South Coast Iceland Itinerary: 5 Days in South Iceland
Wondering how best to spend your time in southern Iceland? Here’s the ultimate South Coast Iceland itinerary for the perfect road trip.
The south is one of our favourite parts of Iceland, mainly because there’s just so much to do. It’s a simply stunning part of the country and you can see so much, from towering waterfalls to the largest glacier in Europe.
If you love nature and the great outdoors, you really can’t go wrong with South Iceland.
But, because there’s so much to do here, you might wonder how best to spend your time. Well, you’re in the right place if you’re looking for the perfect south coast Iceland itinerary.
After visiting the South several times, this is exactly how we recommend spending your time.
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South Iceland Must-Do’s!
Short on time? These are 5 bucket-list experiences we recommend doing along Iceland’s South Coast! ❤️
How to Explore the South of Iceland
This itinerary is designed to be driven with a hire car, which, in our opinion, is the best way to explore Iceland.
You can visit the south on a day tour from Reykjavik, but you’ll most likely visit about 4-5 places, and there’s so much more to see here.
If you’re unsure about driving in Iceland, I totally understand – the roads can be interesting and the weather conditions can make things even more precarious.
🚗 We only ever use this car hire company as they have a great range of cars and always have the best prices.
Day 1: Reykjavik to Vik
You’ll most likely land in Reykjavik when you arrive. From here, pick up your hire car and drive to Vik, where you’ll be spending your first few nights on the south coast. Here are several stops to make on the drive from Reykjavik to Vik.
9:00 – Reykjadalur Valley
The drive to this valley will only take you around 50 minutes from the capital. You’ll be mostly sticking to Route 1 (or the Ring Road), so the drive will be fairly easy. The hardest part will be getting out of Reykjavik city centre, but after that, you’ll be fine.
This is a spot that most people miss, however, if you love thermal hot springs and want a unique one that you don’t have to pay for, I recommend stopping here.
It’s not the easiest to get to, as it involves a 45-minute hike from the car park to reach it. But once you arrive, you can soak in the geothermal springs of this river for as long as you like.
It’s worth noting that, because this is an entirely natural part of Iceland, there are no facilities here. You won’t find any changing rooms or showers. However, it’s completely free, so you can’t really complain!
It’s also such a unique experience as you have none of the commercialism of the Blue Lagoon. You’re completely at one with nature, and it’s utterly beautiful.
Check out our full guide to
12:45 – Skogafoss
After you’ve had a soak in the river, continue along the Ring Road towards one of the most popular waterfalls along the south coast – Skogafoss. This will be the longest drive of the day at around 1.5 hours. But, once again, it’s all Ring Road, so pretty easy driving.
This almost 60-metre-tall sheet of water is utterly magnificent and well worth a visit, whether you’re in Iceland in winter or in summer.
We visited Skogafoss in winter, and it was a frozen masterpiece, but in summer, it’s all green and lush.
You can view this waterfall from two angles – from the bottom, or you can climb over 500 steps to the top. It’s a pretty gruelling climb, but the views over the valley and surrounding countryside are magnificent.
In my personal opinion, the best view of the waterfall is from the bottom. It’s such a magical spot and one of the best stops on any Iceland road trip.
13:30 – Skogar Museum
From here, head literally 5 minutes around the corner to another of Iceland’s hidden gems. The Skogar Museum is so close to one of the most popular attractions in Iceland, yet it often goes undiscovered.
It’s the perfect place to visit if you want to learn more about the social history of the country. You can learn about the history of farming in the area, explore the Folk Museum, and the natural history of Iceland, and even see some traditional Icelandic turf houses outside.
The entrance costs 2,500 ISK (around £15), and you’ll also need to pay for the car park which is another 750 ISK (£4.20) per car. I recommend allowing around 1.5 hours here.
15:45 – Kvernufoss
After you’ve explored the museum, you have to take a short hike to the magnificent Kvernufoss waterfall. The trailhead for this hike is right in the Skogar Museum car park, and it’s so worth it – it’s one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland.
The hike starts at the back of the car park and the first 10 minutes or so aren’t very interesting. But then you’ll find yourself in a small valley and the views really pick up.
At this point, you’ll be walking alongside the river and after about another 5 minutes, you should start to see Kvernufoss in the distance.
This is another of those spots in Iceland where I’m surprised it isn’t busier than it is. The waterfall is so beautiful, and you can walk behind it for completely stunning views.
Since it’s somewhere the tour buses don’t usually stop, it was almost completely deserted when we got there – I think there were about 2 other couples. So, it’s a magical spot, and definitely one to add to your south coast Iceland itinerary.
17:00 – Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool
The final spot on day one of this road trip is the Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool. Another hidden gem along the south coast, this spot is one of Iceland’s secret thermal lagoons.
