Region
South Iceland
The most natural-site-dense stretch of the Ring Road: 350 km at the foot of the Vatnajökull glacier, between waterfalls, volcanic beaches and iceberg lagoons.
Iceland's South Coast is probably the most spectacular stretch of the Ring Road and one of the country's most prized tourist itineraries. Across 350 km between Selfoss (50 km east of Reykjavik) and Höfn (south-east), Route 1 hugs the Atlantic coast with the Vatnajökull glacier (Europe's largest by volume) as backdrop — a decor changing with every kilometre, combining vertiginous waterfalls, black-sand beaches bristling with basalt columns, glacier tongues reaching down to the sea, and lagoons studded with blue icebergs.
The south coast's emblematic waterfalls are Seljalandsfoss (60 m drop, with a wet trail allowing you to walk behind the curtain of water) and Skógafoss (60 m drop, a perfectly rectangular wall of water, one of the most photographed in Iceland). Between the two, the Eyjafjallajökull glacier (the one that paralysed European aviation in 2010) blankets the mountain and feeds several smaller waterfalls. At the snout of the Sólheimajökull glacier, guided hikes (€90-150 with equipment) let you walk on blue ice streaked with black volcanic ash.
The Reynisfjara beach, 5 km west of Vík, is one of Iceland's most famous beaches: black volcanic sand, basalt columns (hexagonal basalt pillars carved by lava), Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising from the ocean, and the Hálsanefshellir cave with its perfect columnar walls. Warning: the beach has caused several recent deaths through sneaker waves (unusually powerful waves) — strictly observe the warning signs and stay more than 30 m from the edge. The village of Vík (300 inhabitants), with its small red church perched on a hill and its hotel-restaurant, is the only major stopover between Selfoss and Höfn.
The apotheosis of the south coast is the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, 200 km east of Vík and 80 km west of Höfn. This 18 km² lagoon, 248 m deep, gathers icebergs that calve from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier (a Vatnajökull tongue) — a spectacle of icebergs slowly drifting to sea in surreal blue water. Amphibious zodiac tours let you navigate between the blocks (€60-90/person, May to October). Opposite, the Diamond Beach is a black-sand beach strewn with stranded iceberg fragments glittering like diamonds in the sun — one of Iceland's most iconic photo sites.
Explore South Iceland
Spots in the region
Situation
Où se situe South Iceland ?
Ouvrir la carte en grand sur OpenStreetMap →Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to visit the Iceland south coast?+
Can you do the south coast in one day from Reykjavik?+
Is Reynisfjara beach really dangerous?+
How do you visit the Vatnajökull glacier?+
Do you have to pay to visit the south coast waterfalls and beaches?+
What accommodation should you choose on the south coast?+
Can you see puffins on the south coast?+
Our verdict
Iceland's South Coast is the unmissable itinerary of any trip of at least 5 days in Iceland, and the natural complement to the Golden Circle. Plan 2-3 days minimum to cover it comfortably (1 night at Vík, 1 night in the Jökulsárlón region), with direct return to Reykjavik on day 3 or continuation toward the east fjords on the full Ring Road. Our tip: leave early from Reykjavik to have Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss before 10am, lunch at Vík (excellent Suður-Vík restaurant), spend the night at Hof or Hali (lodges with Vatnajökull views) to photograph Jökulsárlón at dawn and sunset without crowds.