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By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 17th June 2023 | Updated: 7th January 2024
South Iceland is the place to go for some of Iceland’s most visited attractions with the Golden Circle at the heart of the area, but that isn’t all the south has to offer… With glacier lagoons, cragged mountains, black sand beaches, and crashing waterfalls, this is the place to go if you want to experience Iceland for the first time.
The south of Iceland is also the best place to visit if you are short on time and want to see what Iceland is all about, (it’s where we visited on our first trip) With easy links to Reykjavík, you can explore the famous Golden Circle Route, Þingvellir National Park, and if you’re willing to go a bit further Vatnajökull National Park too. You may even see the famous puffins if you’re lucky!
📍 South Iceland Itinerary – Day 1: Vagnsstaðir, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, Svartifoss & Vík
📍 South Iceland Itinerary – Day 2: Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey, Sólheimajökull, Skógafoss, Seljalandfoss, & Gljúfrafoss
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide
South Iceland Itinerary Map
South Iceland Itinerary – Day 1: Vagnsstaðir, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach, Svartifoss & Vík
Starting in Vagnsstaðir, (continuing on from the East Iceland itinerary), head out on Route 1 into Vatnajökull National Park to the west all the way to Reykjavík. The first stop of the day is the famous Jökulsárlón just a short drive from Vagnsstaðir. This impressive glacial lake full of icebergs and seals is somewhere you really have to see to believe, from the shoreline to the surrounding cliffs, Jökulsárlón is stunning all around.
On the opposite side of Route 1 lies Diamond Beach, where all the icebergs that calve off the glacier in Jökulsárlón and end up floating into the sea and washing up in pieces back along the black sand coastline. After all the ice exploring the next destination is Skaftafellsjökull and Svartifoss. Just off Route 1 towards the mouth of the glacier, you will find a parking area with a stunning walk up to Svartifoss overlooking the scenery surrounding the area.
From Svartifoss head back to Route 1 and drive along to Vík, a remote seafront village with perfect access to some of the most beautiful black sand beaches in Iceland. The cliffs are also home to rather a few seabirds, including the wonderful puffins!
Be sure to get up above the village to Vík í Mýrdal Church for some of the best views over the area. Spend the night at Vík HI Hostel, before hitting the road towards Reykjavík again in the morning.
South Iceland Itinerary – Day 2: Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey, Sólheimajökull, Skógafoss, Seljalandfoss, & Gljúfrafoss
The first stop of the next day in south Iceland is Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey. From Route 1 head down Route 215 to Reynisfjara Beach to find the famous sea stacks, dramatic waves, and basalt column-sided black sand. Be warned we have visited this beach twice on two different trips to Iceland and both times it was thundering with rain!
The other end of the beach is Dyrhólaey, so head back the way you came towards Route 1 then turn off onto Route 218 to get to the headland of ‘Door Hill Island’. Not only has this headland got some impressive views over the coast of South Iceland but it is home to numerous nesting seabirds too.
From here head to Sólheimajökull where you can get a real feel for the Icelandic glaciers by getting up close and personal with it. Follow Route 221 from Route 1 to get to the parking area at the glacier then either go with a guide or walk out towards the glacier yourself.
Be sure to stay off the glacier, stick to the designated paths and be aware of any volcanic activity in the area before you visit.
Now for some real excitement to end the day in south Iceland. To the waterfalls of Skógafoss, Seljalandfoss, and Gljúfrafoss. All of these waterfalls are very accessible from Route 1, with dedicated parking at each, but each one has a very different feel…
Skógafoss is one you can climb up the side of and walk right to the bottom of, Seljalandfoss can be walked behind and Gljúfrafoss is hidden in between the rocks where you can only access it via the icy stream of water it lets flow.
After all that, let’s be honest, wet adventuring get back to Route 1, heading west to the capital. End the South Iceland itinerary, and the Iceland Ring Road back in Reykjavík. From here you can continue with our Reykjavik Itinerary.
Top Things to do in South Iceland
The south is home to few and far between towns and villages, but with so many natural wonders you barely notice! There are 4 major towns Selfoss, Hveragerði, Vestmannaeyjar, and Höfn but these are the places you can not miss out on:
1. Vík
A small but lively village, and the most southerly in Iceland, Vík is home to not only some incredible black sand beaches but puffins too! Overlooking the village is Vík í Mýrdal Church, which has quite possibly the best views over the area, even on a grey day! You can see the colourful rooftops of the town spreading towards Vík Beach and out to the Reynisdrangar Seastacks, which are key coastal landmarks in the area.
From this point onwards the crowds start getting bigger and the roads busier as you hit the Golden Circle Route and tourists doing trips from Reykjavík. But that shouldn’t stop you from visiting the landscapes that this area is so well known for.
2. Selfoss
Route 1 goes directly through the heart of Selfoss so you would be hard done by not to stop by. This large industrial town sits on the banks of the largest river in Iceland, Olfusá. It also has great links to the surrounding Golden Circle area, so Selfoss is a great place to base yourself if you don’t want to stay in Reykjavík.
3. The Golden Circle Route
More of a route than a destination, but if you have never been to Iceland and want a true taste of what the country has to offer all over then get yourself on to the Golden Circle Route. Running through the Þingvellir National Park, and stopping at a number of waterfalls and bubbling geysers it really is the best way to get to grips with what Iceland is all about.
4. Jökulsárlón & Diamond Beach
Jökulsárlón, or ‘Glaciers River Lagoon’, with its clear waters and bright blue icebergs floating and cracking on top is astounding to see. Rather than stopping in the main car park, stop in one of the designated parking lay-bys and walk through the rocky landscape until you come out above the lagoon. The views are so much more fulfilling with the calving glacier in the distance and the icebergs up close, and plus you are away from all the tour buses!
