Iceland South Coast Travel Guide
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Planning a Trip to Iceland’s South Coast
Iceland’s south coast features some of Iceland’s most infamous spots & is a must see! It’s filled with wasterfalls, glaciers, stunning coastlines & more. You can either visit the highlights as a day trip from Reykjavik or take a few days to explore the South Coast.
If you’re visiting as a day trip from Reykjavik you have the option to either take a guided tour from Reykjavik or rent a car and explore at your own pace!
If you take a guided tour, you won’t be able to see all the stops (Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach are a bit too far for a day trip & Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River is not included on most day trips. That being said, a guided tour is super convenient, and you get to learn a ton from your tour guide.
On my first trip to Iceland I took a small guided tour and had a great experience. It’s a long day trip, but you get to see many of the highlights of the South Coast!
If you opt to rent your own car & want to see all the South Coast highlights, I recommend making it at least a two day itinerary and spending one night in Vik or some of the hotels a bit past Vik! Otherwise, there really is no way to see all the best spots in one day! See details below!
Jump To:
- South Coast Iceland Highlights
- Where to Stay on Iceland’s South Coast
- South Coast Iceland Itineraries
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Planning a trip to Iceland? See my fullIceland Travel Guide here.
Iceland South Coast Highlights
- Skogafoss Waterfall
- Reynisfjara Beach
- Solheimajokull Glacier
- Vik
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Diamond Beach
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
- Vestmannaeyjar (the Western islands)
- Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River
Skogafoss Waterfall
Stunning Skogafoss is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been in my life. This epic waterfall features a 200 foot drop and is over 80 feet wide.
This cascade became even more famous after being featured in Game of Thrones. It was featured in the scene where Jon first rides a dragon and him and Dany end up in front of a giant, icy waterfall.
Skogafoss is stunning in the winter, but if you can catch it on a sunny day you’ll be able to see a full rainbow. It was one of the most surreal things I’ve ever seen in my life.
If you have time to explore, you can take the short hike up to the top of the waterfall, but truthfully, I thought the views were better from the bottom where you can see the full height of the falls!
Try heading there earlier in the day to beat the tour busses and crowds.
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Reynisfjara Beach
Iceland’s infamous black sand beach, Reynisfjara, is another must-see on Iceland’s south coast. The black sand formed from volcanic rock, and the stunning basalt formations rising from the ocean make for epic coastal views.
Please be careful at this beach and do not get too close to the water. It is prone to rogue waves that can suddenly rise and crash 50-100 feet higher up the shore than previous waves. Make sure not to get too close to the water, and especially don’t turn your back near the water.
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Solheimajokull Glacier
Iceland is known for it’s glaciers, and Solheimajokull is one of the most popular given its location on Iceland’s south coast making it more accessible than some of the other glaciers in northern Iceland.
Many south coast of Iceland tours stop at Solheimajokull. You can hike in from the main parking area in about 15-20 minutes.
If you have more time to spend at Solheimajokull you can sign up for an activity like glacier hiking, there are tons of great tour options.
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Vik
Vik is a charming little coastal town located right near Reynisfjara. If you’re doing just a day trip from Reykjavik, Vik is a great place to stop and have lunch before heading back towards Reykjavik and your afternoon stops.
Before stopping for lunch, make sure to drive up to the viewpoint from the church. It’s just a few minutes from the small downtown area and offers stunning views over Reynisfjara & the basalt columns.
The town is sleepy, but quaint and a has a few nice restaurant/bar options:
If you’re planning a two day South Coast of Iceland itinerary Vik is a great stopping point to spend the night, find hotel options here!
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Ice Caves
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is a bit far from the rest of the South Coast of Iceland stops, but it’s well worth the trip if you have time to dedicate two days to exploring the South Coast! From Reykjavik it’s about a 5 hour drive
This stunning lagoon is the deepest lake in Iceland and is the best place to see Icelandic seals that flock to the area. The lagoon is created (and keeps growing) due the the melting of Iceland’s many glaciers.
While visiting the lagoon you can take a boat tour (April- October only) or visit the infamous ice caves (Nov-Mar only) I visited during March and we did an ice cave tour. It was stunning! The tour company will drive you up to the glacier where you’ll then hike the glacier (so cool) with crampons to a variety of Ice Caves. The caves were so, so stunning and unreal.
Tickets/Cost: Parking is free, as is viewing the lagoon. You’ll need to pay for an ice cave tour or boat tour!
Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is a stunning black sand beach that is famous for the iceberg fragments that drift onto the shore. It’s directly across from Glacier Lagoon, so worth a visit to do both in one trip.
On a sunny day at Breiðamerkursandur (or Diamond Beach) the iceberg fragments glisten and sparkle with the stunning backdrop of the Icelandic coastline. If you’re lucky you might see an Orca whale looking for seal!
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
Seljalandsfoss was hands down one of the most impressive things I’ve seen in my entire life! We got there about 30 minutes before sunset and watching the sun set over the Vestmannaeyjar from Seljalandsfoss was one of my favorite experiences in Iceland.
