The Ultimate South Coast Iceland Travel Guide

Iceland’s South Coast is the most visually dense stretch of the entire country; waterfalls, black sand beaches, and glaciers show up in close succession, often within a few minutes of each other by car. If you only have time for one region outside Reykjavik, this is the one most people pick, and for good reason. Here’s our South Coast Iceland travel guide…

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If you’re planning a trip around Iceland’s South Coast, I’ll walk through everything: what you’ll actually pass along the route, how to get there, where to stay and how long to budget, where to find groceries and a decent meal along the way, and where the South Coast genuinely starts and stops, since that’s less settled than you’d think. When you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you have to make choices about what to see, and what not to see, unless you have a very long time here to visit. The South Coast is the one region where you’ll have the most choices to make.

What’s Along Iceland’s South Coast?

The core route known as Iceland’s South Coast runs from Seljalandsfoss to Skógafoss, then Reynisfjara, and Vík, which are all within about 2.5 hours of Reykjavik, with Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon further east for anyone continuing on. We viewed the South Coast as going as far as Höfn, as due to us booking accommodation late we ended up staying there (and I can highly recommend the Höfn Hotel!) We cover these properly in their own guides, our full breakdown of Iceland’s waterfalls and black sand beaches, so this is just the map of what’s here, not a deep dive into the individual attractions.

If you were to drive directly from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, no stops at all, you could get there in around 4 to 5 hours. It’s a distance of 380 kilometers (236 miles), and remember, the maximum speed you’re allowed here in Iceland is 90 kilometers an hour, so this isn’t a road you can rush. Read more about that in my guide to driving in Iceland.

So if you’re considering trying to do all of this in a single day trip, self-driving, and returning to Reykjavik, you’ll have around 10 hours of driving before you see anything. Or eat. Or take a bathroom break. I don’t recommend it!

There are a few smaller stops outside of the main attractions worth knowing about along the way too. And these were my favorite. The smaller, named, fewer-peopled locations, and I’ll make sure I call them out.

Key Stops on Iceland’s South Coast

Here’s every stop worth knowing about along the way, run west to east, roughly in the order you’ll actually reach them if you’re driving out from Reykjavik.

Reykjadalur (aka “Steam Valley”)

Reykjadalur means “Steam Valley,” and it’s exactly that, a geothermal valley near Hveragerði, about 40 minutes southeast of Reykjavik, where a hot river runs down through the hillside, and you can bathe in it, for free. It’s a genuine detour off the South Coast route proper, but it’s close enough to Reykjavik that it’s worth doing on your way out.

From the parking area, it’s a hike of about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) uphill to reach the first bathing spots, and the water temperature changes depending on where you get in, so walk up and down a little until you find a stretch that suits you. There’s more on the Hot River of Reykjadalur in my guide to hot springs and lagoons here.

The hike up takes about an hour and slightly less on the way back down. There are no facilities, other than a boardwalk and some boarded-off changing areas, so take water and snacks with you, as well as your swimmers and towel if you’re going in the water.

If you don’t want to walk, then you can always cycle or join a horse riding tour here.

• How to get to Reykjadalur: Take Route 1 out of Reykjavik and head southeast. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the town of Hveragerði. At the first roundabout, take the 3rd exit (left) and follow the road towards the Reykjadalur valley. You’ll soon be at the parking area, which marks the start of your hike up the valley.
• How long do you need at Reykjadalur: Expect to spend 2 hours minimum here, more if you soak in the hot river.
• Reykjadalur Entry: Free, open year-round
• Reykjadalur Parking: Parking for the Hot River at Reykjadalur costs 300 ISK, pay via kiosk or Parka app.

The Hveragerði Geothermal Park

The Hveragerði Geothermal Park sits right in the middle of town, and it’s worth the short detour even if you’re only passing through Hveragerði on your way to Reykjadalur. Walking trails wind past steaming vents, hot springs, and small geysers, with signage in several languages explaining the geothermal history, including how a 2008 earthquake changed the landscape and dried up some of the springs you’ll pass along the way.

The real fun is hands-on. There’s a small mud bath and a geothermal spring you can dip your hands and feet into, and a café selling hverabrauð, a dense, slightly sweet rye bread that’s actually baked underground using geothermal heat. We boiled our own egg in the hot spring water, ate it alongside a slice of the geothermally baked bread, and sat next to a banana tree in one of the nearby greenhouses. It’s a genuine delight, and one of those small, strange Icelandic experiences that sticks with you.