After visiting Jökulsárlón you should make a stop at Diamond Beach, it can be quite cold and windy, but it is oh so worth it! With crystal clear pieces of ice washing up with the waves from the lagoon onto a black sand beach, it creates a beach like no other!
5. Reynisfjara beach & Dyrhólaey
Reynisfjara Beach is quite possibly the most photographed black sand beach in Iceland, if not the world. With views out to the Reynisdrangar Sea stacks and to Dyrhólaey at the other end of the beach, you can embrace the wind and rain, (of which it does a lot in Vík!) and see the incredible basalt columns, that can be found throughout Iceland, lining the beach. Make sure you watch out for sneaker waves around here though, the seas around Iceland are harsh and you do not want to get dragged in.
At the other end of the beach lies Route 218 and Dyrhólaey, or ‘Door Hill Island’. Often home to lots of nesting seabirds, (including puffins!), the volcanic land is known for its arch that juts out into the North Atlantic. The area has an interesting history with submarines and volcanic explosions, and with incredible views over the south coast of Iceland, it is well worth a visit.
6. Sólheimajökull glacier
Sólheimajökull glacier tongue is a part of Mýrdalsjökull, the fourth largest glacier in Iceland, and is one of the most easily accessible glaciers tongues in South Iceland. Although global warming is making it retreat an Olympic size swimming pool each year it is magnificent to visit.
Situated between the volcanoes of Katla and Eijafjallajökkull, Sólheimajökull, and the surrounding area can be very dangerous to visit alone and unprepared. So check safetravel.is for any eruptions or earthquake activity, stick to the designated paths, and do not walk on the glacier unless with a guide.
Where to stay for your South Iceland itinerary
With 12 HI Hostels in South Iceland, you can have your pick of places to stay with HI Iceland. We stayed at Vagnsstaðir and Vík. If you want to book either of these hostels head to Hostelworld for the best rates.
Vagnsstaðir HI Hostel – The hostel at Vatnajökull National Park
Situated on Route 1
Open year-round
76 beds in dorms and private rooms
Parking on-site
Expansive views over the surrounding landscape of the national park
Free Wifi
Breakfast option
Vík HI Hostel – The hostel with village charm
Situated on Route 1
Open year-round
37 beds in dorms and private rooms
Parking on-site
Breakfast option, made from local Icelandic breakfast of moss, herbs, veg, and farm produce – including the eggs from the chickens at the hostel!
Discount at the restaurant down the road, Sudur, and with the local zip line activity.
Free Wifi
Computer access
Fancy extending your trip to East Iceland and visiting some of the other regions to see what they have to offer? Check out our posts on North Iceland, East Iceland, and West Iceland.
South Iceland Itinerary FAQs
Is South Iceland worth visiting?
South Iceland is the perfect place to visit either on a full Route 1 ring road trip or just a day trip or two from Reykjavík. With expansive black sand beaches, crashing waterfalls you can walk right up to, and home to so many puffins you won’t believe they’re puffins, south Iceland is well worth a visit too.
How to get to South Iceland?
The best way, and only way, to get to South Iceland is by car. South Iceland is one of the easiest regions in Iceland to get to from Reykjavik. The famous black sand beaches are roughly 110 miles from the capital so visiting for a day trip is very easy.
How to get around South Iceland?
We cover this much more in our 7 days exploring Iceland’s Ring Road post, but the best way by far to get around, especially if you are not planning on staying in Reykjavík, is by renting a car and driving.
From Reykjavík, you can however take numerous day trips out to South Iceland via tour guides so it saves you from having to drive at all if that is what you would rather. As this region is the area most visited by tourists after the capital, all the roads are really easy to drive without a gravel track insight.
Renting a car in South Iceland
Assuming, as per the above, you are driving to South Iceland then be sure to check out Rentalcars.com for the best vehicle rental deals for your trip. Your best bet is to pick up a rental car from Keflavik Airport when you arrive so you can either set off to South Iceland or drive into Reykjavik.
Where to eat in South Iceland
Iceland has some wonderful food to get your taste buds tingling. With local fish in pretty much every village, town, and city to try as well as seasonal delicacies. Be sure to stop by these places and try what they have to offer:
📍 Sudur in Vík for local Arctic Char, freshly caught from the local area.
📍 Gudni Bakkari in Selfoss for baked goods and massive sandwiches for the road.
When is the best time to visit South Iceland?
The ideal time for your trip depends on your preferences. If you’re seeking breathtaking hikes and the enchanting Midnight Sun, consider planning your visit between June and August. On the other hand, if witnessing the mesmerizing Northern Lights is your priority, the winter months from October to March are your best bet.
If a road trip is more your style, we suggest aiming for a shoulder season—a period between the peak of summer and the onset of winter.
Can you do the south coast of Iceland in one day?
You can definitely get a feel for the south coast of Iceland in one day, especially if you take a dedicated tour, however, you will only see a few of the highlights, not everything. To really see the south coast of Iceland you will need at least 3 days.
Is North Iceland or South Iceland better?
This question gets asked a lot, but there is honestly no comparison. Both North and South Iceland have their own unique differences and you should really visit both. We loved the isolated feel and relatively tourist-free locations in the north, but the waterfalls and black sand beaches in the south which are quite touristy are incredible to visit as well.
South Iceland Tours
South Iceland is one of the best locations to take tours from Reykjavik so check out and book these from Get Your Guide:
Conclusion: The Best South Iceland Itinerary & Top Things to do
That’s a whirlwind taste of what a South Iceland itinerary can bring you, from expansive black sand beaches, puffins galore, and too many waterfalls to count. So go book your own trip and make memories to last a lifetime!
Planning your own trip to South Iceland? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.