The icefalls of Svínafellsjökull are a breathtaking natural spectacle, featuring towering walls of blue and white ice streaked with veins of black ash. The glacier tongue descends steeply into a serene, crater-like lagoon, nestled between rugged, sculpted mountains on either side. This tranquil lagoon contrasts beautifully with the raw power of the broken ice blocks, creating a scene of unparalleled majesty. Thanks to its accessibility, Svínafellsjökull has become the most popular glacier for film and TV productions in Iceland. It was famously featured in Interstellar, where its otherworldly landscape served as the perfect stand-in for the icy, alien planet Mann, solidifying its status as a top-tier filming location.
Svínafellsjökull
South East Coast, Iceland
Photos
Video
Climate
The weather in the South East Coast is known for its unpredictability and harshness. The region experiences a subarctic climate, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The temperature can drop as low as -10°C during winter months at low altitudes. The region is also known for its strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Data source Temperature averages
Lighting
The longest day in Iceland is multiple days from May through July when the sun doesn't set. The daylight hours in Iceland on the shortest days of the year are 4-5 hours per day (December to January).
Data source Accessibility
From route no 1, you drive 2 kilometres to the large parking lot. From there lies a rough gravel road, 4 km long, to another medium size parking lot suitable for tech base. There is a trail to the glacier itself, but it needs to be scouted beforehand to check its conditions.
Permits
Want to film hassle-free? Partner up with the local production studio through Massif and let them
handle all the paperwork.
Learn more
Basecamp and facilities
Skaftafell Service Centre is 5 kilometres away with all the facilities needed. Within 3 kilometres from the glacier is Hótel Freysnes that also has all the facilities, a gas station and a store. There is an enormous parking lot halfway to the glacier that has been used as basecamp before and a further 4 km up the gravel road is a medium size parking lot that could be used as tech base. There is a trail that leads all the way to the lagoon for specialised vehicles or 4-wheelers. Phone coverage is average at this location and may vary.
Risk factors
Icefall glaciers are constantly moving from the pressure above, they are also covered in crevasses, deep and narrow. Ice blocks can collapse without warning and the temperature is cooler than elsewhere with a risk of hypothermia. Climbing the glacier should not be attempted without climbing guides and a safety team. The lagoons tend to be deep, and the water is cold and not suitable for swimming.
Visitors
Svínafellsjökull is a popular area for tourists who often stop and hike to the lagoon for a short stop. There are some tourist companies that offer tours to the icefall, but the location is very easy to manage with a permit from landowners.
Where does our information come from?
In collaboration with a team of experienced producers, we scoured through every location on
massif.network to bring you the most relevant and up-to-date information.
We provide photos and videos and all other location information.
Know something we don’t?
Noticed wrong information about permits? Is there a restaurant closer nearby? Tell us anything that may be wrong or missing.
