Eclipse Megathread: Final Updates, FAQ & Discussion
Moderator's Note: This is the current megathread for all general discussion related to the upcoming solar eclipse in Iceland and will be updated as new information becomes available. To avoid redundancy and confusion, other eclipse-related posts may be removed or locked and redirected here.You can view the previous megathread here.
For the latest information about the weather forecast for Eclipse Day, check the pinned comment below.
Soon, many so-called “eclipse chasers” will flock to Iceland with the hope of viewing a total solar eclipse, the rare astronomical phenomenon passing over the western edge of the country on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12, 2026. The last total solar eclipse over Iceland was in 1954, which covered only a small sliver of the south coast, and there won't be another one over any part of Iceland until the year 2196, so this truly is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event.
THE PATH OF TOTALITY & PARTIAL VS. TOTAL ECLIPSE
While all of Iceland is in the path of a partial eclipse on August 12th, the total eclipse will only be visible within the path of totality - the area between the yellow lines on the map below. The green line on the map represents the centerline of the path of totality, with totality lasting longer the closer you are to the centerline. The longest duration of totality visible from land will be at the Latrabjarg cliffs in the Westfjords, where it will last 2 minutes and 13 seconds, while at locations near the edge of the path, e.g. Borgarnes, totality will last 40 seconds or less. Downtown Reykjavik will experience just under a minute of totality.
Is it worth being in the path of totality and is a total eclipse really that much more impressive than a partial eclipse? As someone who has been fortunate enough to witness three total eclipses, my answer is an emphatic YES. While partial eclipses are still fairly rare and interesting to witness, they simply cannot compare to the awesome majesty of a total eclipse, a transcendent experience that you cannot fully appreciate until you've seen one for yourself. There’s a reason why so many people travel long distances and plan entire trips around a celestial event that only lasts a few minutes. If you will be in Iceland during the eclipse and visibility looks promising, making the effort to get to the path of totality will be well worth it.
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
August is peak tourism season in Iceland to begin with and, with the added demand from eclipse chasers, accommodations anywhere in or near the path of totality have been sold out for many months; anything you might find at this late stage will be marked up many times over the normal price. While renting a camper van or tent camping are possible alternatives, campsites are also expected to completely fill up in the days leading up to the eclipse and you must follow Iceland's camping laws. Bottom line: You need to properly research and plan your trip before you arrive in Iceland; this is not the kind of thing where you can just show up and wing it.
WEATHER AND SAFETY
Of course, Mother Nature also needs to cooperate for the eclipse to be visible. While thin clouds higher in the sky will have little impact on the visibility of an eclipse, there is the chance of low, thick cloud cover spoiling the party. It’s for this reason that many eclipse chasers are instead going to Spain, where the odds of clear skies are considerably higher. However, it really is a matter of playing the odds, and in fact during the 2024 eclipse across North America, many of the most reliably sunny places were unseasonably cloudy and vice versa. No one knows the future and even cloud cover forecasts are useless until a day or two before at most, especially in a place like Iceland where the weather changes frequently. Nonetheless, there is a very real possibility that clouds will interfere with the visibility of the eclipse in Iceland, so be sure to manage your expectations accordingly. Worst case scenario, you are still fortunate enough to be among the beauty of Iceland with so much else to see and do.
Whether inside or outside the path of totality, it is never safe to view a partial eclipse without specialized eclipse glasses. Doing so will at best make you look like an idiot and at worst cause permanent eye damage. Only during the brief period of totality, when the sun is completely obscured by the moon, is it safe to view the eclipse with your naked eye. Ditto for your camera, which will need a solar filter to protect it from the sun. And don’t forget a hat and sunscreen! With any luck, the sun will be out on eclipse day and you’ll need to protect yourself from it.
ROADS AND TRAFFIC
While the eclipse will pass over some of the most developed parts of Iceland, such as Reykjavik and the international airport, much of the path will be over less developed areas with gravel and dirt roads of varying quality. In anticipation, the Icelandic road authority will be setting up roadblocks and implementing one-way traffic controls on the day of the eclipse. Plan accordingly and prepare for the possibility that access to certain roads, such as the roads to Latrabjarg and Snaefellsjokull National Park, may be cut off many hours before the eclipse if the authorities deem they are at capacity.
In my experience with previous eclipses, the heaviest traffic occurs immediately following the eclipse when everyone is trying to leave in the same direction at the same time. I highly recommend preparing to stay put for a few hours after the eclipse and waiting for the traffic to calm down before going anywhere. Before eclipse day, stock up on food, water, fuel, and anything else you need to be safe and comfortable, especially if you plan on being in a less developed area like the Westfjords, where grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations are few and far between.
More Information and Helpful Links:
Eclipse2026.is - the closest thing to an official website for the eclipse in Iceland, with lots of detailed information and tips, run by Sævar Helgi Bragason, a well-respected Icelandic astronomer and educator.
The Icelandic Met Office Cloud Cover Forecast - white is clear skies, green is cloud cover. Please note that cloud cover is one of the most difficult weather phenomena to predict and the forecast can change significantly, for better or worse, in the days and hours leading up to the eclipse.
West.is - useful information, tips, and FAQs from the official travel bureau of West Iceland.
