The visitor centre in Skaftafell is open all year round. There, rangers and visitor centre assistants provide visitors with interpretation and information about Skaftafell's nature, hiking trails, accommodation and recreation in the immediate vicinity. A souvenir shop is in Skaftafellsstofa with an emphasis on handicrafts from the region.

There are designated spots for motorhomes and caravans and a spacious area for tents. Spots on the campsite cannot be reserved.

In Skaftafellsstofa visitor centre, as well as the camping site, toilets are accessible to everyone and also showers for everyone. In front of the visitor centres there are designated parking spaces for the disabled. The trail to Skaftafellsjökull follows a well-compacted, wide gravel path, and along the way benches have been placed at regular intervals. The path is suitable for visitors with walking disabilities.

Skaftafell is a popular destination for winter visitors in Iceland. Visiting in winter is much different from the summer with lesser crowds and no leaves on the trees. The biggest change though is probably the outlet glaciers that crawl down to the lowland. Their appearance changes completely from white to blue, creating a stark contrast from what you see in the summertime.

This change in colour correlates with fewer daylight hours. This is worth bearing in mind when planning your visit as you probably don´t want to be caught by the darkness when hiking in a backcountry area.

Although flanked by glaciers, Skaftafell is actually among the areas in Iceland that receive the least amount of snow. Precipitation usually comes with southerly wind directions that also bring a relatively warm air from the ocean. So most of the time, the precipitation is rain rather than snow. As a result, most of the trails in the lowland areas of Skaftafell are clear of snow all year round. Same usually applies to the trails in the lower parts of the Skaftafellsheiði mountain, but sheets of ice frequently appear on the upper trails which can therefore be hazardous for hikers.

For those seeking a short walk in the park (1-2 hours) during winter months, we do recommend the trail to Skaftafellsjökull glacier rather than the trail to Svartifoss waterfall. The reason is threefold:

There will be less impact on nature (no side-stepping off trail when navigating across a slippery/muddy area);

The blue colour of the glacier! The winter really is the season of the glaciers, rather than the waterfalls that have relatively little discharge during winter.

If you are seeking a longer hike you should visit Morsárdalur valley and Bæjarstaðarskógur woods. It is a roundtrip of about 16 km (4-5 hours) and possible without having to hike through elevated areas. Similar option but slightly longer (20 km, 5-6 hours) is the hike to Morsárjökull glacier, but remember to start out early so you won´t be caught by darkness. Also bear in mind that there might be some slippery patches on those trails and that this area has limited mobile phone coverage. So it´s better not to be travelling alone.

To get a rough idea about daylight hours in Skaftafell, please check the table below:

SKAFTAFELL       Sunrise    Sunset
October 21:          8:15         17:31
November 21:     9:55         15:54
December 21:    11:01        15:12
January 21:         10:21       16:19
February 21:        8:45         18:00
March 21:             7:07         19:25
April 21:                5:17         20:57
May 21:                 3:37         22:33
June 21:               2:39         23:42
July 21:                 3:41         22:49
August 21:           5:18         21:06
September 21:   6:48         19:16

[Based on October 21, 2014 – September 21, 2015, courtesy of www.suncalc.net]

The nearest food service is at Freysnes, 5 km away. It is also possible to re-fuel vehicles there with both petrol and diesel.

Skaftafellsstofa Visitor Centre

Opening hours

Tjaldsvæði

Skaftafell campground

Practical information

Aðgengi hreyfihamlaðra

Visiting in different seasons