Is it safe to travel to Iceland right now? Latest travel advice (2024)

The volcano near the town of Grindavik in southwest Iceland erupted on Thursday, August 22, marking the sixth eruption since December. There had been several weeks of increased seismic activity in the region, with hundreds of mini earthquakes registered on some days. But then late on August 22, a new fissure opened east of Sylingarfell, which expanded north and south. There has not been any lava flow south towards Grindavik this time. The Blue Lagoon was temporarily closed but has since reopened to visitors.

On Sunday, August 25, one tourist died after the wall of an ice cave collapsed in southeast Iceland during a group tour visit. The incident is not thought to be connected to the latest volcanic eruption.

Local police said a group of around 25 tourists from different countries were visiting the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, near the popular tourist attraction of Jökulsárlón, when the canyon wall collapsed.

If you have a trip to Iceland coming up, here’s what you need to know, including the latest Foreign Office advice.

What’s the current situation in Grindavik?

Grindavik is the closest town to the eruption site. It’s not currently affected by the latest volcanic eruption. However, very few residents remain here as many have not returned since the first eruption at the end of 2023. Roads in the area are still closed. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office continues to warn tourists to stay away from the area.

Is it safe to travel to Iceland right now?

It’s not safe to visit either the site of the volcano or the town of Grindavik, but the rest of the country, including the capital, Reykjavik, remains safe to visit. The Blue Lagoon, the country’s biggest tourist attraction, temporarily closed on August 23, but has since reopened to visitors.

What is the Foreign Office travel advice?

The UK Foreign Office has not updated its advice since the last eruption on May 29.

It said: “Recently there has been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland, the latest on 29 May. These have affected the town of Grindavik and the area to the north of it. Stay away from this area. All roads to Grindavik and the surrounding area are closed.

“The likelihood of further eruptions in this location remains high. Check local media for updates and follow the Iceland authorities’ advice on travel to the area.”

It also warned that risks from volcanic activity include “travel delays and cancellations; poisonous volcanic gases; rock falls and landslides; and flooding”.

Real-time webcam footage from the Sundhnukagigar crater row, near Grindavik

Which volcano is erupting in Iceland?

The latest fissure is at Sylingarfell, near the tip of the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland, around 11 miles from Grindavik. The latter is around 35 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik, and 16 miles from the international airport. It’s close to the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions.

Visitors should stay up to date with information from the Icelandic Met Office.

Is the Blue Lagoon closed?

The Blue Lagoon and its restaurants, café and spa were temporarily closed, but have since reopened to visitors.

Has the volcano eruption affected flights to Iceland?

Watch: Iceland’s Blue Lagoon evacuated after volcano erupts

All flights to and from Iceland are currently operating as usual. Keflavik airport is “open and operating in the usual way”, the operator Isavia said on its website.

The Eyjafjallajokull eruption in 2010 resulted in the largest air traffic shutdown since the Second World War, with millions of passengers stranded across the world. This is because volcanic ash, if ingested in sufficient quantities, can lead to engine failure and persistent northerly winds were carrying large plumes of ash across Europe.

Following the Eyjafjallajokull eruption, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency said it was now better prepared for future major volcanic ash events and is monitoring the current situation. It stated: “In the event of an eruption and development of an ash cloud, the agency will work with other aviation actors to assess the impact for aviation and make recommendations accordingly.”

Has Reykjavik been affected by the volcano?

The Icelandic capital has not been affected by the volcano eruption and, according to the Foreign Office’s advice, remains safe to visit.

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Additional reporting by Lizzie Frainier

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