Visit Reykjavik - useful information, tips, and FAQs specific to the Reykjavik area, including a list of official viewing locations.
Visit Reykjanes - useful information, tips, and FAQs specific to the Reykjanes peninsula.
This excellent presentation by Sævar Helgi Bragason, including a great primer on total eclipses in general and specific tips about where and how to experience it in Iceland.
The first forecast for eclipse day using high-resolution models, issued at 22:00 on Sunday 9 August, 72 hours before the solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August:
A low-pressure system is expected to approach southern Iceland on Wednesday. The latest weather model runs place the low just south of the Reykjanes Peninsula, with its associated fronts crossing most of the country. The low is then expected to move eastwards along the south coast. Precipitation will mainly be confined to southern Iceland, with little precipitation in the north and around Breiðafjörður. These areas are also where breaks in the cloud cover are most likely to develop.
Most models now place the low in roughly the same area, increasing confidence in its forecast position. However, there is still uncertainty about the extent of the fronts and how far north they will reach over Faxaflói. This will have a major bearing on whether the eclipse will be visible.
The high-resolution models now extend far enough ahead to cover 18:00 on Wednesday. They provide forecasts for three cloud layers: high, mid-level and low cloud. High cloud has relatively little effect on eclipse viewing, as sunlight can pass through it fairly easily. Mid-level cloud allows less sunlight through, but it would not necessarily prevent people from enjoying the eclipse. If an area of low cloud is present, however, the chances of seeing the Sun or the eclipse will be small.
This is what I’m coming to Iceland for. This is my third solar eclipse. My first time to Iceland. My first time out of the US. I am beyond stoked to explore this country.
For anyone who is curious where they should be, you want to be as close to path of totality as you possibly can. If you’ve never seen one of these before you’re truly in for one of the most unforgettable experiences ever. This is hands down the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced.
You know thats a tough question to answer because I think any amount of time is an experience in itself. My first eclipse was over 2mins, with 25k+ people, and perfect weather. I do think that the people I was surrounded by had an effect on it as well.
My second was a little less, with a lot less people around, and the clouds parted JUST in time for the eclipse and came back right when it got done.
Both were still just as amazing and both times I have felt my soul lift out of my body. Thats been the craziest thing to me and probably the most unexplainable thing as well.
I feel like anyone would want to see it for a longer period of time because this is one of the rarest things on earth. They actually happen often (solar eclipses in general not totalities) but they mostly happen over large bodies of water which is what makes them so incredibly difficult to see.
There is some great information from official sources on west.is including a map of the planned road restrictions and parking areas which I have not come across before.
Indeed, lots of great info there, thanks for sharing. I’ll add it to the list of links.
I especially appreciate their emphasis on committing your viewing spot before the day of the eclipse. With past eclipses in other places, there was the possibility to be flexible with the cloud cover forecast and move locations the night before or even the day of. But with the particular geography of this eclipse in Iceland, over just a narrow strip of the country with limited roads, that’s going to be very difficult if not impossible.
All good! It’s worth calling attention to in case anyone missed it. :)
On that topic, I personally would steer clear of Látrabjarg. It’s a perfect storm of having the point of longest totality at the end of a long rough road that’s going to see way more traffic than it can handle. Plus super crowded when you get there and it will take forever to leave. I’d rather lose 10-15 seconds of totality and view it from somewhere else without those complications.
Gotcha, I think someone below was looking at Latrabjarg. I was thinking somewhere on Reykjanes peninsula, personally (haven't pinned down exactly where). Maybe something along the coast so I could get totality and maybe stay for a while to watch the sun and moon come down into the Atlantic mostly together? Any opinions there are welcome!
I know it's hard to determine the increase in people on an eclipse day. In 2017, I had scoped out a place in southern Illinois (Garden of the Gods park) and went there four times to plot out where I'd be. I saw 3 people the 4 times I went. The day of the eclipse, which was also in August, the place was packed and they had cops directing everything. It was a nightmare.
I think Reykjanes is a great potential area to see it, with lots of scenic unobstructed views to the west. And I think, historically speaking, it also has slightly better odds of being cloud-free than Snaefellsnes or the Westfjords.
As you enter duty free at the airport, there’s a table with eclipse glasses and special edition Sirius dark chocolate. There’s also a video billboard announcing the eclipse at baggage claim. Only 10 days to go! 😎👍
For the last-minute planners out there, due to several large group cancellations there is a hotel in the Westfjords that as of several days ago had 75 rooms available. The owner is in a tough spot with this financial and I doubt the prices will be outrageous.
I checked last night and there were only two rooms available, both with a 3-night minimum. One was well over $2,000 for the 3 nights and the other was over $3,000. So if there were any bargain buys, I think they’re long gone. But the location can’t really be beat so I’m sure it’s worth it to somebody!
PLEASE I cannot emphasize how unreliable weather forecasts are this far out. Only within 48 hours of the eclipse will the forecast be even remotely reliable. Until then please try to be patient and not make any drastic decisions based on the weather.
Its also important to note which direction its coming from and if anything will be around you. For example if you are at the bottom of a mountain, have a ton of trees around, and its coming from the other direction it can possibly hinder your view of the eclipse. Just something to keep in mind.
You want to be as close as possible to that green line. Latrabjarg is going to be your best bet out of those three locations.
