Iceland’s New Volcanic Eruption: What You Need to Know

At the moment, there is no volcanic eruption in Iceland. The most recent one took place on the Sundhnúksgígar crater row in the Reykjanes Peninsula, concluding on August 5, 2025. While eruptions in this region are fairly common, they rarely impact daily life or travel across the country. In fact, many visitors find Iceland’s volcanic landscapes to be a highlight of their trip—offering a chance to witness nature’s raw power up close. We’ve created this blog to answer your questions about volcanic activity and to share practical tips so you can explore Iceland with confidence and peace of mind.

Table of Contents

There is no volcanic eruption in Iceland.
Flights are operating as usual with no disruptions.
No imminent danger to lives.
Tourists can explore South Iceland safely.
The recent eruptions are confined to a remote area on the Reykjanes Peninsula and does not impact tourists visiting Iceland.

New Volcanic Eruption on Reykjanes Peninsula – July 16, 2025 concluding on August 5, 2025.

A new volcanic eruption began early this morning, July 16, 2025, at 03:54am local time along the Sundhnúksgígar crater row on the Reykjanes Peninsula. This marks the 12th eruption in the region since 2021. This eruption officially ended on August 5th 2025.

The eruption took the form of a long fissure, estimated at around 1km in length. Observers report glowing lava flows with relatively little ash, and no infrastructure was threatened, thanks to its favorable location. As caution, the Blue Lagoon area and Grindavík town were evacuated early on for safety.

Flights, major roads, and most tourist attractions across the country remained completely unaffected, so visitors could continue to enjoy their Iceland adventure with peace of mind.

Eruption has ended. 20th of November 2024 – A new fissure eruption started on November 20th at 22:14 in the Reykjanes Peninsula by Sundhnúksgígar crater North of Sýlingafell, marking the seventh eruption since December 2023 in the area. The impact of the eruption is confined to the area around Sundhúkagígar, it poses no threat to individuals. All flights to Iceland are running as scheduled, and past eruptions have not disrupted air travel to or from the country. The eruption does not impact us at Hotel Rangá or the surrounding area.

Eruption has ended. 22nd of August 2024 – A new fissure eruption started on August 22nd at 21:26 in the Reykjanes Peninsula by Sundhnúksgígar crater North of Sýlingafell, marking the sixth eruption since December 2023 in the area. The eruption´s effects are localized to the eruption site with road closures and do not threaten people.
All flights to Iceland are operating and on schedule, the previous eruptions did not affect air traffic to and from the country in any way. The eruption is on a localized area near the eruption site, it does not affect us at Hotel Rangá and the surrounding area.

Eruption has ended. 29th of May 2024 – A new fissure eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula North-East from Sýlingafell, marking the fifth eruption in the area since December of 2023.
All flights to Iceland are operating and on schedule, the previous eruptions did not affect air traffic to and from the country in any way. The eruption is on a localized area near the eruption site, it does not affect us at Hotel Rangá and the surrounding area.

Eruption has ended. 9th of May 2024 – The eruption in Sundhnúkagígar crater.

A recent fissure eruption commenced on the Reykjanes Peninsula by Hagafell and Stóra Skógafell on March 16. Making it the fourth eruption in the region since December 2023. While the eruption still persists, its intensity has decreased significantly. Scientist are predicting that it will be a short eruption, similar to the last three eruptions.

Iceland – also known as the land of fire and ice – witnessed a new volcanic eruption on the 8th of February, lasting for less than 2 days. This eruption occurred nearly a month after a brief volcanic event in the same vicinity. This eruption marks the sixth volcanic eruption in Iceland since 2021, and the third since December 2023.

This eruption was situated further away from the town of Grindavík, than the one in December when lava flow reached the outskirts of the fishing town of Grindavík.

Overhead view of Iceland's newest volcano erupting in July 2023 near Litli Hrútur. — Icelandic volcano at Litli Hrútur that erupted in the summer of 2023. Photo by Ása Steinarsdóttir.

Impact of Iceland’s Volcanic Eruption on Air Travel

Volcanic eruptions are a natural occurence in Iceland – international flights are not threatened by this volcanic activity.

The Reykjanes Peninsula eruptions, including this one, are of the fissure type. Fissure eruptions occur when magma flows up through cracks in the ground and reaches the surface through the cracks.

Has The Eruption Caused Any Road Closures?

Yes–at this time the roads surrounding the town of Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon are currently closed. The lava from this eruption crossed Grindavíkurvegur road. However, you can still safely travel from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík, Hotel Rangá and other parts of Iceland on road nr. 1.

Is It Safe To Go To Iceland Right Now?

Yes, it is safe to go to Iceland right now. All airports in Iceland are functioning normally, and all flights to Iceland are operating on schedule. The impact of volcanic eruptions is most often limited to specific, localized areas near the eruption site. Notably, previous eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula have not disrupted air travel to and from the country in any way.

Flights to Keflavík International Airport are proceeding as scheduled, along with services to Akureyri airport in the northeast.

We will provide frequent updates on the new volcanic site on this blog. If you are planning to stay at Hotel Rangá, please feel free to contact our front desk with any inquires you may have.

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Is Hotel Rangá Close To The New Volcanic Site?

No, Hotel Rangá is located at a safe distance from the volcanic site, ensuring the well-being of all our guests traveling to and from Iceland. The new fissure is approximately 129 km (80 mi) or 2 hours away from our resort.

Is it safe to travel in South Iceland?

Yes, absolutely. The Icelandic authorities are well-prepared to handle such events, ensuring the safety of residents and visitors alike.

Moreover, the affected area is localized, primarily impacting the people of Grindavík. However, the rest of South Iceland remains open and accessible. Roads are clear, and popular tourist attractions like the Golden Circle and Seljalandsfoss waterfall remain unaffected – and are in fact far away from the volcanic site.

Recent Volcanic Activity In Iceland

Iceland is known for its tectonic and volcanic activity. Yet, for centuries, the Reykjanes Peninsula area has lain dormant.

For further insight into volcanic eruptions in Iceland, explore the following links to our blog archives:

Webstreams of the new volcanic eruption in Iceland

Here you can follow the live broadcast of the volcanic eruption in the Reykjanes Peninsula.

Can you visit the erupting volcano in Iceland?

No, access to the new eruption site is currently restricted, and hiking to the volcano is strictly prohibited. However, you can still capture captivating volcanic images from a safe distance from Reykjavík.

Visitors sit on a hillside watching the volcano erupt at Meradalir in Iceland. — Visitors watch the volcano at Meradalir as it erupts. Photograph by Stefán Pálsson.

Is the town of Grindavík safe?

The current fissure eruption is located at a greater distance from the town of Grindavík compard to the previous one in December. The town had been evacuated and no imminent threats to life in the town.

Can you still see the northern lights despite the volcanic eruption?

Yes, it is still possible to see the northern lights even though there is a volcanic eruption. The eruption did not release any kind of ash cloud, so the skies are still clear. What’s more, Hotel Rangá is too far away from the volcanic eruption for air quality to be affected. To learn more about why Hotel Rangá is the best hotel to see the northern lights in Iceland, check out this blog post.

Does Iceland’s New Volcanic Eruption Pose A Danger To Travelers?

We want to assure you that there is no reason to fear. The Icelandic Authorities with help of a team of scientists and specialists are closely monitoring the situation.

At Hotel Rangá our top priority is the well-being of our guests. If you have any concerns or questions, our staff is here to assist you. We appreciate your trust in choosing Hotel Rangá, and we look forward to providing you with memorable and worry-free experience.

Safe travels!