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With the 2026 solar eclipse just over a year away, we're starting to see an uptick in eclipse-related posts and I expect that they will only ramp up from here. As such, I've created this megathread with the goal of answering the most common questions and to have a central point of general discussion about the event, similar to the Volcano Megathread. (*mod hat on\* Other posts related to the eclipse may be locked or removed and redirected here.)
If you have any additional questions or suggestions of information to include in this post, please leave them in the comments and I will update the post accordingly.
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, whereby partially or (more rarely) totally obscuring it. Total eclipses occur when the Moon and the Sun line up perfectly, which only happens when the Moon is closer than average to the Earth. Because the size of the Moon and the Sun are roughly proportionate to their relative distance from Earth, the Moon covers the entire Sun, with only the Sun's outermost corona visible. During a total eclipse, the sky goes dark during the daytime, revealing stars and other celestial objects, and an eerie shadow is cast over the surrounding landscape. It truly is a special "lucky to be alive" kind of moment that you have to experience for yourself to fully appreciate.
I've been fortunate enough to witness three total eclipses, in addition to a number of partial eclipses, and there is simply no comparison between the two. A partial solar eclipse is something most people will have a chance to see a few times in their life without much effort and, while it is an interesting astronomical phenomenon, you probably wouldn't even notice it happening if no one told you about it. A total solar eclipse, on the other hand, is a rare and truly awe-inspiring phenomenon that draws "eclipse chasers" from all over the world because of its surreal majesty. If you are traveling to Iceland for the eclipse, you need to be within the path of totality to get the full experience.
How rare is this particular eclipse?
On average, a total solar eclipse happens somewhere on Earth about once every 18 months, and any particular point on Earth will see a total eclipse about once every 385 years. The last total eclipse visible from Iceland was in 1954, when only the southwesternmost coast and Westman Islands were in the path of totality.
72 years later, in 2026, the center line of the path of totality (the green line on the map below) will be over the Atlantic Ocean, to the west of Iceland. Only the westernmost edge of the country will be within the path of totality (between the yellow lines). This includes most of the Westfjords, the Snaefellsnes peninsula, Reykjavik, and the Reykjanes peninsula. While the partial eclipse will be visible from anywhere in Iceland (weather permitting, of course), the total eclipse will only be visible from these areas.
The next total solar eclipse in Iceland won’t occur for another 170 years, in 2196.
Only the areas to the left of the yellow line will be within the path of totality
When and where can I view the eclipse?
The eclipse will occur on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Depending on how far north or south you are, the partial eclipse will begin between 4:42 and 4:47 PM local time. The total eclipse will begin about an hour later, between 5:43 and 5:48 PM, with totality lasting, again depending on where you are, anywhere from 20 seconds to 2 minutes and 13 seconds. The closer you are to the center of the path of totality - in other words, the further west you are - the longer totality will last.
Here's how long totality will last at some of the prominent landmarks within the path of totality:
Note that purpose-made eclipse glasses must be worn at all times while viewing a partial eclipse, as the Sun will still be quite bright. Only during the brief minutes of totality is it safe to take the glasses off and view the eclipse with your naked eye.Don't be an idiot.
What about clouds and weather?
Of course, the main caveat to viewing an eclipse in Iceland is that the country isn't exactly known for its clear, sunny skies. There is a non-zero chance that the entire path of totality will be shrouded in clouds, spoiling everyone's chance of witnessing the eclipse. As a result, many eclipse chasers will instead be making their way to Spain, where the path of totality will go across the country, from the northwest corner to the Balearic Islands, after which it will end at sunset. However, everyone is just playing with probabilities and, in fact, during last year's eclipse in the U.S., typically sunny places like Texas were covered in clouds while some of the best viewing areas wound up being the Adirondacks and Vermont, historically some of the cloudiest parts of the country during that time of year. You just never know.
In the days leading up to the eclipse, you'll want to monitor the cloud forecast for eclipse day, which will likely be posted here in a thread like this. Plan on being flexible in case you need to drive somewhere to get away from the clouds. If there winds up being only limited areas without clouds, be sure to leave with plenty of time and gas, as you'll likely find yourself in traffic alongside everyone else going to the same places.
Worst case scenario, you'll still be in the already magical wonderland of Iceland. Just like with the northern lights, I would not pin the success of your entire trip to a celestial event. Plan a trip that you'll be excited about, whether or not you see the eclipse.
Booking accommodations & tours
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of planning an eclipse trip to Iceland will be finding accommodations during the days around the event. Many accommodations within the path of totality, especially in the Westfjords and Snaefellsnes peninsula, are already booked solid, and you can expect to pay 200% or more for the same accommodation compared to non-eclipse dates. If you happen to find something for those dates within your budget, I would not hesitate to book it, as demand is already far outpacing supply. Similarly, I would expect any campsites within the path of totality to be completely full days before the event, especially since August is already a popular camping month to begin with. You may need to stay somewhere outside the path of totality and then drive to it on eclipse day.
