South coast to Höfn and Djúpivogur: a relaxed 2–3 day plan

Iceland's south coast is the classic road trip: waterfalls you can walk behind, black sand beaches, glacier tongues and the icebergs of Jökulsárlón. Most visitors see it in a single long day from Reykjavík and turn back at the lagoon. Keep going, though, and the road continues to Höfn, a harbour town with views of Vatnajökull, and on to Djúpivogur, the first village of the Eastfjords.

Covering all of that in one day is possible, but it means a lot of time in the car and very little at each stop. Spread over two or three days, it becomes one of the most rewarding stretches of the Ring Road. This plan shows how to split it, what to see on each day and what to keep in mind along the way.

The route at a glance

The whole route follows Route 1, the Ring Road, eastwards from Reykjavík. These approximate road distances help you plan each day; driving times depend heavily on weather, traffic and how often you stop.

• Reykjavík to Vík: about 180 km, past Selfoss, Hvolsvöllur, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss
• Vík to Kirkjubæjarklaustur: about 70 km, across the Mýrdalssandur plain and the Eldhraun lava field
• Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Skaftafell: about 70 km, across the wide Skeiðarársandur
• Skaftafell to Jökulsárlón: about 55 km, below the glaciers of Vatnajökull
• Jökulsárlón to Höfn: about 80 km
• Höfn to Djúpivogur: about 100 km, around the headlands and into the first of the Eastfjords

If you start from Keflavík Airport rather than Reykjavík, add about 50 km to the first day. In total, the route from Reykjavík to Höfn alone is around 460 km, which is why we recommend at least two nights on the way.

How to travel the route

There are several ways to do this trip, and the right one depends on your group, your confidence on Icelandic roads and how much time you have.

• Rental car: the most flexible option for a multi-day trip, with your own schedule and overnight stops wherever you like. In winter, only drive if you are comfortable on ice and in strong wind; see our guide to driving in Iceland in winter.
• Private transfer: we drive from Keflavík Airport or Reykjavík directly to Höfn or Djúpivogur, with stops on the way if you agree them with us in advance. It is a long day, but you see the coast without driving, and you arrive at your door with all your luggage.
• Shorter transfers: if you only want to go part of the way, we also drive to Vík, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón.
• Day tour: if you cannot stay overnight, our private South Coast and Jökulsárlón tour from Reykjavík covers the highlights as far as the lagoon in one long day.

Our transfers start from Keflavík Airport or Reykjavík. If you would like to split the journey over several days with a driver, message us on WhatsApp at +354 777 3949 and we will tell you what is possible for your dates.

Day 1: Reykjavík or Keflavík to Vík

The first day is the shortest in distance but packed with stops, so leave in the morning. After Selfoss and Hvolsvöllur, the mountains close in on the left and the waterfalls begin.

• Seljalandsfoss: a tall, slender waterfall with a path that leads behind the falling water in the warmer months. Bring a waterproof jacket.
• Gljúfrabúi: a short walk from Seljalandsfoss, a waterfall hidden inside a narrow gorge. You may get wet feet.
• Skógafoss: a wide, powerful waterfall, with a staircase to a viewpoint at the top.
• Sólheimajökull: a glacier tongue reached by a short walk from the car park. Only walk on the ice itself with a certified guide.
• Dyrhólaey: a headland with a natural rock arch and wide views along the coast. Parts of it can be closed in late spring during the nesting season.
• Reynisfjara: the famous black sand beach with basalt columns and sea stacks. Read our Reynisfjara safety guide first: the waves here are dangerous.

Spend the night in or near Vík, a small village under green cliffs with a red-roofed church on the hill. Our Vík travel guide and our guide to Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss have more detail on this part of the route.

Day 2: Vík to Höfn via Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón

Day two is the longest and the most varied. East of Vík, the road crosses Mýrdalssandur, then the vast moss-covered lava field of Eldhraun. Stay on the road and marked paths here: the moss is extremely fragile and takes many years to recover.

• Fjaðrárgljúfur: a deep, winding canyon with a path along its rim, a short detour from the main road. Access is sometimes restricted to protect the vegetation, so check before you go.
• Kirkjubæjarklaustur: a small village and a good place for a coffee and fuel stop. Nearby, Kirkjugólf is a flat surface of basalt column tops that looks like a tiled floor.
• Skeiðarársandur: a huge plain of black sand and gravel, crossed by long bridges, with glaciers on the horizon.
• Skaftafell: part of Vatnajökull National Park, with walking trails, glacier views and Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns. Allow around an hour and a half for the return walk to Svartifoss.
• Fjallsárlón: a smaller glacier lagoon just west of Jökulsárlón, often quieter, where the glacier comes right down to the water.
• Jökulsárlón and Diamond Beach: the glacier lagoon full of floating icebergs, and across the road the black beach where pieces of ice wash up on the sand.

