Iceland Travel 2024: Is It Safe To Visit Iceland

A volcano in Iceland has erupted for the fifth time in six months.

Lava can be seen spilling from the Sundhnúkur crater row and it began in the early afternoon on 29 May. It is the most violent release in the volcano’s three years of recent activity, with hot lava projected 50 metres into the air.

Visitors have been evacuated from the Blue Lagoon thermal spa, one of Iceland’s top tourist attractions, and it remains closed.

The eruption site is a few kilometres northeast of Grindavik, a coastal town of 3,800 people about 50 kilometres southwest of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. Grindavik has been evacuated and the roads around it are closed.

Iceland's Airspace

Despite lying just 20 km north of the eruption site, Iceland's main international airport, Keflavik International Airport, remains open and flights are still arriving and departing. However, the airport advised passengers to “monitor flight information”.

Volcanic eruptions can pose a serious hazard to air travel as ash released into the atmosphere can cause jet engines to fail, damage flight control systems, and reduce visibility.

The area immediately south and southeast of Keflavik International Airport, which is home to major tourist attractions such as the Blue Lagoon, is now essentially off-limits.

However, the authorities of Keflavik International Airport have said they were used to volcanic activity and well-prepared to deal with it without needing to close the airport.

If you are planning on travelling to or from the affected area, you can check the full details on Icelandic Met Office and Safe Travel Iceland for the latest advice.

Countries have not issued a ‘no-go’ travel warning for Iceland meaning that airlines and holiday companies are operating normally and travellers who cancel their bookings have no automatic right to a refund.

Iceland is famous for its austere landscapes, from the northern lights to the Blue Lagoon hot springs, waterfalls, glaciers and more.

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