By Monika
7-Day South Iceland Itinerary – Tips for the Ultimate Trip.
If you can only spend one week in Iceland, you are probably wondering what to do, what to see, and how to best plan your trip.
Well, I’ll make it very easy for you! Just follow this South Iceland itinerary I created for my most recent trip to this wonderful country with my dad. It was his first visit, and I wanted to show him Iceland’s best features.
Yes, I know – there are way too many to pack in one week, but touring the South Coast seemed like the best choice to highlight Iceland’s beauty.
So follow along and get all the tips you need to plan your amazing week in Iceland!
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Note: this itinerary works best in the summer months, but I’ll give you ideas and modifications if you’re planning a winter trip.
Helpful tip: it’s great to have a plan (and I AM A PLANNER!) but in Iceland you have to be flexible. The weather may affect how closely you’ll be able to stick to your itinerary – so keep an open mind and adjust when needed. We visited in September and strong winds forced some changes to our schedule, but we reorganized and still had a blast!
Day 1: Arrival day (+ Reykjanes Peninsula, Reykjavik and Sky Lagoon)
That is usually the arrival day, so depending on what time you land you may choose to just spend a day in Reykjavik and then rest, or just rest – totally your choice!
For us, day 1 started very early. My dad flew in from Europe the night before, and I met him early in the morning straight from my US flight. We picked up our rental car from Blue Car Rental, had some breakfast, and set off for our adventure.
The weather did not greet us in the best way – it was windy and rained on and off in the morning but we donned our wind- and waterproof jackets and stuck to the plan.
Reykjanes Peninsula
We toured the Reykjanes Peninsula first. I haven’t had a chance to do that during my prior trips to Iceland, so this time it was a must.
Brimketill Lava Pool
We started off with the Brimketill Lava Pool as it was the farthest point from the airport.
We drove through the volcanic landscapes and on that gloomy windy early morning it seemed a bit surreal. We had the road to ourselves and soon arrived at the parking lot (also empty!)
Well, I can only share with you the pictures of the stairs up to the viewing platform as the waves were so powerful they were flooding the deck and I was afraid of not only getting soaked, but simply swept to sea!
So I stayed on the stairs and the lava pool remain on my “to see in Iceland list”!
Gunnuhver Geothermal Area
Next was the Gunnuhver Geothermal Area – my dad’s first exposure to the Icelandic “rotten eggs” sulfur smell! And it is strong there! Almost as strong as in Hverir Geothermal Area near Lake Mývatn in North Iceland.
Bridge Between Continents
Then we drove to the Bridge Between Continents – you can literally stand in between the tectonic plates! I find this place amazing!
Seltún Geothermal Area
Next up was Seltún Geothermal Area. The drive was a bit longer than usual as the erupting volcano caused some road closures, but if you haven’t had a chance to see Hverir Geothermal Area in North Iceland, this is the next best thing, in my opinion.
We walked the paths, admiring the mud pools and steam vents surrounded by multicolored soil.
This is the Reykjanes Peninsula in a nutshell; read my full guide to Reykjanes Peninsula for more information, tips for visiting, and tons of photos!
Then we did some grocery shopping at my favorite grocery store in Iceland – Bonus – and checked in to our apartment in Kópavogur – a suburb just outside Reykjavik.
Helpful tip: if you arrive early, like we did, it’s good to arrange for an early check-in, or if it’s in our budget, book your hotel for the night before. That way you don’t have to wait till the posted check-in time to rest.
Helpful tip: We had an extra day before our South Coast exploration, so we stayed closer to Reykjavik to keep our options open and possibly see either the Golden Circle or Snæfellsnes Peninsula. We ended up driving the Golden Circle. If you’re planning to travel straight towards the South Coast, you may be better off spending the night in Selfoss/Flúðir area, which will get you closer to the South Coast attractions. More tips on that at the end of this article.
LEARN MORE: Iceland Accommodation Explained: What to Know Before You Book.
