Sand Dunes and Cherry Blossoms

South Iceland in 48 Hours: What We Saw and Loved

If you have limited time, like us, this itinerary we created allowed us to see A LOT, including many places well off the tourist radar.

if you rather not drive, and still want to experience the incredible beauty of South Iceland, Get your guide offers several tours at affordable prices!

See here: South Iceland tour

We started from Hella, where we had spent the night and set up after breakfast.

Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most iconic and photogenic waterfalls, famous for the rare opportunity to walk behind its cascading veil of water.

🌊 A Waterfall You Can Walk Behind

What sets Seljalandsfoss apart is its unique geological formation: the 60-meter (197-foot) waterfall plunges over a concave cliff, allowing visitors to walk behind it via a footpath carved into the rock. This immersive experience offers a rare perspective—standing behind a shimmering curtain of glacial water, with panoramic views of the surrounding lowlands.

📍 Location and Access

• Where: Just off Route 1 (the Ring Road), about 120 km southeast of Reykjavík.
• Parking: A designated lot is available (small fee applies), with a short, easy walk to the falls.

📸 Photography Tips

• Golden Hour: Visit at sunrise or sunset for magical lighting and fewer crowds.
• Waterproof Gear: Mist is constant—protect your camera and wear a rain jacket.
• Behind-the-Falls Shot: Frame the waterfall’s arc with the landscape beyond for a dramatic silhouette.

🧭 Practical Tips

• Footwear: Just like anywhere in Iceland, wear sturdy, waterproof shoes—trails can be muddy or slippery.
• Crowds: Arrive early or late in the day to avoid tour bus crowds.
• Facilities: Toilets and a small café are available near the parking area.

Skogafoss

Skógafoss is another one of Iceland’s most awe-inspiring waterfalls—thundering, symmetrical, and steeped in legend. Towering 60 meters high and 25 meters wide, it’s a must-see stop along the South Coast, just off the Ring Road near the village of Skógar.

🌊 Why Skógafoss Captivates

• Raw Power & Elegance: The waterfall plunges from ancient sea cliffs, creating a dramatic wall of water that often produces single or double rainbows in the mist on sunny days.
• Myth & Mystery: According to legend, a Viking settler named Þrasi hid a treasure chest behind the falls. Locals say part of the chest was once found—its ring now displayed in the nearby Skógar Museum.
• Cinematic Fame: Skógafoss has starred in Game of Thrones, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and Thor: The Dark World, adding to its global allure.

🥾 What to Do There

• Get Soaked (Safely): Walk right up to the base for a full sensory experience—just bring waterproof gear!
• Climb the 527 Steps: A staircase to the right of the falls leads to a panoramic viewing platform and the start of the Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, which connects Skógar to Þórsmörk.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Reynisfjara is Iceland’s most famous black sand beach—a place where myth, geology, and raw Atlantic power collide in a hauntingly beautiful display. Located near the village of Vík í Mýrdal on the South Coast, it’s a must-see for travellers drawn to Iceland’s dramatic seascapes and folklore-laced landscapes

🖤 What Makes Reynisfjara So Iconic

• Jet-Black Volcanic Sand: Formed from eroded lava, the beach’s obsidian-colored grains shimmer under shifting light, creating a surreal, almost lunar atmosphere.
• Basalt Columns (Reynisdrangar): Towering hexagonal basalt stacks rise like organ pipes from the cliffs, a textbook example of columnar jointing. According to legend, they’re trolls turned to stone by the morning sun.
• Sea Stacks: Just offshore, the Reynisdrangar sea stacks pierce the surf. Folklore says they were trolls dragging a ship to shore when dawn petrified them.
• Sneaker Waves: The beach is notorious for its powerful, unpredictable waves. Visitors must stay well back from the water’s edge—tragic accidents have occurred here. Just when I was taking a photo, a giant wave crashed in and rolled on the shore further than expected and wet everybody’s shoes. Those waves tell the raw power of the Atlantic Ocean.

