One-day itinerary – the best of the south

Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss, Reynisfjara and Dyrhólaey

Main attractions

Reynisfjara · Dyrhólaey · Skógafoss · Seljalandsfoss

Other attractions

Loftsalahellir · Hveradalir · Sólheimajökull · Kvernufoss · Seljavallalaug · Rauðhólar · Gljúfrabúi · Íráfoss · Leirhverir í Hveradölum · Ægissíðufoss

In this itinerary, we will visit the most interesting places along the south coast of Iceland – besides waterfalls and glaciers, you will also have the chance to see puffins, which nest on the Dyrhólaey cliffs. Yes, there are also puffins above the beach Reynisfjara, but they are quite high up and harder to observe there. With fresh morning energy, it is a good idea to drive straight to Dyrhólaey or the black sand beach Reynisfjara first, and then slowly make your way back, stopping at each interesting place for as long as you like.

On the way to Dyrhólaey, you can also take a short hike to the cave Loftsalahellir, which was and perhaps still is popular among Instagram photographers. The beach Reynisfjara is beautiful and famous, but also dangerous – despite safety measures, the ocean here has already claimed several lives. Under no circumstances should you underestimate the sea here!

After fully enjoying these two places, you can slowly head back. The first interesting stop on the route is the glacier tongue Sólheimajökull, which requires about a 20-minute walk from the parking area. The next stop is the magnificent waterfall Skógafoss, truly one of Iceland’s icons. You can admire Skógafoss both from below and from above after climbing many stairs and gaining about 70 meters in elevation. However, the view from below is much more impressive, so if you skip the climb you will survive just fine – and instead you can use the time for a walk to the nearby beautiful waterfall Kvernufoss.

If you feel like bathing in geothermal water, you will now have a wonderful opportunity in Iceland’s oldest swimming pool – Seljavallalaug. It is located in a rugged valley between the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, and requires about a 15-minute walk from the parking lot. With a small detour, you can also visit the lesser-known waterfall Íráfoss, though if you are in a hurry, you can safely skip it.

Next on the route is a nice place for a short rest – the shelter at Sauðhúsvöllur Kofinn, where two people can fit inside and relax for a while protected from the wind and perhaps even the rain. Then comes another waterfall icon of Iceland, the spectacular Seljalandsfoss, which drops from a height of 60 meters and is famous because you can walk behind it. About 500 meters from Seljalandsfoss there is another fascinating waterfall hidden inside a rocky crevice called Gljúfrabúi.

The reason why it is better to leave it for the return journey is that the sun illuminates it only later in the afternoon, and before then its beauty does not stand out nearly as much.

If you still have not had enough waterfalls, I have one more recommendation – Ægissíðufoss. You can approach it from either side, though I personally prefer the eastern side. We then pass through the town of Selfoss, which has a pleasant little square with several cafés. After that comes the small geothermal area Hveradalir, which also includes the mud pots Leirhverir í Hveradölum that you can try out.

The final place I would like to mention is the area of Rauðhólar, located just outside Reykjavík. In my opinion, it is the most overlooked place in Iceland. Safe travels!