Reykjavik
After lunch and a bit of rest we drove to Reykjavik and spent the afternoon exploring the city.
Sky Lagoon
Our last stop of the day was the Sky Lagoon and it was just what we needed after a long day of exploring!
Note: we chose to schedule the Blue Lagoon for our departure day as it fit better with our itinerary, but if you didn’t want to drive around the Reykjanes Peninsula, you could plan a visit to the Blue Lagoon before you explore Reykjavik, as it’s close to the Keflavik Airport.
Day 2: Head towards Vik
This stretch of the Ring Road is VERY RICH in amazing natural wonders, so I’ll give you suggestions but keep in mind that this itinerary is an ”out and back trip” so whatever you don’t get to see on your way to Höfn (or wherever you decide to end your trip – more on that later in this article), you’ll get to see on your way back.
For a comprehensive list of South Coast attractions read my guide to the best places to see on the South Coast.
Here are my recommendations:
Fence of Bras
It’s a quick, fun stop between Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss waterfalls.
A farm fence with colorful bras hung on it. What started as a mild after-party prank some years ago is now becoming a tribute to breast cancer awareness.
Note that I skipped Seljalandsfoss waterfall – it can be a pretty wet adventure, and I usually recommend those at the end of your trip (or at least at the end of the day), rather than at the beginning so that you don’t continue your adventures potentially soaked.
Skógafoss waterfall
Skógafoss is a massive, breathtaking waterfall, known for its double rainbows and a staircase with over 400 steps leading to incredible views from the top and to the beginning of the Waterfall Way hike.
Option: hike a part or the entire Waterfall Way hike (also known as the Skógafoss hike).
The entire hike is 7 km long and you get to see 26 waterfalls on the way.
I was lucky to hike part of it during my most recent trip and it was amazing. The views are unbeatable and even though I only hiked about half of the trail’s length it was an unforgettable experience.
Note: if you plan to hike the Waterfall Way trail as part of your itinerary, allow at least half a day for it, depending on how much of the trail you cover. We spent about 4 hours total on the hike and visiting Skógafoss.
Solheimajökull glacier
Check out the glacier viewpoint and/or book a glacier hike or an ice-climbing tour. We did and I’d highly recommend it!
Read more about our experience in my guide to the best glacier hikes in Iceland!
Read more about visiting glaciers in Iceland (+ get essential safety tips!)
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Reynisfjara is the most famous black sand beach of the South Coast and a rare combination of stunning beauty and danger.
Read about how to visit Reynisfjara safely!
Dyrhólaey Cliffs
Dyrhólaey Cliffs – a must-visit if you want to see the iconic stone arch and see the puffins in the summer!
Vik
Vik is the southernmost village of Iceland and a very charming place to visit and spend the night during your road trip. It’s best known for the iconic Vík í Mýrdal church but there is so much more to see and do here!
Option: book a horseback riding tour on the beach.
Option: book a tour to visit Katla Ice Cave (the only ice cave that is safe to visit year-round).
Helpful hint: to finish visiting more attractions around Vik you can either add a day here now or make an overnight stop on your way back to break up the drive to Reykjavik. I recommend the second option, especially if you‘d rather not have a long day of driving.
You can spend the night here in Vik or continue driving about an hour to the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, which will put you closer to the attractions of the next day.
Option: book the Laki Craters Day Tour in the summer – add a day! You’ll get to see some amazing landscapes, travel on mountain roads and cross rivers in a super jeep and go on amazing hikes to the top of Laki Mountain and through a volcanic crater – it’s a wonderful adventure-packed day! The tour departs from Kirkjubæjarklaustur so it would be best to spend the night there.
I went on this tour with my dad, and we had so much fun! My full review is COMING SOON!
Day 3: Vik to Glacier Lagoons
Continue to follow the Ring Road, making stops along the way to admire the amazing Icelandic landscapes.
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon – an easy hike from the parking lot will take you to a breathtaking canyon with unique serpentine cliffs.
