South Iceland is a land of wonder, where mother natures magic is on full display. From Europes biggest Glacier, where you can explore the glistening ice caves and pick up bits of ice on Diamond beach to powerful waterfalls and deep enchanting canyons and black volcanic sand beaches. It’s a paradise for all travellers and explorers alike!
Known for its dramatic coastline and mighty waterfalls, you’ll be chasing northern lights or adventuring under the midnight sun. There’s something for everyone whilst you explore these mystical lands. Iceland will steal your heart as it stole ours, and it won’t be hard to see why!
South Iceland is a region easily reached from Reykjavik, the vast south has an enormous amount of natural wonders to discover, you can also jump on a ferry to Westman Island, one of Iceland’s best kept secrets. In this guide we’ll share with you all you need to know before embarking on your South Iceland adventure, so let’s go!
Best Time to Visit South Iceland
Summer time is without a doubt the best time to visit South Iceland, as the days are long due to the midnight sun. This makes exploring this region much easier as you have endless hours of daylight. The summer season starts from around June to the end of August.
Early Autumn is also a great time, September especially as the midnight sun is finished and the Polar nights haven’t arrived yet, but you get the perfect dark sky evenings, the perfect opportunity to go Northern Light hunting, and gnarly winter is still far enough away to enjoy this region without the relentless snow.
Northern Lights Tip!
Be sure to download a Northern Lights Forecast App to track the activity of the Aurora. You can even set alarms so you never miss a chance to witness the magical display of dancing colours. We personally use the My Aurora App which has always been accurate.
Weather and Climate
- Spring (March- May) – Temperatures range from 1°C to 10°C. This time of year can still be full force winter or just lots of rain.
- Summer (June-August) – Temperatures range from 8°C to 5°C but some summers can reach 20°C and even higher. This is the driest season and the warmest, the midnight sun is in full swing, perfect for adventuring South Iceland.
Svínafellsjökull Glacier - Autumn (September- November) -Temperatures range from 0°C to 10°C. Autumn is a lovely time to see the transition of the land into warm autumnal colours, especially early October. September is the best time to come and experience the Northern Lights before the winter makes an appearance. Sometimes winter comes early and its full blown snow blizzards in late October.
- Winter (December-February) Temperatures range from -2°C – 4°C, most likely it will feel colder due to the strong Iceland winds, or gales should i say. Winter is a beautiful time of year, but to explore the south it could be treacherous and dangerous. Many road accidents happen at this time of year due to icy conditions and lack of experienced winter drivers. Never underestimate an Icelandic winter! Always be sure to keep checking the weather forecast on Vedur.is and the road conditions on Umferdin.is.
How to Get to South Iceland
By Air
The main Airport for exploring South Iceland will be Keflavik International Airport, this is the gateway to Iceland for thousands of tourists each year.
With many International connections, it’s never been easier to reach South Iceland. Be sure to check out IcelandAir, they have flights all around the world and are considered Iceland’s number one airline.
By Car
Having a car is the easiest and most convenient way to explore South Iceland, you can pick a rental up from the airport or in Reykjavik. You can find the usual car rental companies such as Europcar and Hertz.
Another option would be to rent a camper van, this is a great way to save on accommodation in Iceland, check out Gocampers or Kukucampers.
Public buses do exist and if you’re on a very small budget, then this could be a good option, but bare in mind the buses can be unreliable.
You could always try Hitchhiking, it’s very popular and common in Iceland, so stick a thumb out and meet some locals or other travellers!
Accommodation in South Iceland
There’s plenty of accommodation in South Iceland to choose from, ranging in prices depending on your budget, you’ll be able to find something suitable for your needs.
Perhaps an isolated cabin is what you’re seeking or a quirky hostel to meet fellow travellers.
We’re not usually fans of hostels, but in Vik there’s a fantastic hostel called The Barn. We stayed there a couple of times, they offer private rooms or dorms and there’s a bar and a communal grand piano!
Be sure to check out Booking.com or Airbnb to find listings of accommodation in South Iceland, if you want to save some money on Airbnb be sure to read our article on Money Saving Airbnb Hacks!
Things to Do and See
South Iceland is full of beautiful places to explore, the dramatic coastline will keep your days busy with adventures.
We’re talking volcanoes, lava fields, jaw dropping waterfalls, hikes in the beautiful wilderness, glaciers and ice caves, beaches with black volcanic sand and beaches filled with glacial ice.
We could go on, but let’s break it down here with the top things to do and see!
Nauthúsagil Canyon
This is off the beaten track and much less visited than the almighty Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss, but that’s what makes this waterfall so much more special. We did this walk and had it all to ourselves.
It’s an adventurous walk through the canyon, it requires a little hanging onto the side of the rocks but there were metal bars to assist, if i remember correctly Rita still managed to get a wet shoe.
The canyon is enchanting with moss covered rock and looking up at the gap of the gorge into the Iceland sky, it feels truly magical.
When you reach the waterfall after about 15 minutes of going deeper into the canyon, it’s a real special moment, the water cascading with such force creates an echo around you. Add it to your list when visiting South Iceland!
Sólheimajökull Glacier
Ever wanted to get up close and personal with a Glacier, well here you can! Sólheimajökull glacier is amazing to see, you can walk right up to it and touch the ice!
It’s mind blowing to see, and if you go for sunrise or sunset the colours are out of this world.
You can go on a guided glacier hike from here and you’ll get to see the ice caves, you could even try ice climbing for those seeking even more of a thrill.
