Bláfjöll Ski Resort

http://www.powderhounds.com/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/images/Europe/Iceland/Blafjoll/overview2/01.JPG
Bláfjöll Ski Resort Iceland
Bláfjöll Ski Resort Iceland
Powder skiing at Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland
Powder skiing at Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland
Overlooking the landscape from the top of Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland
Overlooking the landscape from the top of Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland
Tracked powder on cold afternoon ski session at Blafjoll Iceland
Tracked powder on cold afternoon ski session at Blafjoll Iceland
Skiing fresh snow at Blafjoll
Skiing fresh snow at Blafjoll
Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland has a fun terrain park for the less breakable amongst us!
Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland has a fun terrain park for the less breakable amongst us!
A low Arctic sun & powder skiing steeps in the late afternoon at Bláfjöll ski resort
A low Arctic sun & powder skiing steeps in the late afternoon at Bláfjöll ski resort
Gorgeous afternoon light on the slopes during a busy afternoon at Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland
Gorgeous afternoon light on the slopes during a busy afternoon at Bláfjöll ski centre Iceland
Bláfjöll ski resort
Bláfjöll ski resort's main slopes are nicely proportioned.
The main on-mountain restaurant at Blafjoll provides basic food at basic prices, plus facilities for
The main on-mountain restaurant at Blafjoll provides basic food at basic prices, plus facilities for 'brown-baggers'.
Blafjoll ski terrain in the Armannsskali sector
Blafjoll ski terrain in the Armannsskali sector
Bláfjöll ski lifts, slopes and terrain park
Bláfjöll ski lifts, slopes and terrain park
Facilities at the main Blafjoll ski centre base include a café, toilets, lockers and ski rental shop
Facilities at the main Blafjoll ski centre base include a café, toilets, lockers and ski rental shop
The car park at Bláfjöll ski centre in Iceland is ski-in, ski-out!
The car park at Bláfjöll ski centre in Iceland is ski-in, ski-out!
Looking toward Bláfjöll ski centre from the road
Looking toward Bláfjöll ski centre from the road
Bláfjöll off-piste powder skiing
Bláfjöll off-piste powder skiing
Bláfjöll is a great place to start an Iceland ski adventure to the Troll Peninsula
Bláfjöll is a great place to start an Iceland ski adventure to the Troll Peninsula
A new volcano, Mount Fagradalsfjall, is now on the horizon of this Icelandic landscape photo taken near Bláfjöll ski area
A new volcano, Mount Fagradalsfjall, is now on the horizon of this Icelandic landscape photo taken near Bláfjöll ski area
A day at Bláfjöll ski resort can be combined with sight seeing on the southern coast of Iceland
A day at Bláfjöll ski resort can be combined with sight seeing on the southern coast of Iceland
Bláfjöll Ski Resort Iceland
Bláfjöll Ski Resort Iceland

Bláfjöll Ski Resort

Readers Ratings

Bláfjöll

Bláfjöll3/52
Bláfjöll3 out of 5 based on 2 reviews
  • Recommend
    100%
  • Would Revisit
    100%
Mountain People Ski & Snowboard Holiday Packages Europe Austria, Andorra, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France

Blafjoll Ski Area Stats

     Blafjoll Ski Trail Map
  • Blafjoll Ski Trail Map
  • Vertical (m)
    460m - 700m (240m)
  • Average Snow Fall
    Unknown
  • Lifts (14)
    2 Chairs
  • Opening Dates & Times
    December to April
    Weekdays
    Main Area
    2:00pm to 9:00pm
    South Area
    5:00pm to 8:00pm

    Weekends
    10:00am to 5:00pm
  • Terrain Summary
    Runs - 15km
    Longest run - 1½km
    Advanced - 0%
    Intermediate - 35%
    Beginner - 65%
  • Ski Lift Pass Price
    Day Ticket 22/23
    Adult - ISK4750 (approx. €32.60)
    Child - ISK1200 to 1850 (approx. €8.30 to 12.70)
    Child u/5yr - Free

Bláfjöll Ski Resort Iceland

The most popular ski resort in Iceland, Bláfjöll is close to the capital Reykjavik (hence its popularity!). A small but super-fun ski area, it provides a leg-warming ski across 15km of trails on mellow terrain and also provides some fun, lift-served backcountry access when the snow is deep and not wind-blasted.

