THE ULTIMATE SOUTHERN ICELAND ROAD TRIP GUIDE
Iceland had been on my bucket list for years, and somehow it was even more extraordinary than I imagined!
This is a country where you can drive past waterfalls, volcanoes, black sand beaches, moss covered lava fields and enormous glaciers all within a matter of hours. There were genuinely moments where it felt like we had left Earth entirely.
We spent a few days road tripping through Southern Iceland, starting and ending in Reykjavík and travelling east along the coast towards Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach.
This guide follows the exact route we took, including where we stayed, where we ate, my favourite stops and everything I wish I knew before going.
MY SOUTHERN ICELAND ITINERARY
Reykjavík → Golden Circle → Hella → Seljalandsfoss → Skógafoss → Faxi Bakery → Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon → Fosshotel Núpar → Svínafellsjökull Glacier → Glacier Lagoon → Diamond Beach → Vík → Reykjavík
I would definitely recommend hiring a car for this trip. So much of what made Iceland special for us happened between the major stops. We were constantly pulling over because we had spotted another waterfall, lava field or ridiculous landscape from the road.
That freedom is a huge part of the experience.
DAY 1
REYKJAVÍK + THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
BREAKFAST IN REYKJAVÍK
We landed in Reykjavík to absolutely torrential rain, which was a pretty good introduction to Icelandic weather.
Before starting the road trip, we headed into Reykjavík for breakfast at Deig, which ended up being such a good first stop.
They are known for their bagels and baked goods, with everything from cinnamon rolls to raspberry doughnuts. I went for a bagel filled with cheese, egg and ham while Elliott had smoked salmon and cream cheese.
It was genuinely one of the best bagels I have had.
My tip: Iceland has some seriously good bakeries. Do not just rely on supermarkets or petrol stations while road tripping. We found some of our favourite food completely spontaneously along the road.
START THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
From Reykjavík, we started driving the famous Golden Circle before eventually making our way towards Hella for the night.
Not even 30 minutes into the drive, Iceland had already started looking slightly ridiculous. We passed steaming water, geothermal landscapes and scenery that immediately reminded you that you are driving around an incredibly geologically active island.
KERIÐ CRATER
Our first proper stop was Kerið Crater.
You can walk around the rim of the crater and also make your way down towards the water.
Unfortunately, the weather was absolutely miserable when we visited, so we did not spend as much time here as we probably would have on a clear day.
Which brings me to one of the biggest lessons from Iceland...
You cannot plan your trip around perfect weather.
SECRET LAGOON
If you are going to get wet anyway, you might as well do it properly.
We headed to the Secret Lagoon, a geothermal pool not far from Kerið.
Iceland is famous for its geothermal bathing culture, and while the Blue Lagoon is probably the country's most famous option, I really liked how relaxed the Secret Lagoon felt.
When we visited, entrance was around 4,500 ISK per adult, including access to the lagoon, showers and lockers.
There are natural geothermal springs surrounding the lagoon reaching temperatures of around 100°C, which feed the bathing area.
One thing that may catch you off guard is the showering etiquette. Before entering many Icelandic geothermal pools, visitors are expected to shower completely naked before putting their swimwear back on and entering the lagoon.
Definitely something worth knowing before you walk into the changing room wondering what everyone else is doing!
OPTIONAL GOLDEN CIRCLE STOPS
Because the weather was so bad, we decided to skip a few stops and head to our cottage early.
If you have better weather or more time, you could also add:
Þingvellir National Park
One of Iceland's most historically and geologically important places, sitting where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart.
Geysir Geothermal Area
One of the Golden Circle's most famous geothermal areas.
Gullfoss
A huge waterfall and one of the classic Golden Circle stops.
WHERE I STAYED
ÁSKOT COTTAGES, HELLA
This was honestly one of my favourite stays of the entire trip.
The cottage sits on a horse farm surrounded by huge open fields, with Icelandic horses grazing outside.
It was incredibly cosy inside and had a full kitchen, so we stopped at a local butcher on the way and bought Icelandic ribeye, vegetables and everything we needed for dinner.
With the rain hitting the windows, a glass of Malbec in hand and Elliott cooking steak, it ended up being the perfect first night.
There is also a little self service farm shop on the property where you can pick up a few essentials, which is useful because the nearest supermarket is around 15 to 20 minutes away.
DAY 2
WATERFALLS, LAVA FIELDS + MIDDLE EARTH
Day two was when the landscapes really started getting ridiculous.
SELJALANDSFOSS
Our first major waterfall was Seljalandsfoss.
It sits just metres from the main road and is famous because you can actually walk behind the falling water.
Prepare to get wet.
Very wet.
