Last Updated on January 21, 2026 by Sam
From adventurous glacier hikes to Golden Circle road trips, there are some truly amazing things to do in South Iceland. The region is home to some of the country’s best nature, with dramatic waterfalls, volcanic craters, and the iconic Geysir Geothermal Area. Whether you’re joining an organised tour or renting a car to explore at your own pace, there’s no shortage of magnificent places to visit. The best part is that even if you’re travelling to Iceland on a budget, you can still see South Iceland’s top attractions, as most sights don’t charge an entry fee. Plan the perfect trip with this guide to the best things to do in South Iceland.
Gullfoss
Gullfoss, a colossal waterfall on the Golden Circle route, is one of Iceland’s most popular attractions. Around an hour and a half drive from Reykjavík, this powerful two-tiered waterfall is formed of glacial water from Langjökull, the country’s second largest glacier.
You can get up close to both levels of the falls on the nearby walking trail, but for the best views, head to the viewing platforms to admire the waterfall in all its glory.
During winter, the water freezes over and blankets of snow cover the surrounding area, giving another dimension to the falls’ beauty. Some paths and viewpoints around the falls close during winter when the conditions become too icy.
Thankfully, there are no parking or entry fees, which makes visiting Gullfoss one of the best free things to do in South Iceland.
Golden Circle Tour including Gullfoss
If you’ve decided against renting a car, make sure to book a Golden Circle tour in advance to ensure you don’t miss any of South Iceland’s top attractions. These trips include stops at highlights like Gullfoss, Kerið crater, Geysir Geothermal Area, and Þingvellir National Park.
As Iceland’s popularity has soared in recent years, we strongly recommend booking any tours and activities in advance. There are plenty of great Golden Circle trips available through Get Your Guide, so you can easily book ahead of your trip.
Click here to take a look at the best Golden Circle trips on Get Your Guide!
Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Formed around 9,000 years ago, the meandering Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is a magnificent sight. Stretching for around two kilometres and reaching depths of 100 metres, the canyon offers hair-raising views from its clifftop walkway.
Carved out by glacial waters, the canyon’s distinctive moss-covered walls and sheer drops make it one of the best places to visit in the south of Iceland. It’s technically in the southeast region, but the views are too good to leave it out of this list!
It’s nearly a three-hour drive from Reykjavík, but as it was one of the highlights of our trip, we think it’s well worth the effort of getting there. You can also easily combine it with other must-visit spots like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss.
Although you can walk in the canyon itself, you’ll have to wade at times, and the best views are actually from above. If the conditions are bad, the path at Fjaðrárgljúfur is sometimes closed, so be sure to check the latest Google reviews before setting off.
Mýrdalsjökull Glacier
The colossal Mýrdalsjökull Glacier is a short detour from Iceland’s Ring Road. Simply turn off at Route 221 and continue until the car park at the end of the road. From here, an easy 15-minute walk will lead you to viewpoints for brilliant views of Iceland’s fourth-largest glacier.
Mýrdalsjökull is unique as it covers the active volcano Katla. On your walk to the glacier, you’ll get lovely views of small icebergs floating in the water nearby.
Although the views alone are worth visiting for, if you have the budget, you can go hiking on the glacier to explore secret ice caves. Hiking on the glacier itself is definitely one of the most unforgettable things to do in South Iceland.
For your own safety, it’s important to never go onto the glacier without professional guidance and appropriate equipment. Aside from that, enjoy the view!
Mýrdalsjökull Glacier Ice Cave Tour
Don’t miss the chance to hike on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier and visit an amazing ice cave during your time in Iceland. It’s a truly unique experience that’s well worth the money, especially as caves like this are only found in a few places around the world.
Click here to book a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Mýrdalsjökull Glacier‘s ice caves!
Vik
The small seaside village of Vik is home to just over 300 people, yet it’s one of the most popular destinations in South Iceland. Vik is most famous for the nearby Reynisfjara Beach, where deceptively large waves crash against volcanic black sand.
It’s one of the most dangerous beaches in South Iceland, as multiple unsuspecting tourists have drowned there in recent years. Be cautious in the area, as even if the sea appears calm, it can sneak up on you.
There are plenty of things to do in this part of South Iceland. Close to the shore, you’ll find impressive basalt rock columns rising skywards in similar fashion to Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. Between April and September, you can even see puffins nesting in the nearby cliffs.
From the nearby Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve, you’ll have views spanning the entire beach as well as large jagged rock formations protruding from the sea. The village itself is home to the picturesque Reyniskirkja Church, which overlooks the area and can be seen when driving through on the ring road.
Around 25 kilometres from Vik, you can hike to the remains of a crashed US Navy plane on Sólheimasandur Beach. Since crashing in 1973, the wreckage has endured 40 years of rough Icelandic weather and has become a popular spot for the unique, yet eerie, photo opportunities it provides.
Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls. Clearly visible from the Ring Road, it’s almost impossible to resist stopping for a closer look. With water powering over a 60-metre drop, prepare to get wet as spray rises from the pool below.
For the best experience, follow the trail around to get a unique perspective from behind the waterfall. Take care when doing this, as the path can be slippery. From here, you’ll get a real sense of Seljalandsfoss’ strength, as the water powers down just metres away from you.
Afterwards, cross the bridge to the left of the waterfall and walk for around five minutes, passing some smaller falls, to reach the hidden Gljúfrafoss waterfall. Found behind a giant boulder, you’ll need to balance on rocks in a shallow stream to get up close. Once inside, you’ll be rewarded with another spectacular waterfall with barely anyone else around!
