5 Days South Coast Trip Iceland Itinerary: My Top Route & Tips in 2026

Are you going to Iceland and you’re ready to plan your south coast trip Iceland itinerary? Then you’ve come to the right place! I’d love to share my full 5-day south coast trip Iceland itinerary with you.

In these five days, you’ll already see so much of what Iceland has to offer. Some might even say you’ll cover almost everything worth seeing in the south of the island, although I can tell you there’s still plenty more waiting to be discovered.

In my opinion, this itinerary comes pretty close to perfect. It takes you past most of the main highlights whilst having enough time to enjoy all of it.

Let’s jump into one of the main questions you might have first.

Is 5 Days Enough for Southern Iceland? My Quick Answer

My short answer: yes, absolutely! In my opinion five days is the perfect amount of time. Yes, you’re driving quite a bit daily (2-4 hours a day), however, when you think about it, it also matters where you are driving.

For me driving in Iceland felt like something out of a movie, so I didn’t mind the hours spent in the car. It felt like a little reset and the views throughout were absolutely incredible. To be honest, driving in this country is a sightseeing trip in itself.

So for me 5 days in Iceland felt perfect, it cuts the costs a little by making the trip shorter and makes it feel like a ‘small citytrip’ but you could pretty much say the XXL version of it. And to be honest, the hotels and guesthouses are all great in Iceland, so finding accommodation during your trip won’t bring any issues.

Let’s dive into my 5-day south coast trip Iceland itinerary, based on my recent trip to Iceland. Buckle up, cause you’re going to love this one.

Before You Start: Planning Your Southern Iceland Road Trip

Before setting off on this 5-day southern Iceland itinerary, there are a few things you need to be aware of and plan in advance. The route itself is easy and without nonsense, however Iceland’s changing weather and driving conditions, long distances, and daylight hours can make even a simple road trip feel quite different from traveling elsewhere in Europe.

So, make sure the following boxes are ticked off before you’re setting off on your Iceland trip.

Rent a Car

Having your own rental car is necessary for this itinerary. It gives you the freedom to stop at waterfalls, viewpoints and smaller sights along the way without being tied to group tour schedules. And to be honest, tour operators won’t be able to drop you off at your hotel/guesthouse if it’s a different one than the one you started at.

Most of the route is along Route 1, so in summer a 4×4 might not be necessary, unless you’re going off-road. If you’re visiting Iceland during colder months, a 4×4 might be the way to go. Check weather conditions and recommendations by rental companies before booking your car.

Don’t Underestimate Driving Times

Driving the distances mentioned in this blog can look short on the map or on your phone, however, the actual journey often takes longer than expected. Especially if you’re like me, and want to stop numerous times to take pictures of the incredible sights all over.

Also changing weather conditions can really slow you down, so I’d suggest to take the noted driving times as a guide rather than a strict schedule.

Book Accommodation in Advance

I’d definitely suggest booking your accommodation ahead of time, especially around Vík, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón, where options are more limited.

I had to stay an extra night at my second accommodation, which added multiple hours of driving on day two and three which wasn’t needed at all if I booked our stay in advance, so make sure you learn from my mistake, as options might be limited further down south.

Check the Weather and Road Conditions Every Day

The weather, especially during the winter, can be very unpredictable in Iceland. So keep a close eye on weather reports and road conditions before heading off on your trip for the day, especially in winter. Also it’s good to be somewhat flexible in your itinerary as changing weather conditions could extend your travel time.

Keep an Eye on Daylight Hours in Iceland

The amount of daylight hours in Iceland varies a lot depending on the time you’re visiting. So, keep an eye on that, I always left my accommodation about 30 minutes before sunrise so we we’re at our first stop at first dawn.

Book Iceland Tours Early

If you want to include a glacier hike or ice cave tour around Skaftafell or Jökulsárlón, I’d book this in advance. These are some of the most popular experiences on the south coast, and availability can be limited, particularly during busy travel periods.

Read more about the best activities to do in Iceland.