Hveragerði itself earns its nickname, “Hot Spring Town” (or, less charmingly, “Earthquake Town,” thanks to the seismic activity that comes with sitting on top of the Hengill volcanic area), and the town’s greenhouses use that same geothermal heat to grow produce that has no business growing this far north.

• How to get to the Hveragerði Geothermal Park: Just off the Ring Road in Hveragerði, about 850 meters from the junction, with parking right outside.
• How long to spend at the Hveragerði Geothermal Park: 45 minutes, including boiling your egg, eating it with the geothermally baked bread, and exploring the park.
• Hveragerði Geothermal Park Entry: Small entrance fee, no advance tickets needed. Extra charges apply for refreshments and boiling your own egg.
• Hveragerði Geothermal Park Parking: Free outside on the road.

The Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel

Raufarhólshellir is the fourth longest lava tunnel in Iceland at around 1,370 meters (4,500 feet) long, and it’s an easy add-on if you’re heading out from Reykjavik this way. Don’t worry about it feeling claustrophobic; the tunnel is surprisingly spacious, up to 10 meters (33 feet) high and a minimum of 10 meters (33 feet) wide.

Guided tours here kit you out with a helmet and a light, and in winter you’ll find ice formations inside the tunnel as well as the usual colorful, twisted rock.

• How to get to Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel: Take Route 1 from Reykjavik to the southeast, then take Route 39; the lava tunnel is signposted.
• How long to spend at the Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel: 1-3 hours depending on the tour you select.
• Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Entry: Entrance is strictly by guided tour. There may be some availability if you turn up on spec, but in high season this is rare.
• Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel Parking: Free on-site parking

Seljalandsfoss

This 60 meter (197 feet) waterfall is popular with tour groups, as you can walk behind the waterfall. It’s generally viewed as the first iconic stop on the South Coast. It’s a 1.9 kilometer (1.2 mile) circular walk to explore the area. The water comes from the Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, which was made famous in 2010 when the volcanic eruption grounded European air traffic.

Fun fact: I was in Edinburgh, Scotland on business at the time, and couldn’t fly home, so managed to snag one of the last seats on a southbound train and was in the carriage with the ex-Director General of MI5 (and her security staff). She’d been speaking at an event that I was also speaking at!

After you’ve checked out the view from behind Seljalandsfoss, you can hike a further 9-10 minutes up to Gljúfrabúi. It’s a small falls hidden inside a gorge. And yes, you’re likely to have fewer visitors there.

• How to get to Seljalandsfoss: 90 kilometers (56 miles) east of Selfoss on Route 1. Turn left onto Route 249 after crossing the bridge over the Markarfljót river.
• How long to spend at Seljalandsfoss: 45-60 minutes, longer if there is a line to go behind the waterfall.
• Seljalandsfoss Entry: Free, open year-round
• Seljalandsfoss Parking: 900 ISK payable via kiosk or checkit.is.

Seljavallalaug Outdoor Pool

Just 23 kilometers (14.3 miles) east of Seljalandsfoss, tucked into a quiet valley off the main route, is Seljavallalaug, one of Iceland’s oldest swimming pools, built in 1923. It was actually Iceland’s largest pool, 10 meters (32.8 feet) wide and 25 meters (82 feet) long, up until 1936.

Seljavallalaug is free to use, which is the main draw, but you’ll need to go in with the right expectations. The water is fed by a trickle from the mountainside forming one of the pool’s walls, so it’s lukewarm at best, and there are no showers on-site, just a small house where you can shelter and change. There’s also usually green algae in the pool. Take your rubbish with you; there’s no one collecting it for you here.

• How to get to Seljavallalaug Outdoor Pool: Turn onto Road 242 off the Ring Road, then walk 15-20 minutes from the parking area
• How long to spend at Seljavallalaug Outdoor Pool: 40 minutes + however long you spend in the pool.
• Seljavallalaug Outdoor Pool Entry: Free
• Seljavallalaug Outdoor Pool Parking: 1,000 ISK, payable via Easypark

Skógafoss

Skógafoss comes with a fabulous legend. There’s a chest of Viking gold supposedly hidden in a cave behind the falls, which has never conclusively been found (or so the story goes), so you know, it might be worth visiting for that reason alone… At 60 meters (197 feet) high and 15 meters (49 feet) wide, it’s one of the biggest waterfalls on the whole route, and you can walk right up to where the water crashes into the river below, so bring something waterproof. There are stones across the river, so you can slip and slide into the middle if you wish. We did. It’s fun. Then you can take a photo with no one in front of you.

