The South Coast of Iceland: Reykjavík’s Best Day Trip Destination
One of the nicest things about visiting Reykjavík is how close it is to several day trip destinations where you can experience Iceland’s rugged natural beauty. It’s for this reason that many people even use Iceland as a one-or two-day stopover when flying between America and Europe. In my opinion, the best of those trips is a drive along the South Coast of Iceland.
The start of the South Coast of Iceland day trip is situated within a two-hour drive of Reykjavik and contains several highlights sure to give you that ooh-aah feeling. While everyone else is visiting the Golden Circle from Reykjavík, leave the crowds behind and head to the South Coast of Iceland instead!
Highlights Along the South Coast of Iceland
Along the South Coast of Iceland are many highlights both natural and manmade worth taking your time to visit. My guide starts with Seljalandsfoss, the first real sight along the South Coast, and ends at the tiny town of Vík.
With more time, you can extend your visit along the South Coast of Iceland all the way to the famous glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach. These two stops are 2.5 hours from Vík, though. So, at that point, you’re almost certainly looking at a two-day trip just on the South Coast, and, even then, you’d have to rush some of these stops.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss was the very first of many waterfalls we saw in Iceland. It was a great first taste at what awaited us at seemingly every bend around Iceland’s dramatic landscapes.
Like most of Iceland’s waterfalls, it’s formed from melting snow in the country’s desolate interior making its way off the plateau and back into the sea. At Seljalandsfoss, the snowmelt splits in two effectively creating one smaller and one larger waterfall right next to one another.
Perhaps Seljalandsfoss’ most exciting feature is the chance to walk along a path to the other side of the waterfall. From this small cave, you can see Seljalandsfoss from a whole other perspective, while getting relentlessly sprayed with its icy cold water.
The walk can be treacherous, with wet, slippery and very uneven terrain. If you’re unsteady on your feet, you may want to skip the walk to the cave, especially in bad weather.
Continuing along the path away from Seljalandsfoss you’ll see a couple other smaller waterfalls before coming to a narrow ravine in the cliff. Adventurous visitors with appropriate footwear can walk through here to see Gljúfrabúi, another waterfall plummeting through the gorge from the plateau above.
Rútshellir Cave
Rútshellir Cave may not be the most awe-inspiring thing you’ll see on the South Coast. Still, I think it’s worth a quick stop to get an idea of what life used to be like in Iceland’s harsh environment.
Small caves like these were used by resourceful Icelanders to shelter livestock, store tools, and even possibly live in.
Make sure to walk all the way to the back of the cave for a bit of Iceland’s quirky humor. You’ll be greeted by some of the country’s fairy folk, lovingly arranged by the family who owns this cave.
You’ll notice several of these cave dwellings in this area. Look for the one with a small pullout for parking where you can get out of your car to walk into this particular cave.
Skógafoss
The next waterfall along the South Coast of Iceland is Skógafoss. Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s most photogenic waterfalls. It’s big, powerful and nestled back in a gulley surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs with a small beach as you approach it.
Because of this topography, it’s fairly common to see rainbows form in the waterfall’s mist along the base of the cliffs. We were lucky enough to see one during our visit, and it turned out to be one of the prettier pictures I have from Iceland.
Intrepid travelers can also climb the 500 steps to the top of Skógafoss for views over the waterfall’s precipice or to walk farther back along the river that feeds it. After walking an additional several minutes, you’ll come to another small waterfall spanning the width of the river.
Skógar Folk Museum
The Skógar Folk Museum is a delightful little museum that, in my opinion, cannot be missed. It doesn’t have any must-see exhibits, but what it lacks in impressive highlights, it more than makes up for in its charming simplicity.
This small museum contains an abundance of items that show how Icelanders along the South Coast lived over the years, including plenty of farm and fishing equipment. Perhaps the highlight is the large intact fishing boat from 1855 found on its first floor.
I enjoyed all the little personal items scattered around the museum that tell short stories about these people’s lives. It’s all a bit of a hodgepodge, but it works because the museum is so small.
A ticket to the museum also gives you access to the adjacent open-air museum where you can look at and walk into original homes moved here from across Iceland. The pretty church is the only building that isn’t original, but everything inside is original and was moved here from other churches in Iceland.
Sólheimajökull
Sólheimajökull is your chance to get up close and personal with one of Iceland’s most accessible glaciers.
After turning off the South Coast’s main road, just park your car and start walking. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the glacier itself, but the walk is pretty easy considering the reward at the end.
As you walk, consider that until relatively recently, the glacier extended all the way to the parking lot. In fact, the walk to Sólheimajökull gets a bit longer each year as more of the glacier melts due to climate change.