Fuel Up When You Can

Petrol stations become less frequent once you are further along you’re trip, so I wouldn’t let your tank get too low. At the same time, it’s the best place to fill up on snacks and drinks when needed!

Pack for Changing Weather in Iceland

As the weather is pretty unpredictable it’s a good idea to pack for whatever might come. I’ve written a full article about this, which you can read here.

Day 1: Golden Circle to Selfoss

Driving time: approx. 3–4 hours

Distance: approx. 190–220 km

Stay: Selfoss or nearby

Day 1 starts off with the Golden Circle, you’ll leave Reykjavík before noon to make sure you’ll have enough time to explore the full Golden Circle at your own pace. Expect to be at your next accommodation around 7 or 8pm, so you might go straight to dinner after the Golden Circle, just keep that in mind. Let’s start off the trip!

Þingvellir National Park

The trip starts off with a visit to Þingvellir National Park, one of the most beautiful parks I’ve ever seen. The entrance through the rift valley is something out of this world, and after you’re treated to a waterfall, and the Þingvellir Church surrounded by the ruins of old stone shelters.

It looks like something out of a movie and for me was the perfect start. Expect to spend about 90 minutes or more here, especially if you’re walking the full path around the park.

Brúarfoss

Our second stop of the trip is a small waterfall/river combination that shows the bluest water you’ll probably ever see. It’s not a destination on the original Golden Circle tour, but it’s only a 10 minute detour and well worth your time.

That’s exactly why I added this waterfall to my favorite waterfalls in Iceland list. The stop only takes about 30 minutes, but the pictures you’ll be able to take there are more than worth it!

Geysir

Known as The Great Geyser, this is one of the two eye catchers during your Golden Circle trip; it’s a great sight to see. But just a couple of minutes away you’ll find the true eye catcher of this place, Strokkur, the active geyser. When I first was around this geyser, I was shocked by the harsh sound and volume of water it produced during an eruption. It erupts every 4 to 10 minutes and can shoot water up to 66 feet high!

Quick tip: don’t forget to pay for parking when you’re leaving the Geysir, otherwise you’ll find a surprise once arriving at home.

Gullfoss

The second eye catcher of the Golden Circe and one of the biggest waterfalls in the country and named “Golden Falls” due to its golden hue reflection on sunny days. When I was there I was lucky to see the ‘Golden Falls’ with my own eyes, and it was truly spectacular. Expect to stay here for around 30 minutes.

Also, there’s a great restaurant here to grab a bite. And don’t forget to pay for parking here as well.

Faxafoss

Another extra add-on, but another one that only takes an extra 10 minutes. A smaller waterfall, but one met with adventurous terrains around it and certainly worth a visit to round of the Golden Circle before you head off to your stay for the night.

Where to Stay in Selfoss

Staying in Selfoss is the perfect way to round off the day, it makes day 2 a lot easier and you won’t have to drive back all the way to Reykjavík. I suggest staying at Hotel Selfoss to relax and wind down after a long day. Selfoss itself has plenty or restaurant option to end the day with a lovely dinner.

Optional: Reykjavík

If you arrive in Iceland early or are already staying in Reykjavík before day 1, you can spend a few hours exploring the capital before starting the Golden Circle. Personally, I wouldn’t sacrifice too much of the Golden Circle for it though, as Reykjavík also comes at the end of this itinerary on day 5. But spending a morning in Reykjavík is possible on day one.

Day 2: Selfoss to Vík – Waterfalls & Black Sand Beaches

Driving time: approx. 2.5–3.5 hours

Distance: approx. 150–175 km

Stay: Vík

Day 2 starts in Selfoss and ends in Vík and is filled with unreal landscapes, this day you’ll witness some of the most incredible waterfalls found anywhere on earth, an amazing viewpoint, and perhaps the ‘weirdest’ looking beach there is.

At the end of the day you’ll have the option to watch and enjoy a real live lava show but make sure to book that one in advance!

Seljalandsfoss

We’re starting the day with a 60m (197ft) high waterfall. If you’re heading out early, you’ll be able to arrive here at sunrise and be one of only ones there. This is especially great if you want to get some cool pictures from behind the waterfall.