Vik

Vík í Mýrdal is the southernmost village in Iceland, a place where black sands meet emerald cliffs and folklore dances with the sea mist.

🏘️ The Village: Quiet Charm Beneath a Volcano

• Population: Around 300 residents, yet it offers a surprising range of amenities—cafés, guesthouses, a wool shop, and a striking hilltop church with panoramic views.
• Setting: Nestled beneath the Katla volcano and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, Vík is surrounded by mossy cliffs, sea stacks, and the roaring Atlantic.
• Church of Vík: Perched on a hill, this white church with a red roof is a local icon and designated evacuation point in case of volcanic activity.
• Food tip: do try the Black Crust Pizza, made with activated charcoal at Black Crust Pizzeria. There is usually a queue but it is fast moving.

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Another place out of most tourist tours is the stunning Fjaðrárgljúfur, one of South Iceland’s most enchanting natural wonders—a moss-draped canyon carved by glacial waters over millennia, often described as a real-life fairytale landscape.

What Makes Fjaðrárgljúfur So Special

• Length & Depth: The canyon stretches about 2 kilometres long and plunges over 100 metersdeep, with the Fjaðrá River winding through its base.
• Geological Origins: Formed roughly 9,000 years ago during the Ice Age, it was shaped by erosion from glacial meltwater flowing through soft volcanic rock.
• Visual Drama: Its serpentine curves, steep cliffs, and lush green walls create a surreal, cinematic setting—featured in music videos and travel campaigns.

📍 Location & Access

• Where: Near the village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur, just off Iceland’s Ring Road.
• Parking & Trails: A designated lot leads to a well-marked hiking path along the canyon’s edge, offering multiple viewpoints and photo ops.

🥾 What to Do

• Scenic Hike: Walk the rim trail for panoramic views and access to Mögáfoss Waterfall, tucked into the western wall.
• Photography: Best light occurs in early morning or late afternoon. Drones are allowed but must follow local regulations.
• Seasonal Tips: Spring and summer bring vibrant greenery; winter adds icy textures but may limit trail access.

Day two

We spent the night in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, a little village with plenty of accommodation options and a beautiful waterfall just on top.

At night, a five minutes’ drive away brought us away from light pollution and we were able to spot a weak Aurora.

We started the day with our first stop at another off the tourist trail hidden gem

Stjórnarfoss

🌊 Why Visit Stjórnarfoss?

• Intimate Scale: At about 15 meters (49 feet) tall, Stjórnarfoss is not as towering as Skógafoss or Seljalandsfoss, but its symmetrical twin cascades and tranquil setting make it a relaxing and quite beautiful sight.
• Hidden Gem: Often overlooked by tourists, it provides a quiet, contemplative experience—ideal for picnics, short hikes, or simply soaking in the sound of falling water.
• Local Favorite: The waterfall is popular with locals for its accessibility and peaceful ambiance. It’s also part of the Kleifar area, which includes scenic trails and mossy hills.

Svínafellsjökull glacier

Svínafellsjökull is one of Iceland’s most stunning outlet glaciers, famed for its jagged ice formations, cinematic scenery, and accessibility from the South Coast. It’s part of the massive Vatnajökull ice cap and lies within Vatnajökull National Park, near Skaftafell.

It is mostly off the tourist radar so it is pretty quiet and empty. We were nearly the only people there.

🧊 Why Svínafellsjökull Stands Out

• Glacier Tongue of Vatnajökull: It’s an outlet glacier—meaning a narrow extension of the larger ice cap—known for its dramatic blue ice, deep crevasses, and ash-streaked textures.
• Cinematic Fame: Featured in Game of Thrones, Batman Begins, and Interstellar, its surreal beauty has made it a favorite for filmmakers and photographers.
• Accessible Adventure: Located just off the Ring Road, it’s reachable via a short drive and hike, making it ideal for self-drive travelers and guided glacier hikes.

🚗 Getting There

• Location: Southeast Iceland, near Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park.
• Access: A gravel road leads to a parking area; from there, a short trail takes you to the glacier’s edge.
• Best Time to Visit: Summer and early autumn offer the safest conditions for hiking and photography. Winter visits may be limited due to ice and weather.

