Iceland South Coast in 3 Days: Waterfalls, Black Sands & Glacial Lagoons

249, 861, Iceland

💡 Bring waterproof overtrousers and a rain jacket to follow the slippery footpath directly behind the 60-metre cascade; take the short walk 500 metres north to Gljúfrabúi hidden inside the canyon.

Gönguleið um Fimmvörðuháls, 861, Iceland

💡 Stand at the base of the falls to catch double rainbows on sunny mornings, then climb the 527 metal steps to the upper viewing platform for views over the coastal plain.

861 Hvolsvöllur, Iceland

💡 Settle in for a fresh lunch break near the falls; order the crispy battered fresh Icelandic fish and chips seasoned with rosemary and garlic flakes.

871, Iceland

💡 Drive to the upper lighthouse car park for sweeping panoramas of the volcanic black sand coastline and the massive volcanic arch curving directly into the North Atlantic ocean.

Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland

💡 Admire the towering hexagonal basalt columns of Hálsanefshellir cave and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks; stay well back from the shoreline as lethal "sneaker waves" strike without warning.

Sunnubraut 7, 870 Vík, Iceland

💡 Walk up the hillside to this picturesque red-roofed church overlooking the village, framing the Reynisdrangar rock pillars against the ocean.

881, Iceland

💡 Walk the 2 km elevated rim path along the 100-metre-deep serpentine canyon; pause on the metal viewing platforms overlooking the emerald cliffs and meandering river below.

Klausturvegur 13, 880 Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Iceland

💡 Settle in for lunch at this cosy countryside café; order the local Arctic char or the lamb soup (kjötsúpa) served with warm sourdough bread.

2429+JGW, 785 Svínafell, Iceland

💡 Walk the short trail from the car park to the viewpoint overlooking the fractured, deep-blue crevasses of this dramatic glacial tongue; this site served as the icy backdrop for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.

Jökulsárlón 781, 781, Iceland

💡 Watch massive electric-blue icebergs calving from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier tongue and floating out toward the sea; keep an eye out for curious harbour seals swimming between the bergs.

Diamond Beach, 781, Iceland

💡 Walk along the black sand shoreline where translucent blocks of glacial ice wash ashore in the surf; photograph the ice crystals glinting like diamonds against the dark sand.

Fjallsárlón, 785, Iceland

💡 A quieter, more intimate iceberg lagoon located just west of Jökulsárlón; walk to the shore for close-up views of the descending ice wall without tour bus crowds.

Fjallsárlón, 785, Iceland

💡 Take your lunch break inside this glass-fronted bistro overlooking the lagoon; warm up with a bowl of traditional creamy seafood chowder before starting your return drive west.