Fagradalsfjall volcano

Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupted onto the scene as a hot new attraction in March 2021. This first eruption lasted for 6 months and was followed by a 3-week long burst of volcanic activity in August 2022. 

Unlike so many volcanoes in Iceland, which are remote and difficult to get to, you can easily reach the Fagradalsfjall eruption site. It’s located on the Reykjanes peninsula, around a 50 km (31 mi) drive from the capital city of Reykjavík. 

With just slow-flowing lava spilling into an uninhabited valley, the volcano was considered safe to visit even during the eruption. If you’re flying into Iceland on a clear day, you might even spot the fresh lava fields from the plane. 

If you want to get up close though, you can choose from hiking trails that’ll take you to the 2021 or 2022 eruption sites. 

Before setting out, we recommend checking these websites for up-to-date information and to find out if there are any warnings in place: 

It’s also a good idea to see what the weather has in store on the Icelandic Meteorological Office website. This way you’ll know what conditions to pack for. And if the forecast isn’t looking good, you can reschedule your hike to the eruption site for another day.