🥾 Activities & Tours

• Glacier Hiking: Guided tours provide crampons, ice axes, and expert insight into the glacier’s geology and ecology.
• Photography: The contrast of blue ice, black ash, and surrounding peaks creates a dramatic visual palette.

We spent a few hours there, just contemplating, listening to the silence only sporadically interrupted by the far and deaf sound of ice breaking.

It was, without doubts, the highlight of our trip.

Next stop: Höfn

Höfn

Höfn is a coastal gem in southeast Iceland, where glaciers meet the sea. Framed by the vast Vatnajökull ice cap and the shimmering waters of Hornafjörður, this fishing town offers a perfect blend of natural drama and quiet Icelandic charm.

🏔️ Why Visit Höfn?

• Gateway to Vatnajökull: Höfn sits at the edge of Vatnajökull National Park, offering panoramic views of Europe’s largest glacier and access to nearby glacier tongues like Skálafellsjökull and Heinabergsjökull.

🧭 Things to Do

• Glacier Tours: Take a guided trip onto Vatnajökull’s icy expanse—hiking, ice climbing, or snowmobiling.
• Gamlabúð Visitor Center: Learn about the region’s geology, glaciers, and climate change through interactive exhibits.
• Kaffi Hornið: A casual café with hearty Icelandic fare and vegetarian options.

Stokknes

Located just 20 mins drive from Höfn , Stokknes is another one of my favourite spots.

Stokksnes is one of Iceland’s most cinematic and soul-stirring landscapes—a windswept headland where black dunes ripple beneath the jagged silhouette of Vestrahorn mountain. It is an inspiring place where elemental forces converge: sea, sand, stone, and sky.

🏔️ Vestrahorn: The “Batman Mountain”

• Dramatic Profile: Rising 454 meters above the Atlantic, Vestrahorn’s razor-edged peaks and steep scree slopes have earned it the nickname “Batman Mountain.”
• Geological Rarity: Composed of gabbro and granophyre, it’s one of the few places in Iceland where these ancient rocks are exposed.
• Photographer’s Paradise: Reflections in tidal pools, shifting light on the dunes, and the interplay of clouds and peaks make this a dream location for landscape photography.

🧭 Visiting Tips

• Location: About 10 km east of Höfn, accessible via a gravel road off Route 1.
• Entrance Fee: The land is privately owned; a small fee is charged at the Viking Café, which also grants access to the beach and parking.
• Viking Village Film Set: A partially built set from an abandoned film project lies nearby—weathered, eerie, and photogenic in its own right.

Diamond Beach

We timed it for sunset and it was magnificent. Although a little busy as you would expect.

Diamond Beach is a surreal stretch of black volcanic sand in Southeast Iceland, where glittering icebergs from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon wash ashore like scattered jewels. It’s one of the most visually striking and emotionally resonant stops along the South Coast.

💎 What Makes Diamond Beach So Unique

• Ice Meets Lava: The beach’s jet-black sand contrasts dramatically with the translucent blue and white icebergs that drift from the glacier lagoon and land on shore.
• Ever-Changing Scene: No two visits are alike—icebergs vary in size, shape, and clarity, from car-sized chunks to delicate shards.
• Wildlife Encounters: Seals are often spotted lounging on the ice or swimming offshore, adding to the beach’s quiet magic.

📍 Location & Access

• Where: Directly across the road from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, about 370 km (5 hours) from Reykjavík.
• Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late evening for soft light and fewer crowds. Winter adds icy textures; summer brings more visible wildlife.

🌬️ Practical Tips

• Dress Warmly: The beach can be windy and cold year-round.
• Stay Safe: Avoid climbing on icebergs—they can shift or roll unexpectedly.
• Facilities: Restrooms and cafés are available at Jökulsárlón across the road.

I hope you enjoyed our itinerary and don’t forget to ask for tips or advice if you require any.

Iceland was a trip I was really looking forward to and it did not disappoint.

Happy travels.