Waterfalls, black sand and glacier lagoons, west to east along Route 1.
Iceland's Most Popular Route
Iceland's South Coast is the country's most popular route — and for good reason. In a single stretch of Route 1 you pass thundering waterfalls, black-sand beaches, glacier tongues, and the iceberg-filled lagoons of Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón. This guide walks you through the best stops from Reykjavík to the glacier lagoons.
If you would rather not drive it yourself, the classic day tour covers the western half — Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, Vík and the glacier snout at Sólheimajökull — and it is the most-reviewed south-coast departure on GetYourGuide at 4.8 from 12,573 reviews, from $133. Live dates and prices are below.
The east end of the route: Fjallsárlón, where the glacier wall stands close enough to hear.
Driving the whole island rather than the southern stretch? Our Iceland Ring Road itinerary puts this same coast on Days 1 and 2 of a 7-day loop.
South Coast Overview
The classic South Coast run goes from Reykjavík east to Jökulsárlón, about a 4.5–5 hour drive one way without stops. Because there's so much to see, most travelers spend 1–3 days working east, overnighting near Vík and again near the glacier lagoons.
That arithmetic is the whole planning problem in one line. Nine hours of driving leaves no room for the stops that justify the trip, so the question is never whether to break the journey but where. Vík sits almost exactly halfway and has the beds; the lagoons sit at the far end and deserve the unhurried morning.
Other Experiences You Might Enjoy
The South Coast sells more experiences than any other part of Iceland. Between Reykjavík and the lagoons you can walk behind Seljalandsfoss, climb the stairway beside Skógafoss, stand on the black sand at Reynisfjara, and step onto the ice at Sólheimajökull or Skaftafell. At the eastern end, Fjallsárlón runs zodiacs to the glacier wall, Jökulsárlón runs iceberg cruises beside Diamond Beach, and the blue ice caves inside Vatnajökull open from mid-October.
Best Stops on the South Coast (West to East)
Seljalandsfoss
A tall, slender waterfall you can walk behind — bring a rain jacket for the spray. It is the first real stop out of Reykjavík and the one most people underestimate: the path around the back is short, but it is wet in every season and icy in winter.
Skógafoss
A broad, powerful curtain of water with a stairway climb to a viewpoint above. Rainbows are common on sunny days, and the stair at the side is the difference between a photograph and a view over the whole valley.
Reynisfjara (black-sand beach)
Near the village of Vík: dramatic basalt columns, sea stacks, and powerful surf. Respect the warning signs — sneaker waves here are dangerous. They arrive without a visible build-up and reach far higher up the sand than the water line suggests, which is exactly why people are caught out.
The western half in a dayReykjavík: South Coast Waterfalls, Black Sand & Glacier Tour4.8/5 from 12,573 reviews · from $133 · walks behind Seljalandsfoss (weather permitting), stops at the black sand beaches and at Vík for lunch, and reaches the glacier snout at Sólheimajökull. This is the calendar at the top of the page. Children under 2 are not accepted.Check availability & prices →
Vík í Mýrdal
The south coast's main village and a natural overnight base, with a photogenic black-sand shoreline and cliffs. It is also the last place where fuel, food and beds are easy to find before the long empty stretch east.
The pick at SkaftafellSkaftafell: Falljökull Glacier Easy Group Hike4.6/5 from 1,678 reviews · 3 hours · from $106 · minimum age 8 · crampons, helmet, harness and ice axe provided, with coffee afterwards and free parking at the meeting point. Boots can be rented on site if yours are too soft for crampons.Check availability & prices →
Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon
A quieter, more intimate glacier lagoon set beneath Öræfajökull, with zodiac boat tours that bring you close to the glacier wall — with a fraction of the crowds of its famous neighbor. See our Fjallsárlón Glacier Lagoon guide for the full picture, and the boat tour page for the zodiac season and prices.
Fjallsárlón's zodiacs carry twelve people, which is why the lagoon still feels quiet at the water's edge.
Boat and ice in one bookingFjallsárlón: Secluded Glacier Hike and Iceberg Boat Tour4.8/5 from 67 reviews · from $245 · age 14+ · a zodiac across the lagoon to the far shore, then crampon time on Fjallsjökull, with 4x4 transfer. A small review base for the price, so read the recent feedback before you commit.Check availability & prices →
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach
The largest, most famous lagoon, with boat tours among the icebergs — and, just across the road, Diamond Beach, where icebergs glitter on black sand. Our Jökulsárlón guide covers the boat options, and the comparison with Fjallsárlón settles which of the two to give your morning to.
Two Reykjavík departures reach it, and the difference between them is whether the boat is included or sold as an extra.
