South Coast · Reykjavik neighborhood guide
Things to Do on the South Coast from Reykjavík
Waterfall chasers, glacier walkers, and black-sand beach strollers get the South Coast's signature draws: Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Reynisfjara. Here's what's actually worth your time, ranked and judged.
South Coast in brief
Is there a day trip from Reykjavík to Iceland’s South Coast?
Yes. The South Coast is commonly visited as a full-day excursion from Reykjavík, either on a guided tour or by self-drive.
Is the South Coast of Iceland worth visiting from Reykjavík?
Yes. The route combines major waterfalls, a glacier, a black-sand beach, sea stacks, coastal scenery and the village of Vík in one of Iceland’s most varied day trips.
How far is the South Coast from Reykjavík?
Vík is roughly 190 km east of Reykjavík by road, so reaching the main South Coast sights and returning in one day makes for a long outing.
Get oriented
How the South Coast fits together
This is a long eastbound run from Reykjavík on Route 1, not a compact district you can wander on foot.
The classic route heads east from Reykjavík to Seljalandsfoss and nearby Gljúfrabúi, then continues to Skógar for Skógafoss, Kvernufoss and Skógar Museum. Sólheimajökull is the glacier detour farther east, followed by the Vík area: Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey and the town of Vík itself. The main sights are spread along the Ring Road and side roads, with roughly 190 km each way to Vík. A guided tour is the easier choice if you do not want a long return drive; self-driving gives you more control but leaves weather, road conditions and timing to you.
A west-to-east run that keeps the stops in sensible driving order:
See & do, ranked
The best South Coast stops from Reykjavík
The famous waterfalls earn their reputation, but the glacier, museum and quieter waterfalls make the long route more rewarding.
Must-see
The essentials, ranked.- 1
Skógar Worth the hypeSkógafoss
The South Coast's definitive waterfall, a 60-metre curtain with a broad base and a worthwhile trail above it.
Skógafoss is the South Coast waterfall that earns its postcard status: roughly 60 metres high and 25 metres wide, dropping beside the old settlement of Skógar on Iceland's Ring Road. The base is easy to reach, but the better reason to linger is the stairway above, where Waterfall Way follows the Skóga River past a string of smaller falls. The full described route is 17.2 km and takes roughly 4.5–5 hours, though you can turn around whenever the weather or your legs say so. Look for a rainbow in the spray, then remember the local story that settler Þrasi hid a chest of gold beneath the falls.
30 minutes to 5 hourson GoogleGood for families, couples, friends, solo
Sourcessouth.is
- 2
Near Vík Worth the hypeReynisfjara Black Sand Beach
A volcanic beach of black sand, basalt columns and sea stacks that is spectacular only if you treat the ocean as dangerous.
Reynisfjara is the South Coast's most cinematic-feeling stop, built from volcanic lava, wave-broken sand and cliffs of geometric basalt. The beach sits about 6 miles south of Vík and is part of the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark. Its famous details are all close together: Hálsanefshellir Cave, the basalt columns and Reynisdrangar offshore. The warning is not decorative. At least twelve serious rescues and five fatalities were recorded there between 2007 and 2024 in the cited safety research, and sneaker waves can run far up the beach. Check the colored warning lights, obey closures and never turn your back on the water.
1-2 hourson GoogleGood for couples, friends, solo
Sourcesen.wikipedia.org
- 3
Route 1 near Þórsmerkurvegur Worth the hypeSeljalandsfoss
The waterfall you can walk behind, provided the path is open and you accept getting thoroughly wet.
Seljalandsfoss drops 60 metres from meltwater originating at Eyjafjallajökull Glacier, but its appeal is the route rather than the height alone. A path enters the shallow cave behind the single cascade, letting you circle the waterfall while spray blows across the rock. Staying dry is not realistic, and the route can be icy, slippery or closed in winter because of falling icicles. It sits just off Route 1 via Road 249, roughly 120–128 km southeast of Reykjavík, with a paid parking area beside the falls and free access to the waterfall itself. Floodlights installed in 2001 make it visible after dark.
30-60 minuteson GoogleGood for families, couples, friends, solo
Sourcesadventures.is
Worth it with more time
Good additions once you've done the icons.- 4
Near Vík Worth itDyrhólaey
The South Coast's best high viewpoint, where a volcanic arch, lighthouse and nesting cliffs make the detour pay off.