Once you reach the end of the path, you’ll come to a sign that warns people against going farther. I don’t condone going against official recommendations, but I will say many people ignore this sign and continue on to the very foot of the glacier, myself included. Just realize that due to the geological forces at play, what seems like an easy walk can be more treacherous than you realize, so don’t do anything beyond your physical ability.
That said, it was pretty cool getting to touch a glacier!
The parking lot for Sólheimajökull also has what might be some much-needed bathrooms at this point in your drive along the South Coast.
Vík
The small town of Vík makes for a convenient midway point to stop and rest for a bit prior to heading back to Reykjavik. It also has a few accommodations if you want to stop for the night before venturing farther east to Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach.
Vík itself doesn’t have much to do. We drove up to the red-roofed church on the hill overlooking town for some nice views of the surrounding area. After that, we grabbed lunch at Smidgen Brugghús (described below) and then went on our way back to Reynisfjara.
If you’re staying the night or have some time to kill, you can also check out Vík’s Skaftfellingur Museum or its small beach.
If you are overnighting here, you can stop at Dyrhólaey Promontory and Reynisfjara first before heading into Vík. We did them after because we were turning around at Vík and wanted a rest at this point in our trip.
Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara is perhaps Iceland’s most renowned black sand beach. It’s probably most popular because of its association with the popular TV series “The Game of Thrones,” but that doesn’t make it any less impressive.
The vaunted black sand is neat, yet that isn’t Reynisfjara’s most memorable quality.
As you walk toward the shoreline, your eyes are drawn to the hexagonal rocky remains of one of Iceland’s many volcanic eruptions. These rock formations fan out like a seashell away from the beach in an impressive arrangement.
Then, farther out to sea are Reynisfjara’s best features: large basalt rock formations. These formations plus the black sand are enough to capture your imagination of days gone by. This viewpoint was used in “The Game of Thrones” to depict Eastwatch-by-the-sea.
Dyrhólaey Promontory
Perhaps the top reason for stopping at Dyrhólaey Promontory is the opportunity to see one of Iceland’s most famous native animals: puffins! These adorable birds are often found nesting here between the months of May and August, particularly at the upper part of the promontory by the lighthouse.
The hike to the lighthouse is about a 0.5 mile long along the cliffs. It can be windy and rocky, so be prepared. Your reward is great views of the coast and, of course, the possibility of puffins.
If your feet are tired by this point, you can walk to a lower viewpoint where you can still get good looks at Reynisfjara and the surrounding coastline. If nothing else, it’s worth a brief stop that doesn’t require much walking while still getting good looks of the South Coast of Iceland.
We were pretty exhausted at this point, having only arrived in Iceland earlier that day and then immediately proceeding to rent a car to drive along the South Coast. Because of that, we only did the lower viewpoint and didn’t see any puffins. Maybe you’ll be lucky, though!
(I talked to someone later that day who saw puffins at this same spot around the time we were there. How disappointing!)
Other Sights to See on the South Coast of Iceland
I listed the main highlights to see plus a couple other smaller personal favorites. But this section of the South Coast of Iceland still has more to offer for those with plenty of time.
Near the turn for Sólheimajökull is a turn in the opposite direction that takes you to the remnants of a 1970s plane wreck. We skipped this because we didn’t want to take the 2.5-mile hike each way to see what amounts to just an empty shell of a plane. That said, I’ve heard it’s interesting and have seen some nice pictures of it online.
While not technically on the South Coast of Iceland, the hiking area of Thórsmörk can be accessed from here. The area has several different popular hiking trails accessible either by 4×4’s or with guided tours.
Eyjafjallajökull is the vast glacial volcano that sits to your left as you drive between Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. You can hike up the glacier with a guide, but we were content to just look at it from the car. There’s also the Katla Visitor Centre that has a small exhibit on the region’s geology.
If you follow my guide, you’ve already seen Sólheimajökull, but you could also do a guided hike along the glacier itself with more time. You might have even seen some groups doing just that while you were there.
Overnighting on the South Coast of Iceland at Boutique Hotel Anna
Boutique Hotel Anna is a great place to stay if you’re overnighting along the South Coast of Iceland. It’s located in a small community about two hours from Reykjavík. The area doesn’t have much of note, but its remoteness offers some lovely surroundings for your overnight stay on the South Coast.
Boutique Hotel Anna offers typical hotel rooms and small apartments for families. We booked a regular room, but we were upgraded to an apartment upon our arrival.
Our apartment was very nice. It had a small kitchenette, a living room space, a bedroom with two twin beds and a large bathroom. The living space had a large window to sit by during daylight hours to admire the desolate scenery.
Most importantly for Michelle and me, Boutique Hotel Anna also has two outdoor hot tubs for visitors to use. It’s really hard to beat relaxing in a jacuzzi after a long day of driving and sightseeing with views of the South Coast of Iceland all around you.
