814 feet). The lagoon continues to grow as the glacier keeps melting, so it is likely to look larger with each passing decade.
Where Breidamerkurjokull Is Located in Iceland
Breidamerkurjokull is on the southeast coast of Iceland, on the southern side of the Vatnajokull Ice Cap. It sits between the Skaftafell nature reserve to the west and the fishing town of Hofn to the east.
The glacier lies right beside the Ring Road, so it is an easy stop on any trip along the South Coast. Because the Jokulsarlon Lagoon sits at the foot of the glacier, most visitors experience Breidamerkurjokull from the lagoon’s shore or on a boat tour.
How to Get to Breidamerkurjokull
Breidamerkurjokull is about 236 miles (380 kilometers) from Reykjavik, roughly a five-hour drive east on Route 1, the Ring Road. With many South Coast sightseeing stops along the Ring Road, the drive usually takes seven to eight hours, so many travelers break the journey into two days.
The most flexible way to visit is by rental car, which lets you stop at waterfalls and beaches along the way. A multi-day self-drive tour bundles the car and accommodation together. If you would rather not drive, guided South Coast tours and multi-day packages include the glacier lagoon on their route.
5 Best Things to Do Near Breidamerkurjokull
The glacier is the centerpiece of one of Iceland’s richest areas for nature and adventure. Here are the top experiences within easy reach, counting down to the one most visitors remember most.
5. Visit the Fjallsarlon Glacier Lagoon
A short drive west sits Fjallsarlon, a smaller and quieter glacier lagoon fed by a neighboring tongue of Vatnajokull. It offers similar iceberg views with far fewer crowds, making it a good detour if Jokulsarlon feels busy.
4. Explore Skaftafell Nature Reserve
West along the Ring Road, Skaftafell is a popular base for hiking, with marked trails to the Svartifoss waterfall and views over the surrounding glaciers. It is also a common starting point for guided glacier walks.
3. Join a Glacier Hike on the Ice
With a certified guide, you can step onto the ice on a glacier hike. Guides supply crampons and safety gear and lead you past crevasses and ice formations. These tours run year-round and suit most fitness levels.
2. Take an Ice Cave Tour in Winter
From roughly November to March, meltwater carves out brilliant blue caves beneath the glaciers. A guided ice cave tour is the only safe way inside, and the caves near Breidamerkurjokull are among the most accessible in Iceland.
1. Cruise the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
The signature experience is getting out among the icebergs on a glacier lagoon boat tour. Amphibian boats offer a gentle ride close to the glacier face, while zodiac tours travel faster and reach further across the water. Both run in summer and give you the closest safe view of the calving ice.
Safety and Best Time to Visit Breidamerkurjokull
Breidamerkurjokull is riddled with deep cracks and crevasses, and there is no way to predict when the next block of ice will break away. Never walk onto the glacier or step onto floating icebergs on your own. View the ice from shore, and only go onto the glacier with a licensed guide.
The lagoon is beautiful in every season. Summer brings long daylight, boat tours, and easier driving. Winter opens the ice caves and offers the chance of the northern lights over the ice, though roads can be icy, so check road conditions before you set out.
Plan Your Visit to Breidamerkurjokull
Breidamerkurjokull is where you can watch Iceland’s ice cap meet the sea and see how a glacier shapes the land around it. Paired with the Jokulsarlon lagoon and Diamond Beach, it makes an unforgettable stop on any southeast Iceland itinerary.
To see it for yourself, book a South Coast tour or arrange a rental car and set your own pace along the Ring Road.
