Last Updated on May 9, 2023
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There’s no shortage of beautiful landscapes and natural wonders in Iceland. You can find it at every corner as you travel through the country. The famous Ring Road takes you on a trip through volcanos, glaciers, geysers and hot springs. It doesn’t matter which direction you go, Iceland will not disappoint you. One of the most stunning routes you can explore is without a doubt South Coast of Iceland. As you drive along the coast you get to experience all the best that the country has to offer : spectacular waterfalls, black sand beach and glaciers, all in one day.
Whether you self drive or take a tour, a trip down the South Coast of Iceland is a must. If you are based in Reykjavik, it’s one of the few trips you can cover in one day. It’s also one of the most popular ones, right next to Golden Circle. The beauty you will see will sure blow you away.
Map of Stops along Iceland’s South Coast
What will you see along South Coast in Iceland
Eyjafjallajökull
Even though this was not an official stop on our trip, we got a glimpse of the volcano, that is responsible for the enormous popularity of Iceland. Back in 2010, Eyjafjallajökull, or better known as the volcano with the unpronounceable name, erupted. Even though Eyjafjallajökull is not the biggest volcano, the eruption caused an immense disruption to the air traffic all over Europe. The ash and smoke from the eruption covered the sky and halted air traffic for days. 20 European airports closed and millions of travelers got affected. This obviously made world wide news, which ultimately brought a lot of attention to Iceland.
Seeing Iceland all over the news sparked people’s interest in the country, and soon enough it was one of the hottest destinations to visit. Even though it might suffer a bit from over tourism these days, back then the sudden interest in the country was God sent. The tourist dollars helped Iceland recover from the financial slump it was in at the time.
Seljalandsfoss
After about 2 hr drive from Reykjavik, you get to a waterfall that might not impress you much at first. However, as you get closer, you’ll understand its appeal. What makes Seljalandsfoss unique is that it’s the only waterfall in Iceland, that you can walk behind. It’s an opportunity you simply can’t miss.
As you walk behind the gushing waters of Seljalandsfoss, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Naturally, the pathway behind it is very wet and muddy, which means one thing: it’s slippery. For that reason, it’s very important to stay on the designated pathway. You also want to protect your camera from the mist and water. This Earth Pak dry bag does an excellent job of keeping my camera dry, anytime there’s any kind of water involved.
Skógafoss
Located on the Skoga River is one of the biggest of Iceland’s waterfalls, with water cascading down 62 meters ( 200 feet ). If you are lucky to be there on a sunny day, you have a good chance of seeing a single or even double rainbow. For spectacular views of the waterfall from above and the lush, green surroundings, you can climb to the top via a staircase.
If visiting Skógafoss is part of your multiday drive around Iceland, you can park literally at the foot of the waterfall at the Skogar Campground. Although the facilities there are pretty basic, the view cannot be beat.
Sólheimajökull Glacier
The trip along the South Coast in Iceland will give you an opportunity to experience many wonders of nature, glaciers being one of them. With 11 % of land covered by glaciers, Iceland is the perfect destination for exploring them. The most known and visited is Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, located 400 km from Reykjavik. While it’s a sight not be missed, that distance makes it hard to include it in the South Coast day trip. Especially if you don’t want to miss all the other stops. A great alternative is a stop at Sólheimajökull glacier.
Sólheimajökull is part of Mýrdalsjökull, the 4th largest glacier in the country. A very popular activity is hiking the glacier with an experienced guide and plenty of companies offer different length hikes.
A visit to Sólheimajökull glacier is recommended for anyone who doesn’t believe in global warning. It’s the perfect place to see the extent of the damage it has on nature. There is a large lagoon, that has formed from melting ice in place where there once was a direct path.
Reynisfjara black sand beach
Even though Reynisfjara might not be the beach where you’d go sun tanning, it is one of the most stunning ones. It is made up by pitch black sand and small stones. So what causes the sand to be so black? After volcano eruption, lava ended up in the ocean and cooled off instantly in the cold Icelandic waters. Over time water broke up the lava into tiny pieces and washed it ashore.
One of the things that make Reynisfjara so picturesque and unique are the basalt rock columns called Reynisfjell. If you are into bird watching, this is a great spot for that, as it’s a popular place for bird nesting, including puffins.
While visiting Reynisfjara you will notice plenty of warning signs not to stand too close to the water. It’s very important to take these warnings seriously, as the seemingly calm water can become rough and dangerous within seconds. The sneaker waves, as they are called, are powerful and can knock you down and sweep you into the sea. Unfortunately this has happened more than once. NEVER turn your back to the water.
Vik
The southernmost village of Vik is most likely where you will stop for lunch, if you are part of an organized tour. Even though the population of Vik is not more than 300 people, it is the biggest settlement for 70 km ( 43 miles ). It’s a good place to pick up some essentials and gas up. The most recognizable landmark in Vik is the picturesque, red roofed church Vikurkirkja up on the hill.
After lunch, make sure to walk behind the building to see the large field of lupin spread ahead of you. Even though these bright purple flowers take over Iceland’s landscape during summer months, they are not native to the country. They were brought over from Alaska ( hence the full name Alaskan lupin ) in hopes of stopping soil erosion caused by all the trees that got cut down. Although the plan worked, in the long run it proved to be somewhat problematic. Lupin started spreading like crazy and now covers huge areas of the country.
Icelandic horses
As always, spotting an animal in my travels quickly becomes a highlight of the trip for me. It was no different in Iceland. When you leave Reykjavik and start driving around the country, you will run into the Icelandic horses everywhere.
Obviously, when you self drive you are free to pull over anytime you want, but most tour operators will also make a stop or two, so you can get a close look at those beauties. In retrospect, it’s probably for the best I didn’t self drive, because I’d stop every single time I saw a horse, and wouldn’t get very far.
READ MORE:
- Golden Circle in Iceland – all the main stops along the way
- Top things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland
- Tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
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