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195 km
About 3 h
Car 1–4 · Van 5–7
Free cancellation 24 h
South coast · from KEF
About Skógar and the drive
Skógar is a tiny settlement beneath the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, best known for Skógafoss, a broad, powerful waterfall that falls straight off a cliff a short walk from the car park. A staircase climbs to a platform at the top, and from there the trail continues up the river past a long series of smaller waterfalls. This is also the start of the Fimmvörðuháls trail over the pass to Þórsmörk, a popular summer hike.
Next to the falls, the Skógar Museum has a collection of old Icelandic tools, boats and household items, plus turf houses and a small church moved to the site. There are hotels and guesthouses at the foot of the falls, so you can see Skógafoss in the quiet of the evening or early morning. A few minutes east, a side road leads to the Sólheimajökull glacier tongue, where glacier walks start.
The drive from Keflavík Airport follows Route 1 for almost the whole way, passing Selfoss, Hella and Hvolsvöllur, then running along the foot of the mountains with Seljalandsfoss and the Westman Islands in view. Seljalandsfoss is directly on the route, so it is the obvious stop to add if you have the time.
Seasons and roads
The Fimmvörðuháls trail is a summer hike only. In winter the stairs to the top of Skógafoss can be icy, and the drive is best timed for the few hours of daylight.