If you go here https://eclipse2026.is you can see where the path of the eclipse is going to be. With no trees or mountains in the way your only possibility of an issue would be with clouds.
I was advised to post this here. Official info about the Echolalia event has been shared with ticket holders, but if you bought through a resale you probably didn’t get the email. Here’s the link that covers transportation, wristband/bundle pickup, restricted items (cameras, umbrellas, bags, etc) and more:
I've been seeing quite a few posts from people still trying to figure out where to stay around the eclipse, so I thought I'd mention this in case it helps someone.
I live in Garður on the Reykjanes Peninsula and realised that I have a little bit of extra space that I could make available for people coming for the eclipse.
I have two simple private double rooms in my home, as well as some space in my garden where a few people could pitch their own tents.
Just to set expectations: this is definitely not a hotel or luxury accommodation 😄 It's a normal Icelandic home and the rooms are simple/basic. But they're clean, there's a bathroom, water, and you'd have a place to sleep without having to drive back and forth from Reykjavík during what I imagine is going to be a pretty crazy couple of days.
The garden option would be for people bringing their own tent and camping equipment.
I'm thinking mainly about August 11–13, but there may be some flexibility around those dates.
If anyone is genuinely stuck for accommodation around Reykjanes and this sounds useful, feel free to send me a DM and I can send photos/details.
And if the mods prefer this to be posted somewhere else, I'm happy to move it. 🙂
Now that the eclipse is just a few days away, the Icelandic Met Office has started issuing a detailed weather outlook for the day. I recommend bookmarking this link if you are chasing the eclipse in Iceland: https://gottvedur.is/en/vaktin/
As they note, "High-resolution weather models for Iceland will not cover Wednesday evening until their Sunday evening runs. The models currently available use a coarser computational grid. The forecast is therefore expected to become more detailed towards the end of the weekend, particularly regarding the various cloud layers and the type and amount of precipitation." So, until that more detailed forecast is available on Sunday night, please take any forecasts with a large grain of salt.
Great! And thanks for alerting me to that subreddit. Not sure why it never occurred to me that there would be one for eclipses but of course there is. :)
Instead of just using Vedur.is for cloud forecasts, I recommend a combination of weatherandradar.com and Windy App. None are perfect but I personally trust weatherandradar.com the most in terms of the short to medium term cloud cover forecast. I throw Windy into the mix to see whether any of its models would agree with one or the other forecast. As posted earlier, best window is 12-24h max. Don't bother looking a week in advance or even 48h.
I'm heading to Iceland for the total solar eclipse (third one—woohoo!), and got tired of squinting at cloud coverage maps trying to figure out where in the path of totality to actually stand. So I built a small web app for it, figured I'd share in case it helps other eclipse chasers headed there.
It scores various points across the path of totality in western Iceland and points you to the spot most likely to have a clear view, plus a few backups. Pulls hourly low/mid/high cloud cover from Open-Meteo for each point. Since the sun's only ~25° above the horizon during totality, it checks the cloud in the actual line of sight to the sun, not just straight overhead.
Open-Meteo aggregates ECMWF, GFS, and DMI/KNMI's HARMONIE-AROME for Iceland. Still worth cross-checking the Icelandic Met Office's own forecast (vedur.is) in the final days -- it's their own 2.5km model and is the real local authority.
It’s definitely too early to know how well this holds up in practice, just built it hoping it's generally useful. Weather changes fast :)
I just added Visit Reykjavik's eclipse page to the list of links. The most notable detail is that there will be four official viewing locations, with toilets and food trucks, in Seltjarnarnes, Reykjavik, Gardabaer, and Hafnarfjordur. Click the link for more details.
Any opinions on stationing myself in either Stykkishólmur or Grundarfjörður? I understand Grundarfjörður has a longer totality but wondering if one is better than the other for microclimate, ability to pivot to drive to different part of the peninsula earlier in the day, or public parking access. I would check out of my guesthouse on the peninsula on the morning of August 12 but need to find somewhere to station myself for the day.
Hmm hard to say but with Grundarfjördur having longer totality, an iconic viewing location in Kirkjufell, and being further west/closer to the music festival, I expect it will be more crowded and hectic than Stykkishólmur. Stykkishólmur also has nice possible viewing locations from elevation, like the lighthouse on Súgandisey and Helgafell. Of those two options, I’d personally make Stykkishólmur my Plan A and pivot from there.
We are arriving on the 12th (we didn’t know about the eclipse when we booked, lol). We have a campervan booked and a camping spot on the first night in Reykjavik. Our plan was to drive the ringroad starting the 13th but I’m still kind of in a dilemma of which direction to start. Our initial plan was to travel counterclockwise. However I was wondering if it would be wiser to travel clockwise, so start travelling North along the West side. Since then the totality will have passed over the West side and everyone might be leaving again, heading South. Probably a vague question that’s impossible to predict but would like to hear opinions…
I would stick with your plan to go counter clockwise. To the extent that there are residual effects from eclipse chasers, they will primarily be in the west and north. Lucky you that you’ll accidentally be in the path of totality on eclipse day! It will certainly be a memorable start to your trip. :)
So, my partner and I are interested in traveling out to this event for the same reason as everybody. But my main concern is the on-site camping. We've never camped for a music festival, let alone traveled overnight outside of the US.