Eldhraun Lava Field
Follow a path through a field of lava formations from the Laki volcanic eruption.
Kirkjugolf Monument
A quick stop to see interesting basalt columns looking like a church floor.
Foss á Síðu waterfall
It’s a small but very pretty waterfall that you can also see peeking through the rock formations of the next stop.
Dverghamrar Cliffs
A unique horseshoe-shaped cluster of basalt columns, deeply connected to an Icelandic tale about it still being home to trolls.
You’ll find more details about these (and other) attractions of this region in my guide to the best places to see on the South Coast of Iceland.
Skaftafell Visitor’s Center (Skaftafellsstofa)
It’s a great stop to take a bathroom/food break during your road trip. Inside you’ll find a lot of information about Vatnajökull National Park.
This is also where the hiking trails to Svartifoss waterfall and Skaftafellsjökull glacier viewpoint hikes begin.
Both of these hikes are wonderful. I’ve described Svartifoss waterfall hike in the South Coast guide mentioned above and the Skaftafellsjökull viewpoint short walk in my guide to visiting glaciers in Iceland.
If you decide to hike both trails, allow about 3-4 hours here.
Hofskirkja
A beautiful traditional Icelandic turf church. It’s a quick detour from the Ring Road, very much worth a stop!
Option: Skaftafel glacier hike or ice climbing if not done on Solheimajökull glacier. We did not do these tours during our South Coast tour with my dad, but I did both the glacier hike and the ice climbing during my prior visits, and I highly recommend both! You should allow a half day for this activity.
Option: Ingólfshöfði puffin tour in the summer months – a great adventure taking you to a remote promontory, where you get a chance to see the puffins and experience a fun tractor ride through the marsh and black beach. Allow about 3 hours for this tour.
Glacier Lagoons
Most travelers stop the drive at Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which is the end point of this leg of the itinerary. You can also stop here, visit the lagoon and Diamond Beach, stopping at the less known, quieter Fjallsárlón Lagoon on the way (the lagoons are only 15-20 minutes away from each other) and spend the night in this area.
I stayed at the Hali Country Hotel and loved it.
Vestrahorn
However if you still have time in your day and the weather cooperates, you have an option to drive another hour towards the town of Höfn and visit the dramatic Vestrahorn Mountain, Stokksnes Beach and the Viking Village. Have some delicious coffee or hot chocolate at the Viking Café, with their signature waffles or some soup.
If you do make the drive, you can also spend the night at the Viking Café Guesthouse, at one of the hotels in the nearby Höfn or drive back to the glacier lagoon area to stay closer to the activities for the next day.
Day 5: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon to Vik
Today you’ll start making your way back on the Ring Road. If you chose to spend an extra day in Vik on your way here, you’ll most likely drive straight through to Reykjavik.
If you decided to break up the drive with a stop in Vik, follow the rest of this itinerary for ideas on what to see on your way.
Glacier lagoons
Start your day by visiting Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the incredible Diamond Beach, if you haven’t done that yesterday. You can also just visit again as they look different each day, depending on the weather and the time of the day.
In the summer months you can book a boat tour either here or at Fjallsárlón Lagoon. I did it at Fjallsárlón and had a great time. During my most recent trip, I had one booked for Jökulsárlón, however due to strong winds it was cancelled, so it still remains on my “to do in Iceland” list!
Book a boat tour at Jökulsárlón Lagoon.
Book a boat tour at Fjallsárlón Lagoon.
Make sure to stop by Fjallsárlón Lagoon, too, as it is very different from Jökulsárlón but just as beautiful.
Winter option – book the Crystal Blue Ice Cave tour – they depart from the Jökulsárlón lagoon parking lot.
Múlagljúfur Canyon
Múlagljúfur Canyon hike is a must if you’re a hiker and if you have time in your trip plan! It starts from an unmarked parking lot, very close to Fjallsárlón Lagoon. It took us about 45 minutes to an hour to reach the summit for some truly stunning views.