One thing I did not realise before travelling around Iceland is that although many natural attractions are free to visit, you will often need to pay for parking.
At several of the major sites we visited, parking was around 900 ISK.
SKÓGAFOSS
Around 25 minutes further along the road is Skógafoss, and this was probably my favourite waterfall of the trip.
It is absolutely enormous.
You really do not understand the scale until you are standing underneath it and the people at the bottom look tiny.
We crossed the shallow channel in front of the waterfall to get a different view, which involved me taking my shoes off and walking barefoot through absolutely freezing water.
My feet were numb.
Worth it.
FAXI BAKERY
One of my favourite things about an Iceland road trip is stumbling across places you had never planned to visit.
Faxi Bakery was exactly that.
We spotted it from the road and decided to stop, and the second you walk inside you are hit with the smell of warm butter, cinnamon and freshly baked pastries.
There were enormous cinnamon rolls, cookies and all sorts of baked goods, but because it was freezing outside, we also tried something more traditional.
Kjötsúpa, Icelandic lamb soup.
It is simple, salty, rich and incredibly warming on a cold Icelandic day.
Definitely order it if you see it.
THE MOSS COVERED LAVA FIELDS
As we continued east, the landscape completely changed.
Huge expanses of old lava covered in thick green moss started appearing alongside the road.
There are designated places where you can stop and take in the landscape, and I really recommend doing so.
This was one of those places where Iceland genuinely started feeling like another planet.
FJAÐRÁRGLJÚFUR CANYON
Or, as I called it...
Middle Earth.
A short walk from the car park takes you to viewpoints overlooking this enormous winding canyon with dramatic cliffs dropping down towards the river below.
It was formed thousands of years ago as glacial meltwater gradually carved its way through the rock.
This was another one of those places that reminded me how quickly Iceland changes.
Within a few hours we had gone from waterfalls to lava fields to this enormous green canyon.
That is what makes driving through Iceland so special.
WHERE I STAYED
FOSSHOTEL NÚPAR
We chose Fosshotel Núpar primarily because of its location.
It sits conveniently between the places we had explored that day and the glaciers, Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach that we wanted to visit next.
But it actually ended up being much nicer than I expected.
Our room had a little outdoor area overlooking grassy fields with dramatic mountains and glaciers in the distance.
During summer, the midnight sun keeps everything glowing incredibly late into the evening, which made the entire place feel quite magical.
We ate at the hotel restaurant that evening and had fish and chips and an Icelandic beef burger.
DAY 3
GLACIERS + THE INTERSTELLAR FILMING LOCATION
This was probably the day I was most excited about.
We woke up early and continued east, passing huge black sand plains, glacial rivers and increasingly enormous glaciers.
SVÍNAFELLSJÖKULL GLACIER
If you know me, you know that Interstellar is my favourite movie in the world.
So there was absolutely no way I was travelling to Iceland without visiting one of its filming locations.
Svínafellsjökull was used to create the frozen landscape of Dr Mann's planet in the film.
And in real life, it somehow looks even more unreal.
A short walk takes you towards the edge of the glacier, where you can see the enormous ridges, crevices and different shades of white and turquoise blue ice.
Svínafellsjökull is an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, Iceland's enormous ice cap.
IMPORTANT: Do not walk onto a glacier without the appropriate experience, equipment and guide. Crevasses can be extremely deep and some can be hidden beneath the surface. We stayed around the solid ground at the edge rather than venturing onto the glacier itself.
This was easily one of my favourite places in Iceland.
🎥 INTERSTELLAR FANS: DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.
HOTEL BREAK
We then continued towards our next hotel.
This was by far the most expensive stay of our trip at more than $700 per night, so instead of immediately heading back out sightseeing, we decided to actually enjoy it. It was worth EVERY PENNY!
HOTEL JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON
The hotel overlooks an incredible landscape with glaciers in the distance and its own lake directly in front.
Outside there are hot tubs overlooking the scenery, as well as a sauna and access to the lake if you are brave enough to take a very cold dip.
We spent the afternoon slowing down and enjoying the hotel before having dinner at the restaurant.
I had seafood soup followed by steak, while Elliott had cured mackerel followed by Icelandic lamb, and we finished with chocolate mousse.
🏠 BOOK HOTEL JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON
DAY 4
GLACIER LAGOON + DIAMOND BEACH
JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON
This was my first time ever seeing an iceberg.
The lagoon is filled with enormous pieces of ice that have broken away from the glacier and are slowly making their way towards the ocean.
Standing there watching these huge icebergs floating through the water is surreal.
And even when the sun is shining, it can be absolutely freezing here.
Do not underestimate Icelandic weather.
