Southern Iceland Day Trip Routes From Reykjavik
Five day-trip routes reach into Southern Iceland from Reykjavík, and which one suits you depends on the season and on how far you want to drive. Two run all year, one depends on a ferry, and two need the highlands to be open. Costs are in Icelandic króna (ISK).
Route 1: the Golden Circle (all year)
This loop links Þingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss and is usually quoted as about 300 km round trip from the capital.
At Þingvellir, the car park costs 1,000 ISK for the whole day for a car with 5 or fewer seats, or 1,200 ISK for 6 to 9 seats. Cameras read plates, and you can pay at a machine or online at checkit.is . Strokkur at Geysir erupts every few minutes, and Gullfoss drops in two steps of 11 m and 21 m. Neither charges an entry fee, though you should look for car park charges.
Route 2: the South Coast (all year)
Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Sólheimajökull, Reynisfjara and Vík can be fitted into one long day. Do not expect to linger at every stop. Parking is about 1,000 ISK at the two big waterfalls, about 750 ISK at Sólheimajökull, and about 1,000 ISK or 750 ISK at Reynisfjara depending on the lot.
Reynisfjara is the one stop where mistakes are fatal. Waves can run far up the sand with no warning. Stay behind the warning-light limits, keep well away from the water, never turn your back on the sea, and stay off the basalt columns and out of the Hálsanefshellir cave when the surf is rough. Winter storms in 2026 eroded the beach and part of the columns collapsed, so access to them is not guaranteed.
Route 3: the Westman Islands (ferry)
Herjólfur sails from Landeyjahöfn to Heimaey in about 35 minutes in summer. If Landeyjahöfn is not usable, the crossing starts at Þorlákshöfn and takes about 3 hours. Sailings were disrupted in 2026, with a stand-in ship used from 8 June and harbour dredging problems, so check the ferry operator’s website for the day you plan to go and book ahead.
Routes 4 and 5: Þórsmörk and Landmannalaugar (summer only)
Þórsmörk uses road F249, which includes the Krossá river ford, and Landmannalaugar uses F208 or F225. Go by highland bus or 4x4 super jeep. The roads usually open from late June to early September and are closed in winter. Rental contracts bar 2WD cars from F-roads and void the insurance. Late autumn is outside the season, so treat both roads as closed or closing. Check road.is .
General advice
Look at safetravel.is for alerts and vedur.is for the forecast. The number for emergencies is 112. On Route 1, gusts can be strong enough to wrench a car door out of your hand, so open doors with care.
Read more: Multi-day trips in the Southern Region spreads the same routes over several nights, and sightseeing describes each stop in more detail.
To compare guided departures, try GetYourGuide .