South Coast Iceland Day Tour from Reykjavik – Was It Worth It?
Are you considering doing a south coast Iceland day tour and wondering if it’s worth it? Here’s everything you need to know before you visit and our honest opinion.
The very first time we visited Iceland, we didn’t hire a car. We only went for 3 days and based ourselves in Reykjavik, so we didn’t think it made sense to hire one. Also, it was mid-December and back then, we weren’t very confident driving in Iceland in winter.
Because we desperately wanted to see the south coast while we were in the country, we decided to take a day tour from Reykjavik.
Despite my doubts that we’d be able to see everything because of the daylight in December, it turned into a fantastic day trip. So, if you’re considering booking a day tour to the south of Iceland, here’s everything you need to know.
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What to expect on a South Coast Iceland day tour
As with all guided tours, our day started with a nice early pick-up from our hotel.
We were staying right in the centre of Reykjavik at Center Hotels Plaza so, because of its location, we had to walk to the nearest bus stop instead of being picked up from the hotel lobby. But, this was only about a 5-minute walk, so it wasn’t too bad at all.
Once we were in the van and everyone had been picked up, we started our journey down the south coast of Iceland. Throughout the drive, our guide gave us so many fantastic facts about Iceland and pointed out geological tips along the way.
Our first stop
Our first stop was between Reykjavik and Vik – about 2 hours from the capital – the famous Skogafoss waterfall. This is arguably one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland, and, since we were visiting in winter, it was even more dramatic with the ice and snow.
Although, as a side note, we actually saw more ice when we visited Skogafoss in March than we did in December.
Check out our guide to Skogafoss in winter, here.
Our guide gave us a few facts about the waterfalls and then gave us an hour to explore. This really surprised me at first because I wasn’t sure why we needed an hour to look at a waterfall.
But he was completely right because of the huge number of stairs you have to climb to reach the top of the falls.
Once we’d climbed up to the top of the waterfall, headed back down to view it from the bottom, and snapped what felt like a million photographs, we got back in the van to head to our next stop.
Our second stop
Next, we travelled a further 30 minutes down the south coast to the most famous beach in all of Iceland. Of course, I’m talking about Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and, although it can be busy, and it can be dangerous, it’s a truly beautiful spot.
The danger comes from the potentially deadly sneaker waves that the beach is known for. These are waves that appear much smaller than they are. They can race up the beach in seconds knocking people off their feet and washing them into the icy water.
Since this can be deadly, there are lots of warning signs around this beach. Our guide also gave us a lot of instructions about how to behave on the beach, where we could and couldn’t go, and told us never to turn our back on the waves.
If you’re sensible here, it’s stunning with the rock formations out to sea, the dramatic basalt columns, and the towering cliffs and caves. We’ve even seen whales off in the distance from this beach before!
Our guide gave us even longer at this stop – an hour and a half – but this also included time to grab lunch from the cafe and use the toilet. This was plenty of time and, after exploring the beach and some hot soup from the cafe, we got back on the bus.
Our third stop
After visiting the black sand beach, we drove 10 minutes back the way we came to Solheimajökull Glacier Tongue. We’d booked a south coast tour with an added glacier hike which turned out to be our favourite part of our entire trip to Iceland.
You don’t have to do this stop and if you don’t fancy hiking a glacier, you can book a tour without it. However, it’s such a magical thing to do in Iceland.
If you want to read about our full glacier hike experience, you can do so here.
The glacier hike was the longest stop of the day – around 3 hours in total – so it was really good that we set off as early as we did.
It was totally insane to be standing on a huge sheet of ice that had been there for thousands of years. Our guide also took us into an ice tunnel and we got to drink the glacier water.
After the glacier hike, we headed to our final stop on our south coast day tour.
Our fourth stop
Our final stop was the famous Seljalandsfoss waterfall. We had started our journey back to Reykjavik at this point as the waterfall was 35 minutes back towards the capital.
To be completely honest, this was the only slightly disappointing moment of the tour for us. It wasn’t to do with the guide but more the daylight in Iceland at the time we were there.
By the time we reached Seljalandsfoss, it was dark. Even though it was lit up, we couldn’t really see the waterfall very well.
Because of the time of year, the path behind it was also closed. We only ended up spending 25 minutes here before getting back on the bus as there really wasn’t much point staying longer.
