In this post, we’ll go over some tips for the south coast of Iceland so that you can get the most out of your time in Iceland!
The South Coast of Iceland is one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland.
Youโll see incredibly beautiful places youโve most likely seen online.
Seljalandsfoss

Skรณgafoss

The airplane wreck

Reynisfjara

But thereโs a problem.
Because itโs one of the most popular places to visit, there are going to be a lot of people.
On top of that, itโs a long drive and in the winter the days get shorter and shorter.
In this post, Iโll give you some travel hacks so you can make the most out of your South Coast Iceland trip.
Iโll go over;
- Places to check out
- Some travel hacks
- The South Coast in the winter and how to plan around it.
So letโs jump right into it!
Tours for the South Coast

When youโre on your trip to the South Coast you want to make the most out of it.
Sure, there are going to be crowds of people in some places, thatโs just the way it is.
But that doesnโt mean we canโt try and work around it!
There are many tours that do day trips to the South Coast and you want to try and avoid them, especially the big ones.
Most of the tours leave at 09:00 am and will be at the first stop (Seljalandsfoss) at around 11 am.

So make sure to leave before they do!
If you leave at 8 am, you can be sure that you arrive before the big buses.

This is a bit more difficult in winter, but Iโll touch more on that in the winter section.
Some tours start earlier as well, but thatโs mainly small groups.
South Coast Iceland tip
Let’s start with a quick overview of a usual South Coast trip.
This is what it looks like.

- Seljalandsfoss
- Skรณgafoss
- Airplane wreck
- Reynisfjara
Some tours skip the Airplane wreck since it takes a while to get there and itโs the โmost skippableโ.
You can also add some places, check out this post to read more
So here are a few tips on how to travel the South Coast of Iceland.
Break it up
Donโt hit every place in the โcorrectโ order.
This is because the drive home will be very tedious with nothing fun to look forward to.
I recommend that you break the trip up.
Go to Seljalandsfoss but then skip Skรณgafoss and go straight to the wreck or Reynisfjara.
Then stop at Skรณgafoss on the way back.
Youโll be able to eat at Vรญk and enjoy the town before heading back to Reykjavรญk.

But the main reason why you should break it up is to make life easier for the driver.
Donโt underestimate how tiring it gets driving in Iceland after a long day.
Reynisfjara
My only advice for the Black sand beach is to be very careful.
Listen to warnings and signs.

People are caught by the waves all the time and some of them end up being dragged into the ocean and they canโt come back.
The beach is beautiful and witnessing the sea rage on a stormy day is incredible, just make sure that it wonโt be your last day.
Swimming pool at Hveragerรฐi
On your way back to Reykjavรญk, stop at the local swimming pool at Hveragerรฐi.

Itโs quieter than the one in Selfoss and youโre closer to Reykjavรญk so the drive back isnโt as long.
And if youโre feeling very adventurous or have plenty of time (and daylight) you can hike to Reykjadalur.

And get soaked in the hot waters.
Gas station meal
Now, this isnโt really a โtravel hackโ but more of a personal recommendation.
I absolutely love gas station food. Thereโs something about it. Itโs sloppy and amazing.
Make sure to try the hot dogs as well!

There are plenty of gas stations on the South Coast, so youโll have no problem finding them.
Now, donโt get me wrong,
You shouldnโt eat there at every opportunity, but once or twice is a nice experience.
But what about things to do on the South Coast?
Things and places not to miss on the South Coast
While youโre not going to miss out on the main stops on the South Coast, there are a few places Iโd like to hit on so you donโt drive past without a second thought.
Nautahรบsafoss

Nauthรบsafoss is very close to Seljalandsfoss but itโs very frequently missed.

Not as many people will go there and itโs absolutely stunning.
So make sure to drive just a little bit further and stop by!
Vรญk brewery
There is a brewery in Vรญk called Smiรฐjan. There you can try some local beers which are well worth it.
Itโs located right next to the Swimming pool so you can take a swim or soak in the hot tub right after!
Sรณlheimajรถkull
Sรณlheimajรถkull is a glacier located close to road nr 1.

Youโll be able to walk up close to it and see an actual glacier! Though donโt try to walk on it, youโll need a special guide for that.

It can be a long stop or a quick one, itโs up to you!
Either way, I recommend checking it out!
South coast trip in the winter
How and when you travel changes in the winter.

You have to be more aware of the weather and the road conditions since they might be closed.
And the days start to get really short.
This is the main thing to be mindful of when traveling the South Coast of Iceland in the winter.
You canโt really get away from the crowds during this time becauseโฆ well, there simply isnโt enough time.
But I have a few recommendations to help you out with that.
Start earlier
I mentioned this earlier in the blog and itโs still a good idea.
You want to be arriving at your first location when the sun is rising.
Not only is this absolutely beautiful, but that also means that youโll always be slightly ahead of the tour buses.
Stay in the countryside
Another tip for the South Coast in the winter is to stay there!

Instead of basing out of Reykjavรญk, you should stay around Hella, Vรญk, or Selfoss.
This means that youโre closer to all the places and activities in the area.
This leads me to one of the most important tipsโฆ
Driving in the dark
It can be incredibly uncomfortable to drive on Icelandic roads in the dark.

Itโs only a two-lane road most of the time so I donโt fault people that arenโt used to it to feel a bit uncomfortable.
And if youโre driving like that for a long time, it gets very tiring.
This is also why itโs best to start early so that youโre driving in daylight for the most part and why you should stay on the South Coast.
End
Thatโs it!
Iโve gone over how you can make the most out of your trip to the South Coast.
If you follow my advice, youโll have a good time well away from the biggest crowds.
And, if you need clothes for your trip to the South Coast, check out our selection!