Things to Do in Southern Iceland
Suðurland, the Southern Region of Iceland, packs waterfalls, a glacier, hot springs and a continental rift into a few hours of driving east of Reykjavík. Prices below are in Icelandic króna (ISK). Figures marked “about” come from resellers or press and can change, so check the operator or the sign on arrival.
Walk behind Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss drops about 60 m, and a path loops behind the curtain of water. Expect a soaking, so bring a waterproof layer. The path is closed when ice forms, roughly November to March, so look at the conditions on site before you set off. Gljúfrabúi, a second fall hidden in a rock cleft, is a short wet walk north along the cliff.
Climb beside Skógafoss
A staircase of about 527 steps climbs beside Skógafoss to a viewing platform at the top. Parking at the fall costs about 1,000 ISK.
Hike on Sólheimajökull with a guide
Sólheimajökull is an outlet glacier with crevasses, moulins and unstable ice. Walk on it only on a guided tour with a certified guide, who supplies crampons, an ice axe, a helmet and a harness. Guided hikes last roughly 3 to 4 hours and start from about 13,500 ISK through resellers. Operators with listings include Adventures.is , Troll.is and Mountain Guides . Parking at the glacier lot is about 750 ISK.
Snorkel Silfra at Þingvellir
Silfra is a fissure between the North American and Eurasian plates, filled with very clear, cold glacial water. DIVE.IS lists tours from 19,990 ISK. Each snorkeller also pays a 1,500 ISK Þingvellir fee, and parking at P5 is paid separately unless the operator says otherwise.
Soak at Secret Lagoon
The Secret Lagoon in Flúðir charges 4,500 ISK for adults (15 and over), 260 ISK for children 14 and under (up to 3 children per parent), and 3,300 ISK for seniors 67 and over or disabled guests with ID. Hours are 10:00 to 19:00 from 1 October to 31 May and 10:00 to 20:00 from 1 June to 30 September. Hiring a towel or a swimsuit costs 1,200 ISK per item.
Enter a Katla ice cave from Vík
Katla Track runs the Katla Fast Track from its base at Austurvegur 16 in Vík, from 29,900 ISK per person, taking 2.5 to 3 hours. The cave sits in Kötlujökull, an outlet of the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, and it changes from year to year.
Two safety rules for the whole region
- Reynisfjara black sand beach: sneaker waves sweep far up the sand without warning. Follow the warning lights and signs, stay well back from the water, never turn your back on the sea, and never climb the basalt columns or go into the Hálsanefshellir cave in rough surf.
- Glaciers: stay on guided routes only. Check safetravel.is for alerts, road.is for roads and vedur.is for weather. The emergency number is 112.
Read more: Day trips in the Southern Region joins several of these stops into one route, and sightseeing covers the big viewpoints.
Tours and activities can be compared on GetYourGuide .