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By Monika

Diamond Beach in Iceland – How to Visit + Map and Parking Tips.

Diamond Beach is one of Iceland’s most unique beaches, best known for the icebergs scattered across its black sand, sparkling in the sun like real diamonds.

While it is located on the popular South Coast of Iceland, it is bit farther from Reykjavik than some other popular attractions and you may be wondering if it’s worth it to make the drive there.

Well – I think it is! Especially that it’s SO close to another must-see destination – Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon!

I’ve been there 3 times, so I’ll share everything I’ve learned from my visits and what you need to know to plan your visit, including how to get to Diamond Beach, where to park, and what to expect once you get there.

I hope that after reading this guide you’ll get inspired to add Diamond Beach to your Iceland road trip itinerary!

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About Diamond Beach

As I said earlier, Diamond Beach is a stretch of volcanic black sand, lined with pieces of icebergs that had floated over from the nearby Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.

The proper Icelandic name for Diamond Beach is actually Breiðamerkursandur, as the icebergs that you see on the black sand come from Breiðamerkurjökull glacier – an outlet of Vatnajökull glacier – the largest glacier not only in Iceland, but in the entire Europe. 

Jökulsárlón lagoon was formed at its base and the icebergs you see floating on the lagoon water break off that glacier tongue.

It’s also known as Fellsfjara. However, even in Google Maps, you’ll find it just by typing the name it’s best known for: Diamond Beach.

Where is Diamond Beach?

Diamond Beach is located within Vatnajökull National Park, along the South Coast of Iceland and it’s very easily accessed from the Ring Road. 

It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from Vik and a 4.5-hour drive from Reykjavik. It’s also only an hour away from the town of Höfn, located further down the Ring Road.

It sits just across the road from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Make sure you also stop by the lagoon – it’s an amazing, unique pace, and being so close to Diamond Beach it’s definitely a must-see spot.

 READ MORE: “An Ultimate Guide to Visiting Glacier Lagoons in Iceland”.

How to get to Diamond Beach?

By car

The best way to reach Diamond Beach is to self-drive.

As I mentioned above, it’s quite a long drive from Reykjavik, so I wouldn’t recommend it as a day trip from the capital city area.

You’re much better off adding it as a stop on at least a two-day tour of Iceland’s south coast, maybe spending one night in Vik or Höfn to break up the drive.

That way you can incorporate other wonderful attractions of this stretch of the coast – glaciers, waterfalls, and other black sand beaches.

With a guided tour

If you don’t have a rental car or just simply are not up for a long drive, you can join a guided tour.

There are actually day tours from Reykjavik with Diamond Beach in their itinerary, so if you’re short on time, it’s a great option!

Best Diamond Beach tours:

• From Reykjavik: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach – with this tour, you will also see the famous waterfalls of the South Coast and have a stop in the village of Vik. You have an option to add a boat tour on Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
• Reykjavik: South Coast, Diamond Beach, and Jökulsárlón Tour – this tour also includes the famous Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in its itinerary. Add a lagoon boat tour at an additional cost.
• Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Boat Tour from Reykjavik – includes even more waterfalls and a Jökulsárlón Lagoon boat tour.

For a more leisurely-paced experience, book a two-day tour of the South Coast or a multi-day tour of Iceland.

Diamond Beach parking

Both the beach and the parking lots are located right by the main road (the Ring Road) – you can see it on your right side if you’re coming from Vik/Reykjavik and on your left if you’re traveling from Höfn. 

There are two large parking lots right next to the beach on either side of a bridge spanning Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon: Diamond Beach Parking South (on the Höfn side of the bridge) and Diamond Beach Parking North (on the Vik side of the bridge).

Diamond Beach parking map

Sometimes the Diamond Beach lots serve as overflow parking for Jökulsárlón Lagoon at its busiest time.

Important: The bridge (pictured above) is a single lane bridge and it’s quite long. You will need to cross it to go from one Diamond Beach parking lot to the other so please pay attention if there are cars already on it before you enter.

LEARN MORE: Driving in Iceland – Essential Tips for a Great Road Trip.

Diamond Beach parking fee

You pay only one fee of 1100 ISK for the day for both Diamond Beach lots AND the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon lot, either through the Parka.is app/website or onsite at the pay stations at the main lagoon lot.

So – it really does make sense to visit the glacier lagoon too, even if just for a quick stop. It’s just too spectacular to miss!

Helpful hint: If you also plan to visit Skaftafell National Park the same day and park in the Skaftafel Visitor Center parking lot, you’ll get 50% off the parking fee at the second location.

Diamond Beach facilities

There are no facilities at the beach lots, however there are restrooms, a cafe food trucks and a small souvenir shop at the main glacial lagoon parking lot.

Can you walk from Diamond Beach to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon?

Yes, you can! There is a safe pedestrian path UNDER the bridge connecting the beach and the lagoon (about 12-minute walk).

