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Southern Iceland travel

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I went to Iceland for 8 days and travelled along the southern coast in late September/early October. Here are places to add to your itinerary if you are planning a trip!
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Waterfalls

A list of all the waterfalls I visited when driving along the southern coast of Iceland.

 
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The trail to this waterfall leads you right behind it. You will definitely get wet here!
Seljalandsfoss waterfall
 
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Hidden waterfall that you can walk up close to near Seljalandsfoss
Gljufrabui
 
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There is a staircase that leads you to the very top of this waterfall. The staircase is a bit shaky and it is a little over 400 steps but so worth it. There are also more trails and waterfalls above!
The Majestic Skogafoss waterfall | South Iceland
 
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Another waterfall you can walk behind. It was also a short, flat walk from the parking lot. There weren't many people here either and we had the place to ourselves for a bit.
Kvernufoss
 
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This was definitely an ‘off the beaten path’ waterfall, which was great because no one was there when we visited! There is a very steep climb to the top, which I'd rate as really difficult. I'd recommend stopping by if you have extra time. The road h...
Gluggafoss (Merkjárfoss)

Other stops

Here are a few other sites to see around Iceland! I think all of these are a must if you are traveling in the Southern region

 
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We took a day trip here from Vik which was 2.5 hours each way. It was such a stunning sight to see pieces of the glacier floating around the bay. You can even walk up close to the water and inspect the pieces of ice closely
Jökulsárlón - Glacier Lagoon in Iceland | icelagoon.is
 
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A smaller, but just as impressive, glacier lagoon near Jokularson. This one offers a close up view of the glacier.
Fjallsárlón Travel Guide
 
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We were lucky enough to see large pieces of ice on the sand, although it can really vary on a daily basis! It's a beautiful sight when the sun shines down on the ice as well.
Diamond Beach
 
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I loved this beach so much. We went on a very cloudy and grey day but it made the beach that much more beautiful. There are so many cool rock and salt formations throughout the beach so you can spend some time gazing at the cliffs and caves around.
Black Sand Beach Reynisfjara
 
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The view here was so amazing! These photos really showcase the canyon, but seeing it in person is something else. There is an observation deck you can walk on, if you aren't afraid of heights. Even if you are though, the view is worth it.
Fjaðrárgljúfur
 
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This really does look like Yoda! You have to go inside the cave to see it. The cave itself is a bit remote and the drive can be a bit bumpy. I walked around the outside of the cave too which seemed like miles and miles of black sand. Felt like I was ...
Gígjagjá
 
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Visiting an ice cave was one of the highlights of my trip. It was super safe and our tour guide was amazing and taught us so much about the glacier! The ice caves are constantly changing so it will be a different experience for everyone.
Katla Ice Cave - Super Jeep from Vík | Tröll Expeditions

Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is a popular route many visitors take when visiting Iceland. Here are the stops I visited during my trip. I did this all in one day! I left Reykjavic around 7:30am and came back to my hotel by 5:00pm.

 
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This waterfall was really easy to get to and a great first stop at the Golden Circle.
Þórufoss
 
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You can't do the Golden Circle without coming to Thingvellir! I was able to walk around and hike to the waterfall in under 2 hours.
Thingvellir National Park
 
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A short hike (more of a leisurely walk really) in Thingvellir National Park, which is a must stop if driving the Golden Circle.
Öxarárfoss
 
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The geyser here erupts every 10-15 minutes and makes for a great quick stop for the day. There are also restaurants and a rest stop here if you need to refuel and recharge.
The Mighty Geyser
 
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This waterfall was massive and really impressive to see up close. You can view the falls from afar or walk right up to it if you don't mind getting wet!
Gullfoss Waterfall Travel Guide
 
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These were the bluest waters I saw on my trip. The trail was super muddy when I went in late September/early October so be careful and pack accordingly.
Brúarfoss
 
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This felt like a hidden gem in the Golden Circle because there was only one other couple there when I visited. The water here was so calm and was such a pretty shade of pale blue. This would be a great stop to relax and eat a snack.
Brúarhlöð Canyon - Iceland Travel Guide
 
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We stopped here on the way back to our hotel to get a cup of ice cream. The farm also has 2 very friendly dogs that wander around the premises!
Efstidalur II
 
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I actually did this on a separate day from the rest of the golden circle stops, but it was a cool sight. You can hike around the top of the crater as well as go all the way down to the lake!
Kerid Crater

Reykjavik

Reykjavik was our base for the first few days of the trip. I'd recommend staying here for at least 2 days!

 
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Perlan is a museum where you can learn about the history of Iceland! You will definitely appreciate the Icelandic landscape, environment, and nature even more. We came here because it started to rain heavily and wanted to do an indoor activity.
Perlan
 
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Sky Lagoon was so beautiful! We came here after a long day of hiking and walking so it was a perfect way to relax. I recommend doing the 7 step ritual to get the full experience.
Sky Lagoon
 
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This was, erm, a quirky activity. You'll definitely learn a lot about different animals' mating rituals lol.
The Icelandic Phallological Museum (Hið Íslenzka Reðasafn)
 
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This place is stunning both during the day and night! You can go inside of it too and marvel at the architecture.
Harpan
 
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One of the most famous sites to see in Reykjavik. You can also go inside but I believe there's a fee. We stopped here really quickly before exploring the nearby shops and restaurants.
Hallgrimskirkja

Where to stay

A list of the hotels I stayed in along the south coast

 
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This was the hotel I stayed in Reykjavik. I liked that it was close to a walking path that led to many of the major attractions like Harpa Concert Hall. Our room came with free breakfast which we took advantage of! There is also a free parking lot do...
Grandi by Center Hotels Reykjavik
 
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Vik Apartments was super convenient, roomy, clean, and my favorite stay during my trip! Our room was directly across from the grocery store and other shops. It comes with free parking as well. There was also a washer/dryer in the unit which was a hug...
Vík Apartments
 
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Hotel Berg is a great option near the airport. There is free parking and they offer shuttles to the airport. I stayed here at the end of my trip and it was close to the restaurants/shops of Keflavik.
Hotel Berg

Places to eat

In Iceland, I got a lot of my food at the local grocery stores. However, I did come across a few gems when we did go out to eat!

 
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One of the best cinnamon rolls I've ever had! They also sell a wide variety of pastries and bread.
Brauð & co.
 
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I went here at 3 times during my trip lol. They have a menu item that is similar to a Dairy Queen blizzard with the creamiest soft serve!
The best ice-cream in Iceland - Isbuo Huppu
 
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A convenient fast casual spot in Reykjavik with delicious fish stew!
101 Reykjavik Street Food
 
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The lobster soup here was amazing and perfect for a cold day!
Seabaron
 
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One of the few restaurants in Vik, but the Pizza was amazing.
Black Crust Pizzeria
 
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A food hall with many great options in downtown Reykjavik. It's best to come hungry! Or you can come and grab a drink.
Pósthús Food Hall & Bar