Only a few minutes’ drive from the centre of Reykjavik, Blafjoll is a great place to come and get to know the locals. And as an added bonus, in 2021 a new volcano sprouted nearby spewing a spectacular lava show. Named Mount Fagradalsfjall, it is 20km southwest of the ski area as the ptarmigan flies, or about 58km (1hr) by rental car.

Pros & Cons for Blafjoll Ski Resort

Pros

  • Great place to stretch the legs and get a few laps on snow.
  • On the rare powder days (afternoons!), fresh tracks available everywhere with extraordinarily little competition off the piste.
  • No lift lines.
  • Several quality on-piste trails for beginner & intermediate skiers & snowboarders, plus a terrain park.
  • Fun off-piste freeride terrain, including a few steeper pitches for advanced/expert riders.
  • Ample, free, ski-out/ski-in parking right at the lifts.
  • Day lodge has facilities (microwave ovens etc) for picnickers (brown-baggers), there are lots of public toilets & a well-stocked ski & snowboard rental shop.
  • Friendly, easy-going ski area.

Cons

  • Short skiable vertical.
  • Relatively small amount of piste trails & off-piste terrain.
  • Snow often wind impacted.
  • No overnight accommodation.

Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)

  • Only a short drive from Reykjavik.
  • Opening hours are different to most ski area - late afternoons etc.
  • Only basic snacks available at the café, no real yum, interesting local food which is a shame.
  • Night skiing is big here but bloody cold! Skiing in the evening twilight is fantastic before the lights come on.
  • Can allegedly get a little busy some days on weekends, but it is fun meeting the locals!
  • Comparatively expensive lift pass, but we won’t begrudge them the cash AND it is all relative to the wonderful weirdness of the whole experience.

Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain

Whilst it will never match it with most of the world's ski resorts, Blafjoll does still provide some entertaining skiing & snowboarding, particularly if the snow conditions are fresh. The first thing to understand about skiing & snowboarding Blafjoll is that during the week, the lifts only run from early in the afternoon & into the night (2pm to 9pm for the main area, and 5pm to 8pm in the south area). On weekends it is a more civilised 10am to 5pm. Another thing is that the late afternoon light, as the sun hangs low on the horizon, is absolutely gorgeous in Iceland. And as the afternoon progresses, skiing in the evening arctic glow for the first time is a wonderful experience in and of itself.

We found the skiing to be fabulous on shallow off-piste powder & perfect groomers. However, talking to locals, they felt this was an aberration rather than the rule as the wind usually has a say in the snow-quality. As we found throughout Iceland, wind is certainly a factor in everything one doe during winter.

With only 15km of trails & a lofty(!) summit at 700m altitude and skiable vertical of just 240m (yes that’s 240), Blafjoll is never going to host the Winter Olympics. That said, it has some fun terrain. We enjoyed the steeper off-piste sections & noted broad swathes of untracked sidecountry terrain either side of, and behind, the resort area. In fact, we may have journeyed out and tracked some of it ourselves! A great lark indeed and we were able to ski back into the lift base without too much effort.

Check out the ski trail map for Bláfjöll below.

Blafjoll Ski Trail Map
Bláfjöll Ski Trail Map

As far as ski lifts go, there may be a total of 15 chairlifts, surface tows and conveyers, but unless one is a beginner, the entire ski area can be explored using just 3 lifts, with the main central chairlift the most important of the trio. We are not even sure if several of the more duplicitous lifts would ever even run...... Maybe if it was busy?

Where is Bláfjöll Iceland?

Bláfjöll is in south-west Iceland, propped out in the North Atlantic midway between Norway & Greenland. The ski-out ski-in car park at Blafjoll is located adjacent to the ski lifts in the volcanic hills 33km (30min) by road south-east of the central Reykjavik. Unless already in Iceland, the closest airport is Keflavik (KEF), 72km away by road. Flights from London to Keflavik take around 3¼hr.

The best way to get around the country & to the ski area is with a rental car direct from the airport. Pre-book an all-wheel drive vehicle with studded tyres; you'll understand why once you get there!

For more information on getting to & around the region, plus driving tips, see our Travel to Iceland page.