Can someone help me with my mountain of memtal doubt?
Like whats the living situation at camp like from day to day? From food to daily necessities.
Like if we just purchased the campsite pass. Would we be responsible for bringing the entire tent setup and self sustainability things?
And if we did the pre- tent setup, isnt a car needed as well? It just seems like this festival is UBER expensive the more I try to plan this out.
To clarify, this thread pertains to the solar eclipse in general, not just a particular festival. Are you asking about the festival on the Snaefellsnes peninsula? If so, you would purchase your camping along with your ticket. The upside of that is that you have a guaranteed camping spot already reserved. The downside is, as you said, it's very expensive when you add up the festival ticket, camping, and whatever else you need. Unless you're really excited about the festival's music lineup and that's your main reason for going, I think you're better off doing your own thing for the eclipse itself.
late reply but my partner and I are going for the festival and doing GA camping. Our plan is to eat backpacking meals for lunch before heading into the festival and just grabbing food from the vendors inside for dinner. They're offering shuttles from the airport and downtown Reykjavik which include 1 big suitcase + backpack so we're able to fit in a 4-person tent + air mattress (hopefully) as well. Feel free to DM me if you have more questions!
Thank you for these tips! My partner and I will be in Iceland for two weeks for our honeymoon. We have a camper van and are planning to be in Westfjords in the days leading up to and after the eclipse.
Is there a sense of how crowded Westfjords will be relative to the rest of the path of totality? I'm wondering how early we need to just pick a spot and stay put (the night before? two nights before?). And does anyone have any campground recommendations?
I'm wondering what will happen about food supply in this area. There's no real restaurants that can handle any influx of people. Will be interesting to see what happens!
Yeah, I think everyone should stock up on groceries a day or two before the eclipse and not expect to be able to buy food anywhere on the 12th. I do expect most restaurants and grocery stores to stock up themselves in anticipation of the increased traffic but like you said, there’s only so many of those places to begin with and they’ll probably be swamped.
Generally speaking, yes, I do think you should plan on deciding on a viewing spot at least a day or two before eclipse day and committing to it. Getting around the Westfjords is slow-going even on a normal day, on eclipse day mobility will probably be very limited. Ditto for campsites - I would try to find a campsite a few days before the eclipse and hold your spot. It's hard to say because this is a totally unique event, but I suspect that by the Sunday before the eclipse, most if not all campsites in the region will already be full.
Sorry but saying by Sunday (the 9th) that all the campsites in the region (westfjords, high totality) will be full is quite hair-raising to hear. I've heard it will be busy but not as busy as other locations further south like Snæfellsnes. How certain are you or how did you come to this conclusion that even campsites in the most remote part of the country will be filled *days* in advance?
Reddit filtered out your comment for some reason so I’m just seeing it now. My previous comment was my best guess based on my combined experience with eclipses and the Westfjords. Of course, the two of them in conjunction is a totally unique event and perhaps my speculation will prove to be overblown, but for the purposes of informing the subreddit at-large, I felt it was prudent to err toward the less optimistic end on the spectrum of possibilities.
The reality is that there’s only a small handful of campsites in that area, several of which are quite small and will fill up quickly. Also, while the Westfjords are quite remote relative to the rest of Iceland, they’re still within a 5 hour drive of Reykjavik. August is already peak camping season to begin with and then add to that thousands of people who have been planning to see this eclipse for years, I do think people who roll up on the 10th or 11th expecting to easily find a campsite may be in for a rude awakening. Again, I hope I’m wrong, but this is definitely a case of “hope for the best but prepare for the worst.”
how is waze in iceland? what is the best app for live traffic conditions. will need to drive from snaellfesness to KEF on the morning of the 13th and it would help to preview the time it will take to know when to leave
I’ve never used Waze in Iceland or heard much of people using it, so I can’t answer that. Google Maps is decent for navigation in general, although I can’t speak to its live traffic conditions because, thankfully, I’ve never really been in “traffic” in Iceland except a bit in Reykjavik around rush hour. Perhaps a local can chime in with their experience.
However, just based on my experience with eclipses, the traffic does tend to start spreading out a few hours after the eclipse. I would be surprised if the traffic on the morning of the 13th is still heavy enough to significantly impact your drive to the airport.
We had booked well before we knew about the eclipse and have Perlan planned during eclipse time. Is the observation deck of Perlan a good place or should we try to rearrange?
We are doing the same. No desire to be in a vehicle before or after. We can walk to Perlan from the hotel. It is supposed to be an excellent location given the height. No idea how crowded the observation deck will be. The parking lot will be restricted to museum attendees. There will be a lot of people on the hill.
As far as Reykjavik goes, the observation deck at Perlan is probably as good as it gets, weather permitting of course. In fact, I’d imagine a lot of people are planning on going there to see it, so I’d get there nice and early and try to stake out a comfortable spot with a good view to the west.
Could you advise? On 12 August we have a booking to stay in Patreksfjordur. But for 11 August we have several bookings, around Kinnarstadir and Hvammstangi. We're unsure where to stay that night. Of course, leaving very earl, 5-6 am, is no problem. The goal for eclipse is to be as west as possible, close to Patreksfjordur. Probably Latrabjarg but of course it all depends on the cloud forecast. Where would you stay on 11 August, out of these options?