I absolutely loved seeing Seljalandsfoss in real life but wasn’t prepared to be fully blasted by the water and wind at times, so wear something waterproof! Expect to stay here for about 30 minutes.

Skógafoss

The second stop is, surprise surprise, another waterfall. But, this one is sooo much fun as you’ll be able to get super close, so you’ll be completely soaked in literally seconds.

Skógafoss is also 60 meters high, but a little harder to reach than Seljalandsfoss, as for the best and closest view you’ll have to walk across laid bare rock across the river. Nevertheless, it’s truly worth it! We spent about 45 minutes here.

Dyrhólaey

Dyrhólaey is a nature reserve that acts as a beautiful viewpoint, it looks across the sea and amazing rock formations with a huge arch in it. This arch is so big that a stunt pilot once flew through it, how about that for a fact?

The way up by car might be as exciting as the view as you’re driving up a steep hill. But once at the top you’re treated with a beautiful view. 30 minutes here should be more than enough, after that your trip goes on to that ‘weird’ beach I was talking about earlier.

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Have you ever seen a beach full of black sand with a traffic light at the entrance? The answer is probably no, unless you’ve been here before.

This beach is located on the world-famous volcanic shore; hence it has black sand. Visiting however isn’t a giving, as the beach is known for dangerous sneaker waves. That’s also the reason the beach has a traffic light, so always check which light is on to see if it’s safe to enter the beach.

Apart from that, you’ll have a blast here as it’s pretty cool to see. I stayed here for about 30-40 minutes, watching the waves, taking some cool pics and seeing tourists doing stupid things they shouldn’t do…

Where to Stay in Vík

After the black sand beach you’re all set to go to Vík for the evening and night in Vík. Although there aren’t a lot of accommodations, I’ve found Paradise Cottages to be extremely reasonably priced for the area.

Also, you’ll be out in a valley where you won’t have a lot of light pollution, so when it’s dark you can try and spot some dancing Northern Lights! So, it’s definitely worth checking out before you book a place in Vík.

Day 3: Vík to Jökulsárlón – Glaciers, Canyons & Diamond Beach

Driving time: approx. 3–3.5 hours

Distance: approx. 200–220 km

Stay: near Jökulsárlón or Skaftafell

Day 3 will probably be the most ‘intense’ day of the trip depending if you’ve booked any of the excursions you could do on this day. If you have booked something, (we did the glacier lagoon trip and it was amazing! More about that here), make sure you arrive on time. Also, check weather conditions carefully before starting your day.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

We’re starting off the day with a walk in a canyon in southeast Iceland where the Fjaðrá river flows through it. The canyon has steep walls and winding water. It is up to 100m deep and about 2 kilometers long. But the steps and views are definitely worth it.

At the end you’re treated to a spectacular waterfall feeding the river down below, meaning the perfect spot for some epic pictures. And as this is the first stop in the morning, it’s not that busy, so you can enjoy the views with less crowds around you. You’ll probably spend about 2 hours here (incl. the walk from and back to the car).

Skaftafell

The second stop for the day is Skaftafell waterfall. It’s located in an official national park along with volcanoes and plenty of hiking routes. Although I didn’t go for a real hike, the way to the waterfall was certainly pretty and worth it.

It has a beautiful backdrop, is surrounded by glaciers and the wall the waters falling down in front of is seriously impressive. Going there and hiking back takes about 45 minutes in total. After the hike it’s time to make a decision about what to do next…

Glacier Hike or Ice Cave Tour

If it’s still early in the day (noon time), you’ll be able to do either a glacier hike or ice cave tour as both have afternoon slots available. The glacier hike goes onto the glacier and shows you more about the landscape and its history, whilst the ice cave tour takes you to a real ice cave and talks about its origins. These tours take about approx. 2,5-3 hours.