Admittedly, if you’re looking for pristine waters and luxury facilities, this place isn’t for you. The water had a little algae in it, it is largely unmaintained, and changing facilities are pretty basic.
However, if you’re interested in a rustic and authentic Icelandic experience, you can’t go wrong. Nestled in the picturesque Seljavellir Valley, this is one of the oldest swimming pools in the country.
It’s heated by a natural hot spring, so the water remains warm year round – although it isn’t always as hot as other swimming pools in Iceland.
Overall, this is a great spot to experience the rustic side of Iceland’s geothermal pools. The scenery was the main draw for us and the surroundings truly are stunning. Also, it’s completely free to enter.
18:00 – Drive to Vik
From here, drive to your accommodation in Vik. You’ll be staying in Vik for 2 nights.
👉If you haven’t chosen where to stay yet, check out some of our favourite places to stay in Vik.
Day 2: Vik
On your second day in Iceland, we’ll be spending the day around Vik and heading back to our accommodation at the end of the night.
9:00 – Solheimasandur Plane Wreck
From Vik, this is an 18-minute drive back along the Ring Road. However, due to the nature of this hike, I decided that it’s best to include it on day 2 of this South Iceland itinerary.
Start your day with a hike to Iceland’s famous plane wreck. The car park is chargeable and costs 750 ISK (around £4.20) per car and then you have two choices to reach the wreck.
You can either take the paid shuttle bus, which takes around 10 minutes and costs about £20 return, or you can hike for about 45 minutes to reach the wreck.
I’ll be totally honest, the hike is pretty boring. There’s no scenery and you’ll just be on a straight gravel path the entire time. However, the shuttle bus is pretty expensive, so if you want to save money (and let’s face it, Iceland is hardly cheap), this is a better option.
It’s also better to start this early, as the wreck gets notably busier when the buses start running at 10am.
Once you get there, you can spend your time admiring the wreck and climbing in and around it before heading back to the car park. It’s a pretty impressive spot to have to yourself and a great addition to this south coast itinerary.
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11:30 – Sólheimajökull Glacier Tongue
After you’ve explored the plane wreck, drive 10 minutes up towards one of the most incredible glaciers along the south of Iceland. This was the first glacier we ever saw and it’s super impressive.
There’s a large car park where you can park your car and then it’s around 15-20 minutes to walk to the glacier tongue. Once you arrive, you may also find lots of glacier hiking groups.
This was where we did our first glacier hike and it was a fantastic experience – you can read all about our glacier hike at Sólheimajökull here.
However, since we have a glacier hike planned for tomorrow, we’re just going to be visiting the glacier tongue today.
I’d allocate around an hour to explore the area. There are also several plaques here where you can read about how the glaciers are retreating – which is pretty scary.
13:00 – Dyrhólaey Peninsula
Next, head back towards Vik and explore the Dyrholaey Peninsula.
If you’re visiting Iceland between late May and September, this area is a hot spot for puffin watching. You can often find groups of these birds nesting on the cliffs along with plenty of other birds like cormorants and terns.
If you’re visiting outside of these months, it’s still a stunning place to visit and home to some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Iceland.
I’d estimate you’ll spend at least two hours here, but you could spend longer. There are several different walking routes you can do but the path is easy to follow and the views are beautiful. Make sure to see the famous archway!
16:30 – Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
After you’ve explored Dyrholaey, head to the other side of the bay to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Despite being the most famous beach in Iceland, it’s also the most dangerous and you have to be really careful of the sneaker waves here.
Sneaker waves are waves that are much bigger than they appear. They are very common here and can wash right up the beach, knocking people off their feet. Because of the icy water, if you’re knocked into the waves, it can be fatal. Hence the danger.
There is a warning light when you arrive at the beach with guidelines on how far out you should go. Please stick to it – it’s so important! And also never turn your back on the ocean or walk too close to the waves.
However, if you are sensible, it’s a wonderful place to visit. The scenery is very dramatic with huge caves, towering basalt columns, and impressive rock formations out to sea.
You can also spot wildlife here, including nesting seabirds and last time we were here, we even saw whales out to sea.
You can easily spend an hour here, maybe longer, and it really is beautiful.
17:45 – Vik i Myrdal Church
Lastly, head to the most famous viewpoint in Vik. Vik i Myrdal church is a pretty iconic spot in Iceland. The views are fantastic, stretching out over the town, the ocean beyond, and the cliffs behind it.
The bright white of the church with its ruby-red roof is a stark contrast to the green and black of the surrounding scenery. If you visit Iceland in June or July, you may also be able to see pastel-coloured lupins in the fields nearby.