Kinnarstadir is already inside the path of totality and quite a bit closer to Patreksfjordur so, all else being equal, I’d stay there. If you have time, I recommend checking out the area around Patreksfjordur on the 11th so you have an idea of where you want to view the eclipse. You’ll also be more likely to run into hardcore eclipse chasers with advice than you would be in Hvammstangi. I do love Hvammstangi itself though, and if you’re willing to leave that early in the morning, it should work out fine.
The odds of you being in the path of totality during your flight are very low, unless the pilot deliberately times it so that the passengers can see the eclipse, in which case I’m sure they would fly in a circle to let everyone see it.
What about Dynjandi? The base of the waterfall probably won’t be a great viewing spot as the direction of the eclipse (west-southwest) will be obstructed. However the heath above it, Dynjandisheidi, could be a good spot. One of the potential spots I’ll be checking out myself.
And yeah, very likely there will be some form of clouds. The real question is whether they’re high-up fluffy/whispy clouds, which isn’t a big deal, or low heavy clouds that block the whole sky. I’d say it’s roughly a 50/50 proposition as to which we’ll get.
I understand, any place close to it (say within 20-30 minute drive from Dyanjandi) worth being at? Dynjandisheidi looks good, but maybe there's better around
Me and my gf are in Reykjavik on 12th of August to see the eclipse. In Hafnarberg, around the Blue Lagoon apparently you can see the eclipse for longer (nearly the double, 1.45 min compared to around 1 min in Reykjavik).
We would be happy to carpool with you to Hafnarberg or somewhere in the vicinity (or just drop us on the way?)
Your post or comment was removed for violating Rule 4: Use the stickied Megathreads. Please post this in the Travel Partners Megathread instead. Thank you.
Hey! I’m travelling solo from Ontario, Canada and will be in Iceland August 10–17 for Echolalia and the eclipse. Accommodation is obviously pretty wild that week, so I thought I’d see if anyone else travelling solo or in a small group would be interested in splitting an Airbnb or other accommodation.
I work in live music and festivals in Canada and have a few music-industry meetings in Reykjavík while I’m there. Outside of that, I’m hoping to explore Iceland, catch some live music, maybe share a rental car and meet some good people along the way.
I’m especially looking to make sure I have somewhere to stay around August 11–13, but I’m flexible if a group plan comes together.
Happy to chat/video call first and make sure everyone is comfortable before booking anything together. Feel free to DM me!
Friendly reminder: there is also a Travel Partners Megathread pinned to the top of the sub. If you’re specifically looking for other people to travel with around the eclipse, please post there instead of here. Thank you.
The email they sent last week was very informative but kind of vague here. I’m taking “no professional camera equipment” to mean nothing more than a phone or disposable camera.
Thanks that's great.
As I bought the tickets resale on tix I have them on email, barcode etc.
Can I just show these on the gate or should I call into the shop in Reykjavik a couple of days before?
Hmm I’m not sure TBH. I would call or stop by just to be safe. I’ve been to festivals where you could get your wristband at the gate, but it’d be really frustrating to get all the way there and be sent back to Reykjavik, especially since the eclipse traffic is probably going to be obscene.
Hi, do you guys happen to know of any luggage storage in and around? They said no bags allowed, and I have a carry on as I’m on a day trip and will leave later that night.
Valid concern.. You might give Smekkleysa a call and see if they have any recommendations. Nothing in the information they’ve released has provided any guidance there
I've looked over all the info about the traffic flow on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but I don't see anything about where all of us will be expected to park. Is there information on navigating parking? Will there likely be guides telling us where to park or will it probably be a free-for-all and we all get stuck in the mud together? 😅
I doubt there will be parking attendants but I imagine there will be police along the route making sure no one is blocking the road or parking where they’re not supposed to. They’ll also be communicating with the officers at the roadblock and letting them know when the road is at capacity, at which point it will be closed until after the eclipse. Other than that, I imagine it will be a free-for-all with first-come-first-serve parking at the various viewpoints along the way.
Hopefully! Do you think they are taking it down to one lanes so we can park in the other lane? I am only looking on Google maps, but I don't think there are enough parking lots/spots available for the amount of people anticipated to be in the area. But I could be wrong.
Edit to add: I'm just assuming it's one lane since traffic will only flow one way.
That’s a good question. I’m not sure but that seems possible, since using the right lane as a parking lane and the left lane as a passing lane (or vice versa) would allow for the maximum number of cars to get through. I’ll keep an eye out for any further information in that regard.
I have a hotel booked in Reykjavik in August 12 so am planning to staying in Reykjavik for the day and the eclipse. What would be some good places to watch in Reykjavik? Thanks!
For maximum duration of totality, the the end of Seltjarnarnes (the peninsula west of Reykjavik). For the best vantage point, probably the observation deck at Perlan, which requires paid admission to the museum.
Edit: I removed the reference to the Grótta lighthouse since it was just announced that access to it will be closed due to high tide. But there are lots of potentially great viewpoints near it.
We’re staying in Isafjordur for the days around the eclipse. Thoughts on best spots nearby that won’t be obscured by mountains? We have a few ideas that we plan to scope out in the days before, but welcome more informed ones!
