Skaftafell National Park has no roads, so hiking, glacier hiking, and ice climbing are the main ways to get around. A vast network of trails are mapped out by the Skaftafell Visitor Center, which acts as an information center and exhibition space for the entire Vatnajokull National Park. Highlights of Skaftafell, which is dotted with active volcanoes, fast-flowing glacial rivers, and lava-sculpted peaks, include the dramatic Svartifoss waterfall, the scenic Morsárdalur valley, and the looming ice caps of nearby Oraefajokull, Iceland’s highest peak.
You have numerous options for visiting the park with a guided tour, whether you want to spend a day ice caving, ice hiking, or just stopping by for a photo opportunity. Tours typically leave from Reykjavik every day in summer, and many include visits to Skaftafell as part of a broader sightseeing tour that takes in other landmarks such as Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Gullfoss waterfall, and Thingvellir National Park.