There’s also a metal staircase up the side if you want the view from the top too, though in winter it’s often snowed over and best skipped. It’s a nice bit of exercise to get to the top and good views up there on a clear day. Because Skógafoss is just a short distance from Seljalandsfoss, the two get paired together in pretty much every South Coast guide, this one included.

• How to get to Skógafoss: Skógafoss is just off Route 1, and it’s well signposted. It’s about 2.5 hours drive from Reykjavik.
• How long to spend at Skógafoss: 35-45 minutes, including walking up to the top and going to the middle of the river.
• Skógafoss Entry: Free, open year-round
• Skógafoss Parking: 1,000 ISK, payable by kiosk or Parka App

Kvernufoss

Kvernufoss is my favorite waterfall in Iceland, and I’d bet most visitors driving straight past on the Ring Road have never heard of it. You can leave your car in the Skógafoss parking lot and walk, but it’ll take about 20-30 minutes to get to the start of the hike, or drive on over to the Skógar Museum and pay the parking fee there instead.

Kvernufoss is hidden in its own little gorge, and you get nowhere near the crowds that show up next door. It’s a short, 10-15 minute (easy) hike from the parking area at the museum. Don’t forget to shut the gate; there are Icelandic sheep usually grazing here. Walk up the side of the stream that runs down from the waterfall, follow it around and, getting slightly damp, go behind the waterfall. It’s hopefully as gloriously empty here as it was when we visited.

• How to get to Kvernufoss: After leaving Skógafoss, take a left and drive to the Skógar Museum; it’s signposted. Parking is outside there.
• How long to spend at Kvernufoss: 30-40 minutes including hiking to and from the parking area at the Skógar Museum.
• Kvernufoss Entry: Free
• Kvernufoss Parking: 750 ISK, payable via Parka app only. No kiosk here.

The DC-3 Airplane Wreck, Eyvindarholt

This DC-3 has had a stranger life than the more famous wreck down the road, which I’ll detail in a moment. It first flew back in 1944, then spent the 1960s working for the US Navy out of the Keflavík base, mostly ferrying people and supplies up to a radar station on Heiðarfjall, near Þórshöfn in the northeast, a genuinely remote posting.

On July 25, 1969, on a clear summer day, it landed on a gravel airstrip by the farm at Sauðanes and veered off the runway while braking, clipping a pile of driftwood and breaking a wheel. All four people on board walked away unhurt, but the plane wasn’t worth repairing or hauling back to Keflavík, so it got towed aside and left in a field, where it spent the next few decades as a windbreak for the farm’s sheep and horses, and an unofficial playground for the farm kids.

It only moved again recently. The farmers at Sauðanes, Ágúst and Steinunn, agreed to hand the wreck over to Tómas, who owns Eyvindarholt and wanted a viewing point on his land looking out toward Stóra-Dímon and Tindfjallajökull. Getting it there meant trucking the fuselage 716 kilometers (444 miles) across the country, which is a fairly wild fact to sit with next time you’re standing next to it.

• How to get to the Eyvindarholt DC-3 wreck: Take the turn off from Route 1 for Route 248/Markarvegur, for Eyvindarholt, and then drive around 15 kilometers (9 miles). The plane is about a 2-minute walk from the parking lot.
• How long to spend at the Eyvindarholt DC-3 wreck: 15 minutes
• Eyvindarholt DC-3 wreck Entry: Free, open all year.
• Eyvindarholt DC-3 wreck Parking: 1,000 ISK, payable via the Parka app

The DC-3 Plane Wreck in Sólheimasandur

This one’s the famous one. A US Navy DC-3 made an emergency landing on the black sand at Sólheimasandur in 1973, after the pilot switched to the wrong fuel tank and thought he’d run dry. Everyone on board survived; the plane didn’t, and it’s sat there, stripped and rusting, ever since, doorway on the right-hand side as you approach from the road.

It’s not visible from the Ring Road, and driving personal vehicles there is banned outright now, not just discouraged; the sand nearby is soft enough to get a rental car properly stuck in, and years of people trying anyway chewed up the fragile vegetation around it. That leaves you two options: walk it yourself, about an hour each way from the parking area, or join an ATV tour or shuttle tour. I wouldn’t attempt the walk in winter or bad weather.

• How to get to the Sólheimasandur DC-3 wreck: A 9-10 minute drive on Route 1 from Kvernufoss/Skógafoss. Park in the designated parking space, and then it’s about a 1-hour walk each way from the parking area, or ATV tour/shuttle.
• How long to spend at the Sólheimasandur DC-3 wreck: 2.5 hours, including an hour’s walk each way from the parking area.
• Sólheimasandur DC-3 wreck Entry: Free
• Sólheimasandur DC-3 wreck Parking: 750 ISK payable by kiosk or Parka app.

The Sólheimajökull Glacier

Sólheimajökull is a glacier tongue that’s part of the larger Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and it sits above the subglacial volcano Katla, which last erupted back in 1918. It’s one of the most popular glaciers on the South Coast for a hike, and for good reason; it’s an easy detour off the Ring Road down a short gravel road. The hike up to the glacier tongue from the parking area is easy.

You can’t hike on the ice without a certified guide, and that’s not a rule to argue with; crevasses are invisible under snow, and only someone who knows the glacier will know which parts are safe. You’ll be kitted out with crampons and an ice axe on any proper tour. If hiking isn’t your thing, there’s still a 15-minute walk from the parking lot to the edge of the glacier tongue. It’s worth doing just for the view.

• How to get to Sólheimajökull Glacier: Short drive down a gravel road off the Ring Road, signposted.
• How long to spend at Sólheimajökull Glacier: 45 minutes including walking back and forth from the parking area. Longer if you take a guided hike.
• Sólheimajökull Glacier Entry: Free to view; guided hikes are paid
• Sólheimajökull Glacier Parking: 750 ISK pay at the kiosk or via the Parka app

The Dyrhólaey Peninsula

Dyrhólaey used to be its own volcanic island, separate from the mainland, before it connected up to become the peninsula it is today. There’s a huge rock arch here, plus a lighthouse, and views that stretch to Mýrdalsjökull to the north and Reynisdrangar to the east.

It’s also a bird nesting site, and puffins are the most famous resident here, so parts of it close off in May and June to leave the birds alone, puffins included. In 2026, the site is closed from 19:00 until 09:00, so the puffins can have a bit of peace and quiet. You should read my guide to puffins in Iceland here before visiting.

Keep an eye out for the Arctic Tern too; it will dive-bomb you without hesitation if it thinks you’re too close to its nest.

There are two parking areas here at Dyrhólaey, the upper and lower ones. Your parking payment (see below) covers you for both areas, and there are kiosks at both. If it’s windy, then the weather here is brutally cold; take layers. You can walk between the two areas as well, not just drive, if the weather is pleasant.

At the top, you can see the arch, the lighthouse, and have a glorious view of the black sand beach back towards the west.

The puffins are found at the lower area. If you’re visiting the lighthouse first, you can park at the top and walk down, or take the car and park at the lower area, then walk towards the coast. You might be tempted to stop at the first group of people you see photographing puffins; keep going, most don’t, and so you’ll get a bit more peace, quiet, and puffin experience.

• How to get to Dyrhólaey: Just 20 minutes west of Vík, on Route 1, you’ll turn onto Road 218 (Dyrhólavegur) and follow it to the lower car park. On the way, a steep gravel road leads to the upper parking area.
• How long to spend at Dyrhólaey: We spent 90 minutes and visited the upper and lower areas. Most of that time was spent watching the puffins, although we also had a picnic (in the car, it was cold!) lunch too.
• Dyrhólaey Entry: Free
• Dyrhólaey Parking: 750 ISK payable via kiosk at either lower or upper parking area or via Parka app.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Reynisfjara comes with a particular safety note. Its sneaker waves are probably just as famous as the beach itself; these sudden, unpredictable surges that can reach much further up the beach than they look like they will have caused real injuries and at least one tourist death. Stay well back from the waterline regardless of how calm it looks, and take posted warnings seriously. It is also worth knowing that the beach experienced significant erosion in February 2026, and higher sea levels mean parts of it are now inaccessible, so don’t be surprised if it looks different from older photos or guides.

Beyond the safety side, this is a genuinely beautiful beach; hexagonal basalt columns line one end (that’s the end where the parking area is), and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rise out of the water just offshore, said locally to be trolls turned to stone by the sunrise mid-heist, trying to drag a ship to shore. National Geographic named it one of the world’s top 10 non-tropical beaches back in 1991, and it still earns that.

• How to get to Reynisfjara Beach: It’s just 6 kilometers (4 miles) from Route 1; take the exit marked Route 215.
• How long to spend at Reynisfjara Beach: 45 minutes-1 hour.
• Reynisfjara Beach Entry: Free
• Reynisfjara Beach Parking: 1,000 ISK pay via kiosk or Parka app

Gígjagjá aka the Yoda Cave

Gígjagjá has picked up the nickname “the Yoda Cave,” and once you see it, you won’t be able to unsee why; the entrance genuinely does resemble a certain green Jedi Master. It sits at the base of Hjörleifshöfði, a 221-meter (725 feet) volcanic hill rising out of the flat black sands of Mýrdalssandur near Vík, and it’s become one of those stops people detour for purely for the photo.