Dyrhólaey is a 120-metre volcanic promontory near Vík, its name meaning “Door Hill Island” after the enormous sea-eroded arch at the tip. The area has been a nature reserve since 1978, and the current lighthouse was completed in 1927. From the viewpoints, the coast opens into a much larger landscape than the beach-level stops provide. Atlantic puffins nest on the cliffs approximately from May to September, while eider ducks occur year-round. Route 218 reaches two parking areas, lower by the Reynisfjara viewpoint and upper by the lighthouse. Some access is restricted during nesting season, so do not assume every road or path is open.
45-90 minuteson GoogleGood for couples, friends, solo
Sourcessouth.is
- 5
Road 221 near Vík Worth itSólheimajökull Glacier
A retreating, ash-streaked glacier you can view for free or explore properly on a guided walk.
Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier from the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap, with ice originating near Katla volcano. It is roughly 8 km long, 2 km wide and up to 200 metres thick, but the most telling detail is the black ash streaking across the ice from volcanic eruptions, including Eyjafjallajökull in 2010. From Route 1, Road 221 leads to the parking area, followed by a flat 10–15-minute walk to the viewpoint. The viewpoint is free; stepping onto the ice is not a casual hike, so join a guided tour. A typical guided excursion spends 2–2.5 hours on the glacier.
30 minutes to 4 hourson GoogleGood for couples, friends, solo
Sourcesadventures.is
Hidden gems
Where the crowds thin out.- Hidden gem
Skógar Worth itKvernufoss
Skógafoss's quieter neighbour, reached by a short gorge walk and rewarding you with a cave behind the falling water.
Kvernufoss is the stop to choose when Skógafoss feels too obvious. The roughly 30-metre fall is reached by a walk of about 20 minutes each way from behind the Skógar Museum, following the Kverna River into a gorge. You cross a stile, then arrive at a waterfall with a surprisingly roomy cave behind it. A new path was laid in 2022 as visitor traffic increased, but the walk-behind section remains a summer-only proposition: ice, snow and falling icicles make it dangerous in winter. Visiting the waterfall is free; parking is reported as 500 ISK, and toilets are available at the adjacent museum.
45-60 minuteson GoogleGood for couples, friends, solo
Sourcesguidetoiceland.is
Verdicts and rankings are our own; ratings open each place on Google. Prices, where shown, are an approximate per-person guide in USD.
The South Coast on screen
Where you've seen the South Coast before
These landscapes have appeared in real screen productions, not just travel ads.
- TV series, 2011
Game of Thrones
Icelandic landscapes were used for scenes north of the Wall, with the South Coast among the locations that supplied the show's frozen wilderness.
South Coast of IcelandSource
Getting around
Getting around the South Coast
Self-drive gives you control
Route 1 connects the main stops, with side roads to Seljalandsfoss, Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey. You control how long to stay, but you also carry the long return drive.
Tours simplify the long day
Guided South Coast tours commonly run from Reykjavík and remove the need to navigate and drive back after a full day of stops.
Build in weather flexibility
Waterfall paths, glacier access, beach warnings and bird-season closures can change the plan. Check road conditions, weather and local warnings before setting out.
The stops need short walks
Expect walks from parking areas, including the 10–15-minute glacier viewpoint route and the roughly 20-minute walk to Kvernufoss. Waterproof shoes matter at the gorge waterfalls.
Where to stay
Where to stay for the South Coast
Reykjavík
The easiest base for a guided day trip, with the widest choice of lodging and no need to move hotels.
Skógar
A useful middle-route base beside Skógafoss, Kvernufoss and Skógar Museum if you want an earlier start or more time at the waterfalls.
Vík
The practical overnight base near Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey, with cafés, a grocery store, camping and other road-trip conveniences.
Where to stay in Reykjavik
Compare Reykjavík bases before you choose between a day trip and an overnight South Coast route.
View the guideWho it's for
South Coast for families, couples, and friends
- The South Coast for families
- Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss and Vík are straightforward headline stops, while Skógar Museum gives everyone a break from wind and spray. Treat Reynisfjara as a serious safety stop, not a free-roaming beach.
- The South Coast for couples
- The route has the right big landscapes for a two-person day: waterfalls, glacier ice, Dyrhólaey's arch and the dark coast around Vík. An overnight in Vík makes the pace much less punishing.
- The South Coast for friends
- A self-drive group can divide the short walks, glacier option and waterfall detours around the weather. Kvernufoss is the smart add-on when the famous stops are crowded.
More of Reykjavik
Nearby neighborhoods
A short hop from South Coast, and worth pairing on the same trip.
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