The star attractions along Iceland’s south coast

Iceland offers more than its fair share of things to see – and to photograph. And you’ll see a lot of it by simply sticking to the coastline along the south of the country. South Iceland offers up a whole constellation of natural star attractions. From recently-formed lava fields to diamonds on the beach, we give you the guide on what not to miss as you start your drive east from Keflavik airport.

You’ll need to have been living under a rock – of the basalt variety, in this case – to have missed the memo that Iceland has ascended to the top of any credible list of must-visit destinations. The combination of some awe-inspiring nature and a just generally inspiring population has served as some great PR for the Nordic nation in recent years. Iceland is cool. Iceland is mysterious. And Iceland does really well on social media!

The Vestrahorn mountain serves as a majestic backdrop during your visit to Stokksnes in the east. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

Many first-time visitors to Iceland will take the tried and tested option of exploring the country’s capital Reykjavík and then embarking on the Golden Circle trip. And many decades on, that’s still not a bad shout. But in recent years, more and more people have been unearthing the countless visual gems that are to be found along Iceland’s south coast. And they’ve been pretty astounded at what they’ve seen.

These statuesque basalt columns can be found at Reynisfjara beach beside Vík. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

The best things in life are free

There are a lot of reasons why a trip along the south coast is the way to go, but one of them speaks to pretty much every visitor coming into the country – budget. Iceland is an expensive place to spend a few days in, and if your wages aren’t being paid in Icelandic krona, then it’s safe to assume you’ll be noticing the price tag on things. What’s great about a trip along the south coast, is that it’s all based around nature – so there’s no entrance fee to be forked out. You bring the sensible footwear, and South Iceland will put on a spectacular show for you, free of charge.

The Remundargil hike near Vík showcases Icelandic nature at its most dramatic. Photo: Karl Batterbee

Vík is a small village with a small name, but it’s one to remember. As Iceland is so big, you can’t tour the south coast in just one day. You’ll need a hub. And Vík has – quite literally – built itself up to be the perfect hub for intrepid travellers. In recent years, a huge selection of eating and drinking spots have popped up, as have more hotels, and even the locals have gotten wise to the new appeal of their trendy little village, with many of them turning their homes into Airbnb rentals when they head off on holiday themselves.

Vík is also perfectly located – right in the centre of the south – for you to explore that lengthy coastline over a few days. A few hours’ drive west has plenty to offer, a few hours’ drive east serves up even more sights, and there’s also plenty to be found in the immediate vicinity too.

Kvernufoss waterfall is a lesser known alternative to the more tourist-crowded Seljalandsfoss, and you can also venture right behind the water. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

The feast of the east

The guide books will tell you that the two most important places to check out east of Vík are the glacier lagoon (Jökulsárlón) and the picturesque canyon of Fjaðrárgljúfur. And they’re absolutely right – two visually incredible places that will give you once-in-a-lifetime views. But there is so much more to see while you make your way there.

On your drive to Fjaðrárgljúfur, make sure to stop and take in the moss-covered lava fields of Eldhraun which go on for miles. And after Fjaðrárgljúfur, instead of returning to the main road, continue further up the rough highland F-road (you’ll need a 4X4 for this) to Fagrifoss. This translates as beautiful waterfall. And for the land of stunning waterfalls to have highlighted this one in particular to be awarded beautiful in its name, you know it’s going to be something special.

Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon is a sight that stays with travellers forever. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

Continuing east, many people stop off at the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur for a refill, be it fuel or food. But if you have an extra few hours, it’s worth parking up on the western edge of the village and exploring the nearby nature. There’s a forest hike to be found, which leads to a mountain hike if you’ve got any energy left. And the majestic Systrastapi rock is a beautiful sight, as is the rusty-red Rauðárfoss waterfall that you’ll walk past to get to it. Then, there are two more waterfalls to take in before hitting the road again – Stjórnarfoss and Systrafoss. Waterfalls never get boring in Iceland – they’re all so wonderfully unique.

The church overlooking the village of Vík. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

Shining bright like a diamond

Next on your drive east is the big attraction – the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon where crystal-like chunks of glass float in a beautiful blue lake. But while you’re there, don’t miss the opportunity to saunter on south to the Diamond Beach, so called because some of those fine-jewellery looking icebergs have landed on the black-sand beach. Picturesque, obviously, but practical too… If you rinse one of those chunks in the sea, it will serve as a hydration-rich ice lolly for you to get sucking on.

If time is on your side, there is one more big reason to keep driving east, and that’s Stokksnes; a popular shooting location for films because of the Vestrarhorn mountain backdrop. One place in particular you have to visit in Stokksnes is the Viking village. Built as a film set and promptly abandoned by thriftless Hollywood, the local community decided to keep it as a tourist attraction. And you’ll see why it’s been pulling in the numbers, with a ghostly air surrounding the Viking ship and abandoned lodgings.

Skógafoss is an essential stop on any journey along Iceland’s south coast, and can be seen from the road, so you can’t miss it. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

Queen Vík

Back at your hotspot hub of Vík and a great way to spend a few hours is by doing the short hike up Reynisfjall mountain. Once you get to the top you can walk all the way around for views of Dyrhólaey (another spot worth a visit, and be sure to stop at the Loftsalahellir cave on the way), Reynisfjara beach (where those famous basalt columns can be found) and over the top of Reynisdrangar (the iconic boulders of rock that emerge from the sea at Vík’s black sand beach).

Another jaw-dropping walk near Vík is the Hjörleifshöfði inselberg. Don’t miss out on the Yoda cave at the bottom, facing the sea – so called because when you’re looking out from inside the cave the shape of the entrance bears an uncanny resemblance to the figure of the Star Wars fave.

A stroll across Reykjavík harbour. Photo: Karl Batterbee

Go West

Heading west from Vík back to either the capital or the airport, and you could set aside two whole days to stop off at everything worth seeing along a drive that will otherwise take just two-and-a-half hours.

The guidebooks got it right when they earmarked the 60-metre-high Skógafoss, arguably the most impressive waterfall in Iceland. And equally special is the hike that you can embark upon behind it if you’re brave enough to scale the staircase to the top. But what many visitors to Iceland don’t know is that if you walk about ten minutes to the right of Skógafoss you’ll find Gluggafoss – a real hidden gem of a waterfall that shows up spectacularly in photos.

One thing that Iceland is famous for is its geothermal pools, and you’ll find one of the oldest in the country on that journey from Vík to Reykjavík. Seljavallalaug is an outdoor pool, which is free of charge to enjoy. And you’ll find it a 10 minute drive beyond Skógafoss. Whatever the weather, you can heat up by taking a dip inside, and it’s got the added bonus of a striking mountain backdrop while you chill.

The famous Reynisdrangar sea stacks of Vík. Photo: Gunnar Freyr Gunnarsson, Icelandic Explorer

Lava at first sight

Finally, you’ll have heard about all of the seismic activity that’s been happening in Iceland sporadically since 2021, with new volcano eruptions happening near the town of Grindavik on an almost annual basis now. And that means a brand-new attraction has opened up on Iceland’s south coast! Whether you’ll be allowed access to any eruption site will depend on when you go, and if anything is erupting. But at the very least you’ll be able to take a hike through the Natthagi valley – which is now partly a lava field from that first eruption three and a half years ago. It’s a stark reminder of just how powerful Iceland’s nature can be. And with it being so close to the airport, it’s not a bad idea to save it for the last visit on your trip – to give you plenty to think about on your flight home.

The view on a tour of the Katla ice cave. Photo: Karl Batterbee