Head Back to Your Hotel
Once you’ve explored Vik and the surrounding area, head back to your accommodations and then head out to dinner.
There are some delicious restaurants in and around Vik (like this fantastic burger joint), plus most hotels have a restaurant, so you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Day 3: A Day Tour From Vik
On day 3 of this itinerary, we’ll be heading out on one of the best day tours from Vik.
The town is the prime location for tours with glacier tongues on its doorstep and the famous Katla Ice cave nearby. Today definitely won’t be as cheap as the other days on this south Iceland road trip, but it might just be your favourite day in Iceland so far.
9:00 – Visit Katla Ice Cave
This is, without a doubt, one of the most magnificent places to visit in Iceland. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences that you can’t miss along the south coast. It’s time to explore Katla Ice Cave!
You may have seen photos of this place on social media, but it truly is spectacular. Created within the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier, which sits atop the active Katla Volcano, it has a sort of mesmerising beauty that looks out of this world.
You can explore the vivid blue walls of ice and see the contrasting layers of black volcanic ash within them.
You have to book a guided tour to see this – it can be incredibly dangerous without one. But it’s a fantastic way to see just how the land of fire and ice got its name!
The tours to Katla typically last half a day from Vik. Once your tour is over, hop back in the car and continue your journey down the south coast.
❤️ This is possibly the best experience you can have on Iceland’s south coast!
14:30 – Hike to Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
This used to be a bit of a hidden gem in Iceland. Now, it’s one of the country’s most popular canyons. It’s also fairly easy to reach. Located between Vik and Jokulsarlon, it’s about 15 minutes from the very hard-to-pronounce village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
The car park is chargeable and costs 750 ISK per car (around £4.20) and the trailhead is right next to the car pack. There is a small hut there with toilet facilities, but when we visited Iceland in April, it was closed.
The hike is easy and will only take around 20 minutes. It starts with a gently inclining slope and continues like this throughout most of the trail. There are several sections where the trail veers off to the left, and you can see pretty impressive views.
When you reach the end, you’ll find a metal platform where you can see deep into the canyon. There are a couple of waterfalls there as well.
Once you’ve admired Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, simply head back the way you came to the car park. The entire hike shouldn’t take longer than an hour.
16:00 – Drive to Your Next Hotel
The final thing to do on day 3 is simply to drive to your hotel. For the next few days, you’ll be staying along the far southern side of the south coast, so I recommend booking a hotel near Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
This will give you easy access to many of the attractions around the area and mean you won’t have a long drive each morning to get to the first stop.
👉 For our top choices of places to stay, check out our favourite hotels near Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.
TOP TIP: The final drive from the canyon should be around an hour, although it could take longer than this if it’s a windy day, as the road in this part of Iceland can get pretty sketchy. Be extra careful if it’s really windy and slow down.
Day 4: Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
On day 4 of this itinerary, we’ll be exploring some of the most impressive sights along the south coast. Of all the places we’ve visited in Iceland, these are some of our absolute favourites and the most incredible. Buckle up – you’re in for a good day!
9:00 – Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon
Start your day at Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. I recommend getting here before 10am as the car park can get pretty rammed later on in the day, and you might struggle to find a space. Parking here is also chargeable and costs 1000 ISK per car.
The lagoon is simply stunning. I wasn’t lying when I said this day was going to be impressive. As soon as we arrived at the lagoon I was in awe of all the icebergs floating on the water.
There are several ways to explore the glacier lagoon. You can either see it on foot or book a boat tour and see it from the water. The boat tours only run from late May to September, so whether or not you can do this greatly depends on the season.
We last visited in April, so we were only able to explore on foot, but it was still magnificent. We walked the path around the lagoon and also up to several viewpoints over the top. We spent around an hour here before heading across the road to Diamond Beach.
TOP TIP: If you’re also planning to do the boat tour here, you’ll need to allow extra time. The tour can add an extra 2-3 hours to your trip to the glacier lagoon.
12:30 – Diamond Beach
You can either walk across to Diamond Beach or drive to the other car park. We chose to drive just because we were short on time, but walking is also pretty easy. You have to walk across the single-lane car bridge and then down to the beach.
Don’t make the mistake we did of thinking that Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon are connected. They technically are, but if you want the beach with the largest and most icebergs, you have to cross the river, which isn’t possible without crossing the bridge.
Once you reach the beach, you’ll be in another of Iceland’s most incredible places. It’s stunning here and really took my breath away. It’s easy to see just why they called it Diamond Beach with the amount of icebergs that wash up here.
We spent another hour here just walking among the icebergs admiring the scenery, and watching the waves crash onto the black sand. It’s very impressive and one of my favourite places in Iceland.
14:00 – Svartifoss Waterfall
After you’ve explored Diamond Beach, head back along the coast towards Skaftafell. Here, you’ll find the trailhead for Svartifoss, one of the most unique waterfalls in Iceland.
Nicknamed ‘The Black Waterfall’, the basalt columns here were the inspiration for the famous Hallgrimskirkja church in Reykjavik. The round-trip hike takes about an hour, but I’d allow an hour and a half to account for photo stops.
It’s not too tricky, but the start of the hike is very uphill. Of course, this means that most of the return hike is downhill, but it can be quite slippy going both directions in the winter months. However, there’s no scrambling involved and most of the trail is pretty straightforward.
When you arrive, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the falls!
16:00 – Drive Back To Your Hotel
After this, head back to your hotel. There are several other things you could do here if you have time, but, if you decide to do a boat tour on the glacier lagoon (which I highly recommend), you likely won’t have time to do them.
However, if you find yourself with time to spare after Svartifoss, you could hike the nearby 2-mile trip to Skaftafellsjokull Glacier Tongue. It’s a super unique spot and well worth the hike.
Day 5: Drive Back to Reykjavik
This is the final day of our south coast Iceland road trip. Today is a long driving day, but we’re starting local and we’ve got some great stops along the way to break up the journey.
9:00 – Glacier Hike
Start the morning with a glacier hike. While you will have already seen the Sólheimajökull Glacier Tongue, hiking on the largest glacier in Europe should be on your Iceland bucket list!
Most of the glacier hikes on Vatnajokull will meet you on-site, but some do offer hotel pick-up. I recommend this tour.
It’s an absolutely fantastic experience and the views over the glacier and the surroundings are some of the best in Iceland. Trust me, you won’t forget this in a hurry.
The hike will take around 2-3 hours and will start around 9am, so you should be back down the glacier by midday. After this, prepare for your first long drive back along the south coast.
❤️ This is one of the best glacier hiking experiences in Iceland!
14:30 – Coffee stop at Skool Beans Cafe
This is around the halfway point back to Reykjavik and I thought it was a pretty good time to add in a coffee stop.
And where better to drink coffee than one of the most unique coffee shops in Iceland – Skool Beans Cafe! This unique school bus turned micro roaster serves some of the most delicious drinks in the country.
When Andrew and I stopped here on the way to Jokulsarlon, I ordered the mocha and Andrew ordered something called ‘The Overdose’ which turned out to be a huge mound of chocolate, cream, and marshmallows over a creamy chocolatey drink.
It was delicious and the perfect place for a pit stop.
16:00 – Seljalandsfoss Waterfall
The next stop is another hour down the Ring Road and will be a much longer stop than the coffee roaster.
You may have been wondering why I missed this place on the way up the south coast, and it’s for this exact reason – to give you the perfect final stop on the way back.
Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most impressive waterfalls. It’s a little bit like Kvernufos in that you can walk behind it but at a much larger scale. This place is probably the waterfall you’ve seen before when you look at sunset shots in Iceland.
I’d recommend allowing around 45 minutes here. This will give you time to walk behind the falls, take plenty of photographs, and explore the area. There are also facilities, including toilets, and a food truck if you need to grab some food.
16:45 – Gljufrabui Waterfall
You’ll need to walk to this next stop from Seljalandsfoss. Gljufrabui is another Icelandic hidden gem. Tucked away in a canyon and surrounded by mossy green cliffs, it’s the kind of place that you’ll only find if you know it’s there.
The route to get there isn’t too tricky and shouldn’t take much longer than 10 minutes to reach. But you do have to walk through a small stream, so you might get wet feet towards the end of the walk.
Then, once you’re next to the falls, you’ll almost certainly get wet everywhere! The spray from the falls here will soak you pretty quickly, especially since it’s not an open area, so the water goes all over you!
Still, so long as you’ve packed appropriately for Iceland, a little bit of water spray is definitely worth the views of Gljufrabui.
17:30 – Drive Back to Reykjavik
Once you’ve explored both the waterfalls here and removed your soggy coat, it’s time to head back to Reykjavik. The final leg of this journey should take around 1 hour and 45 minutes, and then that’ll be the end of your 5-day South Coast Iceland itinerary!
👉 If you’re also spending some time in Reykjavik, check out our 2-day Reykjavik itinerary.
So, Is 5 days in South Iceland enough?
Yes, I think 5 days is a good amount of time to see South Iceland. You’ll be able to see all of the major sights along the south coast, plus cross some of the more hidden gems off your bucket list.
Of course, more time is always better and I could add another 2 days in Iceland to this itinerary if you have the time. But, if you only have 5 days in Iceland, this is a great way to see some of the best sights in the country.
👉 Planning a trip to South Iceland? Here are some of the best hotels along the south coast!
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