Fjallsárlón

After a possible tour we’re moving on to Fjallsárlón lake, a smaller glacier lake just before the well-known glacier lagoon. Although it’s a smaller lake, it’s still impressive to see, as you’ll be able to stand next to real glacier ice that drifts down to shore side. Definitely worth a stop to get some cool pics. Now on to the main event of the day…

Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

The famous glacier lagoon, for most Iceland visitors one of the absolute highlights. If you’re coming during spring and summer you’ll even be able to join one of the 30 to 60-minute glacier lagoon tours, where you’ll go out onto the water and see big blocks of glacier ice up close.

Diamond Beach

We’re finishing the day only a couple minutes away from the glacier lagoon at Diamond Beach. This is the place where you can find some real diamonds ;). Just kidding, this is where the last remnants of the glacier ice blocks end up. And combining this with the beach you’ll end up with some pretty photos. For me it was the perfect end to the day as I loved watching the waves roll in between the ‘diamonds’ on the beach.

Where to Stay Near Jökulsárlón

After you’re done searching for diamonds, it’s time to wind down and name a better place than Ekra Glacier Lagoon. This beautiful guesthouse is about a 20-30min drive from the lagoon, making it the perfect place to end day 3 of the itinerary.

Day 4: Jökulsárlón Back Along the South Coast

Driving time: approx. 4–4.5 hours

Distance: approx. 280–290 km

Stay: Hvolsvöllur or nearby

Although you’ll be heading back west along the same main road today, I wouldn’t think of Day 4 as simply the drive back. There are several worthwhile stops that are easy to skip on the journey east, and keeping them for the return trip makes the itinerary feel much less rushed.

Also, if you wish you can do another excursion, like a glacier walk on your way back. That way you’ll be able to do 2 of the 3 most sought after excursions in Iceland.

Skaftafell, If You Missed It on Day 3

If you missed this one on day 3, this is the moment to catch up. If it’s not needed, let’s go to the next one!

Foss á Síðu

The first official stop on our way back to Reykjavík is Foss á Síðu, a slender, 30-meter-tall waterfall in the middle of a beautiful rural village. It’s not one where you’ll stay for a long time, but the overall vibe here is pretty peaceful.

Eldhraun Lava Fields

Only a short distance from the previous stop you’ll find these impressive lava fields, perhaps you’ve stopped here yesterday, perhaps not. If not, now’s the time to stop, walk a little bit around and take it all in. Due to all the moss it doesn’t look a lot like a lava field anymore, but that made it even more impressive for me. It felt like being in a medieval movie, sort of.

Now it’s time to grab lunch and drive on towards Reykjavík, feel free to stop anywhere you want as this day is filled with plenty of leftover time. Also on your way back you’ll pass all previous sightseeing points, so if there’s one you’d like to see again, now’s the time to do so!

Lunch in Vík

I recommend stopping in Vík for lunch as it’s about halfway on your way to your last stop. There’s plenty of good spots here to grab some food and fill up the car for the second half of the day.

Where to Stay Around Hvolsvöllur

I highly recommend staying at Loa’s Nest based on my own experience. First off, the owners are extremely polite, and second, they serve an amazing breakfast, including fresh waffles. To name a third point, you’ll be able to watch the an amazing dancing show of the Northern Lights here if you’re lucky. You’ll won’t be disappointed by this stay.

Day 5: Hvolsvöllur to Reykjavík

Driving time: approx. 1.5–2.5 hours

Distance: approx. 105–160 km

The last day of the roadtrip and this day should deliberately feel more relaxed. After three pretty busy sightseeing days and a longer driving day yesterday, today should be about seeing the final sights and perhaps enjoying a geothermal lagoon.

Take a Slow Morning

The last day of the trip, and by now you’ve seen almost everything that was on the itinerary, meaning you can start the day slow. And if you followed my recommendation, you’re probably staying at Loa’s nest, so you can start your day with some fresh waffles. After breakfast, it’s time to move on. We left quite early to visit a geothermal spa, before heading off to spend the evening in Reykjavík.

Optional Geothermal Lagoon

I visited the Blue Lagoon before heading back to Reykjavík and it was the perfect way to end 5 busy days of wandering around Iceland. Everyone has seen the picture perfect photos from this place, but I can say that it really lives up to the hype!

