South Iceland Road Trip

Since renting cars can be a bit pricy in Iceland my boyfriend and I decided to use Iceland’s midnight sun (which happens May-July) to our advantage and experience as much of South Iceland as we could in 24 hours. It was well worth it, plus we saved money only having to rent a car for one day. 

Step one: Rent a car. I recommend a car that has 4-wheel drive as we missed out on a few waterfalls due to our car not being allowed on those roads. I also recommend getting full insurance coverage on the rental as we learned the hard way that the gravel road situation is no joke. 

Step two: Plan your route. We had a good idea of what we wanted to do so we planned the route out on google maps and left room for exploring new things we would find along the way. Even though there aren’t a lot of roads in Iceland, I would recommend using a GPS or make sure you can use maps on your phone. Also know the Icelandic word for where you are going as our GPS never was able to locate what we wanted because we were using the English word. Below is the route we took for our road trip:

Step three: Pack some food, water, your camera, phone chargers, and start driving! Tip: look for the symbol posted below. When this symbol is on a sign that means there is an attraction that typically leads to a look out point, waterfall, beach, or point of interest. You’re lucky I told you this because we didn’t know until we passed several and finally realized what it meant. 

Golden Circle

1: Þingvellir National Park– this national park is a must see as you learn about Iceland’s history as Þingvellir is translated to “Parliament Plains” where the general assembly was established around 930 AD. Major historical events happened at this location. Besides its history, this location is also where you get the chance to walk along a fissure between tectonic plates of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.  It’s one of the only places you can see this ridge above sea level. Another fun fact I learned is that this location was also used in the very popular show “Game of Thrones”. Channel your inner Arya Stark.

Cost: ~5 USD to park 

2: Geysir – Or the “Great Geysir” was the first geyser described in a printed source and the English word geyser actually derives from Geysir. I also learned that Geysir is rarely active, but the famous one that everyone sees is Strokkur which goes off every 5-10 minutes. It is quite funny watching people hold cameras in the air minutes on end waiting for it to blow only to miss it because they lost focus. In this area there are also other hot springs along with a small mountain (more like a large hill) that you can hike up and see breathtaking views. 

Cost: Free

3: Gullfoss – this waterfall is absolutely gorgeous and you must stop here on your trip to Iceland. On a sunny day, you can see a rainbow over Gullfoss, so have your camera ready! Gullfoss is on the Hvítá river which is fed by the second largest glacier in Iceland. This waterfall shows you how powerful, yet beautiful mother nature can be. 

Cost: Free

Hjálparfoss

This waterfall is located in the south of Iceland in the Thjorsardalur valley. It’s a far drive from the Gullfoss, but totally worth it. When we went there were absolutely no tourists and we had the waterfall to ourselves. This waterfall is surrounded by beautiful basalt formations and you are able to walk right up to the edge of the falls (if you aren’t scared of heights). 

Cost: Free

Seljalandsfoss

This is one of Iceland’s most famous falls for a good reason. It has a cavern behind it which allows you to encircle the falls and enjoy its beauty at every angle. Although be prepared to get wet, there’s no way to avoid getting damp from the mist. The song says “don’t go chasing waterfalls”, but I say do. 

Cost: ~7 USD to park

Skógafoss

Another magnificent sight to see is Skógafoss. It is one of Iceland’s largest waterfalls. You can choose to stay at the bottom or climb a hefty amount of stairs (great workout) to get to the top of the falls. There is also a trail at the top that you can hike if you want to continue your adventure at the top of the falls. Skógafoss is surrounded by lush green mountainside as birds fly all around. 

Cost: Free

Black Sand Beach (Reynisfjara) 

If you’re a beach and ocean lover like I am, I definitely recommend going to Iceland’s famous Black Sand Beach. It’s located near the small fishing village of Vík. The roaring waves crashing in to the black sand with rock formations unlike anything I have seen is a sight I will never forget. This is also another location where “Game of Thrones” was filmed. Maybe you will get lucky and find some dragonglass. 

Cost: Free

I think that everyone needs to experience a road trip through south Iceland at one point in their life. The ever changing landscapes are unbelievable! Mother Nature is truly incredible.