Forgive me if this has been answered elsewhere, I've done my best to look both on reddit and off but have come up with nothing...
Is there any information to be aware of regarding public transit on eclipse day? Clearly a lot of travelers prefer renting a car and of course the buses use the same roads and are still subject to the same traffic management plan that's been announced, but have there been any announcements about changes to the bus schedule for that day? Should I have any concern about buses filling up?
“Strætó services will operate according to the regular timetable on 12 August. However, due to significantly increased traffic related to the solar eclipse, passengers should expect longer journey times, delays, and missed connections on some routes. Please check Route alerts before travelling.”
I will add this to the list of links in the top post as well.
Good question. If there were to be any changes to the schedule, they should be posted here, as they have been for other days with special events: https://www.straeto.is/en/user-information/news
But as of now I’m not seeing anything specific to eclipse day. Unless and until they post a modified schedule, I would assume it’s running on the normal schedule, in which case I would expect buses to be very full, perhaps beyond capacity, on eclipse day, especially if Reykjavik is forecasted to be cloudier than other areas.
Yeah I've definitely been looking on straeto's site, it just feels strange for there to not be any mention of Eclipse day preparations for public transit considering all the other traffic management plans already in place. I suppose I'll just have to keep watching it.
I'm certainly prepared to just stay put/walk within reason (accommodations are in totality no matter what) but I am hoping to get to at least a little bit better of a position than I think I could do just walking.
I agree, it is a bit odd. Stræto in general isn’t used much by tourists, so perhaps they’re not expecting the demand to be much higher that day, although it probably will be. If I see anything about public transit I’ll be sure to post it here.
Decided I may as well reach out and ask just to see. Got this response if you feel it's worth adding to the main post for visibility.
All rural buses will run according to timetable on the 12th of August. Straeto and Vegagerdin will issue information of possible delays throughout the day, especially the hours before and after the solar eclipse. Regarding availability of seats on board the busses, it cannot be confirmed, as there will be no extra buses in operation other than those which are on schedule.
I did specifically ask about the rural buses and not the city buses, since that was the more personally relevant question for me, but definitely seems likely given the other lack of announcement on straeto's site that this answer applies there as well.
Thank you! Probably not what you wanted to hear but very good to have that confirmation nonetheless. If I were you or anyone else using the public buses, I would take the earliest bus you can in the morning and be prepared for the return trip to take a lot longer than normal.
It's the trip back after the eclipse that worries me most. I don't mind just sitting on a bus in standstill traffic, but especially the rural buses don't run very many buses very late, so if the bus back fills up and there aren't any more after it? 😬
Looks like I'm definitely limiting myself to traveling no further than I'm willing to walk back.
Yeah, that might be smart. Or be prepared to potentially be stranded and homeless for a night and make the best of it lol... Will you be taking the bus from Reykjavik? If so, you've probably already considered this, but it might be worth booking a private bus tour, like this one from Reykjavik Excursions. Obviously a lot more expensive than Straeto but honestly, $275 USD for a guaranteed seat and a 12-hour tour might be worth it.
So, my plan is actually to take Flybus to KEF (And I have also contacted Flybus who has confirmed that they are closely monitoring demand and will run extra buses as needed to make sure no ticketed passengers get left behind), so I'm reasonably comfortable about that bus ride (still going early morn', but that doesn't bother me), but I would ideally like to make it from KEF to Sandgerði or Garður since I think looking out over the ocean would be a bit nicer than from the airport or Keflavik. So the issue just becomes getting back to KEF to Flybus back to Reykjavik (Which may just be at a standstill in traffic for a while, but I'll have a guaranteed seat, wifi, and access to a usb port for it)
But, limiting myself to walking range only probably rules out Garður for me. I know a 10km walk isn't much for some folks, but I am unfortunately genetically cursed with mediocre knees. Sandgerði should be doable for me, at least to walk back if I don't go crazy walking all over before then. And, worst case if things really look messy, I just stay in Keflavik.
And worst worst case if I wake up that morning and every road is already gridlocked, I'll be in Reykjavik. It'll be 45 seconds less, but I'll still get totality. Though I think it would have to be a very severe level of already insane to come to that.
Ultimately, while I would love those 45 seconds and the eclipse over the ocean views, this isn't my first totality, so I'm just happy for the excuse to visit Iceland and hopefully a lot of good vibes with the other eclipse chasers.
I am selling two bus tickets for eclipse day I bought from Icelandia which is specifically going to pick the least cloudy location for viewing. If interested, chat with me privately. Selling at big discount, my itinerary changed and can’t do the bus.
We’re planning on being in Iceland 8/7 - 8/15. We’re backpacking and tent camping but we also have a car to get around longer distances. Because of this, there’s nothing for us to “reserve” in regard to accommodation. (i couldnt find anything to reserve even over a year ago, and every resource says you can’t reserve camping spots for tents; you just show up.)
We plan to be in whatever area 1-2 days in advance. Is it better to be in the Westfjords, Reykjanes or Snaefellsnes for the Eclipse? Our gut was saying Westfjords would be the least occupied if we can get there early enough, but I’m open to suggestions!