The stunning waterfall sits in a valley that offers stunning views of the cascade from either side. But, the coolest view is walking behind the waterfall! Be prepared to get soaked from the spray of the massive waterfall, but walking the path behind the falls is a can’t miss!
While you’re there, check out the “secret waterfall” Gljufrabui. It’s a short walk from Seljalandsfoss and is almost entirely hidden. You can find it by following the river flowing from the base of the falls out to the valley. You’ll have to walk across the rocks of the river into a small cavern where once it opens up you’ll see the tall stunning water fall, entirely impossible to see from outside the cavern.
Worth a hike in, but beware your feet will get wet!
Tickets/Cost: Entrance & parking is free
Vestmannaeyjar (the Western islands)
As you drive down the South Coast of Iceland you’ll see the stunning Vestmannaeyjar, also known as the Western Islands, most itineraries won’t have time to visit the islands (although it’s worth it if you have time to visit the Beluga whale sanctuary!)
That being said if you time your trip to Seljalandsfoss at sunset you’ll be treated to the most stunning sunset views over Vestmannaeyja!
Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River
The Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River was one of the top recommendations I consistently heard from some of the local Icelanders I met. You’ll need to do a bit of hiking to get to the river, but it’s not difficult to reach.
From the parking lot it’s about 3km, mostly uphill, so it can take about 45 minutes to get to the river. You’ll hike past many hot pools, brimming with steam that fills the valley. You have to be very careful not to go in any of these pools, they are actual boiling water and will cause injury.
Once you make it to the river you’ll know you’re safe to go in the water when you see groups of locals and tourists soaking in the warm water. The river is large, so you should have plenty of space.
There are two rivers that meet (the hot and cold river) the farther you get from the cold river, the warmer the water gets, it can be quite warm as you get farther from where the two rivers meet.
Tickets/Cost: Entrance is free, but you will need to pay for parking at the lot.
Where to Stay
If you’re planning on doing a multi-day trip to the South Coast (this would be my recommendation) you’ll want to spend at least one night on the South Coast.The area is not the most populated, so you definitely want to plan in advance. Vik is the only real town to stay in (still very small) but there are also some great hotels in between Vik and Glacier Lagoon that are good options as well!
Vik
Vik has the most hotel and accommodation options on the South Coast. It’s about 2 and half hours from Reykjavik and then another 2 and a half hours from Glacier Lagoon. My top two recommendations for hotels would be:
- Hótel Kría – this spot offers stunning mountain views, and on-site bar and restaurant and is only 5 minutes from the Black Sand Beach
- Hotel Vík í Mýrdal – another great option in Vik with an on-site bar & restaurants and Black Sand beach views
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
There’s a tiny town about an hour farther South than Vik (3 and a half hours from Reykjavik) that’s only about 90 minutes from Glacier Lagoon that has a few nice hotels. This is also a great place to see the Northern Lights because it’s super in the middle of nowhere and dark enough!
- Hotel Klaustur – I stayed here on my most recent trip, the hotel was clean, with a good restaurant/bar on site. My favorite perk was the Northern Lights wake up calls you could set! The lights unfortunately never came out when I was there!
- Magma Hotel – A stunning Nordic designed hotel with an on-site restaurant and amazing views
South Coast Iceland Itineraries
South Coast Iceland 2 Day Itinerary
If you have 2 days, this gives you the perfect amount of time to explore all of the highlights of Iceland South Coast.
Day 1:
- Reykjadalur Hot Spring Thermal River – start your day with a relaxing soak in the thermal river!
- Skogafoss Waterfall – head to Skogafoss early in the day and beat the crowds!
- Solheimajokull Glacier – explore one of Iceland’s glaciers!
- Reynisfjara Beach – visit the infamous Black Sand Beach
- Vik – spend the night in the charming town of Vik or Kirkjubæjarklaustur – see my hotel recommendations here!
Day 2:
- Diamond Beach & Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon – spend the first half of your day at the epic Diamond Beach and Glacier Lagoon
- Depending on the season do an epic ice cave tour at Jökulsárlón glacier (winter) or a boat tour on Galcier Lagoon (summer)
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – head to one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls for one of the most stunning sunsets in Iceland before heading back to Reykjavik
you’ll need 2 full days for this itinerary
South Coast Iceland 1 Day Itinerary
- Skogafoss Waterfall – head to Skogafoss early in the day and beat the crowds
- Reynisfjara Beach – visit the infamous Black Sand Beach
- Vik – head to the Vik viewpoint, then stop to grab lunch at lunch before heading back towards Reykjavik for your next stops.
- Solheimajokull Glacier – explore one of Iceland’s glaciers
- Seljalandsfoss Waterfall – head to one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls for one of the most stunning sunsets in Iceland before heading back to Reykjavik
you’ll need 8-10 hours for this itinerary
