Reykjavík to Vík road trip – Places to explore and photograph
Reykjavík is the starting point for many adventures around Iceland and the combination of waterfalls, volcanoes and wildlife make this an amazing road trip from the moment you leave the city.
This region of Iceland is characterised by black basalt beaches and dramatic coastal formations with a backdrop of glittering ice caps over active volcanoes.
The south coast of Iceland is a nature photographer’s dream and with so many places to stop and explore it could take you weeks to really make the most of this short piece of coastline.
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Driving from Reykjavīk to Vík
The Ring Road from Reykjavík to Vík í Mýrdal (usually known as Vík) is the perfect short road trip in Iceland. Staying on the Ring Road the journey is 187km and can be completed in under 3 hours, but with all the amazing places to stop along the way you can make this easily last 2-3 days if not more.
This road trip can be added easily to the Golden Circle Road Trip and fill a whole week exploring the western side of the south coast of Iceland.
The roads in this part of Iceland are generally good and unless a winter storm hits, most areas on the Ring Road can be accessed year-round. The south coast towards Vík is prone to high winds so it is essential to keep an eye on weather forecasts year round.
We found that driving this part of the ring road was the busiest, but with the numerous stops, it wasn’t too bad. If you don’t want to drive then there are plenty of tours to choose from. All will stop at the waterfalls and beaches but you may be on a time limit at each location. Check the tour options HERE
Nature and wildlife along the south coast of Iceland
In the winter months, this area is perfect for searching for northern lights and photography when the landscape is covered in a dusting of snow is magical.
In the summer wild flowers can be seen everywhere with the blues of forget-me-knots and harebells covering the verges on the roadside. Puffins visit this coastline in summer and are easy to find in the right locations. The midnight sun makes longer days of exploring possible and brings a special glow to the late-night sky.
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Mini-guide to Puffins in Iceland
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Planning a south coast of Iceland road trip
The suggestions below are just the start of the adventure along the south coast of Iceland. There are so many places to stop that it would be impossible to include them all. All of these locations are easy to find and are accessible with good parking and some even have facilities. This list is more than enough to fill two to three days with time for photography, hikes and wildlife watching.
Photography and nature locations on the south coast of Iceland
Reykjadalur Valley
The name of this valley means ‘Steam Valley’ and it lives up to its name. The hike takes you across a geothermal field with steaming vents and fumaroles. Eventually, you will come to the warm river where there is a boardwalk and an area for swimming. The hike is 3km each way and takes about an hour. This is one of many unusual hot springs in Iceland you can visit.
Ægissufoss
This small waterfall is located just off Ring Road 1 on the outskirts of Hella. While it is not large or dramatic like other waterfalls in Iceland, it is a lovely location. You will more than likely have it to yourself and in the summer months the wildflowers on the banks are beautiful. Take your time to explore the river and enjoy the views of Hekla in the distance.
Westman Islands
The Westman Islands are just 8km from Iceland’s mainland and are made up of 15 islands. These islands have beautiful hikes with landscape views from the cliff tops. The town of Heimaey has a picturesque harbour with a wooden church and the bird cliffs are some of the best in Iceland. In 1973 Eldfell volcano erupted destroying a part of the town but leaving newly created land.
Seljalandsfoss
The river feeding this waterfall originates from the Eyjafjallajökull ice cap flowing through the mountains before reaching the 60m drop off the Seljalandsheiði shelf. This waterfall is ‘the one you can walk behind’ in Iceland and this gives a different perspective to any photographs taken. There are a number of photographic options here and the waterfall is best visited early in the morning or late at night to avoid the crowds.
Gljúfrabúi Waterfall
This hidden waterfall is just a short walk from the better-known and much larger Seljalandsfoss. It is a 40m waterfall that drops into an enclosed amphitheatre. It is possible to photograph the waterfall from outside but follow the stream over the boulders and into the dark cavern for a unique experience. Take care of your camera as there is no escape from the spray.
Skógafoss Waterfall
This is probably one of the best-known waterfalls in Iceland and has featured in many blockbusters and is easily accessible. It is clearly visible from the parking area and the classic water level shots can be achieved by walking a short distance along the river. Steep steps lead up the right side of the waterfall to a viewing area and a hike along the river to smaller falls.
Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
This cliff-top lighthouse overlooks the famous Reynisfjara Beach with its black sand and basalt columns. This is the southernmost point of Iceland. From here it is possible to photograph the castle-like lighthouse, the never-ending beach to the west and the sea stacks and arches. In the summer months, it is possible to see and photograph puffins along the top of the cliffs.
Reynisfjara Beach and Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks
This is a special beach and stretches for 3km. The black sand is made up of tiny smooth pebbles with a backdrop of basalt columns and sea stacks. This is a busy place so visit early or late and take notice of the warnings about sneaker waves, they are genuine warnings. There are numerous viewpoints along the beach and you can easily spend a full day of photography here.
Vík í Mýrdal Village and Beach
The final stop on this short photography road trip is Vík í Mýrdal. A small coastal village with its own black sand beach and picturesque church. The beach here is much quieter than nearby Reynisfjara but still has stunning views of the sea stacks. Above the village is Víkurkirkja church which has views across the village to the sea stacks and is surrounded by stunning lupine in the early summer.
Other wild locations along the south coast of Iceland
- Urriðafoss Waterfall
- Hafnarskeidh Black Sand Beach
- Knarraros Lighthouse which is open in the summer months
- Lava Centre at Hvollsvöllur
- Drífandi Waterfall
- Íráfoss Waterfall
- Kvernufoss Waterfall
- Seljavallalaug Hot Spring is the oldest swimming pool in Iceland tucked away in a valley
- Solheimasandur Plane Wreck – this is a stunning photography location but is a 2 hour out and back walk across a lava field. If you have time and energy then definitely add it to your plan but if time is limited there are far better places to explore.
Places to stay on a south coast road trip in Iceland
While this road trip can be completed in a day it is much better to take your time and stay in different places along the route.
Campsites
We chose to camp as this gave us the most flexibility and we could adjust our plans to the weather conditions. We stayed at Hvolsvöllur campsite and the busy site in Vík í Mýrdal. We had hoped to stay at the highlands site of Þakgil but had to abandon the plan as the road was not safe in the weather conditions.
The campsite at Skogar would be perfect for overnight photography of the waterfall and is close to a small museum and cafe.
If you want time with the puffins then the campsites on Heimaey are the place to spend the night. Stay at the secluded Herjólfsdalur campsite which is sheltered under a horseshoe-shaped mountain.
Hotels and cottages
hotels along this coastline are limited but there are a number of beautiful small cottages and cabins that can be rented.
Close to Hella is Loa’s Nest which has en-suite rooms and a small kitchen area to give you options to cook or eat out. Check out Loa’s Nest.
Between Skógafoss and Vík is a beautiful apartment with stunning views and a hot tub. Don’t be put off by the name, The Garage is stunning. Check out The Garage.
If you want to stay closer to Vík then Grand Guesthouse Gardakot is worth considering. It is just 4 miles from the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach making it the perfect location if you want to photograph the beach in the early hours. Find out more and BOOK HERE
Photography locations in the south of Iceland
- Urriðafoss
- Westman Islands
- Seljalandsfoss
- Gljúfrabúi Waterfall
- Skógafoss Waterfall
- Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
- Reynisfjara Beach and Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks
- Vík í Mýrdal Village and Beach
Planning a road trip to Iceland? Read all my Iceland Travel Guides