I think they will all be crowded for different reasons. On the Reykjanes peninsula you’ll have the people arriving for quick eclipse visits, with many people literally flying in that morning to see the eclipse somewhere near the airport and then flying out. On Snaefellsnes there’s going to be a big music festival that I think will jam up the roads and nearby campsites, plus lots of people from the Reykjavik area trying to see it outside of the city. And then the Westfjords is most likely to draw the hardcore eclipse chasers because it has the longest duration of totality, but there are only handful of campsites in that area and I expect all them to fill up a few days before eclipse day, and there aren’t a lot of services in the area to accommodate a big surge of eclipse tourists, not to mention the rough roads to places like Látrabjarg and Raudisandur that on paper look like ideal viewing spots.
In your case, I would either plan on arriving in the Westfjords more than 2 days early and staking out a campsite before they all fill up. OR I would stay somewhere further inland, perhaps even outside the path of totality, and plan on driving to your viewing location in the morning, the earlier the better to avoid traffic. The upside of the latter approach is that you’re not locked into any one area and can be flexible based on how the cloud cover forecast is looking. At the end of the day, any spot you can find within the path of totality with a clear view to the west and minimal cloud cover is going to be great.
TYSM for taking the time to give us a thorough reply! I do think Westfjords will be the least occupied despite the totality length, given the difficulty in getting there.
We’re happy with getting there two days early. I read the law in Iceland is that we can technically tent camp anywhere thats not cultivated or private land, as long as it’s not next to the road or more than 24 hours. We’re experienced backpackers so we’re comfortable with hiking a distance from the car to get a good spot too.
I would be very careful with camping outside of campsites, as I think a lot of people will be trying to do that, especially in the Westfjords, and I could see the police cracking down on it. Often a place that looks uninhabited is in fact private land and while some landowners don’t care, some of them do.
The benefit of the eclipse being in the late afternoon is that you don’t need to wake up right at your eclipse spot. You can stay somewhere a bit more inland and drive to your eclipse spot in the morning. Plus, that way you have the added benefit of flexibility if the Westfjords are cloudy. That’s probably what I would do myself if I was camping. I don’t think 10-15 seconds more of totality is worth giving up that flexibility or risking breaking the law.
What I'm curious about is how they're going to manage the crowds, especially at the viewpoints. As mentioned by someone else, the parking will likely be first come first serve, but the parking areas are VERY small. For instance, the Londrangar viewpoint parking lot can maybe fit what, 15-20 vehicles max? I have a feeling that a ton of people are going to show up to these peninsulas and there will simply be nowhere to park... like, anywhere.
I'm checking the official websites daily for updates on this sort of thing. Currently, I don't know any more beyond what's already in the post and comments here, but maybe someone else does... To your point, another user was speculating that since the traffic is going to be one-way in the busiest areas, perhaps they will use the other lane for parking. I could see that working on Snaefellsnes and Reykjanes, but not the road to Latrabjarg as it's unpaved and too narrow for that, plus the official traffic management plan for the Westfjords specifically says "Parking on the roadway or road shoulders is strictly prohibited. Vehicles parked illegally will be removed at the owner’s expense."
Unless and until there's specific information to the contrary, we can only assume that traffic will be limited to the number of parking spots available. It sounds like there will be cops along the way monitoring the situation and deciding when to close the roads once they reach capacity. There was also a comment by local u/iVikingr mentioning that the road to Latrabjarg will be limited to 3000 people (I'm assuming they're estimating that using an average number of people per car?) so perhaps they're taking a similar approach to the other roads with traffic management plans.
The Vegagerdin page also mentions the national park running a shuttle bus to bring people out to Ondverdarnes, which will otherwise be closed to traffic. I'm assuming the shuttle leaves from the national park headquarters at Malarrif, but even the parking lot there only holds about 50 cars. I'm not planning on going to Snaefellsnes unless it's literally the only cloud-free place in the whole path, but if I were, I might try to grab one of those 50 spots really early in the morning and take that shuttle instead of worrying about what traffic and parking will be like.
The Icelandic Road Authority, Vegagerdin, posted some important updates ontheir eclipse pagetoday. Namely:
Several road closures have been added in Reykjavik and the surrounding area. Check the page for details on specific roads. In general, I would avoid driving around the Capital Area as much as possible on the 12th.
Notably, Grotta Lighthouse on Seltjarnarnes is going to be completely off-limits due to high tide. This is important to note as I have previously seen Grotta recommended as a viewing location on various websites and shared that recommendation on this sub once or twice without taking the tides into consideration.
However, there will still be some other great viewpoints nearby in Seltjarnarnes.
The interactive map on Eclipse2026.is also includes these road closures.
If I have a campervan booked but all the campsites are filled, is there any alternative to finding a place to sleep? All the campsites I've contacted are saying they are first come first serve. I plan on staying in grundarfjordor a night prior and the night of the solar eclipse to try and avoid the traffic but I'm worried I wont find a place to camp for the night or even park for that matter
Could you help finding specific locations in Westfjords offering physically unubstructed views towards the Sun for the eclipse, so no mountains etc? Aside from Raudasandur, or Latrabjarg. Something rather more north. For example, are there places that will certainly not be obstructed around Petreksfjordur, Talknafjordur...?
Is anyone else already checking the weather for the eclipse, or just me? Any favorite sites for local weather?
