Last Updated on January 21, 2025 by Steph
While I think the entire country of Iceland is worth exploring, many of our favorite places are along Iceland’s Southern Coast. Once we reached the northern part of Iceland, it was more ice and snow. The south was filled with incredible waterfalls surrounded by green moss, black sand, and magical turquoise waters.
How to Explore Southern Iceland’s Breathtaking Scenery
Iceland is best explored by car/campervan because sites are spread out through the countryside. If you are planning an adventure here, there are a few things that I encourage you to bring along to make it the best trip ever.
- Rain gear and waterproof shoes
- Good camera equipment, we recommend the GoPro camera
- Downloaded maps and playlists on your phone
- Extra layers and dry socks to change into
- Snacks and drinks to keep the energy up
The weather can be unpredictable in Iceland, and the wind and rain can pick up at any minute. The more prepared you are, the more you’ll be able to enjoy these stunning places regardless of the conditions. Make your packing list and come prepared.
Southern Iceland’s Must-Stop Destinations
Now, let’s dive into the eight destinations you must have on your Southern Iceland Coast trip. There are plenty more stops along the Ring Road, but I would start with these on your itinerary and then add others if you have additional time.
Seljalandsfoss
This is an excellent introduction to the Southern Coast of Iceland. It’s a beautiful and extremely tall waterfall. The most unique fact is that you can hike all the way around. You will get wet doing this, so the GoPro is handy for a camera because it’s waterproof. You can see its beauty right from Highway 1, but you should stop the car, get out, and check it out. Just a little further from the road, a second waterfall at this location appears to fall into a giant hole in the earth.
The Hidden Pool at Seljavallalaug
Mountain water trickles down from the volcano and fills up this concrete pool. The thing about Iceland is that they know how to harness the power of the earth to enjoy water and natural hot tubs. This one isn’t easy to find, and you have to hike a little ways to get to it, but that’s why it’s so awesome. We didn’t swim, but the hike itself was incredible, and we spent lots of time just looking at the scenery. Next time, we will definitely bring our swimsuits on this adventure.
Skogarfoss
It’s another waterfall, but this one is different. A giant set of stairs allows you to climb to the top if you want a bird’s eye view, and there are a few really cool ledges along the way. My favorite part was the face of the old man who watches over the waterfall. Once we got to the bottom, we enjoyed a double rainbow. I’m telling you – Iceland will make everyone believe in magic. Also, I highly recommend the food at the lodge right at the parking lot. We enjoyed a grilled cheese with tomato soup, which was perfect for warming us up after getting face fulls of waterfall spray.
The Black Sand Reynisfjara Beach
Black sand, waves crashing, and signs of trolls everywhere. You’ll see the incredible sea stacks that legend says are trolls caught in the sunlight. Follow different paths to caves and colorful houses on the hill. The best view was from a little red house with a path that leads to a cave – find it. I was terrified to climb into it, but the view was awesome.
The Town of Vik
Whether you’re stopping for the night or just looking for a good meal, Vik is perfectly located in the middle of the Southern coast of Iceland. There are great hotels and restaurants in this small town, so you can stop and rest. Visit the Lava Show in town and enjoy a safe experience to see lava with your own eyes. Take photos of the famous church on the hill and restock on road trip snacks before you carry on.
The Majestic Canyon – Fjaðrárgljúfur
Travel a short way up a gravel road, and you’ll find this majestic canyon that has been carved out by water for thousands of years. Hike to the top and get a beautiful view that is always changing and shifting with the river. If you have good waterproof shoes, you can hike in the canyon as well along the river.
Svartivoss
This is known as the “Black Waterfall,” thanks to the lava columns surrounding the waterfall. Unlike many others, you cannot see this one from the road. Instead, you’ll follow a trail in the national park that will lead you to multiple viewpoints of the waterfall. It’s a really lovely place to get out and hike for a bit. The hike was about two hours and included all of our photo stops.
Diamond Beach and Jokulsarlon
Imagine a beach covered in diamonds with adorable animals floating by like they are on a lazy river. That’s what our experience of Jokulsarlon was. It’s a lagoon connected to multiple glaciers, so it’s constantly home to so many icebergs as they head out to the ocean. It was so different from any other stops we made the entire time we were in Iceland and a place I cannot wait to return to again in the future.
Final Thoughts on Southern Iceland
I love looking through the Iceland pictures. It makes me want to get back already. If you don’t have time to do the entire Ring Road itinerary, explore the Southern Coast of Iceland and take in these sites. You’ll leave wanting more; like us, you’ll be ready to plan a return trip.
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