South Iceland
Travel Guide
Waterfalls you can walk behind, black-sand beaches, glacier tongues, ice caves and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon — South Iceland is the most-visited stretch of the country for good reason.
From Reykjavík
1.5–5 h
Main towns
Vík, Selfoss, Höfn
Best time
May–Sep
Nearest airport
Keflavík (KEF)
01Introduction
Why South Iceland Steals the Show
Between Reykjavík and the great Vatnajökull ice cap lies the single most concentrated run of natural wonders in Iceland. In one day's drive you pass waterfalls that plunge off the old sea cliffs, glaciers that spill almost to the road, and beaches of jet-black volcanic sand pounded by the North Atlantic.
This is Iceland's agricultural heartland too — the flat coastal plains of the Suðurland are dotted with horse farms and greenhouses heated by geothermal steam, backed by the brooding shapes of Hekla, Katla and Eyjafjallajökull, the volcano that grounded Europe's flights in 2010.
Because so much sits right on Route 1, the South Coast is the easiest region to explore independently. But distances deceive: the drive from Reykjavík to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is nearly five hours one-way, so give it the two or three days it deserves rather than trying to swallow it in one.
02Quick Facts
South Iceland at a Glance
The essentials every visitor should know before arriving.
From Reykjavík
1.5–5 h
Main towns
Vík, Selfoss, Höfn
Best time
