Is it safe to travel to Iceland right now? Latest travel advice following eruption
Written by Liv Kelly
After experiencing 30,000 earthquakes over the last three weeks, which led to the Blue Lagoon closing, experts believe a volcanic eruption is imminent in Iceland
Iceland is an incredibly popular winter travel destination thanks to its unique natural landscapes, hot springs and the opportunity to witness the elusive Northern Lights. It’s typically regarded as a super safe place for travellers and expats – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t susceptible to natural disasters.
A volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula erupted for the third time in as many months on Thursday (February 8), and though this time it didn’t affect the small fishing town of Grindavík directly (which was evacuated way back in November), the eruption caused severe damage to water pipes which meant the supply to more than 20,000 people was impacted.
Understandably, those with trips booked to Iceland are wondering whether it’s safe to visit the country. This is everything we know about travelling to Iceland following the eruption.
Despite Thursday’s eruption, neither the UK Foreign Office nor the US Department of State are recommending against travel – though the former has warned against travelling near the affected region.
Where was the volcanic eruption in Iceland?
A long-dormant volcano erupted for the third time in as many months last week just north of Grindavík, a town in the Reykjanes Peninsula. Grindavík is in southwest Iceland, around 42km away from the Icelandic capital Reykjavik. Its 4,000 residents were evacuated.
The Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions, reopened on January 6 after closing in the wake of the December 18 eruption. The famous geothermal spa is currently closed and will remain so at least until the end of the day, Tuesday February 13.
Have flights been cancelled?
Flights to and from Iceland are operating as normal. Icelandair and the Icelandic government have said flights should remain unaffected.
Your best bet if you have a flight booked to or out of Iceland is to keep an eye on your airline’s website for updates on whether your journey will be affected. Multiple airlines have said they’ll contact passengers if and when the situation changes.
Despite the eruption, the UK Foreign Office has not yet advised against tourists visiting Iceland.
The statement on the website reads: ‘Iceland is volcanic and seismically active. Recently there have been a series of volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland. These have affected the town of Grindavik and area to the north of it. All roads to Grindavik and the surrounding area are closed and you should stay away from this area.
Keflavik International Airport and the road to it is unaffected and operating normally. The capital city, Reykjavik, and the rest of Iceland is not impacted by the eruptions. The likelihood of further eruptions in this location remains high. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities’ advice on travel to the area.’
It also advises keeping up with the Icelandic Met Office, Safe Travel Iceland and Almannavarnadeild Facebook page and Twitter/X (@almannavarnir).
What are your rights if you’ve booked a trip to Iceland?
As the UK Foreign Office has not advised against travel, it’s likely your trip will go ahead as normal. Unless the advice changes, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to cancel your trip without a penalty. Contact your travel provider directly for all the up-to-date info about your trip.
The last volcanic eruption in Iceland was less than a month ago on January 15, 2024 and also back in December 2023. Before that, other than some volcanic activity in 2021, the Reykjanes Peninsula was dormant for 800 years.
In 2010, an ash cloud from the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption was responsible for the biggest halt to European air traffic since World War Two.
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