Southern Iceland travel
I went to Iceland for 8 days and travelled along the southern coast in late September/early October. Here are places to add to your itinerary if you are planning a trip!
Map
Waterfalls
A list of all the waterfalls I visited when driving along the southern coast of Iceland.
The trail to this waterfall leads you right behind it. You will definitely get wet here!
Hidden waterfall that you can walk up close to near Seljalandsfoss
There is a staircase that leads you to the very top of this waterfall. The staircase is a bit shaky and it is a little over 400 steps but so worth it. There are also more trails and waterfalls above!
Another waterfall you can walk behind. It was also a short, flat walk from the parking lot. There weren't many people here either and we had the place to ourselves for a bit.
This was definitely an ‘off the beaten path’ waterfall, which was great because no one was there when we visited! There is a very steep climb to the top, which I'd rate as really difficult. I'd recommend stopping by if you have extra time. The road h...
Other stops
Here are a few other sites to see around Iceland! I think all of these are a must if you are traveling in the Southern region
We took a day trip here from Vik which was 2.5 hours each way. It was such a stunning sight to see pieces of the glacier floating around the bay. You can even walk up close to the water and inspect the pieces of ice closely
A smaller, but just as impressive, glacier lagoon near Jokularson. This one offers a close up view of the glacier.
We were lucky enough to see large pieces of ice on the sand, although it can really vary on a daily basis! It's a beautiful sight when the sun shines down on the ice as well.
I loved this beach so much. We went on a very cloudy and grey day but it made the beach that much more beautiful. There are so many cool rock and salt formations throughout the beach so you can spend some time gazing at the cliffs and caves around.
The view here was so amazing! These photos really showcase the canyon, but seeing it in person is something else. There is an observation deck you can walk on, if you aren't afraid of heights. Even if you are though, the view is worth it.
Golden Circle
The Golden Circle is a popular route many visitors take when visiting Iceland. Here are the stops I visited during my trip. I did this all in one day! I left Reykjavic around 7:30am and came back to my hotel by 5:00pm.
This waterfall was really easy to get to and a great first stop at the Golden Circle.
You can't do the Golden Circle without coming to Thingvellir! I was able to walk around and hike to the waterfall in under 2 hours.
A short hike (more of a leisurely walk really) in Thingvellir National Park, which is a must stop if driving the Golden Circle.
The geyser here erupts every 10-15 minutes and makes for a great quick stop for the day. There are also restaurants and a rest stop here if you need to refuel and recharge.
This waterfall was massive and really impressive to see up close. You can view the falls from afar or walk right up to it if you don't mind getting wet!
Reykjavik
Reykjavik was our base for the first few days of the trip. I'd recommend staying here for at least 2 days!
Perlan is a museum where you can learn about the history of Iceland! You will definitely appreciate the Icelandic landscape, environment, and nature even more. We came here because it started to rain heavily and wanted to do an indoor activity.
Sky Lagoon was so beautiful! We came here after a long day of hiking and walking so it was a perfect way to relax. I recommend doing the 7 step ritual to get the full experience.
This was, erm, a quirky activity. You'll definitely learn a lot about different animals' mating rituals lol.
This place is stunning both during the day and night! You can go inside of it too and marvel at the architecture.
One of the most famous sites to see in Reykjavik. You can also go inside but I believe there's a fee. We stopped here really quickly before exploring the nearby shops and restaurants.
Where to stay
A list of the hotels I stayed in along the south coast
This was the hotel I stayed in Reykjavik. I liked that it was close to a walking path that led to many of the major attractions like Harpa Concert Hall. Our room came with free breakfast which we took advantage of! There is also a free parking lot do...
Vik Apartments was super convenient, roomy, clean, and my favorite stay during my trip! Our room was directly across from the grocery store and other shops. It comes with free parking as well. There was also a washer/dryer in the unit which was a hug...
Hotel Berg is a great option near the airport. There is free parking and they offer shuttles to the airport. I stayed here at the end of my trip and it was close to the restaurants/shops of Keflavik.
Places to eat
In Iceland, I got a lot of my food at the local grocery stores. However, I did come across a few gems when we did go out to eat!
One of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had! They also sell a wide variety of pastries and bread.
I went here at 3 times during my trip lol. They have a menu item that is similar to a Dairy Queen blizzard with the creamiest soft serve!
A convenient fast casual spot in Reykjavik with delicious fish stew!
The lobster soup here was amazing and perfect for a cold day!
One of the few restaurants in Vik, but the Pizza was amazing.