It’s important to go with a professional guide as the ice is rapidly changing, it can be very dangerous, you wouldn’t want to fall into a crevasse!
Sadly due to climate change, the glacier has retreated a lot and it’s visible, this adds to the ice movement and creates more unstableness for hiking, so as tempting as it is, don’t be that guy who wonders of solo onto the ice and never returns.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
This ancient canyon is over two million years old, formed by the last ice age. With its moss covered cliffs and winding river through the canyon floor, it’s a spectacular sight and a must see on your trip.
There are several view points to truly take in the incredible beauty, be sure to stay on the trails and don’t step on the fragile moss as its sacred in Iceland and you’ll be taken by a troll, just kidding but seriously it does take 6 years to regrow so watch where you step!
They actually closed Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon for a while, Justin Beibers “I’ll show you” video was filmed there and it caused a major influx of tourists which caused damage to the ancient lands.
We may be small compared to our grand planet, but we can sure cause harm, tread carefully people, please respect our home, never litter or go off trail.
Þakgil
Þakgil is a hidden gem, this magical area is incredible to explore. There is a campsite found in the foothills of the surrounding mountains, they offer spaces for you to pitch a tent or rent a cabin.
The kitchen for the campsite is located in a cave, it’s truly one of the best campsites we’ve seen. Check out the website to find out more, Thakil.is
We did this drive without a 4×4, just take it easy as the road can be rather patchy, the directions are posted on the website as followed;
“ To get there you turn up from road nr.1 by Höfðabrekka (5 km east of Vík). The road up to the camping site used to be a part of hightway nr. 1 until 1955. Just follow that road and you will find a sign that points at Þakgil.”
We loved exploring Þakgil , there’re different hikes, some longer than others, but we recommend hiking to the Huldujökull panoramic view, it will blow your mind! We hiked past waterfalls, the mighty canyon and all the way up to the Glacier, by far the most incredible views we’ve seen. Bring some layers because it gets nippy on top.
Walking on the glacier was unreal, feeling the crunchy snow and ice beneath your feet, what a feeling, we even found a Geocache! The hike wasn’t too bad but we did feel slightly broken by the time we got back to the car.
Reynisfjara Beach
One of Iceland’s most iconic and striking beaches, the black sand is due to volcanic activity, it has towering basalt columns rising from the beach that were formed by cooling lava.
Tall, rugged rock formations rise from the ocean, legend has it that these were trolls turned to stone. Although this beach is without a doubt striking, it holds a level of darkness as lives have been lost here.
The waves are very powerful and unpredictable, deadly sneaker waves can come without warning and anyone standing too close to the water’s edge will get knocked down, the undercurrent and surge will do all it can to take you with it, out into the dark abyss of the ocean. Maybe save a dip for another beach.
Be sure to check out the town of Vik while you’re here, it’s a charming town with colourful houses, a cute church, and the town overlooks the ocean, you can see the rock trolls out in the distance.
We loved going to the Skool Beans coffee shop, which is a converted school bus! There’s even a zip line adventure course here if you fancy an adrenaline rush.
Vatnajökull National Park
This national park is a protected wilderness area surrounded by Vatnajökull glacier, Europes largest glacier.
It’s made up of massive glaciers, ice caves, snow capped mountains, geothermal rivers and Jökulsárlón, the striking turquoise glacial lagoon.
The park offers endless hiking opportunities and a chance to see these phenomenal natural wonders up close, you can follow the scenic trail to Skaftafell the remarkable waterfall surrounded by basalt columns.
Explore Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach, watching icebergs float down the lagoon is mesmerising, then going onto the beach to hold small pieces of the glacier is a spectacular experience.
Hike to Svinafellsjokull Glacier which extends from the main Vatnajökull ice cap and has flowed down the surrounding valleys.
Seeing a glacier that close is just indescribable, however don’t wonder off past the signs without a guided tour, tourists have lost their lives here from going on solo trips or getting lost by heading to far into the glacier.
Without guides who have the proper mountaineering experience, it’s not worth risking your life, please respect the warning signs.
Check out the Vatnajökull Parks Official Website to get more information on what to expect on your trip to the Vatnajökull National Park!
Westman Island/ Vestmannaeyjar
This is an archipelago of islands of Iceland’s south coast, the main island is called Heimaey and the other 15 island are uninhabited!
Westman is a magical place, the ferry ride itself is an adventure, you catch the ferry from Landeyjahöfn, which is only 2 hours from Reykjavik.
As the ferry gets closer, you’ll see the towering mountains and volcanoes, you might even see some whales on the way, you’ll most definitely see some puffins on your trip as Westman is home to the largest Atlantic puffin colony in the world!
If you’re visiting during August-Septemeber you can even help the locals save baby puffins that have flown in late at night and need to be released back to the ocean.
Westman is also home to two beautiful Beluga whale sisters, little white and little grey were rescued all the way from China! The BBC did a documentary on the sister’s journey to Iceland, it’s a tear jerker but they’re now living their best lives now.
Aside from the incredible wildlife here, Westman is one of our favourite places in Iceland for its dramatic landscape, volcanoes play an important role here, the last eruption was in 1973, the whole island had to be evacuated.
What’s crazy is that you can hike up Eldfell volcano and at the top there’s a section that’s still hot from the molten lava, we actually heated up our sandwiches for lunch here, it was amazing!
You can visit the Eldheimar Volcano Museum to learn more about this powerful volcano and the eruption that brought the community together.