From Vatnajökull to Sólheimajökull: Comparing Iceland’s most iconic glaciers

If you’ve ever dreamed of walking on another planet, you don’t need a spaceship — a pair of crampons and a ticket to Iceland will do. Iceland’s glaciers are otherworldly landscapes of blue ice, crevasses and history frozen in time. But they’re not just icy backdrops for your Tik Toks; they are living, breathing rivers of ice that have sculpted Iceland’s dramatic mountains and valleys for millennia.

And among Iceland’s many glaciers, two stand out as must sees: Vatnajökull, the mighty ice cap that dominates the southeast, and Sólheimajökull, the rugged glacier tongue that’s one of the most accessible from Reykjavík.

In this guide, we’ll introduce you to Vatnajökull vs Sólheimajökull, breaking down what makes each one special, how they differ and which might be right for your next glacier adventure (spoiler alert: you’re going to want to experience both).

Glaciers are time travellers. They’re natural archives of climate history, storing thousands of years of atmospheric secrets in their frozen cores.

Glaciers began forming in Iceland roughly 2,500 years ago, when snowfall accumulated faster than it could melt. Over centuries, layer upon layer of snow compacted into dense blue ice, creating the massive rivers that now crawl down Iceland’s volcanic slopes.

These ice giants are moving. Though they’re not fast enough to see (unless you have a lot of time to sit and stare), they’re always inching forward, sculpting the land beneath them as they go. The pressure of the ice carves out valleys, grinds down volcanic rock and leaves behind the sharp ridges and glacial lagoons that define Iceland’s breathtaking terrain.

Today, Iceland’s 269 named glaciers cover about 11% of the country’s landmass. But they’re fragile. As temperatures rise, Iceland’s glaciers are retreating. Some scientific estimates say they’re losing as much as 10 billion tons of ice each year. That’s enough water to fill millions of swimming pools. The change is reshaping Iceland before our eyes.

When you set foot on a glacier, you’re stepping onto a living river of ice that’s in constant motion. The surface is a landscape of ridges, crevasses, moulins (vertical shafts), and shimmering ice formations.

Guided glacier walks let you experience this safely. Equipped with crampons, helmets and ice axes, you’ll explore frozen sculptures and deep blue crevasses formed by centuries of meltwater. Beneath your feet, bubbles of ancient air are trapped — tiny time capsules from a thousand years ago.

For a surreal journey into the glacier’s glowing blue heart, many travellers also join ice cave tours. Inside these frozen cathedrals, light filters through layers of dense ice, creating hypnotic shades of blue and turquoise. It’s a photographer’s dream and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Icelandic Mountain Guides leads small-group tours across both Vatnajökull and Sólheimajökull, ensuring safety, education and an eco-conscious approach to glacier exploration. Every guide is trained in glaciology and mountaineering, and passionate about sharing Iceland’s frozen wonders.

If Iceland were a fantasy novel, Vatnajökull would be its ancient ruler — vast, powerful and awe-inspiring. Spanning nearly 8,000 square kilometres, it’s the largest glacier in Europe, covering roughly 8% of Iceland’s surface. Beneath its icy cloak lie active volcanoes like Grímsvötn and Bárðarbunga, making it a fascinating paradox of fire and ice.

Location and Character

Vatnajökull dominates the southeast of Iceland, easily visible from the Ring Road. Its sheer scale is mind-bending. From some viewpoints, it stretches endlessly across the horizon, a shimmering expanse of white and blue.

The glacier’s many outlets stretch out into the lowlands in sweeping tongues of ice, feeding into glacier lagoons like the famous Jökulsárlón, where icebergs drift serenely toward the sea.

Why Vatnajökull is Special

Vatnajökull’s expansive ice hides volcanic calderas, mountain ridges and secret blue caves that disperse daylight to glow like stained glass. Every winter, new ice caves form as meltwater refreezes inside the glacier; exploring one feels like stepping into another dimension.

Because of its vastness, Vatnajökull offers everything from gentle glacier walks to advanced ice-climbing adventures. The larger Vatnajökull National Park within which it sits is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, marked by waterfalls, black sand plains and sweeping lava fields.

Experiencing Vatnajökull

Travellers can admire Vatnajökull from afar while driving the Ring Road, but to truly understand its scale, you have to walk on it. That’s where Icelandic Mountain Guides come in.

IMG’s certified glacier guides take you safely onto the ice, equipping you with crampons, harnesses and stories about the glacier’s deep history. Winter travellers can also enter Vatnajökull’s natural ice caves, shimmering in shades of sapphire and turquoise.

Whether you choose a glacier walk, a Vatnajökull ice cave tour, or an ultimate glacier hike adventure, the experience is humbling. The scale of the world around you truly comes into focus when walking on thousands of years of frozen time, feeling the slow heartbeat of Iceland beneath your boots.

If Vatnajökull is the king of ice, Sólheimajökull is its rebellious little cousin — smaller, moodier and closer to the action. Located on Iceland’s South Coast, just a two-hour drive from Reykjavík, Sólheimajökull is a glacier tongue of the larger Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, which itself sits atop Katla, one of Iceland’s most active volcanoes.

Location and Character

Sólheimajökull stretches down toward the black sand plains between Skógafoss and Vík í Mýrdal, and its location makes it one of the most accessible glaciers in Iceland. That’s why it’s a favourite for day tours from Reykjavík. Only in Iceland can you explore an ancient glacier and be back in the city in time for dinner.

The glacier’s surface is a striking mix of white ice, volcanic ash and deep blue crevasses. It’s constantly changing, too: Sólheimajökull is retreating at a rate of about 50 meters per year, revealing newly exposed landscapes of black rock and meltwater lakes.

Why Sólheimajökull is Special

Sólheimajökull offers a hands-on, intimate glacier experience. You can walk straight from the car park to the glacier’s edge — no long hikes or remote roads required. This accessibility makes it ideal for first-time glacier explorers or families.

Despite being easier to reach, it’s every bit as thrilling as its big brother in the east. With Icelandic Mountain Guides, you can strap on a pair of crampons and hike across Sólheimajökull’s frozen waves of ice, exploring shimmering crevasses or even descending into small ice caves when conditions allow.

Experiencing Sólheimajökull

For visitors short on time, a Sólheimajökull day tour from Reykjavík is unbeatable. Luckily, Sólheimajökull is IMG’s stomping ground. With us, you’ll learn how Sólheimajökull and Iceland’s other glaciers formed, how they move and how they’re melting. Plus, you’ll see firsthand how volcanic ash creates the black-and-white marbling that makes Sólheimajökull so photogenic.

It’s the perfect introduction to Iceland’s icy wonders.

Standing on a glacier in Iceland is an experience that defies words. It makes you feel small in the best possible way, imparting a new appreciation for the grandeur of the world and the majesty of nature.

These glaciers are more than travel destinations; they are storytellers of our planet’s past and future. Every crack, ripple and drip tells a tale of volcanic eruptions, ice ages and climate shifts.

Whether you’re tracing the vast expanse of Vatnajökull or exploring the rugged, ash-streaked slopes of Sólheimajökull, you’re connecting with one of Earth’s most powerful natural forces.

So — Vatnajökull or Sólheimajökull? The ideal scenario is: both. Each glacier offers a unique window into Iceland’s soul. From the grandeur of the southeast to the accessibility of the south coast, every step on the ice is an adventure worth taking.

If you’re ready to tread a path where ancient forces still shape the land, join Icelandic Mountain Guides. We’ll take you safely into the heart of the glaciers, where every crunch of ice beneath your boots tells a story millions of years in the making.

The glaciers are waiting. Come experience their power.