Jokulsarlon is where Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier, meets the Atlantic. Icebergs calve from the glacier’s edge and drift through the lagoon — some the size of houses, all in shades of blue, white, and volcanic black — before passing under a bridge and washing out to sea. Many strand on the black sand beach opposite, known as the Diamond Beach, where ice chunks sit on dark volcanic sand like scattered jewels, catching the light until they melt.
A boat tour on the lagoon brings you close to the icebergs, and the scale becomes apparent only when you are next to them. Seals swim among the ice, surfacing to watch the boats with an indifference that suggests they see this every day — which they do. The lagoon is growing as the glacier retreats, a beauty that is also a warning. The drive along the south coast to reach it passes some of Iceland’s most dramatic scenery.
When to go: Year-round, but June through September offers the best access and boat tours. Winter brings dramatic low light and northern lights reflected in the lagoon. The Diamond Beach is stunning at sunrise in any season. Allow time — this is not a quick stop.