The milky blue water in the lagoon is said to be restorative for the skin and mind. I’d say, if you have the time, pay them a visit to check it out for yourself, it’s so relaxing and I could literally spend some more hours there if I had the time.

Explore Reykjavík

We ended where we started, in the capital of Iceland, just in time to enjoy some shopping, strolling around and have a nice last dinner.

Reykjavík has plenty to offer, so make sure to make the most of it whilst your there. I loved seeing the Hallgrimskirkja in real live and strolling down the main shopping street to the Skólavörðustígur Rainbow Street in the middle of the center.

Some of my highlights were Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss, and the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon boattrip.

If you still have time left in Iceland, enjoy Reykjavík and it’s surroundings. If you have more than just a day left, take a day trip to the westside of the Iceland, including the Snæfellsjökull glacier, as it’s definitely worth seeing once in your life!

My Top Tips for a South Iceland Road Trip

Here are some of my final tips to make sure your South Iceland trip is one to never forget.

Start Your Days Early

It’s essential to be as early out the door as possible, this will give you a headstart against group tours, and the most amount of daylight hours. As mentioned earlier, I always left about 30 minutes before sunrise, so we were one of the first ones at the first sightseeing point each day.

Book Accommodation in Advance

Iceland looks big on a map, but it’s actually quite small as everyone lives along the coastline. This also mean that accommodation fills up quickly, year-round. So be sure to book in advance, preferably together with booking your flights.

Keep Some Stops for the Drive Back

On days 4 and 5 you’ll be driving the same road back, so I advise keeping some stops for the way back to make sure your days aren’t too packed.

Also if you missed a stop due to the weather, or if it was too busy at one of the sights, you’ll be able to revisit it on the way back.

Southern Iceland Itinerary FAQs

Do you need a 4×4 for this Southern Iceland itinerary?

No, it’s not needed, however, if you’re visiting during winter, it’s highly advised, as roads may become slippery or could be filled with snow. Always check with your car rental company if a 4×4 is needed for your preferred period to visit Iceland.

What is the best time of year for a Southern Iceland road trip?

This depends on what you’re looking for, I went in early October, which was amazing, but it was getting a bit colder and the sun disappeared quite early. However, this gave us the possibility hunt for Northern Lights every day.

I would say spring, summer and early autumn are perfect for this itinerary, during these months you’ll have good weather conditions, active waterfalls, and plenty of daylight hours to enjoy your trip + amazing Northern Lights activity in the evening.

Can you see the Northern Lights during this itinerary?

Absolutely! Especially if you choose an accommodation outside of town. I stayed at Loa’s nest for multiple nights during my south Iceland itinerary and spotted the Northern Lights right outside the cabin! It was truly magical, so I can highly recommend this accommodation for day 1 or 4!

Do you need to book excursions and tours in advance?

Yes, Iceland is busy all year round, so booking in advance is a must. I would say, if you know when you want to go to Iceland, start booking you activities, but also you accommodations! Better to be safe than sorry.

Final Thoughts on My 5-Day Southern Iceland Itinerary

For me, this 5-day itinerary across southern Iceland is the perfect mix of culture, sightseeing, and exploring. It passes by iconic sights, old school lava fields, as well as a real-life glacier.

I enjoyed every moment of it and can’t wait to do it again. If you end up following the same itinerary (please let me know, cause I would love to hear all about it!!), I hope you have just as much fun as I did. Happy traveling!

Check Out My Other Iceland Blogs

The Best Waterfalls in Iceland: Add These Waterfalls to Your Iceland Itinerary

What’s the Best Month to Visit Iceland? My Honest Opinion & Thoughts

What to Pack for Your Iceland Trip? Check My Useful Packing Guide

The 9 Best Activities to Do in Iceland: Things to Do & Which Activities I Would Recommend

Iceland Budget: Daily Costs & Money-Saving Tips for Your Iceland Trip

Check Out My Other Reykjavík Blogs

Spend 24 Hours in Reykjavík Iceland: What I Did and What I Recommend

Whale Watching Tour in Reykjavík Iceland: My Honest Review

Where to Stay in Reykjavík: My Favorite Areas and Hotel Stays