Most bookedReykjavík: Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon & Diamond Beach Tour4.7/5 from 3,986 reviews · from $234 · the volume choice, with hotel pickup, Seljalandsfoss and Diamond Beach on the way. The lagoon boat cruise is a pre-bookable add-on rather than part of the fare. Around 14 hours door to door.Check availability & prices →
Boat ticket includedReykjavík: Glacier Lagoon Boat Ride & Diamond Beach Day Tour4.7/5 from 288 reviews · from $290 · the same long day with the lagoon crossing already in the price, so nothing is left to sell out separately. Children under 6 are not permitted.Check availability & prices →
South Coast Itinerary Ideas
1 day (fast)
Reykjavík → Seljalandsfoss → Skógafoss → Reynisfjara → back. It is a long day, and the glacier lagoons are too far to add well. Tours that try it anyway exist, and they are honest about the hours.
If one day is all you haveReykjavík: South Coast, Diamond Beach and Jökulsárlón Tour4.5/5 from 1,534 reviews · from $232 · reaches Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach and returns the same night, taking in Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss on the way. The lowest-rated option on this page, and the hours are the reason — treat it as a compromise, not the best version of the route.Check availability & prices →
2 days (recommended)
Day 1: Waterfalls + Reynisfjara, overnight in Vík.
Day 2: Skaftafell → Fjallsárlón boat tour → Jökulsárlón + Diamond Beach.
The guided version of the 2-dayFrom Reykjavík: 2-Day South Coast Tour with Blue Ice Cave4.7/5 from 261 reviews · from $741 · carries a Top rated badge · Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón and a seasonal ice cave, with a private-bathroom room and breakfast included. Only small carry-on bags fit the bus.Check availability & prices →
3 days (relaxed)
Add a glacier hike, an ice cave (winter), or extra time at the lagoons and Höfn. This is the version that stops feeling like a drive with viewpoints attached.
The guided version of the 3-dayFrom Reykjavík: 3-Day South Coast Winter Tour with Ice Cave4.8/5 from 208 reviews · from $962 · the highest-rated multi-day option here, also Top rated · adds the Golden Circle and Gullfoss to the coast, with two nights' accommodation, breakfast and geothermal hot tubs on night one. Hiking boots are mandatory and can be rented.Check availability & prices →
Summer (Jun–Sep): Long days, full access, and glacier lagoon boat tours running.
Winter (Nov–Mar): Waterfalls freeze into sculptures, ice caves open, and the northern lights appear — but drive carefully and check road.is.
Shoulder (May, Oct): Fewer crowds, good conditions.
The two halves of the year sell different trips rather than better and worse ones. Summer buys daylight and the boats; winter buys the blue ice caves inside Vatnajökull and the northern lights, at the cost of short days and real driving conditions.
The winter reason to comeFjallsárlón: Premium Vatnajökull Ice Cave Tour4.8/5 from 105 reviews · from $216 · a small-group trip into a natural blue ice cave inside Vatnajökull, from the Fjallsárlón side of the park. The winter counterpart to the summer zodiac.Check availability & prices →
Check road.is and the weather before and during your trip — south-coast wind and rain can be intense.
Fill up on fuel where you can; stations thin out east of Vík.
Book lagoon boat tours ahead in summer.
Don't rush the glacier lagoons — they're the highlight, not a photo stop.
The wind deserves its own line. Door-ripping gusts are a routine insurance claim on this coast, so open car doors with a hand on them and park facing into the wind where you can. Our Fjallsárlón visit guide covers parking and timing at the lagoon itself.
South Coast FAQ
The questions that decide how many days the coast needs.
How long does the South Coast of Iceland take?
The drive from Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón is about 4.5 to 5 hours one way without stops. Give it 2 to 3 days to enjoy properly, because there is far more to see along the route than a single day allows.
What are the must-see stops on the South Coast?
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, Skaftafell, and the Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoons. Those six carry the route from the waterfalls of the west to the icebergs of the east.
Can you do the South Coast as a day trip?
You can reach the waterfalls and Reynisfjara in a day from Reykjavík. The glacier lagoons realistically need an overnight: day tours that reach Jökulsárlón and return the same day run around 14 hours.
What is the single best stop on the South Coast?
For most visitors, the glacier lagoons — especially a boat tour among the icebergs. Fjallsárlón runs zodiacs close to the glacier wall, and Jökulsárlón runs larger boats among the icebergs with Diamond Beach across the road.
Where should you stay on the South Coast?
Vík í Mýrdal is the natural first-night base: it is the route's main village and sits just past the waterfalls and Reynisfjara. For a second night, stay near the glacier lagoons or continue to Höfn.
Is the South Coast worth driving in winter?
Yes. From November to March the waterfalls freeze into sculptures, the ice caves are open, and the northern lights appear. Drive carefully, keep the days short, and check road.is before every leg.
Make Fjallsárlón the highlight of your south-coast trip.