Read my full guide to Múlagljúfur Canyon hike for more information on the trail, plus photos and tips for the best experience.
Kviarjökull and Svinafellsjökull
Visit Kviarjökull and Svinafellsjökull outlet glaciers – parts of the large Vatnajökull glacier – both located along the Ring Road, and just a few minutes from the free parking areas and will give you more opportunities to view this majestic Icelandic glacier.
Depending on how active and busy you like your day and which activities you choose for today, you can stop here and spend the night in Kirkjubæjarklaustur.
This will also be a great time to add the Laki Tour I mentioned earlier, if you haven’t done so on the way in. Remember it’s a full day tour, only available in the summer.
The other option is to make your way to Vik, visit Yoda Cave, maybe hike the Hjörleifshöfði trail and add any other Vik area attractions that you didn’t get to before.
Day 6: Vik to Reykjavik
Start your final day by visiting some more beautiful Icelandic waterfalls!
Kvernufoss waterfall
Take an easy hike to a gorgeous Kvernufoss waterfall. Don’t forget to put on your raingear as you can walk behind its cascades, and you’ll most likely get wet!
You can visit the Skógar Museum as well since it’s located right next to the same parking lot that the Kvernufoss hike starts at. And of course, stop by Skógafoss again if you wish!
Seljavallalaug Geaothermal Pool
Seljavallalaug Swimming Pool is such a unique place, one of my favorite spots! You just won’t see a fully functioning geothermal swimming pool nestled in a secluded lush green valley anywhere else! It’s an easy, relatively flat hike from the parking area.
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls
It’s time to see one of the most famous waterfalls of the South Coast of Iceland!
Seljalandsfoss is a massive, amazing waterfall, most famous for a path behind it that you can walk on and see it from a large cavern behind the cascade. It’s a must-do experience!
Afterwards, walk another few minutes on the paved path to a “hidden waterfall” called Gljúfrabúi – literally hidden in a narrow canyon. Don’t skip it!
Learn all you need to know to visit both waterfalls in my guide to Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi waterfalls.
If this is your last full day of sightseeing, make your way to the Blue Lagoon and relax in the blue silica water after a long day!
If you already saw Reykjavik, spend the night at one of many hotels near the airport so that you can be ready for your flight home the next day.
Day 7: Departure day
Depending on when your flight is, you can also move your visit to the Blue Lagoon to today as it is only about 20 minutes from the airport.
If you have a later/evening flight, you can visit the Reykjanes peninsula as well. If you only have time for some of it, I’d recommend visiting Bridge Between the Continents.
I hope this itinerary gave you some ideas for your South Coast trip.
For more information about the attractions of this amazing area read my detailed South Coast guide.
If you have more days:
- Add an extra night before or after Day 3 and visit Laki Craters in the Highlands – the road starts right by Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon and it’s an amazing day trip! Read my guide to find out why I recommend booking a tour for this adventure 🙂
- Visit the Golden Circle at the beginning, before you take off towards Vik, or at the end of your trip, before you fly out. I’d personally recommend the later, as it puts you closer to the airport and you can spend the night in Selfoss/Flúðir area on your way back from visiting Seljalandsfoss.
- Visit Snæfellsnes Peninsula before you start exploring the South Coast.
If you have time for both, I’d visit Snaefellsness before the South Coast and the Golden Circle after.
- Visit Westman Islands either before the South Coast tour or after the last day of exploring. The ferry departs from Landeyjahöfn, located near Seljalandsfoss, so it makes a convenient stop on either end of the trip.
Northern Lights
If you’re visiting during the Northern Lights season, remember to check the weather forecast for Aurora predictions. There are many Northern Lights tours from Reykjavik but you can easily spot them on your own.
More helpful tips:
Here are some final tips and recommendations for your trip:
Rent a car
As I mentioned earlier, this itinerary works best as a self-drive adventure. You are in control of what you see and in which order, you can also easily adjust your plans as needed.