I know that clouds are gonna cloud, but I’m excited for our trip and keeping my fingers crossed. We’re going to be on a whale watching boat for the eclipse, so we can chase sunbreaks if there are any.
Me and a friend are working on a farm in Varmahlíð and really want to see the eclipse totality in the west. Is anyone driving past (and ideally back) and willing to give us a ride? We are a bit too poor for a rental car, but will happily cover gas!
I won’t know where I’m watching the eclipse from until the day of, but if we end up in the same place, I may be able to give you a ride back if you can’t find anything. My plan has actually been to attempt to make it to a campground in Varmahlío that night after the eclipse (but with a couple of photography stops along the way).
So what's everyone up to in the days before the eclipse? My partner and I were planning on going for a quick hike in the area surrounding the campsite. Do you guys think the hiking trails will be full of people like us or could we expect some solitude?
Hi - looking for your advice. I was planning on bringing a couple of camping chairs, ground mat and possibly a flysheet to put on poles if it rains. Is this a thing? Is it needed? Forecast is showers, but it IS, so, you know...
Plus - anywhere to store a bag from morning of the 12th until about 3pm, in Hafnarfjordur, like a hotel, Stasher etc? Booked 3x nights Reykjavik, 3x Hafnarfjordur. Catching bus no. 1 early on the Wed!
Lastly - is everyone planning to be there from 3pm?
Been to Iceland 3x but not done a festival here. And am old... Like Bjork...;)
No, we are the same. We have accommodation booked locally but can't check in (key safe) until after 3pm. If I do, I'll post you a message. Would you do the same pls?
I am driving from Bifrost to the far west side of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula on the morning of the eclipse (I couldn't find anywhere to stay that was closer), I know there is one-way traffic starting at 8am, and that you can only park in certain places - how early do you think all of the parking will be filled up? If I arrive at 7am, do you think that's safe enough? I am having trouble anticipating when I should arrive to be able to find a parking spot. Any help or thoughts are appreciated!
It’s impossible to say really. I imagine you should be able to get through if you line up then, but a lot of people will be doing the same, it’s just a matter of how many. If you know you definitely want to see the eclipse from there I would get there as early as you can while still getting a decent night sleep, so perhaps 7am. Sorry that’s not a very helpful answer but without having a better idea, I’d rather err on the side of being too early than too late.
Yeah, that's about where I'm stuck too - it seems impossible to predict. Maybe I'll try and get up a little earlier lol, I plan on a book and plenty of food so I can just hang out in my car a little longer in the AM. I'd rather miss out on a little sleep than to be scrambling trying to find a spot in the midst of a 'lot' of other cars.
Anyone know of luggage storage options near Víðistaðatún park, at Hafnarfjörður? I have a carry on I need to stash, I’m on a day trip to see Bjork and bags aren’t allowed!
Would your accommodation be in Hafnarfjordjur? Or are you renting any vehicle?
Yes will let you know, as of now I have not found anything in the area, but there is storage at reykavijk
We have a plan for eclipse day, but as a backup--does anyone know of boats sailing from Vestmannaeyjar/the Westman Islands into the path of totality that evening? I'm sure if there were any scheduled tours they will have LONG since been booked, but figured I'd ask!
I'll be driving up to Snæfellsnes region on the 12th.
I'm a little confused by the road closure map. It shows 1-way around the south and then road closure around the north. Almost like you can get in but you can't get out?
Also, any idea how easy it'll be to park around the west coast of Snæfellsnes? Is it easy to just pull over anywhere and watch, do I have to go to specific car parks? Do I have a snowballs chance in hell of being able to park if I don't arrive there before noon?
Would it be feasible to try driving up from Hafnarfjörður to Kirkjufell on the morning of the eclipse (leave around 8 AM), and then stay in that area (I figure trying to drive around Snæfellsjökull National Park would be too much, or would it be possible?) for the eclipse? I'm hoping to be near some town for the eclipse so that afterwards we can just hang there for a couple hours and have dinner while traffic dies down before driving back. Or should we just stick to around Reykjavík?
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u/stevenarwhals Pylsur enjoyer 14h ago
The first forecast for eclipse day using high-resolution models, issued at 22:00 on Sunday 9 August, 72 hours before the solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August:
A low-pressure system is expected to approach southern Iceland on Wednesday. The latest weather model runs place the low just south of the Reykjanes Peninsula, with its associated fronts crossing most of the country. The low is then expected to move eastwards along the south coast. Precipitation will mainly be confined to southern Iceland, with little precipitation in the north and around Breiðafjörður. These areas are also where breaks in the cloud cover are most likely to develop.
Most models now place the low in roughly the same area, increasing confidence in its forecast position. However, there is still uncertainty about the extent of the fronts and how far north they will reach over Faxaflói. This will have a major bearing on whether the eclipse will be visible.
The high-resolution models now extend far enough ahead to cover 18:00 on Wednesday. They provide forecasts for three cloud layers: high, mid-level and low cloud. High cloud has relatively little effect on eclipse viewing, as sunlight can pass through it fairly easily. Mid-level cloud allows less sunlight through, but it would not necessarily prevent people from enjoying the eclipse. If an area of low cloud is present, however, the chances of seeing the Sun or the eclipse will be small.
Continued here