The waterfalls of the south coast by car
Iceland's south coast strings its waterfalls along a single road. From Reykjavik, in a single day, you drive past Seljalandsfoss, where a path leads right behind the water, and Skogafoss, a sixty-metre curtain, to finish on the black beach of Reynisfjara near Vík. Along the way lie two hidden waterfalls that most people miss. You get one Google Maps link for the whole route that starts wherever you happen to be, plus a GPX.
The route: Reykjavik → Seljalandsfoss → Skogafoss → Reynisfjara → Vík
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Seljalandsfoss · Skogafoss · Reynisfjara.
The route and the stops
West to east from Reykjavik. Allow a full day, there and back, if you take your time at each stop.
Seljalandsfoss, where you walk behind the water
Seljalandsfoss drops sixty metres past a shallow cave, so a path leads you right behind the falls. Bring a rain jacket, because you will get wet, and mind the slippery stones. When the sun is low, the spray often throws up a rainbow.
Skogafoss, a sixty-metre curtain
A few kilometres on, Skogafoss pours over an equally high, dead-straight cliff, with force enough to make the ground tremble. At the foot you can get close enough to stand in the spray; a staircase of some five hundred steps climbs to the viewpoint above.
Reynisfjara, the black beach
The route ends on the famous black beach of Reynisfjara near Vík, with hexagonal basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks offshore. Keep well back from the waterline: the sneaker waves here are deadly and rush far up the sand without warning.
Two hidden waterfalls
Right beside the big two lie a pair of waterfalls that many people drive straight past. At Seljalandsfoss, walk a few hundred metres north to Gljufrabui, half hidden in a cleft in the rock; you wade through a narrow gorge to reach its foot. And just behind Skogafoss, by the Skogar museum, a short path brings you to Kvernufoss, which, like its big sister, has a path behind the water, but without the crowds.
When to go and which car
You can drive the south coast all year: Route 1 is paved and kept clear of snow in winter. Summer brings the longest days and lets you carry on to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon; in winter the waterfalls are sometimes half frozen and you stand a good chance of seeing the northern lights. An ordinary car is enough; in winter watch for wind and ice and check the roads on road.is. The waterfalls and the beach are free; parking at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss carries a small charge.
The south coast in numbers
| Route | approx. 190 km from Reykjavik to Vík; pure driving a good 2 hours one way on Route 1 (guide value) |
|---|---|
| Seljalandsfoss | 60 m high; a path runs behind the falls (raincoat useful; often closed in winter when icy) |
| Skogafoss | 60 m high and 25 m wide; 527 steps lead to the platform at the top |
| Reynisfjara | black basalt beach with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks; dangerous sneaker waves, keep well back from the waterline |
| Vík | the southernmost village of mainland Iceland |
| Road surface | asphalt (Route 1) all the way |
| Fuel | at 7 l/100 km roughly 27 litres for the full return trip from Reykjavik (guide value) |
Heights: official Icelandic sources; driving times and fuel are guide values (July 2026).
Safety at Reynisfjara
Reynisfjara is the one stop of the day that asks for real attention. The notorious sneaker waves are single waves that, without warning, run far higher up the beach than any wave before them, and people have been swept away here. Obey the warning signs and the zone lights, never turn your back on the sea, and keep children close. However calm the water looks, stay well back from the waterline.
The waterfalls call for a little care too: the spray keeps the paths and steps at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss wet and often slippery. Sturdy shoes make a real difference. Before you set off, check safetravel.is for current warnings on the beach, the roads and the weather.
South coast or Golden Circle?
With a single day, you have to choose between two classics, and the contest is fairer than it sounds. The south coast gives you the two iconic waterfalls plus the black beach: big scenery lined up along one road. The Golden Circle answers with geysers, history and the crater, a very different sort of day. There is no wrong choice here, it mostly comes down to taste. With two days you simply drive both. You will find the full overview among all Iceland scenic drives.
Continuing to Jökulsárlón?
It is tempting to push on from Vík to the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, but do the sums first: it is roughly another 190 km, and that is just the way out. As an extension of this day trip it makes for a very long day, especially after hours at the waterfalls. The lagoon is better saved for the full Ring Road, with an overnight stop along the southeast coast. That way you arrive fresh and keep time for everything between Vík and the lagoon.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do the south coast waterfalls in a day?
Yes. Reykjavik to Vík is about 190 kilometres, so there and back makes a full but comfortable day. To take it slower, stay a night in Vík and drive on east the next day.
Can you really walk behind Seljalandsfoss?
Yes, on a path that runs right around the falls. You will get wet from the spray, so a rain jacket and shoes with grip help. In winter the path is sometimes closed by ice.
What are the hidden waterfalls along the way?
Gljufrabui, in a cleft in the rock next to Seljalandsfoss, and Kvernufoss, in a green gorge behind the Skogar museum near Skogafoss. Both are a short walk, and both are far quieter than the big two.
Can you drive the route in winter?
Yes, Route 1 stays open all year and is kept clear of snow. Expect less daylight, some slippery stretches and sometimes strong wind; check road.is before you set off.
How long is the drive from Reykjavik to Vík?
Pure driving takes a good two hours on Route 1, about 190 kilometres. Treat that as a guide value: with the stops at the waterfalls and the beach, the trip naturally grows into a full day.
How many steps does the Skogafoss staircase have?
The staircase beside Skogafoss counts 527 steps to the platform at the top. It is a proper climb, but the view along the coast is the reward.
Is Reynisfjara dangerous?
The sneaker waves are: single waves that suddenly run far higher up the beach than the rest. Keep well back from the waterline, obey the signs and the lights, and never turn your back on the sea.
Can you drive on to Jökulsárlón the same day?
You can, but from Vík it is roughly another 190 kilometres one way, so the day gets very long. The glacier lagoon works better as part of the full Ring Road, with an overnight stop on the southeast coast.
South coast or Golden Circle?
The south coast means waterfalls and black sand, the Golden Circle means geysers and history. With two days you drive both; there is no wrong choice here.