Practical Tips South Coast
Accommodations Along the South Coast
| Location | Distance from Reykjavík | Options | Budget/Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hella/Hvolsvöllur | 110 km | Guesthouses, camping. Good stopover before the south coast | from 80€ double room |
| Vík | 186 km | Guesthouses, hostel, camping. Most options on the south coast | from 100€ double room |
| Kirkjubæjarklaustur | 260 km | Small town between Vík and Jökulsárlón. Quiet, less touristy | from 90€ double room |
| Höfn | 450 km | Fishing village near Jökulsárlón. Known for langoustine restaurants | from 110€ double room |
Important Notes
- Accommodations: ALWAYS book in advance on the south coast — especially in Vík and near Jökulsárlón. In summer, everything is booked out months in advance. Booking.com and Airbnb are the best platforms
- Fueling: Fill up in Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur — the next gas station can be 100+ km away
- Food: The N1 gas stations have surprisingly good restaurants with lamb soup, fish & chips, and coffee. The Súpa restaurant in Vík (only soups!) is an insider tip
- Weather: The south coast receives the most rain in Iceland. Waterproof clothing is a MUST. The wind can be brutal here
- Travel Times: Plan more time than Google Maps shows — you will want to stop at every waterfall. Reykjavík → Vík: 2.5h pure driving time, realistically with stops: 6–8h
Guided Tours on the South Coast
Some experiences on the south coast are only possible with certified guides — for safety reasons. The most important guided activities:
| Activity | Provider | Duration | Price (from) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier Hike Sólheimajökull | Arctic Adventures, Troll Expeditions, Icelandic Mountain Guides | 3–5h | 12,990 ISK (87€) |
| Glacier Hike Skaftafell | Glacier Guides, Icelandic Mountain Guides | 3–5h | 12,490 ISK (83€) |
| Ice Cave Tour (Vatnajökull) | Local Guide, Glacier Adventures | 3–4h | 19,900 ISK (133€) |
| Zodiac Tour Jökulsárlón | Glacier Lagoon | 1h | 10,900 ISK (73€) |
| Amphibian Boat Jökulsárlón | Glacier Lagoon | 40 min. | 6,500 ISK (43€) |
| Snowmobile on Mýrdalsjökull | Arcanum, Mountaineers of Iceland | 2–3h | 26,900 ISK (179€) |
All tours should be booked at least 1–2 days in advance, in summer 1–2 weeks. Ice cave tours (only November to March) are particularly quickly booked out — book these 2–4 weeks in advance.
Photography Tips South Coast
- Seljalandsfoss: Best light in the evening (backlight from behind). In winter with icicles particularly photogenic. Protect the camera with a dry bag — the spray is omnipresent
- Skógafoss: Morning for rainbows (sun in the east). From above (after the 370 steps) for overview drone photos
- Reynisfjara: At sunrise or sunset, when the light turns the basalt columns golden. Long exposure of the waves on the black beach
- Jökulsárlón: Morning for calm water and reflections, evening for warm light on the icebergs. In winter: Northern lights over the lagoon
- Diamond Beach: At sunrise, when the ice blocks glitter in the golden light. Long exposure of the waves around the ice blocks