DIAMOND BEACH
Directly nearby is one of Iceland's most unusual beaches.
As icebergs make their way towards the ocean, waves gradually break them apart and pieces of ice are washed back onto the black volcanic sand.
The result is huge chunks of clear ice scattered across the beach like diamonds.
Hence the name Diamond Beach.
Some pieces are tiny. Others are enormous.
Seeing translucent ice sitting against completely black sand is one of those things that does not really look real until you are standing there.
THE DRIVE BACK TO REYKJAVÍK
From here, we started the approximately five hour drive back towards Reykjavík.
A lot of people choose to break this journey up with another night somewhere along the south coast.
We were short on time, so we did the entire drive in one day.
Luckily, Iceland makes long drives pretty easy because there are so many independently owned cafés, bakeries and little restaurants along the road.
We grabbed sandwiches and brownies for the journey and made a few spontaneous stops along the way.
VÍK + PUFFINS
One stop you absolutely should make during summer is around Vík.
We visited a coastal viewpoint famous for puffins, expecting that we might see a couple flying in the distance.
Instead, they were nesting just a few feet away from us.
They are absolutely gorgeous, with their bright orange beaks, and actually much smaller than I imagined.
The location itself is breathtaking too.
Even outside puffin season, I would still come here purely for the view.
PUFFIN SEASON: Puffins spend most of the year at sea and return to Iceland's coastal cliffs during the summer to nest and raise their chicks, so sightings depend heavily on the time of year you visit.
FINAL NIGHT
REYKJAVÍK
We eventually made it back to Reykjavík in the early evening.
Hotels in Iceland can be seriously expensive, so for our final night we found a small boutique hotel in the city with our own private bathroom for under $200.
From there, we headed out to explore Reykjavík properly.
The weather was completely different from when we had arrived, and seeing the city with sunshine and people out made it feel like an entirely different place.
REYKJAVÍK HARBOUR
We headed towards the harbour and stopped inside a large converted warehouse filled with different food stalls.
For our final meal, we tried:
Icelandic lamb soup
Lamb burger
Traditional Icelandic hot dog
The hot dog was surprisingly good, especially with the crispy onions and mustard.
And then, because Elliott apparently cannot visit a harbour without bringing out his fishing gear, we ended our Iceland trip sitting beside the water fishing underneath the midnight sun.
I even managed to catch one myself.
A pretty perfect way to finish the trip.
WHERE I STAYED
🏠 ÁSKOT COTTAGES, HELLA
A gorgeous little cottage on a horse farm surrounded by open fields. Probably my favourite cosy stay of the trip.
🏠 FOSSHOTEL NÚPAR
A really convenient base for breaking up the journey east, with beautiful mountain and glacier views.
🏠 HOTEL JÖKULSÁRLÓN GLACIER LAGOON
Our splurge stay. Hot tubs, sauna, lake and incredible glacier views.
🏠 REYKJAVÍK BOUTIQUE HOTEL
A more affordable option for our final night in the capital with a private bathroom.
WHERE TO EAT
🥯 DEIG, REYKJAVÍK
Come for the bagels but definitely look at the pastries too. I had the cheese, egg and ham bagel while Elliott had smoked salmon and cream cheese.
🥐 FAXI BAKERY
One of my favourite spontaneous discoveries. Try one of their enormous baked treats alongside a bowl of traditional Icelandic lamb soup.
🥩 LOCAL ICELANDIC MEAT
If you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, buy some local meat from a butcher and cook one evening. The Icelandic ribeye we bought from a butcher near Hella was genuinely one of the best steaks I have had.
🍔 FOSSHOTEL NŰPAR RESTAURANT
We ate at the hotel restaurant during our stay at Fosshotel Núpar and it was exactly what we needed after a long day on the road. We went for the Icelandic beef burger and fish and chips. The restaurant focuses on fresh Icelandic ingredients and has huge windows overlooking the surrounding lava fields.
🍽️ GUNNA Á LEITI, HOTEL JÖKULSÁRLÓN
This was our more special dinner of the trip. The restaurant at Hótel Jökulsarlon - Glacier Lagoon Hotel has huge windows overlooking the glacier and mountains, so try to get a window table if you can. I started with seafood soup while Elliott had cured mackerel, followed by steak for me and Icelandic lamb for Elliott, then chocolate mousse to finish. The menu combines Icelandic and Nordic food with international influences.
🌭 GRANDI MATHÖLL , REYKJAVÍK
One of my top recommendations if you want to try local food in Reykjavík without committing to another expensive sit down restaurant. Grandi Mathöll is a food hall in an old fish factory by Reykjavík's harbour with multiple vendors under one roof, including Icelandic food alongside several international options. We tried lamb soup, a lamb burger and the traditional Icelandic hot dog here. It is a great option for more affordable local food, especially if everyone in your group wants something different.