• How to get to Gígjagjá: Continue on Route 1 for 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) past Vik. Take the turn for Hjörleifshöfði and drive a further 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) until you reach the parking area.
• How long to spend at Gígjagjá:   15 minutes, photo opportunity after parking.
• Gígjagjá Entry: Free
• Gígjagjá Parking: 1150 ISK, pay via the Easypark app or via the QR code on site.

Laufskálavarða Lava Field

Laufskálavarða is a lava ridge just off the Ring Road, on the site of a farm that was destroyed by a volcanic eruption centuries ago. For just as long, first-time travelers crossing the black sands of Mýrdalssandur have stacked a small cairn here for good luck on the journey ahead, and the ridge is now covered in hundreds of them.

It’s worth knowing before you’re tempted to add your own: building new cairns is generally discouraged now; the surrounding lava field is covered in extremely slow-growing moss that doesn’t take kindly to being walked on or stacked with rocks.  Only walk on the marked trails; don’t go off them, this moss takes centuries to establish itself.

• How to get to Laufskálavarða: 39 kilometers (24 miles) further on Route 1 from Vik.  There’s a toilet block here and a viewing point that you can climb up to. Here’s the map link
• How long to spend at Laufskálavarða:  15 minutes – stretch your legs and check out the moss.
• Laufskálavarða Entry: Free
• Laufskálavarða Parking: Free parking.

The Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, with its steep, winding walls, is a short detour off the ring road further east from Vik, viewed from a path above rather than inside, since entering the canyon itself is no longer allowed. The canyon is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long and drops around 100 meters (328 feet) deep, cut by the river Fjaðrá through palagonite bedrock that dates back roughly 2 million years, to the last Ice Age.

You can opt for a short walk from the main viewpoint parking area.  It’s a flat path to the vantage point.  If you want to take the longer hike, then park at the lower parking area and hike up the canyon from there.  It’s about a 30-minute hike.

And yes, it’s every bit as unpronounceable as it looks, roughly “FYATH-rar-glyu-fur,” if that helps at all. Stick to the marked path; stepping off it damages the moss that’s taken thousands of years to establish.

You might recognize the Canyon as it’s appeared in both the Game of Thrones series and Justin Bieber’s music video “I’ll Show You.”  

It’s entirely possible to visit the canyon yourself, but if you’d prefer a tour, then this is a good option that includes access to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.

• How to get to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon: Continue on Route 1 from Vik for about 50 minutes.  There are two access points to the canyon, one near the base of the canyon and one near the main viewpoint.
• How long to spend at the Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon:  About 60 minutes.
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Entry: Free
• Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon Parking: 1000 ISK payable via kiosk or Parka app

The Skeiðará Bridge Monument

In November 1996, an eruption under Vatnajökull triggered a jökulhlaup (a glacial outburst flood) that tore across Skeiðarársandur and took out Skeiðará Bridge, at the time the longest bridge in Iceland at around 900 meters (2,950 feet). What’s left is a couple of the bridge’s steel girders, twisted by the force of the water and ice into shapes that look almost deliberate, left in place as a monument right where the bridge used to stand.

• How to get to the Skeiðará Bridge Monument: Roadside stop on Route 1 at Skeiðarársandur – map link
• How long to spend at the Skeiðará Bridge Monument: 5-minute photo stop.
• Skeiðará Bridge Monument Entry: Free
• Skeiðará Bridge Monument Parking: Free Parking

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Skaftafell sits in the Öræfi region of southeast Iceland, and it was actually its own national park before it got folded into the much larger Vatnajökull National Park in 2008. People have lived here since Iceland was first settled, but the 1362 eruption of Öræfajökull wiped the community out entirely, which is where the region gets its name; Öræfi means “the wasteland.”

Today it’s known for Iceland’s tallest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, and its tallest waterfall, Morsárfoss, plus a striking contrast between green, birch-covered ground right up against the vast Vatnajökull glacier. Most people come for the glacier hikes, but it’s also just a good place to stop; there’s a campsite, a visitor center, and a proper café.  The visitor center is the place to start your visit, and this is where guided tours of Skaftafell start.

You can check out the visitor center here and see the range of walks that you can take, as well as the famous Svartifoss (the waterfall backed by dark, hexagonal basalt columns that inspired the design of Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavik, according to the story most guides tell). It’s one of the more photogenic short walks on the whole South Coast.

The hike to the famous waterfall takes about 45 minutes (it’s 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) each way, and you’ll pass several other waterfalls on the way: Þjófafoss (Thieves’ Fall), Hundafoss (Dogs’ Fall) and Magnúsarfoss (The Falls of Magnús).

• How to get to Skaftafell: Take the turn-off from Route one, and the gravel road to the visitor center.   map link
• How long to spend at Skaftafell: It depends on what hikes you want to do.  You can hike to Svartifoss in 90 minutes (there and back)
• Skaftafell Entry: Free to enter the reserve; guided hikes are paid
• Skaftafell Parking: 1110 ISK payable via kiosk or Parka app

Svínafellsjökull Glacier

Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier off Vatnajökull, around 8 kilometers (5 miles) long and 800 meters (2,625 feet) wide, sitting right next to Skaftafell. It’s genuinely one of the easiest glaciers on the whole route to get close to; the access point sits just off the Ring Road, and you can walk right up to the foot of it without a guide, dramatic ice formations and all.

If you want to actually get on the ice or into a blue ice cave, that’s guide-and-crampons territory, same as everywhere else on this coast, but simply pulling in for the view and hiking to the tongue of the glacier and the lagoon below it costs nothing and takes 30 minutes or so

This was a favorite spot for me on Iceland’s South Coast.  There was hardly anyone here.  And you could walk right up to the water and the glacier.  There was nothing (apart from common sense) stopping us from walking onto the glacier.

• How to get to Svínafellsjökull: There is a short gravel access road just off Route 1, near Skaftafell. map link
• How long to spend at Svínafellsjökull: 30-45 minutes, including a short walk to and from the glacier.
• Svínafellsjökull Entry: Free to view and access
• Svínafellsjökull Parking: Free to park

Hof Church

Hofskirkja, in the Öræfi region, was built in the mid-1950s and is the last turf church ever built in Iceland in the old style. There are only half a dozen turf churches left standing in the country, and this is the youngest of them. It’s small, genuinely photogenic, and usually closed, though there’s a window you can peer through to see inside.

The church walls are made of rock, the roof of stone slabs covered with turf. There has been a church on this site since 1343, though the current building was built in the mid-1950s and reconsecrated in 1954. It was built by a carpenter, Páll Pálsson, and dedicated to St. Clement (this goes back to when Iceland was Catholic).

There’s a water tub outside where the blacksmith, Þorsteinn Gissurarson, from Hof, cooled his tools. He made the hinges and locks for the church.

• How to get to Hof Church: Just off Route 1 in the Öræfi region.  After leaving Svínafellsjökull, continue along Route 1 for just under 15 kilometers (9 miles) and then turn left onto Hofsvegur/Litla-Hof. Hof Church is 500 meters (1,640 feet) along the road.  You can’t miss it.
• How long to spend at Hof Church:  10 minutes; it’s a photo stop.
• Hof Church Entry: Free to view from outside
• Hof Church Parking: Free

Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon

You’ll find Fjallsárlón just before the much more famous Jökulsárlón, at the base of Fjallsjökull, another outlet of Vatnajökull, and it’s smaller and noticeably calmer than its more famous neighbor. Zodiac boat tours and kayaking trips run right through the icebergs here, and honestly, if Jökulsárlón feels swamped with tour buses when you arrive, this is the quieter alternative worth knowing about and visiting instead.

Fjallsárlón is much smaller than Jökulsárlón; it feels as though you can get a whole lot closer to the lagoon and the glacier itself. If you’re looking for unique Icelandic experiences, then Fjallsárlón is a great place to come.  This ice floating experience is like nothing you’ve ever done before.

And, because the water from the lagoon at Fjallsárlón has no direct connection to the ocean, it’s more technically correct to call the water here a glacial lake. The water here is also different, as it doesn’t mix with salt water; it’s a different color. Darker, not bright blue.

• How to get to Fjallsárlón: Short detour off Route 1, just before Jökulsárlón. 
• How long to spend at Fjallsárlón: 30 minutes to an hour depending on how far you want to walk.
• Fjallsárlón Entry: Free to view from the shore; boat tours are paid
• Fjallsárlón Parking: Free

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

This is the big one, the most famous glacier lagoon in Iceland. Jökulsárlón is also Iceland’s deepest lagoon, reaching 248 meters (814 feet) down in places. It only started forming around 1934-1935, and thanks to the glacier constantly calving new icebergs into it, combined with a warming climate, it’s grown to about four times its original size since the 1970s.

As such, it’s a popular place. And it’s high on everyone’s list to see. Along with the neighboring Diamond Beach.

Depending on the time of day that you visit, it’s going to be busy here.  We arrived for the first time at around 19:15 in mid-summer.  And it was gloriously quiet.  Freezing cold, but gloriously quiet.  Now you can either drive right to the parking area after the glacial lake outflow and opposite Diamond Beach, but I recommend you stop before there.

There’s a small parking area before that – it’s here. The parking is free here. And there are two trails (that meet up) that lead off from here. You can walk alongside the lagoon. And it is magical. It’s flat. And easy. And I’ll mention it again. Free to park here.

However, if you want to get out onto the ice or the lagoon, then you’ll need to pay. And trips up to the glacier are spectacular. In summer you can take a boat tour out among the icebergs, and in winter this is where most of Iceland’s best ice cave tours depart from. Both the Western and Eastern ice caves are reachable from here. It’s earned its nickname as the “Crown Jewel of Iceland,” and honestly, it’s one of the few places on this route where the hype is fully deserved.

• How to get to Jökulsárlón: Directly accessed off Route 1, Jökulsárlón is 375 kilometers (233 miles) from Reykjavik, or, if you’re coming from Höfn, it’s just 66 kilometers (41 miles).
• Jökulsárlón Entry: Free to view from the shore; boat/ice cave tours are paid
• Jökulsárlón Parking: Free at this location. Otherwise, the main parking (opposite Diamond Beach) costs 1110 ISK payable via kiosk or Parka app.

Diamond Beach

Just a five-minute walk from Jökulsárlón – it means crossing the main Route 1, Diamond Beach is where the icebergs that break off the lagoon wash up on the black volcanic sand, and it’s every bit the photo opportunity you’ve seen online; the contrast between shimmering ice and jet-black sand genuinely doesn’t get old.

Timing your visit here is key. That’s because you have a much better chance of seeing the gleaming ice berg chunks on the black sand beach at low tide. You can check the tide times here. Iceland has a huge tidal range, and it really does make a big difference.

As the tide goes out, more pieces of ice float out of the Jökulsárlón lagoon and sit on the black sand. The best time to see them is about an hour after low tide.

Your view at high tide will be different as the surf from the incoming tide pushes the larger bergs out into deeper water, leaving the beach rather sparsely populated.

If the weather and water are rough, then take care on the beach.  Stay away from the bergs, never climb on them, and keep your eye on the incoming water.

• How to get to Diamond Beach: A five-minute walk from  Jökulsárlón, opposite and across Route 1.
• Diamond Beach Entry: Free
• Diamond Beach Parking: 1110 ISK payable via kiosk or Parka app

How to Get to the South Coast

From Reykjavik, Route 1 takes you to Vík in about 2.5 hours. Continuing on to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon adds considerably more, roughly 4 to 4.5 hours one-way, around 380 kilometers, so a round trip in a single day is a genuinely long one, closer to 9 hours of driving alone.

No 4×4 is required for the core South Coast route, certainly in summer weather. The roads are paved and well-maintained year-round, though winter conditions call for more caution and a slower pace regardless of what you’re driving.

Where to Stay to Explore the South Coast

We started our own South Coast trip at Hellishólar Cottages, after exploring the Golden Circle, and then, because of a lack of available accommodation further along the route, we had some hard decisions to make, since our next booking was in Hotel Höfn.

There are big gaps in where you can find accommodation along this stretch of Route 1, and you’ll understand why the moment you get here, massive old lava flows swallow up huge sections of the map. So where you stay generally comes down to your budget and how far in advance you managed to book. Here are the places we’d point you toward:

• Hellishólar Cottages — A cluster of simple, self-contained cottages near Hvolsvöllur, handy for an early start on Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss without needing to base yourself in Vík itself. Check availability and book here.
• Vík Apartments — Straightforward self-catering apartments right in Vík, useful if you want a kitchen and don’t need anything fancy after a long day on the road. See rates and book your stay here.
• Hotel Laki — Sitting near Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, this is a good option for breaking up the drive between Vík and the glacier lagoons further east. Check availability and book here.
• Hótel Jökulsárlón — About as close as you’ll get to the glacier lagoon itself, ideal if you want to catch it at sunrise or sunset without the crowds of a day-trip bus. Book your stay here.
• Hotel Höfn — A solid base in Höfn itself, useful if you’re pushing on toward East Iceland or just want a proper town with restaurants after several days on the road. Check availability and book here.

Vík is the obvious base for the core route, small, central, and close to Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey. Hvolsvöllur, a bit further west, works well too, particularly if Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss are your priority. If you’re continuing on to Jökulsárlón or beyond, Höfn makes a sensible second base rather than trying to cover the whole stretch from one hotel.

How Long to Visit the South Coast

How long you need really depends on where you consider the South Coast to end, and that’s a matter of some debate. The core South Coast, Reykjavik to Vík, covers the classic waterfalls and Reynisfjara, and can be done in a long single day or spread comfortably over two. The extended South Coast, continuing through to Jökulsárlón and even as far as Höfn, is a different trip entirely, and deserves 2 to 3 days minimum if you want to actually enjoy it rather than just drive past everything.

The first thing to do is figure out what you want to see on the South Coast of Iceland, and then book your accommodation around that. We left it too late to book accommodation within our budget, and had to make some serious decisions about what to see and what not to see. We had an extremely long day, but managed to check out the key attractions on our list.

Grocery Shopping on the South Coast

Options for grocery shopping are much fewer once you’re past Vík. Kirkjubæjarklaustur, often just called “Klaustur,” is the one stop with a proper supermarket and fuel station between Vík and Höfn, worth timing a stop around if you’re self-catering or just need to restock. If you’re self-catering on this route, then you’ll want to have some key staples purchased before you head out. Check out our quick and easy recipes to make in Iceland for self-caterers.

We stocked up in Vík at the Kronan store (here’s the map link).

Food & Drink Options on the South Coast

Eating well along the South Coast takes a little planning; options thin out fast the further east you go, so here’s where to focus.

Vík has the black crust pizza at the local pizzeria, the only place in Iceland to get this, and worth the stop on its own.

Höfn calls itself Iceland’s lobster capital; langoustine, a small lobster species where only the tails are eaten, shows up on menus all over town, as soup, in a burger, or simply with garlic butter. If you make it that far east, it’s worth planning a meal around your visit – I’d recommend the Otto Matur & Drykkur restaurant.

FAQs on the South Coast of Iceland

Got questions about traveling Iceland’s South Coast? Here are some quick answers to the questions we hear most about the South Coast.

Can you do Iceland’s South Coast in one day?

The core route, Reykjavik to Vík and back, yes, can be done as a long day. If you’re planning on extending your trip to Jökulsárlón and back in a single day, well, yes, this is possible, but it will be seriously tiring, closer to 9 hours of driving alone, and it doesn’t leave much time to actually enjoy the stops.

Where does Iceland’s South Coast end, Vík or Jökulsárlón?

Genuinely, it depends who you ask. We’d call Vík the end of the “core” South Coast and Jökulsárlón (or even Höfn) the end of the “extended” version; both are commonly used, so check what a specific tour or guide means before assuming.  Because of our poor accommodation booking planning, for us Höfn was the end of our South Coast of Iceland explorations, but not the end of our trip!

Is the South Coast of Iceland safe to drive in winter?

Yes, with the right precautions, you can drive Iceland’s South Coast in winter. The roads are maintained year-round; however, you should check road.is before you set off and be prepared for shorter daylight and the occasional closure in bad weather.

What’s the most popular stop on Iceland’s South Coast?

The black sand beach of Reynisfjara and Skógafoss both draw the biggest crowds; Reynisfjara for the black sand and basalt columns, Skógafoss for its sheer size and easy access right off the road.  My favorite stops were Kvernufoss and the puffins at Dyrhólaey.

Do you need a 4×4 to drive the South Coast of Iceland?

No, Route 1, the core route for Iceland’s South Coast, is paved and doesn’t require one. A 4×4 only becomes necessary if you’re detouring off the main road, onto a specific glacier access track, for instance. And many of the routes to the glaciers that you’ll want to take might be gravel roads, but they’re accessible with a 2WD rental car. You can read my guide to renting a car in Iceland for more on this.

Final Words on the South Coast of Iceland

After the Golden Circle, Iceland’s South Coast is the next big group of Icelandic attractions. While it can be tempting to blast on through, it’s worth getting ahead of the game and booking your accommodation early, so that you can explore this area slowly, as there are some big places to see here. Waterfalls, glaciers, lava tunnels, old airplanes on beaches. Whether you break your journey at Vík, near Jökulsárlón, or head all the way to Höfn, the South Coast is the one part of Iceland that won’t disappoint.

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