Rent a proper car for your trip with a 5% discount automatically applied to your reservation from a trusted local company I always rent from – Blue Car Rental!
In the summer months you can also rent a campervan, giving you even more flexibility as you won’t have to make advanced reservations for accommodations. You just show up at a campground of your choice.
LEARN MORE: Renting a Car in Iceland – How to Choose the Right Car for Your Trip.
Guided tours
You can see the South Coast with a guided tour; however, to see most of what I mentioned in this itinerary, you should book a 2-day or 3-day excursion, and most of them usually also include the Golden Circle in their itinerary.
If you don’t plan to rent a car, the tours are a great option, however you won’t be able to explore everything and hike some of the trails.
LEARN MORE: How to See Iceland Without a Car: Best Tours and + Itinerary.
Check the weather and road conditions
Always check the most up-to-date weather forecast and road status before you take off each day. Iceland’s weather changes often and you want to have the latest information.
Also, check your emails – if you rented a car, your rental company will send you notifications of any weather warnings that were issued.
During my September trip we got a yellow wind warning and let me tell you, driving a regular car, while safe, was no joke! Driving a higher profile car, like a campervan was not recommended.
LEARN MORE: Driving in Iceland – Essential Tips for a Great Road Trip.
Be flexible
Because of the finnicky Icelandic weather you should keep your itinerary somewhat flexible.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article – have a plan but be ready to adjust your schedule. We had to move the date of our Múlagljúfur hike and our Jökulsárlón boat ride was cancelled, but we reorganized and still had an amazing trip.
For more tips on how to plan the best trip to Iceland, read: What Not to Do in Iceland – 40 Mistakes to Avoid and First Trip to Iceland Travel Tips.
Bring a map!
You should always have an offline map with you in Iceland.
If you want a fantastic, easy-to-read, high-quality map of Iceland to have as a navigation backup AND listing gas stations on your route – grab the Iceland Adventure Travel Map that I personally don’t travel to Iceland without!
I hope this article will help you create the perfect South Iceland itinerary for your Iceland adventure!
Get travel insurance!
👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!
It will give you peace of mind in case of trip interruption, flight delays or cancellations and unexpected medical emergencies.
You can also compare costs and policies by filling out the form below:
Stay connected
🛜 Stay connected during your trip with an eSIM like Airalo, Saily or Sim Local!
Use promo code PLANPACK to unlock your 5% discount!
You can also rent a portable wi-fi hotspot with your rental car.
Let me help you plan your trip!
Get organized with this printable, fillable 45-page ICELAND TRAVEL PLANNER – keep track of flights, hotels, tours, daily itineraries and even your trip budget!
BONUS! The planner has journal pages for your memories!
You may also like:
- How to Plan a Stopover in Iceland (and What to Do to Make it Epic!)
- 15 Best Things to Do in Iceland.
- Best Black Sand Beaches in Iceland – a Practical Guide.
- Diamond Circle in North Iceland – a Perfect Itinerary.
- Stuðlagil Canyon Guide: Tips for Hiking and Best Viewpoints.
- Reykjadalur Valley – a Beautiful Hike to a Hot River (+ Tips for the Best Experience)
- Road F35 in Iceland – Epic Drive Through the Highlands.
- Möðrudalur – a Complete Guide to the Most Charming Farm in Iceland.
For more Iceland inspiration and travel guides click HERE.
Need more help planning your trip? Join my Explore Iceland: Travel Tips & Advice FB Group community to ask questions, share your experiences, plus get expert travel tips and advice from a supportive community of Iceland enthusiasts! Join today!
🎙️ Prefer to listen to the travel guides instead? Check out my Explore Iceland Travel Podcast and easily plan your trip on the go!
About Monika
An avid traveler and a passionate trip planner, mildly obsessed with being organized and prepared 🙂
Well aware of how precious travel time is, I’m here to share my experience and help you get the most out of your vacation time.
“Taking the hassle out of trip planning”