Blafjoll Accommodation

There is no accommodation at the ski area. We recommend staying in or near Reykjavik if skiing Blafjoll. It is a fun city with several great hotels, bars & restaurants down on the waterfront. The Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Marina is a wonderful, quirky hotel with a bespoke style perfect for its location. On the outskirts of the city in a quiet lakeside position, the Hotel Kriunes has wonderful accommodation & food, plus is only a few minutes’ drive from Blafjoll.

Search & book here for all Reykjavik accommodation.

Review

The Powderhounds reviewed Bláfjöll in March 2020. What we found was some fresh powder in a resort not known for it, an enthusiastic & friendly local crowd plus gorgeous late afternoon arctic light. Resort skiing is not a reason to visit Iceland, but we recommend skiing at Blafjoll for no other reason than to stretch the legs, get some exercise, feel the cold air in your lungs, chat to the locals & enjoy the evening light....... Who knows, you might even score some cheeky powder like we did! Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.

See how Blafjoll compares to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.

Follow Powderhounds Europe on Instagram to see where we are currently skiing. Follow our main Powderhounds page on Facebook to stay in touch with up-to-date info, tours, and discussions.

Tours in or near Bláfjöll

Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area Tours

Iceland Ski Touring
GUIDED BACKCOUNTRY SKI TOURING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 6 Ski Days
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Stay at Iceland’s famous Troll Peninsula & explore the multitudes of peaks & powder slopes down to the sea. With hot springs, fjords, & the northern lights, the land of fire & ice has a multitude of surprises to discover Join a fixed date tour as part of a mixed group.
Price p/p From price based on 7 nights in Iceland in a mixed group of 4 to 6 people.
Base/invoice currency is in EURO incl. taxes.
*Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 1,620
View Details
 
See all Single-Base, Multi-Ski-Area tours that visit Bláfjöll here

Heli Skiing Tours

©Dirk Collins
GUIDED HELISKIING | TROLL PENINSULA ICELAND
4 to 6 Day Packages or Fully Customised Tours
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Heliski the fabled Troll Peninsula with exclusive access to the longest runs & best summit to sea skiing in Iceland. Combine world class heli-skiing, with the Northern Lights, midnight sun, fjords, volcanic activity, hot springs, lava fields & a unique Viking culture for a true ski adventure experience.
Price p/p From price based on a 4-day heliskiing program, double occupancy accommodation.
Base/invoice currency is in EUR incl taxes.
USD 9,709
View Details
 
Magic of the Troll Peninsula Heliskiing Day Tour
GUIDED HELISKIING | TROLL PENINSULA ICELAND
Single Full Day Tour
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Spend a magic day heliskiing the Troll Peninsula in Iceland. The tour is all inclusive of helicopter time, guide, lunch, safety equipment, skis & après ski snacks. You can add extra days, staying in the Soti Lodge where all meals are included. Come as a solo or group and choose your best date (s).
Price p/p From price based on a 1-day heliskiing program with a minimum of 4 people in the helicopter
Base/invoice currency is in EUR, ISK or USD incl taxes.
USD 1,350
View Details
 
Summit Heliskiing Troll Peninsula Multi-Day Package
GUIDED HELISKIING | TROLL PENINSULA ICELAND
4 or 6 Days heliskiing | 4 or 6 Nights Lodging
Ability: Strong Intermediate to Expert
Treat yourself to 4, 6 or more days of incredible heliskiing on the Troll Peninsula in Iceland based at Soti Lodge. The tour is all inclusive of helicopter time, guide, all meals, overnight lodging, safety equipment, skis, airport transfers & more. Come as a solo or group & choose your best date (s) & duration.
Price p/p From price based on a 4-day heliskiing program (4 nights double occupancy lodging) with a minimum of 4 people in the helicopter
Base/invoice currency is in ISK & USD incl taxes.
USD 8,640
View Details
 
See all Heli Skiing tours that visit Bláfjöll here

Boat Skiing Tours

Iceland Ski and Sail
BOAT BASED GUIDED SKI TOURING
8 Days | 7 Nights | 5.5 Ski Days
Ability: Advanced to Expert
This trip is to the beautiful Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in the West Fjords of Iceland, close to the Arctic Circle. The focus is on backcountry skiing between the remote fjords, anchoring in a different harbour each night. Join the fixed date tour.
Price p/p Price based on 8 days/7 nights, twin share on a boat
Base invoice is $USD
Displayed price may vary due to currency fluctuations.
USD 6,800
View Details
 
See all Boat Skiing tours that visit Bláfjöll here
200