iceland itinerary aurora lights

Best Time to Visit Diamond Beach Iceland

Hey to all of you!

Amazing sparkling diamonds. When you visit Diamond Beach in Iceland, you will see that. The amazing Diamond Beach Iceland.

Light is reflected in all directions by hundreds of diamonds that have washed up on Diamond Beach. Diamond Beach is also known as Jökulsárlón Beach, and it is well worth the trip! You really must go there; it’s one of Iceland’s most breathtaking places!

And it’s completely free, which is one of its best advantages! Parking and admittance are free of charge, but a boat tour that gets you up close will cost extra.

Let me tell you about my experience and recommend the best time to visit Diamond Beach Iceland. 

Diamond Beach Iceland: Location

South of Iceland, on the ring road, is Diamond Beach. Situated directly across the road from the beach is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon. If you’re planning a self-drive trip to Iceland, you won’t have to worry about parking because the beach offers plenty of free spaces.

best time to visit diamond beach iceland

Also, getting there is quite simple: just stay on the ring road until you come across a white bridge and the red and white Jökulsárlón sign. You have two options: park at Jökulsárlón and head to the glacier first, or park at Diamond Beach, which is conveniently located across the street and offers easy access to the beach.

If you or a member of your travel group is less flexible, I suggest parking in the Jökulsárlón main car park first, which will give you a nice view of the lagoon. Then, move the car to the Diamond Beach car park to be as close to the beach as possible, saving you a considerable amount of walking distance.

Wheelchair access is not available for either the beach or the lagoon, but you can still observe Diamond Beach from a distance thanks to the viewing platform at the shore.

Diamond Beach Iceland: Northern Lights

One of the greatest spots in Iceland is Diamond Beach, where you can witness the Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis, an incredible natural phenomenon.

northern lights diamond beach

Given that the majority of Iceland is free of light pollution, it is among the greatest spots to see the northern light. Since Diamond Beach is rather far from any major cities, there isn’t much light pollution here.

This makes it an excellent location, although there is some luck involved because spotting them will rely on the aurora activity. Every night, there will be variations in the amount of aurora activity across Iceland. Your chances of viewing the lights will rise if you’re driving around Iceland; nevertheless, you cannot see them near the shore.

Also, as you’ll need dark sky, you must travel to Iceland at the appropriate season. Winter, from October to March, when it’s clear and dark outside, is the greatest time to watch the Northern Lights at Diamond Beach. Although December and January have the coldest and most harsh weather of the year, there is a greater probability of sighting them during these months.

Diamond Beach Iceland: Activities

Enjoying the beauty of nature is the focus of Diamond Beach. Not much more is to be done there. Still, we were there for a good couple of hours and enjoyed everything.

You can find “ice caves” to build a den in and try for yourself at ice sculpture. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of seals swimming or lounging on the riverbanks.

Although Diamond Beach lacks amenities, you may easily cross the road to the Jokulsarlon Lagoon tourist centre, which has restrooms and a café.

A boat excursion of the Jökulsárlón lagoon is another option.

When is the best time to visit Diamond Beach Iceland?

how tog et to diamond beach iceland

Your visit experience to Diamond Beach will vary based on the time of year! Iceland experiences four different seasons:  

  •       Winter (December to February)
  •       Spring (March to May)
  •       Summer (June to August)
  •       Autumn/fall (September to November)

Summer

My personal favourite was going to Diamond Beach throughout the summer. Summertime brings long days with easily 18 to 24 hours of sunlight. Many of the trips take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This implies that from 3 p.m. until 11 p.m., Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is deserted. Despite this, there is space for everyone on the wide beach, so take as many photos as you like without having tourists in the background. Even if the icebergs that wash up on the coast are smaller, they are still stunning!

Keep in mind that summertime temperatures might drop significantly!

Winter

You have a better chance of witnessing enormous cyan-blue icebergs wash up on the coast if you visit during the winter. You can even sit on these! How amazing are they! However, it’s important to keep in mind that it becomes chilly!

Is Diamond Beach Permits Swimming?

It is not permitted to swim at Diamond Beach because it is extremely risky. Avoid doing it!

The ocean in Iceland may be quite dangerous, with powerful waves that can drag you out to sea, and the weather can change abruptly with little to no notice. Please do not attempt to swim here, both for your safety and the safety of others who would have to rescue you.

Conclusion

Due to the globe’s axis, the winter months bring with them a true Nordic chill, breathtaking scenery, and fewer daylight hours. Watching the northern lights is made possible by this! On the other side, summers can have up to 22–24 hours of sunshine, which makes for unusually long days and ample opportunity to see the sites by natural light!

Any time of the year can be the best time to visit Diamond Beach Iceland.

And that’s it! I sincerely hope this blog was helpful to you. Please let me know what time you visited Diamond Beach Iceland.

About Rebecca Blackmon
rebecca blackmon travel planner

Meet Rebecca, a travel and fitness aficionado with a mission to inspire others. Fresh out of college in 2017, burdened by student debt and caught in the 9-5 routine, a unique opportunity arose: a 5-day trip to Iceland organized for recent graduates. Despite financial constraints, her wanderlust was undeterred. Taking a bold leap of faith, she secured a credit card and embarked on an unforgettable Icelandic adventure, laying the foundation for her journey as a travel expert. Today, she uses her experiences to empower others to explore the world without boundaries.

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