Reykjavik to Vik: The Perfect Road Trip Itinerary

How to Get from Reykjavik to Vik 

As mentioned, the usual ways that people travel between the two destinations are by rental car or by a guided tour. We’ve done both. 

Our first time in Iceland, we didn’t have a hire car, so we booked a guided tour. We’ve also driven the route ourselves twice, and as far as driving in Iceland goes, it’s relatively easy. 

Both Vik and Reykjavik are located along the ring road. This is also known as Route 1 and is the main road that encircles the entire island. This road is usually in pretty good condition (except for when freak storms hit). 

Every time we’ve driven this route (once in April, once in March, and again in December), the road conditions have been good and the drive has been easy. You don’t need a 4×4 and can do it in a standard 2-wheel drive.

🚗 We rented a car from Keflavík Airport and drove all over Iceland. We only ever use this company as they have a great range of cars and always have the best prices.

2. Walk Behind Seljalandsfoss Waterfall

One of the most majestic waterfalls in Iceland, Seljalandsfoss, is the waterfall that you can walk behind. It’ll be your first stop on this journey, 1 hour and 50 minutes from Reykjavik. 

This is one of the best things to do on the south coast of Iceland, and it’s an absolutely beautiful waterfall. The view from behind it is spectacular – although prepare to get pretty wet from all the spray!

If you can, I recommend visiting at sunset. The views at this time of day are spectacular with the sun reflecting off the water. You might even see a rainbow too.

The waterfall is free to visit and open year-round, although the car park is chargeable. There are also toilets in the car park and a few food trucks where you can grab coffee and snacks. 

TOP TIP: The path behind the waterfall can get very slippery in the winter season. Be extra careful if you’re visiting Iceland from December to April.  

3. Climb to The Top Of Skógafoss Waterfall

Located just a 30-minute drive along the ring road from Seljalandsfoss, you’ll find Skógafoss.

This is one of Iceland’s most beautiful waterfalls and is very impressive. It’s a much larger volume of water than Seljalandsfoss, but you can’t walk behind this one. 

You can, however, climb to the top of it for spectacular views over the surrounding countries. You’ll also be able to see where the waterfalls start. 

If you enjoy hiking, then this is also the start of a popular day hike in Iceland called the Skógá Trail of Waterfall Way. It’s a 6-hour trail that takes you past 26 waterfalls along the Skógar River. It’s well worth doing if you love the outdoors. 

If you’re just planning on staying at Skógafoss waterfall, though, I still recommend climbing to the top of the staircase. There are around 527 stairs in total, so it’s a bit of a leg-burner, but the views are worth it. 

There are also toilet facilities in this car park.

4. Visit Skógar Museum

Once you’ve spent some time at Skógafoss, drive 5 minutes further down the road and you’ll find the Skógar Museum. 

This is a place in Iceland that people always tend to skip, but it’s worth a visit if you want to learn about the history and culture of the Icelandic people. 

You’ll find exhibits that tell the story of Iceland’s seafaring history and agricultural past. Learn about folklore, and see historic Viking relics, textiles, pottery, and much more. 

Outside the museum, there are also replicas of the turf houses that the people of Iceland used to live in.

👉 Read our full review of a south coast day trip from Reykjavik here.

6. See Sólheimajökull Glacier Tongue and go Hiking

Once you’ve explored Kvernufos, it’s time to jump back in the car. Next, you’ll be heading 15 minutes further towards Vik, but make a stop at the Sólheimajökull Glacier.

This was the first glacier I’d ever seen in my life, and you can walk right up to the tongue. It’s also a great glacier for hiking – this was where we did our glacier hike.

If you have time on your drive between Reykjavik and Vik, we recommend booking a hike here. It was expensive, but an incredible experience and one of the best things we’ve ever done in Iceland. 

However, it’s also just worth seeing the glacier tongue, which is also completely free to do. There’s a large gravel car park at the end of the road, and you can very easily walk down to the glacier tongue.

The walk takes around 15-20 minutes and is flat and easy to do. 

This is one of our favourite things to do in southern Iceland.

❤️ This is one of the best things we’ve ever done in Iceland!

7. Hike to The Solheimasandur Plane Wreck

The next stop on this drive is quite a unique one. It used to be a hidden gem in Iceland, but now it’s become a bit Insta-famous. Nonetheless, it’s still a pretty incredible place and worth the visit if you have time. 

The car park for this is just a short drive (10 minutes) from the glacier tongue and is also chargeable. You can hike to this site – in fact, this used to be the only way to get there – and it takes 1 hour to get there one way. 

The hike itself really isn’t very interesting. It’s just an empty, open dirt path surrounded by, well, nothing. So, the only real reason to bother with the hike is to avoid the fairly expensive fee for the shuttle bus.

It’s around £20 per person for a 5-10 minute journey, so it’s pretty pricey.

But the wreck is awesome. Located on the black sands of Solheimasandur Beach, the skeletal remains of a US Navy DC-3 plane are pretty impressive.

The wreckage has been abandoned since its crash in 1973. Now, it’s a very popular photography spot as it literally looks like a scene out of a post-apocalyptic movie.

TOP TIP: This place can get quite crowded these days, so I recommend you try to get there in the morning if you can. The shuttle operates between 10am – 5pm.

8. Go for a Walk Around Dyrhólaey Peninsula

The last stop on this south coast itinerary before we reach Vik is the Dyrhólaey Cliffs. If you love wildlife and you’re visiting Iceland between May and September, then you’ll adore this spot because it’s one of the best places in Iceland to see puffins. 

These clumsy little birds nest on the clifftops, and you can go on a lovely walk to see them. Otherwise, it’s just a great palace for a clifftop walk with stunning views. 

You’ll have panoramic views of some of Iceland’s stunning black beaches as well as coastline, volcanic landscapes, beautiful rock formations and sea stacks. Be sure to visit the iconic Dyrhólaey Arch, and you can walk to the lighthouse too. 

This location is right next to Vik, so our next stop will be our final destination. 

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But if you are enjoying it safely, Reynisfjara Beach is a beautiful place to explore. You can climb its signature basalt columns, walk down the length of the beach exploring the many caves and crevices there, and admire the rock formations out at sea.

We even saw seals and whales in the distance the last time we were here. 

👉Check out our full guide to the best time to visit Iceland for all our tips.

It’s a great photography spot. The church’s white exterior and traditional red roof stand in stark contrast to Iceland’s black sand beaches and rugged green cliffs. 

Dating back to the 1930s, the church is worth a quick stop while in Vik. You can either drive up to the church or walk from the town.

If you visit during the summer months, you’ll also be able to see lupins growing near the church, which adds to its beauty. 

13. Visit Skool Beans Cafe

If you have a sweet tooth and love coffee, then this spot will be right up your street. Skool Beans is an old school bus turned micro roaster, and they serve some of the most delicious coffees in Iceland. 

We made a quick pitstop here on our way to Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and it was the most charming coffee shop I’ve been to. Inside, you’ll find two long tables, little metal stools, funky artwork, and quirky plaques with funny messages.

There is an extensive menu with a huge selection of coffees, teas and hot chocolates.

The hot chocolate menu is insane, and Andrew has something called ‘The Overdose,’ which was a huge chocolaty feast in a cup. It even came with two chocolate bars on top! I had a mocha, which was also delicious.

14. Watch the Icelandic Lava Show

For one of the most unique attractions in Vik, I recommend taking a visit to the Lava Show. Originally opened in 2020 due to the founders’ fascination with lava and volcanic eruptions, the Lava Show has become a huge success.

There are now two venues, one in Vik and a second in Reykjavik. If you’re spending a few days in Reykjavik as well, you could actually see both because they’re slightly different.

Throughout the show, you will get the chance to see real molten lava flowing through a tunnel. The hosts manipulate the lava in front of your eyes and can show you how it behaves when it interacts with ice, how lava tunnels are formed and much more. 

It’s a fascinating experience and a great place to visit in Vik if you’re interested in Iceland’s volcanic landscapes.

❤️ We highly recommend this incredible experience in Iceland.

Can You Visit Vik as a Day Trip From Reykjavik?

Yes, you can visit Vik on a day trip from Reykjavik; however, to really make the most of this area, we recommend staying longer. 

There are a lot of things to do along Iceland’s south coast, and one day won’t really give you enough time to see it all. You’ll end up feeling rushed and not really enjoying any of it. 

Many of the companies that operate guided tours to the south will drive to Vik and then turn around and head back to Reykjavik.

However, they usually just take you to Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara Black Beach and a glacier hike (if you’ve booked that option). 

So, if you want to do many of these other stops, you’ll need longer than a day trip to Vik.

🚗 We only ever use this car hire company as they have a great range of cars and always have the best prices.

How Long Do You Need in Vik?

To see the best of the south coast and the surrounding area, you’ll need at least 3 full days in Vik. This will allow you to see all the sites on the drive between Reykjavik and Vik and explore the sights around the town.

It may also leave some extra time for some other hikes in the area or to explore the glacier. Bear in mind that if you want to go glacier hiking, you’ll need to allocate at least half a day just for this activity.