In hindsight, we could’ve spent less time at the other stops, but I thought the amount of time we had there was perfect and I hate feeling rushed on tours. That’s one of the reasons why I don’t usually book them and I was really grateful to our guide for giving us enough time at each stop.
But, since it gets dark in Iceland in winter by about 3:30pm, there wasn’t a lot we could do.
However, if you’re visiting Iceland at a slightly different time of year, this is a wonderful final stop on the day tour. You can walk behind the waterfall and the views are absolutely epic.
After we left Seljalandsfoss, we hopped back on the bus and drove the final 2 hours back to Reykjavik, after what had been a (mostly) successful day exploring some of Iceland’s most impressive natural wonders.
How long does the tour take?
We were picked up at 8am and returned to the city centre by around 6pm.
It was a pretty long day, but, if you’re starting from the capital, it’s at least a 2-hour drive before you even reach the first stop.
Plus, we’ve had some day tours that have picked us up at around 4am, so this wasn’t quite so brutal!
How long do you get at each stop?
One of the things I liked most about this tour was how much time we had at each stop.
Whilst we did have a time limit to be back at the bus, not once did I feel rushed and we had more than enough time to explore the place and take photographs.
We had at least an hour at each place we visited, which, in my opinion, was perfect.
The best South Coast Iceland day tour
If you’re considering booking a day tour of Iceland’s south coast, I recommend booking this tour. This was the tour we went on and it included the fantastic glacier hike in the south.
It’s certainly not the cheapest tour we’ve ever been on – in fact, it’s the most expensive thing we’ve done in Iceland to date – but, it’s so worth it and the experience was unforgettable.
If you don’t fancy doing a glacier hike, I recommend this tour. You’ll stop at all of the same stops (except the glacier), and it’s more affordable.
Can you see everything in the South of Iceland in a day?
No, you can’t see everything in the south of Iceland on a day tour. The tours only have so much time and there’s an unbelievable amount of things to do on the south coast.
This day tour is literally scratching the surface, although arguably it will also take you to some of the most impressive sights.
To see more of what the South has to offer, I recommend hiring a car, doing a self-drive itinerary, and staying along the south coast.
👉 Check out all of our favourite hotels along the south coast and our favourite hotels in Vik.
Is it best to do this as a day tour or drive yourself?
I would usually have immediately said self-drive is the best way to do this, but it honestly depends on your circumstances. If you are staying in Reykjavik, then I think it makes more sense to do this as a day tour instead of hiring a car.
You won’t have to deal with parking in the centre, you’ll be able to see the main highlights in a day, and you’ll get the additional facts and information that the guides can give you. Plus, you won’t have to worry about the driving conditions in Iceland, which can be a little hairy!
On the other hand, if you’re not staying in the capital, then it makes more sense to drive this route yourself. You’ll have the freedom to stop at more places and you can visit the spots along the south coast that the tour buses miss (like my favourite waterfall).
When is the best time to visit Southern Iceland?
The south of Iceland is a year-round destination. We’ve visited in winter and we’ve also visited in spring – it was beautiful both times. Although there was actually more ice and snow in spring than in Iceland in December.
I guess what time of year you visit depends on your own preferences. If you want more reliable weather and lush green scenery, go with the summer months.
If you don’t mind slightly unpredictable weather and love the ice and snow, Iceland in winter is fab.
Either way, this tour operates all year round, so you’ll be able to visit no matter what month you choose.
👉Check out our full guide to the best time to visit Iceland for all our tips.
What do you need to wear to visit the South Coast of Iceland?
You’ll need to dress sensibly in Iceland, no matter what time of year you visit.
I recommend waterproof and windproof clothing, layers (such as a thermal base layer and a mid-layer fleece), and sturdy, comfortable, waterproof shoes like walking boots. You’ll also need a windproof and waterproof coat.
I wore my ACAI thermal trousers and my Sorel snow boots on my south coast tour, and they kept me both warm and dry, even on the glacier.
Is a South Coast of Iceland Day tour worth it?
Yes, I 100% recommend this tour. Especially if you’re staying in Reykjavik or don’t feel comfortable driving in Iceland, this tour is a great way to see some of Iceland’s most beautiful natural places without hiring a car.
It’s one of the most popular day trips from Reykjavik and for a very good reason!
Of course, if you’re hiring a car, there is a lot more you can see along the south coast that the tours won’t visit. However, this is a fantastic way to get a taste of the south of Iceland in a day.
👉 Playing other day tours in Iceland? Check out our review of our glacier hike in South Iceland.
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