Try:
🍲 ICELANDIC LAMB SOUP
We ate this several times throughout the trip. Perfect after being outside in Icelandic weather all day.
🌭 ICELANDIC HOT DOG
A classic to try while you are in Reykjavík. Mine came topped with crispy onions and mustard.
EXPERIENCES WORTH BOOKING
♨️ GEOTHERMAL LAGOON
Geothermal bathing is such a huge part of the Iceland experience. We visited the Secret Lagoon and loved how relaxed it felt.
🧊 GLACIER EXPERIENCE
If you want to actually venture onto one of Iceland's glaciers, do it with a proper guide rather than attempting it independently.
⭕ GOLDEN CIRCLE TOUR
If you are short on time but want to experience some of South Icelands most beautiful sites, this is a great one day option!
🌭 REYKAVIK FOOD TOUR
Highly recommend to try some amazing Icelandic food! Make sure to book early, it sells out in advance!
🚗 RENTAL CAR
For this itinerary, I would absolutely rent a car. Having the freedom to stop whenever we saw something interesting was one of my favourite parts of the trip. I used Booking.com and chose in-terminal pick up!
BEFORE YOU GO
RENT A CAR
For this route, having your own car gives you so much more freedom.
Some of my favourite moments were not planned attractions at all. They were waterfalls, cafés and landscapes we spotted while driving.
PACK WATERPROOFS
Not water resistant.
Waterproof.
We arrived to torrential rain and quickly realised that Icelandic weather does whatever it wants.
A waterproof jacket and sensible shoes are essential.
PREPARE FOR FOUR SEASONS IN ONE DAY
We experienced torrential rain, wind, sunshine, freezing temperatures and even dusty conditions during the same road trip.
Do not look outside in the morning and assume that is what you are getting for the rest of the day.
EXPECT TO PAY FOR PARKING
Many of Iceland's natural attractions are free to visit, but parking often is not.
At several popular stops, we paid around 900 ISK for parking.
DO NOT RUSH THE DRIVE
Google Maps might tell you a journey takes three hours.
Realistically, you are going to stop.
A lot.
There were points where we wanted to pull over every five minutes because another waterfall or enormous glacier had appeared beside us.
Give yourself more time than you think you need.
BUDGET ACCORDINGLY
Iceland is expensive, particularly during the busier months.
Relatively simple accommodation in Reykjavík could easily approach $200… anything lower than that and you’ll probably be sharing a bathroom which is pretty common in this part of the world.
Booking early gives you far more choice though, and more bang for your buck.
MAKE USE OF SELF CATERING
Eating out for every meal can quickly add up.
Staying somewhere with a kitchen for at least part of the trip meant we could buy local ingredients and cook ourselves, and save money on restaurants.
And honestly, our steak dinner in Hella ended up being one of my favourite meals of the entire trip.
STOP AT THE SMALL CAFÉS
Do not just plan every restaurant before you arrive.
Some of the best things we ate came from independent cafés and bakeries that we randomly spotted while driving.
BE CAREFUL AROUND GLACIERS
Glaciers are beautiful, but they can also be incredibly dangerous.
Never wander out onto the ice unless you are appropriately equipped and know what you are doing. If you want to properly explore a glacier, book a guided experience.
SUMMER DAYS ARE LONG
One of my favourite things about visiting during summer was the midnight sun.
It stays light incredibly late, which gives you much more flexibility for exploring and makes the evenings feel endless.
MY BIGGEST ICELAND TIP
Leave room for spontaneity.
Obviously there are places you are going to want to see. Skógafoss, Glacier Lagoon, Diamond Beach and the Golden Circle are famous for a reason.
But some of my favourite memories from Iceland happened between those places.
Stopping at a bakery we had never heard of.
Seeing another enormous waterfall beside the road.
Cooking Icelandic steak while horses grazed outside our cottage.
Watching puffins nesting a few feet away.
Fishing in Reykjavík underneath the midnight sun.
Iceland is one of those places where the road trip itself is as much of the experience as the destination.
And if you are planning your own trip, save this guide so you can come back to it later.
Inspired by travel, made for you.
Oriana ♡
WATCH MY FULL ICELAND DOCUMENTARY
Want to see exactly what this road trip actually looked like?
I filmed the entire journey, from driving through Iceland's waterfalls and lava fields to visiting the Interstellar glacier, seeing icebergs for the first time, finding puffins and fishing underneath the midnight sun.
🎥 WATCH MY FULL ICELAND TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY