Page updated - 18 March 2024

An eruption started on the evening of 16 March 2024 and was the fourth of its kind in the area since December. Lava flowed from a fissure in the ground between Mt. Hagafell and Stori-Skogfell, an area near the Blue Lagoon and north of the town of Grindavík.

This volcanic event isn’t considered dangerous to travelers, provided they follow the safety advice of the Icelandic government to keep away from the eruption site. 

Like with the previous eruptions, this one is confined to the surrounding area. This means that Reykjavík and the rest of Iceland are not impacted, and tours are running as usual. Flights to and from Iceland are operating on schedule, and the Ring Road is open.

If you have booked an upcoming trip to Iceland or are planning to visit, you can safely continue with your travel plans. And, with our flexible cancelation policy, you can rest assured that you can amend your tour dates should you need to.

Iceland is one of the most volcanically active regions in the world, so eruptions are not uncommon here. In the last 3 years, several other volcanic eruptions took place on the Reykjanes peninsula. Icelandic authorities are highly prepared for these events. 

We are carefully monitoring the situation and will keep you updated with any new information. 

Find out why it's still safe to visit Iceland in this Q&A with Dr Matthew Roberts, Managing Director at the Icelandic Met Office.

Yes, a volcanic eruption began on 16 March on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland. 

This is a fissure eruption, which means that only the area around the immediate eruption site is affected by the lava flows. Because of this, the eruption isn’t considered a threat to travelers provided they don’t go near the site. There’s also no disruption to air travel.  

The site of the latest eruption is between Mt. Hagafell and Stori-Skogfell, two hills north of the town of Grindavík in southwest Iceland. 

This latest volcanic event is not considered a threat to travelers, so long as they stay away from the eruption site and follow all safety advice. 

The authorities safely evacuated everyone living in Grindavík before the eruptions began to ensure their safety. The nearby Blue Lagoon is temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.

The Icelandic authorities and scientists continue to closely monitor the situation. To stay up to date with the latest events, please visit the Icelandic Meteorological Office. If you’re in the country, we also recommend signing up for alerts and notifications from Safetravel.

If you’re visiting Iceland with us soon, our travel specialists will keep you updated as the situation evolves.

The international airport in Keflavík is open and flights are not affected. 

The impact of the volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula is limited to specific, localized areas near the eruption site. It's good to know that previous eruptions in the area did not affect air travel to and from the country.

This is because these are fissure eruptions, which do not produce ash clouds, unlike the 2010 eruption at Eyjafjallajökull.

You can always reach out to your airline for further info about your flight.

Yes, it’s safe to visit Iceland. There’s no need to change your travel plans or cancel your trip.

We’re closely following the latest updates from authorities, and we’ll do our best to keep travelers informed of any changes that could affect their travel plans. When you're in Iceland, you should always follow the safety advice of the local authorities.

If you’re unsure about any part of your upcoming trip with us, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The first eruption of the past few years started in March 2021. This took place at Geldingadalur valley in Fagradalsfjall, a volcanic system on the Reykjanes peninsula. This first eruption marked the beginning of strong volcanic activity in the region, which had been quiet for over 800 years.

Then in August 2022, the Fagradalsfjall volcano erupted again, this time in Meradalir valley.

In 2023, 2 more eruptions occurred – at Litli-Hrútur on 10 July and at Sundnhúkagígar on 18 December. In 2024, a new fissure opened up on 14 January at Sundnhúkagígar, followed by another eruption near Sýlingarfell on 8 February. 

Each time, the lava flows were contained in a remote area. Once it was declared safe to do so, locals and visitors were allowed to go to the eruption sites and see this incredible spectacle of Mother Nature with their own eyes.

Please always follow the safety advice of local authorities. This means staying away from the eruption site when it is closed, and respecting any road closures.

You can find out the latest advice about visiting the site at Safetravel.

Here are a few useful websites to stay up to date with the latest information: