Elevation
2,009m (6,591 ft)
Subglacial stratovolcano beneath Vatnajökull.
Bardarbunga (Bárðarbunga) Volcano Iceland - Subglacial Volcano & Holuhraun Guide
A large subglacial stratovolcano beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap. Site of the massive 2014-2015 Holuhraun eruption which created a lava field larger than Manhattan.
Updated February 1, 2026By the Iceland.org Travel Team
Region
Central Highlands (under Vatnajökull)
2,009m (6,591 ft) · Subglacial stratovolcano
Bárðarbunga is a large subglacial stratovolcano buried beneath the northwestern part of the Vatnajökull ice cap in Iceland's Central Highlands. At 2,009 meters, it is one of Iceland's most powerful volcanic systems. The volcano made global headlines during the 2014-2015 Holuhraun eruption, when a fissure connected to its system produced a lava field of about 85 km²—larger than Manhattan. During that eruption, the caldera subsided by approximately 65 meters as magma drained to feed the fissure. Bárðarbunga is not accessible to tourists.
Safety + sourcing
Last updated: 2026-02-01
This page is for informational purposes. Bárðarbunga is an inaccessible subglacial volcano beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap. It is continuously monitored by the Icelandic Meteorological Office for volcanic activity.
Sources to check
Notable
2014-2015 eruption
Holuhraun lava field larger than Manhattan.
Access
Not accessible
Buried under Vatnajökull glacier. Not open to tourists.
About Bárðarbunga
- Summit elevation of 2,009m (6,591 ft) with a prominence of approximately 510m above the surrounding ice cap
- First ascent is not formally recorded as the summit lies beneath the Vatnajökull glacier
- The caldera dropped 65m during the 2014-2015 Holuhraun eruption, one of Iceland's largest in centuries
- The Holuhraun lava field covers 85 km²—larger than Manhattan—making it the largest Icelandic lava flow since 1783
- Part of a volcanic system stretching over 190 km in length, the second longest in Iceland
- Potential for jökulhlaups (glacial floods) during eruptions, threatening the Jökulsá á Fjöllum river system
Related Sites
- Holuhraun lava field (accessible with guide in summer)
- Vatnajökull National Park and glacier tours
- Askja caldera and Víti crater lake
- Kverkfjöll ice caves and geothermal area
- Herðubreiðarlindir highland oasis
- Dyngjujökull outlet glacier on Vatnajökull's north side
Accessing the Area
- Bárðarbunga itself is not accessible to tourists—it lies beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap
- The Holuhraun lava field can be reached via Route F88 from the north or Route F910 from Askja
- A modified 4x4 vehicle with high clearance is mandatory—no regular cars permitted on F-roads
- Highland roads typically open late June to early September; check road.is daily for F88/F910 status
- Nearest fuel and services at Mývatn (north approach) or Egilsstaðir (east approach), both 150+ km away
- Vatnajökull glacier tours are available from Skaftafell and other bases on the south side
Volcanic Monitoring
- Continuously monitored by the Icelandic Meteorological Office with seismographs and GPS stations
- January–March: Completely inaccessible; volcanic monitoring continues remotely via satellite
- April–May: Area still snowbound; no road access to Holuhraun or surrounding highlands
- June: F-roads may begin opening late in the month—check road.is daily before departure
- July–August: Best window for visiting the Holuhraun lava field with a guide and 4x4
- September: Roads closing rapidly; unpredictable weather makes highland travel risky
Planning help
Bárðarbunga FAQs
Quick answers with safety notes where it matters.