March 2011 | Northern Lights Iceland

What to see on the south coast?

The south coast is a very popular place to visit as it is a beautiful part of the country with many beautiful sites. You need at least two days to explore the south coast if you want to enjoy its beauty to the fullest so we recommend you stay a night or two in one of many lovely accommodation on the south shore. But what are the main sites to visit? Here we will give you a few ideas.

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Seljalandsfoss

Seljalandsfoss waterfall is one of Iceland´s most famous waterfalls. It is unique for the fact that it is possible to walk the waterfall. The waterfall is high as it drops 60 meters (200 ft) over the cliffs. If you decide to walk behind the waterfall, you can expect to get wet so wear a rain coat and also wear good hiking boots as the ground can be slippery and wet. Don´t forget to bring your camera to take picture of the unique moment of standing behind a waterfall.

Skógafoss

Skógafoss waterfall is not far from Seljalandsfoss. It is a beautiful waterfall at the cliffs of the former coastline and is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland. It is 25 meters (82 feet) wide and a drop 60 meters (200 ft). On sunny days you can often see a single or a double rainbow by the waterfall. You can walk up to the top of the waterfall as there is a staircase next to the waterfall. At the top is a small viewing site where you can enjoy a view over the waterfall and on a clear day the panoramic view of the south coast is stunning.

Reynisfjara beach

Reynisfjara beach is a black sand beach not far from the village Vík. The spectacularly shaped basalt sea stacks Reynisdrangar are out in the sea and it is a true joy to see them. The bird life in the area is very rich and in summer you can spot birds like puffins and guillemots. Please though be careful if you decide to walk down to the beach as the ocean and the waves can be very strong and high!

Kirkjubæjarkaustur

Kirkjubæjarklaustur is one of many villages on the south coast worth visiting. One of many attractions close to the village is Kirkjugólf (Church Floor) which is a natural pavement of basalt. Kirkjubæjarklaustur is one of many nice choices to spend the night on your tour of the south coast.

Skógar museum

Skógar folk museum is a nice place to visit if you want to get to know the Icelandic society and how the Icelandic people used to live and work. You will be amazed to find out how Icelanders lived less than 100 years ago and how much has changed in a short period of time! /span>

Dyrhólaey

The small peninsula, Dyrhólaey, is located not far from the village Vík. On a clear day the view from up there is stunning. You can see Mýrdalsjökull glacier to the north, the black lava columns of Reynisdrangar to the east and the whole coastline towards Selfoss to the west. In summer the bird life is in bloom and you can spot birds such as puffins.

Jökulsárlón

The Jökulsarlón glacial lagoon is a large glacial lake, on the edge of Vatnajökull national park. In summer you can go on a boat ride on the lagoon and in winter it is a beautiful place to hunt for the northern lights. You can either drive the south coast on your own or do a two day tour and visit all the places mentioned above. Please note in winter, if you plan on self-drive, the roads are icy and slippery and only stick to the ring road!

by admin

3 Days Self Drive Tour To Snaefellsnes

This self drive tour itinerary is for people who want to spend 3 days relaxing in the western part of Iceland. For this itinerary we recommend you book an inexpensive yet luxurious stay at Hotel Brú. Have a relaxing and peaceful time in Iceland by going to the western Peninsula of Snaefellsnes and enjoying the sceneries of Stykkisholmur.

Day 1: Arrival into Keflavik Airport and head to the Blue Lagoon, stay at Hotel Bru

Arriving into Iceland at the Keflavik International Airport, you can make your way to your rental car company. Since you will be tired from your flight, this day is about relaxing and enjoying the beauty of Iceland so our first stop is the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is a 15 minutes drive from the airport and there is a large car park by the entrance. Please book in advance as tickets get snapped up fast. We recommend you try the package with both the Silica and Algae Masks and drink at the swim-up bar. The water massage treatment and beauty treatments here are amazing and will leave you feeling energised and ready for the next few days.

Next, you can drive to Hotel Bru where you can settle for the night. This hotel is one hour and thirty minutes drive from the Blue Lagoon. You will drive through Reykjavik on the way so feel free to stop and take in some sites.

At Hotel Brú try their deliciously mouth watering food at the hotels restaurant known for offering genuine Icelandic cuisine such as lobster soup and Trout. The first night and your first chance to view the Northern Lights, one of the best tourist attractions of Iceland. The hotel offers a wake up call if the lights show up in the middle of the night.

Below is the map for Day 1 for your reference.

Day 2: Snaefellsnes Peninsula

After a good breakfast you hit the road and drive to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Head towards the town of Stykkisholmur in the north of Snaefellsnes, a two hour drive from Reykjavík.

Stykkisholmur is the centre of services and commerce in the area with fishing and tourism as their main income. You’ll find great fish restaurants here to taste their unique and delicious menus. Try Fimm Fiskar, a popular fish restaurants serving Icelandic catfish, puffin, guillemot, seafoods and homemade pasta dishes.

After your meal, drive the circular route around Snaefellsnes. There are a number of attractions which are ideal for photo opportunities. We suggest visiting the Snaefellsjökull National Park at the end of the peninsula. Here you can get a very scenic view of the glacier. You can continue towards Arnarstapi, a small fishing village on the southern coast of Snaelfellsnes. Here you will get to marvel at the authentic and charming Icelandic houses, ragged cliffs and ocean views. The beach area here is also home to large colonies of arctic tern.

Make sure to check out Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfall, located a short walk away from the equally beautiful Kirkjufell mountain, Iceland’s most photographed mountain. You will recognise it by it’s unique cone-shape. Kirkjufell is known as ‘Church Mountain’ as it resembles a church steeple and has acted as a landmark for seafarers and travellers over the centuries. This area is very photogenic, you might also recognise this location from Game of Thrones.

Djupalonssandur Black Sand Beach was once a bustling fishing village, when Snaefellsnes Peninsula functioned as one of Iceland’s most active trading ports. Walking down towards Djúpalónssandura Black Sand Beach you will notice four large stones of varying sizes weighing between 23kg (50lbs) and 155kg (342lbs), used as lifting stones to test the strength of fishermen. The stones are named Amlodi (useless), Halfdreattingur (weakling), Halfsterkur (half-strong) and Fullsterkur (full-strong). If you walk around the beach you may discover rusty iron remnants of the 1948 shipwrecked scattered along the beach.

Heading back towards Borganes and Hotel Brú to relax and have another chance to glimpse the Northern Lights.

Day 3: Driving Back to Keflavik Airport

Check out and head back towards Reykjavik. Take a few hours to wander the back streets, taking in the local architecture and street art. Visit Harpa and Hallgrimskirkja, and have lunch or a coffee and cake in one of the many cafes.