Please do not cross the bridge on foot – there is no sidewalk for pedestrians to walk on it safely!

Is there FREE PARKING for Diamond Beach?

Yes! It does involve a 30-minute walk, but there is a free parking area about 2.5 km west of Diamond Beach (in the dorection of Vik), where you can leave your car and walk to both Diamond Beach and the Glacier Lagoon.

Learn more about Diamond Beach parking on the official website.

How to visit Diamond Beach?

Visiting Diamond Beach is really easy – it’s a short walk to the beach from either parking lot.

Once you get there, just walk around and enjoy the views if the glistening icebergs!

You can hold some of the smaller pieces and take a closer look at how clear and clean they are!

The first time we visited the day was clear and sunny, the ice pieces sparkling in the sun on the black sand at low tide. We could get close to the larger pieces, some of them as tall as us!

My second visit was during an extremely windy day at high tide, so the bigger pieces of ice were in the water, with the waves washing over them. It was still beautiful!

Which side of Diamond Beach should you visit?

As I mentioned earlier, there are two main areas of Diamond Beach, located on either side of the bridge, accessible from two separate parking lots.

Depending on the weather, the wind, and the tides, some days the icebergs may be scattered only on one side of the beach or sometimes both.  

Before choosing where to park, take a quick look at the beach from the road to see where the largest concentration of ice is. You can then choose the parking lot closest to that section of the beach.

Remember – your parking fee covers you for both lots all day, so if you have to switch locations or come back, you don’t have to pay again.

Best time to visit Diamond Beach 

The beach is accessible year-round. It can be a great place to watch the Northern Lights in the fall or winter months due to the remote location and low light pollution.

You can (and should – I highly recommend it) combine your visit to Diamond Beach with a visit to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon where you can book a boat tour between the icebergs in the summer or a tour to another natural attraction – an ice cave – in the winter.

In the summer months, the beach can be very busy as it has become a very popular attraction in Iceland.

During the Midnight Sun months (usually May-June) you can come after the crowds leave and have the beach to yourself! It’s a great opportunity for some amazing photography!

In any season, the best time of day to visit is at low tide – that’s when you have the best chance of seeing the ice chunks on the black sand vs in the water.

Check the tides here.

Always remember to check the weather forecast and the road conditions if you’re self-driving. 

Can you always see icebergs at Diamond Beach?

No, there is no guarantee that the icebergs will be there on the beach.

That was the case during my most recent visit to the area – there were barely any chunks of ice on the sand, even though the weather was nice.

Diamond Beach was a part of our longer campervan trip so we just continued on to see other amazing natural wonders in Iceland!

Is Diamond Beach safe?

Yes! Of course, you always want to respect nature and keep a safe distance from the ocean, especially at high tide.

Please don’t try to go in the water to swim or to chase ice chunks! The water is freezing, and you can get hurt by the icebergs floating and flipping in the water.

Stay on the shore and enjoy one of the most unique black beaches of southeast Iceland. 

Is Diamond Beach worth visiting?

It absolutely is! To me Diamond Beach is a must-visit. It’s one of those one-of-a-kind, unique places in Iceland that you should definitely try to incorporate into your travel itinerary!

Where else are you going to see a wide stretch of black sand lined with chunks of crystal clear or blue-tinted icebergs washed ashore, that – as the name suggests – truly do look like diamonds?

Take a look at our 10-day itinerary or the 7-day South Iceland itinerary to see how you can incorporate Diamond Beach in your travel plan!

Helpful hint: visit Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon together – they are across the road from each other and your parking fee covers both locations. And they are both stunning!

How much time do I need to visit Diamond Beach?

You should allow at least 30 minutes for your visit to see the icebergs on the beach.

It all depends on the weather, how many ice chunks are on the shore, and how busy the beach is. Sometimes you have to wait a few minutes to get to that one huge ice piece that is just calling you for a photo!

Allow more time (at least an hour) to visit both the beach and the glacier lagoon.

Where to stay near Diamond Beach?

You have many options of hotels near Diamond Beach.

The closest ones are listed here and displayed on the map below:

We stayed at the Hali Country Hotel, only about 15 minutes from the Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and it was great. If you’d like a hot tub to soak in after a long day, Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon or Hótel Jökulsárlón are great choices, too.

Höfn and the Viking Café and Guesthouse are also great options, only about an hour away.

Nearby attractions

• Vestrahorn and Stokkssnes Beach
• Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon
• Múlagljúfur Canyon
• Skaftafel Visitors Center hikes – Svartifoss and Skaftafellsjökull glacier
• Skaftafel glacier hiking and/or ice climbing
• Ingólfshöfði Puffin Tour

Inspired to visit? Read more about the nearby glacier lagoons and other incredible glacier attractions.

👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!

🛜 Stay connected during your trip with an eSIM like Airalo, Saily or Sim Local!

Use promo code PLANPACK to unlock your 5% discount!

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