ICELAND · A TRIP WORTH TAKING
Iceland’s South Coast: waterfalls, black sand and the right overnight
Travel east from the waterfalls toward Vík, then decide whether to continue to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the glacier lagoons. Staying farther along the road changes the next day more than adding another rushed stop.
START WITH THE DECISION
Choose your kind of day
| Choice | Best fit | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfalls | Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss | Allow time to walk and choose a nearby overnight. |
| Vík coast | Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey | Follow beach warnings and current local access restrictions. |
| Continuing east | Fjaðrárgljúfur and Eldhraun | Make this part of the next regional leg rather than a rushed late return. |
EXPLORE THE MAP
Put your choices on the map
Select a place or a pin to highlight it on the map. Open its guide for walks, access and visit planning.
01 · South CoastOpen visit guide
02 · South CoastOpen visit guide
03 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Globe City
04 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Tamara Bitter
05 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Sava Bobov
06 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Valter Venancio
07 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Bibhash Polygon Cafe
08 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Helgi Thorsteinsson
09 · South CoastOpen visit guide
10 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Courtney Read
11 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Lucas Davies
12 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Rio Hodges
13 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by Marco De
14 · South CoastOpen visit guide Photo by 66 North
Locations from Fyno’s curated places. Use current road and site guidance for access; pins are not a driving route.
Selected from Fyno’s existing place guides, grouped for planning. Nearby pins can still involve different access roads or long walks.
PLAN WITH A LITTLE FORESIGHT
Make the day work
- 01
Split the waterfalls from the lagoons
A waterfall stop, beach visit and guided activity can fill the day before you reach the southeast. Keep a lagoon excursion on a day with an appropriate overnight.
- 02
Treat beaches as viewing places
Reynisfjara has dangerous sneaker waves. Follow local warnings and barriers, stay well away from the water and never turn the visit into a swimming stop.
- 03
Keep the overnight on your route
Use the individual Fyno guides below to compare location and visit details. Choose the night around the places you will actually visit; a region name alone is too broad to settle the daily drive.
Good questions before you go
How should I choose which places to visit?
Travel east from the waterfalls toward Vík, then decide whether to continue to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the glacier lagoons. Staying farther along the road changes the next day more than adding another rushed stop.
What should I know about Waterfalls?
Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Allow time to walk and choose a nearby overnight.
What is the main planning tradeoff?
A waterfall stop, beach visit and guided activity can fill the day before you reach the southeast. Keep a lagoon excursion on a day with an appropriate overnight.
Sources & current conditions
Fyno’s curated place and hotel guides inform the selection. The sources below support planning and access checks; use their current information for your travel date.
Planning review: October 22, 2026. Conditions, opening hours and services can change. Hotel features and activity descriptions are editorial context; confirm the actual room, departure and inclusions before booking.