Skip to content
Voykit

Region

South Iceland

Base in Vík or Hvolsvöllur and drive the coast; skip it as a day-trip from Reykjavík.

Open Iceland Plan a trip
More: share, save offline, report a correction
More

Key facts · Iceland

Best months
May–Aug
Visa
Depends on your passport
Currency
Icelandic króna (ISK, kr)
Language
Icelandic
Plugs
C · F · 230 V
Time zone
GMT all year
Month by month hereIn detail ↓
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Nordic countries ↗Decide light or dark before anything else: summer trips (June–August) and aurora trips (September–March in the Arctic) need different countries, clothes and bases.
  • Nordic countries ↗Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Faroes sell stronger alcohol only in state shops with short hours; buy before evening and before Sundays and holidays.
  • Iceland ↗Iceland is not in the EU but is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources.
  • Iceland ↗Driving off marked roads is illegal and fined heavily; F-roads into the highlands open only in summer and require a 4x4.
  • Iceland ↗Check the road authority's conditions map and the Met Office forecast every morning, and leave a travel plan on SafeTravel for hikes and remote drives.

South Iceland is a 350 km strip of waterfalls, glaciers and black sand between Þorlákshöfn and Höfn, with almost no natural harbours and one main road. It is a driving region: the Ring Road (Route 1) runs the whole length, and the sights sit on or just off it. Sleep two nights around Vík or Hvolsvöllur, not in Reykjavík, or you spend four hours a day in the car.

Where to sleep

9 places in this region

Sleep base

Day trip

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

2 nights
Selfoss or Hvolsvöllur 1 + Vík 1; waterfalls and black beach
3 nights
Hvolsvöllur 1 + Vík 1 + Kirkjubæjarklaustur 1; adds canyon and glacier lagoon edge
4 nights
As above plus Jökulsárlón and Vestmannaeyjar as a ferry day
  • Reykjavík to Jökulsárlón and back in one day is about 9 hours of driving before stops.
  • The south coast has almost no natural harbours and an unbroken sand beach open to the Atlantic; the surf is not a swimming beach.
  • Highland roads inland from Selfoss are narrow and only for 4x4s in summer.

Day-trips door to door

ToFromDoor-to-door p50Last returnNote
SkógarVík35 minunknownSkógafoss is a 5-minute walk from the car park; go before 09:00 for empty photos.
VestmannaeyjarHvolsvöllur90 minunknownFerry from Landeyjahöfn, about 35 min; check sailing status — the harbour silts up.
Þingvellir National ParkSelfoss45 minunknownCombine with Geysir and Gullfoss as the Golden Circle.
FjaðrárgljúfurKirkjubæjarklaustur15 minunknownShort walk to viewpoints; the canyon path closes when wet.

Bags between cities

No luggage forwarding on the south coast; you carry your own bags between guesthouses.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table
CountryJFMAMJJASOND
Selfoss
Vík í Mýrdal
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Hella
Hveragerði
Skógar
Vestmannaeyjar
Eyrarbakki
Stokkseyri
Iceland (country-wide)
Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month
ZoneJFMAMJJASOND
South coastÞorlákshöfn to Höfncoldcoldcoldokbestbestbestbestokokcoldcold
best: dry, mildok: workable
South coast
Wind is the real weather: it can close roads and doors. Winter daylight is 4–5 hours in December; June has near-24-hour light. Rain falls year-round — bring a waterproof shell, not an umbrella.

May–September is the driving window for the full coast; in winter stay west of Vík and add buffer days for storms.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate
FromToHowp50Note
Keflavík (KEF)SelfossRental car via Route 1 or Route 36~1 h 30Pick up the car at the airport; most trips start here.
ReykjavíkHveragerði / SelfossStrætó bus 51 from Mjódd~1 h to SelfossThe public bus reaches Selfoss; beyond that, buses are limited.
ReykjavíkVík í MýrdalRing Road (Route 1) by car~2 h 30Scheduled coach services also run the coast; book ahead in summer.
East Iceland (Seyðisfjörður ferry)South IcelandRing Road south from Egilsstaðirseveral hoursStop around Höfn before pushing on; distances are long.

Regional passes

Verdict first

Rental car

buy

The region is built for driving; public buses cannot reach most sights.

Golden Circle coach tour

check

Worth it only if you are not driving; a car for two or more people is usually cheaper and more flexible.

Ferry to Vestmannaeyjar

buy

Foot passengers and cars both sail; check the sailing before you drive to the pier.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works
DishWhereTiming / trap
Arctic charKirkjubæjarklausturFresh-water fish from the area; a known Icelandic delicacy.
Dairy and lamb from local farmsSelfoss and the western farmsThe west of the region is Iceland's dairy heartland; ask for local produce.
Farm-grown wheatÞorvaldseyri farmThe only place in Iceland growing wheat; sold direct from the farm.
Brewery beerÖlvisholt Brugghús, about 10 km (6.2 mi) outside SelfossSmall rural brewery; check opening before driving out.

Go next

Reykjavík

Route 1 west, ~2 h 30 from Vík

Return the car at KEF or in town.

Capital Region Iceland

Route 1 west

Airport and city services.

North Iceland

planned

Ring Road east then north, or highland routes in summer

Highland crossings need a well-equipped 4x4 and current road checks.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep
4 bases
Day trips
4, 15 min to 1 h 30
Nights suggested
2–4 nights
Ways in
4 listed
Best months
May–Aug

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Open Iceland Up to Iceland

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

Ask about South Iceland

Loading…

Was this useful?