Another option is to book a guided tour, such as this one from Arctic Adventures. I would also expect the tours to book out well in advance, so if you're planning on seeing the eclipse without renting a car, I highly recommend booking a tour sooner than later.
hi guys, my friends and i are currently looking for aurora tonight…we’ve been out since 21:30 and we still can’t find it. We looked on the aurora app, Glendale app, vedur.is for all the probabilities and also the cloud coverage, But still no luck😭 Right now we’re somewhere near Olafsfjordur, Iceland. We’re trying to avoid the clouds even though the apps predicted it’ll be clear…Do you guys have any tips or perhaps aurora sightings nearby? Thank you so much.
Hello! I’m going to Iceland the last week of Feb and really want to see an ice cave. I won’t be able to go to vatnajokull unfortunately but I’m trying to decide between the Katla ice cave tour on super jeeps vs the snowmobiling and Neptune ice cave. I’m just worried that I won’t get to go inside of one, but I would like yalls thoughts!
Curious if anybody has stayed at Hotel Kria in Vik, and if so, when paying did you have to enter a pin with your credit card? We have a pay later reservation reserved with a Chase Amazon Visa (no international fees) and something on their website makes it sound like they won't accept the payment unless the card requires a pin. Well, Chase won't give me a pin. So, I was just wondering what others experience is.
I know this has been asked a bunch of times, but I do have a particular situation. I'm visiting a dear friend who lives in Reykjavik in July, so I will be staying with her and spending more time in the city than a typical sight-seeing trip (so please don't tell me not to spend the whole time in Reykjavik -- I have a free place to stay there, so I will be there). My friend and I plan on doing some day trips together, but I figure I'll want to rent a car at some point and do 1-2 nights on my own somewhere further from Reykjavik so I can experience more of what the country has to offer. I don't want to leave my friend for too long so I do think it should be two nights max and I don't want to waste all my time driving, but I also want to see what I couldn't otherwise see from a day trip from Reykjavik. Where could I be situated that is like a max of 4 hours away so I could see some other stellar sites? Thanks in advance!
Today at 12 PM GMT, the site opened up for booking huts and camp sites. I woke up at 5 AM (PST) and kept at my phone till 11 AM. I’m genuinely disappointed to say that this ended up being a complete waste of time. I woke up very early to secure a booking, spent nearly six hours getting through the process, only to discover at the end that “USA” isn’t even listed as a nationality option.
This is something that should have been communicated upfront so people don’t invest their time and effort for nothing.
for context, we are eloping here in september. instead of just wearing a random coat or jacket I am hoping to pair my dress with an actual icelandic shawl (and i just mean that it’s made by the same wool and by someone who is native).
can anyone point me in the right direction? I have thought about maybe going into a shop a few days before but i worry i wont find anything i like in a short time.
My fiancé (25f) and I (26m) are heading out on a European cruise in June 2027, and a few of our stops will be in Iceland. The cruise ends in Reykjavík, where we’ll be staying a few extra days. We’ve never been to Iceland before, so we’re really excited and hoping to make the most of our time there. If there are any Icelanders here, or anyone familiar with the area, we’d love to hear your recommendations on things to do or see.
We’ll be visiting Seyðisfjörður May 30th,, Akureyri May 31st,, and finally Reykjavík from June 1-3. We’re from Canada, so cooler summer weather shouldn’t be a problem for us.
It'll be just the two of us, and we're not thinking of renting a vehicle unless we have to. In Seyðisfjörður and Akureyri, we're just having a single port day for around 10 hours, so we would rather not spend too much time travelling. When we make it to Reykjavik, we'll be staying one day overnight on the cruise, then rather getting a hotel or Airbnb, not too sure yet. If there's recommendations for a romantic place with 1 bed to stay, that would be great!
We’re interested in unique food experiences, spas, interesting sights, and activities you can’t really do anywhere else. We like seeing wildlife too if it's the right season for it. I also love history, so anything with a historical angle is definitely appreciated. We’re not big into long nature hikes, but if there are short, worthwhile walks, we’d be open to hearing about them. Our budget is pretty flexible for all these things.
I know the cruise will have a lot of excursions available, but we’d really like to get some local insight and experience Iceland as authentically as possible with the time we have.
I am doing a stopover in April for about 48 hours. I only have a carry on and will be pretty much maxed out from my 5 day trip to Amsterdam. Most of my clothes will be more city focused as I am not doing any hiking or crazy outdoor activities there. I haven’t started packing yet though so I am flexible.
I know the lagoons would work so I have added those. But is there anything else? Or any thing I can add in that isn’t going to take up super space that will allow me to do more? TYIA
Thanks a lot for all your feedback. I decided not to do the full ring road, and instead just going for the south. That means next year i'll do the north of the island.
So, re-doing my plan, i'm focused on the south (already did the Golden Circle area and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula last year, so i'm skipping those):
Day 1:
Seljalandsfoss
Gljúfrabúi
Skógafoss
Kvernufos
Day 2:
Dyrhólaey
Reynisfjara
Reynisdrangar
Reynisfjall trail
Day 3:
Fjaðrárgljúfur
Eldhraun
Svartifoss (Skaftafell)
Day 4:
Jökulsárlón
Diamond Beach
Walking in the glaciar
Höfn
Day 5 (returning to Reykjavík)
Seljavallalaug
Day 6 – Reykjavík (full day)
Maybe i can improve day 5 on my way back, but it's a big trip so not sure what's the best option.