From Jökulsárlón it is roughly an hour more to Höfn, where you spend the night. Höfn sits on a low peninsula with the glaciers of Vatnajökull on the skyline, and it is known for its langoustine, which you will find on many local menus. Our Jökulsárlón day trip guide covers the lagoon in more depth.

Day 3: Höfn, Stokksnes and Djúpivogur

The third day is short in distance, which leaves time to enjoy the scenery. Start with a walk around Höfn's harbour, then head east.

• Stokksnes and Vestrahorn: a short drive east of Höfn, a black sand spit with dunes in front of the jagged Vestrahorn mountain, one of the most photographed views in East Iceland. The area is on private land and there is an entrance fee, paid at the café by the access road.
• Hvalnes: a lighthouse on a gravel spit, with a lagoon on one side, the ocean on the other and the Eystrahorn mountain behind.
• The coast road: between Hvalnes and Djúpivogur the road runs below steep scree slopes right above the sea. Take it slowly and use the lay-bys for photos.
• Djúpivogur: a harbour village below the pyramid-shaped Búlandstindur, with old buildings by the harbour and a row of large granite eggs along the shore at Gleðivík, a sculpture work by Sigurður Guðmundsson.

From Djúpivogur you can continue north into the Eastfjords towards Egilsstaðir, which our East Iceland guide covers, or head back towards Reykjavík. If you are continuing all the way to Seyðisfjörður for the Norröna ferry, read our Seyðisfjörður and Norröna guide.

13–15 hours · private

South Coast + Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon

Seljalandsfoss · Skógafoss · Reynisfjara · Vík · Glacier lagoon

Car or Van

1–7 people · same price

195,000 kr

Book this tour

Two days or three?

Three days is the relaxed version described above. If you only have two days, the most comfortable option is to drive from Reykjavík to the area around Kirkjubæjarklaustur on day one, with the waterfalls and Reynisfjara on the way, then continue via Skaftafell, Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón to Höfn on day two. Djúpivogur then becomes a short morning trip on the way onwards.

With more than three days, add a night near Skaftafell or Jökulsárlón. That gives you time for a guided glacier walk, a boat trip on the lagoon in the summer season or a longer hike in the national park. Check seasons and book these activities with the operators in advance.

Whatever length you choose, avoid planning too many hours of driving into one day, especially in winter. If you are linking this route with the rest of the country, our Ring Road planning guide and 7-day itinerary are good next steps.

Practical tips for the route

• Book accommodation early. Places to stay between Vík and Höfn are limited, and they fill up in summer.
• Fill up when you can. Fuel stations are further apart east of Vík, so do not let the tank run low.
• Watch the wind. The open sands between Vík and Höfn can be hit by very strong gusts. Check the forecast and road conditions every morning.
• Respect the sea. At Reynisfjara and Diamond Beach, keep well back from the waterline and never turn your back on the waves.
• Stay off the ice. Never climb onto icebergs on the beach or in the lagoon, and only walk on glaciers with a certified guide.
• Leave no trace. Stay on paths, especially on moss and in canyons, and use the toilets at visitor centres and cafés.

When to do this trip

Summer brings long days, open roads and the full range of tours and boat trips, but also the most visitors at the big stops. Spring and autumn are quieter, with a good chance of northern lights from late August onwards on clear, dark nights. Winter has snow-covered scenery and short days; road closures on the south coast are not unusual during storms, so build flexibility into your plan. Our weather guide explains what each month is usually like.

The scenery changes with the seasons too. In June and July the lupins are out along the road, the cliffs are green and you can sightsee late into the evening. In late autumn and winter the glaciers and the black sand stand out against snow, the icebergs on Diamond Beach can glow in the low sun, and the big stops are far less crowded. There is no wrong season for this route, only different ways to plan it.

If you are travelling with us and the forecast for your transfer day looks difficult, we will contact you to discuss the timing, and some stops may have to be skipped for safety.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Höfn from Reykjavík?

Can you do the south coast and Jökulsárlón in one day?

Where should I stay on the way to Höfn?

Is Stokksnes worth visiting?

What is there to see in Djúpivogur?

Can a private transfer stop at sights on the way to Höfn?

Is the south coast road open in winter?