Parking at Seljalandsfoss costs 1,000 Icelandic Króna and lasts for the whole day. We’d recommend arriving as early as possible to avoid large crowds, as it’s one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland.
Skógafoss
Just 30 kilometres away from Seljalandsfoss, you’ll find another dramatic waterfall. At 25 metres wide and with a drop of 60 metres, Skógafoss is an incredible work of nature. Its force sends spray into the air, which creates rainbows at the base of the falls on sunny days.
If you don’t mind getting a little wet, you’re able to get extremely close to the bottom of Skógafoss, though you’ll feel tiny next to this giant waterfall. You can also walk up approximately 500 steps to a viewing platform above the waterfall, but we personally think the view from below is best.
When visiting in winter, you’ll find Skógafoss surrounded by snow yet still flowing forcefully. It’s even possible to camp in view of this breathtaking waterfall at the nearby Skógar Campsite, but you’ll need to arrive early to guarantee a spot as they’re allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Although there’s no entry fee at Skógafoss, a parking fee of 1,000 ISK was introduced in 2025.
South Iceland Waterfalls Tour
South Iceland’s waterfalls are some of the country’s top attractions, so there are plenty of great tours that stop at Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss. If you’re not renting a car, this tour is a great option, and also includes stops at Sólheimajökull Glacier, Vik, and Reynisfjara Beach.
Click here to book this incredible tour via Get Your Guide!
Kerið
Found on Iceland’s Golden Circle route, Kerið (or Kerid) is a stunning blue lake inside the crater of a volcano. Surrounded by red volcanic rock and partly coated with moss, the contrasting colours are a sight to behold.
Take time to enjoy views from the top overlooking the lake, then descend the short trail to the water’s edge. If you’re visiting during winter, you may even find the lake frozen over.
Although there’s free parking on site, spaces are very limited, so we recommend arriving early to avoid a wait. Entrance costs just 600 Króna per person, which is well worth it for such a naturally beautiful spot, and you can book tickets online in advance to save time.
Þingvellir National Park
Þingvellir National Park (known in English as Thingvellir National Park) is the country’s most important historical site and is a must-see in South Iceland. Back in 930 AD, the Vikings created the Alþingi here, marking the birth of the world’s oldest surviving democratic parliament.
Þingvellir is situated on the Mid-Atlantic rift, the point where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. The rift valley of Þingvellir exists as a result of these plates pulling away from each other, moving around two centimetres every year.
In the national park itself, you’ll find striking landscapes created by the plates, Öxaráfoss waterfall, the world-famous Silfra dive site, and more.
Among divers, Silfra is regarded as one of the best spots to explore for two reasons. Firstly, it’s the only place in the world where you’re able to dive between two continental plates. Secondly, the underwater visibility is over 100 metres, as the crack is filled with extremely clear glacial water.
Whether you’re simply walking around and enjoying the nature or jumping into Silfra’s chilly waters, there’s plenty to explore here. Parking at Þingvellir costs 1,000 Króna for the whole day, but there’s no entrance fee to the park itself.
Snorkelling and Diving Tours of Silfra
Exploring Silfra’s glacial waters is undeniably one of the best things to do in South Iceland. It’s a famous dive site for a reason, but even if you’re not a qualified diver, you can still experience the surreal underwater world on a snorkelling trip.
Click here to find the best Silfra tours on the Get Your Guide website!
Faxi Waterfall
It may not be one of the towering waterfalls you immediately associate with Iceland, but Faxi has a charm of its own. The drop itself is just under seven metres, but at over 90 metres wide, the water still flows with force.
As other waterfalls on the island are far more popular, you’ll find that Faxi is far less crowded. If you’re early enough, you may even have it all to yourself, which is a nice change on your South Iceland itinerary.
As of 2025, there’s a parking fee of 900 ISK, but there’s no fee for visiting the waterfall itself. It’s a bit of a hidden gem, so if you’re looking for a quieter spot to relax away from the crowds, visiting Faxi is one of the best things to do in South Iceland.
Geysir Geothermal Area
A visit to the Geysir Geothermal Area is one of the essential things to do in South Iceland. The term geyser originates from this very area, deriving from the geyser referred to simply as ‘the Great Geysir.’
Unfortunately, this geyser is no longer as active as it once was and rarely erupts anymore. In its heyday, it shot water 170 metres high, but nowadays, the nearby Strokkur geyser steals the limelight.
Strokkur catapults boiling water into the air, typically around 15–20 metres (49–66 feet) high, but sometimes as high as 40 metres (131 feet). This natural phenomenon takes place every 5–10 minutes, and makes it one of Iceland’s top attractions.
Entry to Geysir Geothermal Area is free, but there’s a parking fee of 1,000 ISK. Make sure to be careful and respect barriers to the geysers as the water can reach extremely high temperatures.
Best Places To Stay in South Iceland
Reykjavík
Skuggi Hotel
A great option in central Reykjavík, the Skuggi Hotel offers free on-site parking, along with comfortable and modern rooms.
Click here to find the latest deals at the Skuggi Hotel on Booking.com!
Selfoss
If you want to stay outside of the capital, Selfoss is a great base for exploring the sights on Iceland’s Golden Circle. You’ll find a number of great properties in and around the area on both Expedia and Booking.com.
Click here to see the great properties available in Selfoss on Booking.com!
Please note that some links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This money is used to support this website and cover the costs of keeping it online and free to access!
Like this guide to 10 must-see attractions and things to do in South Iceland? Pin it!
Comments are closed.