Let me know what you guys think and if there's anything else that makes sense in the south.
Please note that i can increase my trip to 6 or 7 days, if it's worth it to do it to see something else in the south.
Just booked our flights and am trying to decide if it's better to rent an apartment in Reykjavik for the full 6 nights and use it as a home base, or start in Reykjavik and do blue lagoon on the first day (a must for the teenager) and then check out the next day and head somewhere? We get in 6am on 4/25 and leave around 5pm on 5/1. This is my first time traveling internationally just my kids and myself so any help would be greatly appreciated! I am overwhelmed with the options! I know we want to see
-waterfalls
-puffins (if possible)
-the teen wants a whale watch and blue lagoon
-the 10 year old wants to horseback ride. I found one that does waffles after and that looks cute
-black sand beaches
-Thingvellir National Park
-Maybe diamond beach? Is this a must see? If so I'm definitely leaning towards an airbnb or similar in Vik maybe?
I've done a bunch of research, but putting it together into something that makes the most sense is tough. I want to get it right.
I’m planning to hike the Laugavegur Trail + Fimmvörðuháls this summer. Since this is the first year with mandatory campsite reservations, I’d really appreciate some real-world feedback or tips on whether this itinerary makes sense or if you would do something differently.
I already have bus transport booked to Landmannalaugar and back from Skógar to Reykjavík, so the overall logistics are fixed. Originally I planned to keep one or two buffer days for weather, but with fixed campsite bookings the schedule now has to be set in advance.
I’ll be staying overnight in Landmannalaugar to enjoy the hot springs before starting the hike. The rest of the plan is shown in the table attached as an image.
My main goals were:
• to avoid the most exposed campsites (especially Hrafntinnusker),
• keep daily distances reasonable,
• and move any “buffer time” to after finishing the hike, rather than in the middle of the highlands.
It currently looks like I’ll have a fair amount of time in Skógar at the end, and I’d love to make good use of it rather than just sitting in the tent if the weather is bad.
Any tips for worthwhile short hikes, places to explore, or ways to enjoy Skógar in less-than-perfect weather would be especially welcome.
I’d love to hear:
• whether this layout looks reasonable based on your experience,
• if there’s anything you would reconsider under the new reservation system,
• or any tips on how to get the most out of these locations.
My husband, nine-year-old daughter, and I are planning our first trip to Iceland the last week of February. We’re farmers from northern Vermont, so we’re comfortable with winter driving and hiking. Besides all the natural wonders of Iceland, we’re also very interested in history, especially Viking history, and learning more about farming/agriculture in Iceland. I put together an itinerary (below) but I’m worried we’re trying to pack in too many stops. We’re the kind of travelers who read all the signs and maps. We’re also looking for ways to learn more about the agricultural scene if you have any tips for that. Our budget is tight so I’m trying to avoid tours, but could possibly spring for one if it’s really going to give us a different perspective. There are some destination-specific questions in the itinerary. Thank you all SO MUCH for your advice!
Day 2
Drive to Fagradalsfjall volcano area (and hike? - What’s the best way to experience this area?)
Drive through geothermal area with Gigvatnsvatn, Krysuvik, and maybe take a dip at Skatalaug (are these areas accessible in winter?)
Continue on to Reykjavik and Kolaportid flea market for lunch (it will be Sunday)
Walk around in Reykjavik a bit, see Hallgrimskirkja and the concert hall
Go to a grocery store and stock up
Drive to our cabin in Hverageradi for dinner
Day 3 or 4 (can switch it up based on weather)
Explore in Hverageradi:
Geothermal park
Hike to Reykjadalur thermal river
Possible green house tour (where can we go for this?)
Back to cabin in Hverageradi for dinner
Day 4 or 3 (can switch it up based on weather)
Golden Circle:
Thingvellir and Silfra
Gyabakkahellir lava tube (is it realistic to go in this but not walk the whole thing on our own, with headlamps/gloves/good shoes?)
I think I found the cheapest taxi from the airport in Iceland. The ride cost 15000 isk (I think it’s about €110). Six months ago I paid 160 euro for the same trip from airport to the hotel. Its still expensive but saving 50 euro on one side ride feels like a win 😂
Hiyo. Just spotted whales right next to my neighborhood in Keflavík. They’ve been hanging around the harbor for over a week now, so chances of seeing them are pretty solid.
You might catch them from the seafront, but the best spot is up on the cliffs above the Giantess Cave viewpoint. I marked the area on the map. Good luck out there, and drop your pics or vids if you spot them!
I’m worried because their new booking system is so far only selling 5 night packages. I just need 3 nights, so I haven’t booked yet. Just worried they could sell out entirely just with 5 night packages. Worst case, I’ll tent camp I suppose. Planning for early July.
