South Iceland has some of the island’s most remarkable natural beauty. There’s the breathtaking interior region of Landmannalaugar, stunning waterfalls like Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss, and the mountains and glaciers of Skaftafell/Vatnajokull National Park. Höfn, on the island’s southeastern shore, is a charming seaside town. If you only have a few days to spend outside Reykjavik, this is probably where you should go.

Itineraries

Eat & Drink

Jon Riki

A fantastic family owned restaurant and brewery in an old farmhouse, Jon Riki serves up incredible food and creative beers in a beautiful setting.

Suður-Vík

This is a special restaurant offering really wonderful food. Set high on a hill in one of Vik’s oldest houses from 1902, you’ll get beautiful views of the ocean while dining. The restaurant blends local cuisine and tradition with modern flare including a Thai influence.

Kaffi Lára El Grillo Bar

You might be surprised when you walk into this two-story restaurant that looks more like a bar on its lower floor. However, it has a wonderful dining area that offers superb food.

Smiðjan Brugghús

A neat brewpub in Vík, offering the brewery’s own local beers and a tasty and reasonably priced food menu.

Langabúð

A nice stop on the Ring Road between Hofn and the Eastfjords. Set in a historic building from 1790, it’s part restaurant, part museum. The coffee options were wonderful and we highly recommend having one with a pastry.

More

Gamla Fjósið

An acceptable dining option near Skogafoss. The food was decent though not the most imaginative. The restaurant itself is in an old abandoned barn. The dairy on the menu comes from the 70 grass fed dairy cows on the property, and most of the menu contains ingredients farmed from the surrounding area.

Halldórskaffi

A cozy restaurant in Vík offering tasty meals and desserts. It has a bright cheery atmosphere in this building attached to the tourist center (don’t be alarmed).

Brunnhóll Farm

A guesthouse on a farm serving delicious locally made ice cream sourced from the attached dairy.

Hótel Skógafoss

Located at the bass of the incredible Skogafoss waterfall, this restaurant is charming. It has large windows looking onto the nearby falls. The food is decent though not spectacular. They serve local beer on tap.

See

Skógafoss

One of Iceland’s most spectacular waterfalls (and that’s saying something), Skógafoss is a must-see.

Seljalandsfoss

Off the Ringroad towards Vik, this is a beautiful waterfall with a path that circles behind the falls. Take the path and get soaked, but experience the power of this waterfall.

Skógar Museum

A complex of three museums: an outdoor museum featuring farmhouses from different eras of Iceland’s history; a folk museum showing off artifacts from daily life, and a technology museum. Interesting to get a feeling what life in southern Iceland was like.

Reynisfjara Beach

On the Ringroad towards Vik, this is a black sand beach on Iceland’s southern coast. Three jutting rocks offshore are known as the Troll Rocks. There’s also a cliff of hexagonal basalt columns that you can climb. A neat stop if you’re in the area and have the time, but nothing you have to see.

Do

Landmannalaugar Day Tour

An incredible journey into the highlands of Iceland. You’ll see unmatched beauty of rugged volcanic fields, soaring mountains streaked in bright colors of orange, red, green, and grey, and sparkling lakes surrounded by greenery. It has a wild feel to the countryside and a hike in this area makes you feel like you’re on another planet. You can also bathe in a true natural hot spring.

Glacier Climbing with Icelandic Mountain Guides

An exhilarating and exciting ice climbing trip in Vatnajökull National Park. Explore the glacier and do some incredibly fun ice climbing on soft walls and crevasses. If you’re lucky, your guide will take you to explore an amazing ice cave.

Skaftafell Ice Cave & Glacier Walk

Spend a morning or an afternoon exploring the incredible glaciers of Skaftafell National Park. If you’re lucky, you might also get to visit an ice cave! Tours with this company span from 2 hours to a few days.

Glacier Lagoon Zodiac Tour

Zip through a glacial lake filled with icebergs while your guide tells you about the area and its history.Our boat did not take us particularly close the glacier which was the most disappointing part. It’s a fun way to spend a morning, but not a must-do on your trip to Iceland.

Stay

Old Farmhouse by Eyjafjallajökull

A great place to stay on a beautiful farm in southern Iceland. There’s a full kitchen, comfy living area, and two small bedrooms in the loft.

North Star Cottage

These are cute cottages that overlook the Eyjafjöll Mountains. As they’re self-catering, you can cook. They’re located right on the Ring Road next to Eyjafjallajökull Glacier and visitor center and a 10 minute drive to Skogafoss. They offer charming wooden interiors and an outdoor patio.

Lambhus Glacier View Cabins

Cozy cottages at the foot of the Vatnajökull Glacier. The cottages are tiny and the kitchens are basic, but the views can’t be beat.