Boutique Hotel Anna also has an excellent included breakfast for guests. It’s fairly standard buffet, but everything was pretty tasty. Most notably, it included some of Iceland’s famous yogurt along with homemade jams to sweeten it with. The hotel also has an attached restaurant, but meals here are not included with your stay.
An added bonus of staying at Boutique Hotel Anna is that it’s close to the ferry that takes you to Heimaey for another fun Iceland trip.
Day Tripping vs Overnighting on the South Coast of Iceland
The South Coast of Iceland is one of several common day trips you can take from Reykjavík. While we did this as an overnight trip, that was mostly because we were heading to the Westman Islands the next day. It made more sense for us to stay here than to go all the way back to Reykjavík.
If it weren’t for that, we likely would have done the South Coast as a day trip. It’s a long day, but it’s certainly doable. What’s more, I think the South Coast is the best day trip from Reykjavík. It’s reasonably close, has plenty to see, and isn’t especially crowded like the Golden Circle.
Still, it was nice being able to take our time knowing we didn’t have to drive all the way back to Reykjavík.
It ultimately depends on how many days you have in Iceland. If you have four or more days, I recommend staying overnight. Take your time and enjoy the evocative Icelandic landscapes in the early morning light. If you only have a couple days, go back to Reykjavík and spend those other days doing other day trips or exploring the capital.
Where to Eat Along Iceland’s South Coast
Boutique Hotel Anna
Even if you aren’t staying at Boutique Hotel Anna, you can still stop here for lunch or dinner. Their restaurant is attached to the hotel and features a small, cozy dining room with a menu that changes seasonally.
I had a lamb fillet with puréed carrots and mashed potatoes. The lamb was served in a sweet sauce that paired very well with the savory meat. All in all, my meal was delicious and worth the price.
The one drawback of Boutique Hotel Anna’s restaurant is it’s a bit pricey, even by Iceland’s standards. It’s understandable why when you consider the quality of the food and its location on a part of the South Coast without much else around.
Food stand at Seljalandsfoss
The fact that I can’t remember the name of this food stand – does it even have one? – shouldn’t stop you from grabbing a bite to eat here.
They offer a few different things, including pastries and coffee. The item I strongly encourage you to try is the smoked salmon sandwich. Maybe it’s just because we had only recently arrived in Iceland and were hungry, but this sandwich was honestly one of the best things I ate in Iceland.
Smidjan Brugghús
Smidjan Brugghús is a microbrewery and gastropub located in Vík. Again, maybe it’s just because this was our first day in Iceland, but I loved Smidjan Brugghús.
Their menu mostly features burgers and barbecue. I opted for a burger with onion rings. The burger frankly didn’t look great, but looks can be deceiving. This burger was perfectly juicy and flavorful. The onion rings were good, too, but I could have used more of them.
Most importantly, the beer I had was fantastic and a great introduction to what would be an impressive variety of craft brews in Iceland. They had several beers to pick from. I had Nebula, a very tasty and boozy imperial stout. It was perfect to warm me up after being cold all morning driving along the South Coast of Iceland.
Frequently Asked Questions About the South Coast of Iceland
When should I visit the South Coast of Iceland?
We visited towards the end of April when crowds were a little smaller but the weather was still pretty cold. It wasn’t unbearable, but because it was cold still, nothing was growing yet. So, if you’re okay with colder weather and drab brown landscapes, March to April is a good time to visit to avoid crowds. The autumn months have similar patterns as March and April.
For warmer weather and more picturesque greenery and wildflowers, visit during the summer months. The summer months also offer the most daylight allowing you more time to sightsee. One downside is these months are Iceland’s most crowded.
Winter is for visitors who don’t mind dealing with cold weather in order to avoid crowds to see Iceland’s stunning scenery covered in snow. Unfortunately, daylight hours are pretty limited during these months. One perk of this is you should have lots of opportunities to see the Northern Lights.
Should I rent a car or book a tour for the South Coast of Iceland?
The answer to this question really depends on your goals and itinerary. A tour will almost certainly be cheaper and takes away the stress of having to plan, but you won’t have any wiggle room in case you want to make any spontaneous stops or stay anywhere a bit longer.
A car is the more expensive option, but it gives you the freedom to visit the South Coast of Iceland at your own leisure. I personally prefer renting cars for this reason alone. I think the extra cost is definitely worth it.
If you do decide to do a tour, I’ve included one of the more highly rated options from GetYourGuide below.
Is the South Coast of Iceland worth a day trip from Reykjavík?
Not only is it worth it, but I think it’s the best day trip from Reykjavík you can take. It’s not as crowded as the popular Golden Circle while still having several stunning sights and it’s much closer than Snaefellsness Peninsula, another popular day trip destination from Reykjavík.
If you only have a couple days in Iceland, the South Coast of Iceland is the day trip I would recommend including on your itinerary!
Book Your Trip to the South Coast of Iceland
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