10 Best Places to Visit in South Iceland

Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is Iceland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most historically significant places in the country. It was here that the world's first parliament — the Alþingi — was founded in 930 AD. But beyond its history, Þingvellir sits directly on the rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it a place of extraordinary geological drama.

Walk through the Almannagjá canyon, snorkel or dive in the crystal-clear Silfra fissure (between two continents!), and soak in the stunning lakeshore scenery. Þingvellir is the perfect first stop on any Golden Circle tour.

The Geysir geothermal area is where the word "geyser" actually comes from — named after the Great Geysir, which has been erupting here for thousands of years. Today the most active geyser is Strokkur, which erupts every 5–10 minutes shooting boiling water up to 30 metres into the air. It never gets old, no matter how many times you see it.

The surrounding area is filled with bubbling hot springs, steaming vents and colourful mineral deposits — it's one of the most visually dramatic geothermal landscapes in Iceland.

Gullfoss — meaning "Golden Falls" — is Iceland's most iconic waterfall and the final stop on the classic Golden Circle route. The Hvítá river plunges in two dramatic stages into a rugged canyon, creating a thunderous spectacle that produces rainbow mist on sunny days. The sheer power and scale of Gullfoss is breathtaking in any season.

Gullfoss was nearly developed as a hydroelectric dam in the early 20th century, but was saved thanks to the efforts of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, whose family farmed nearby. There's a monument to her at the site.

The Secret Lagoon is Iceland's oldest swimming pool, dating back to 1891. Nestled in the small farming village of Flúðir, it offers a natural geothermal bathing experience in a gorgeous outdoor setting surrounded by bubbling springs and a small geyser that erupts every few minutes. The water sits at a comfortable 38–40°C year-round.

Unlike the Blue Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon is intimate, affordable and genuinely feels like a discovery. It's the perfect reward after the Golden Circle — and far less crowded than its more famous rival.

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland's most unique waterfalls — a 60-metre curtain of water that you can walk behind via a narrow path around the cave behind the falls. The view from behind the waterfall looking out over the south Iceland landscape is genuinely extraordinary.

Nearby is the lesser-known but equally beautiful Gljúfrabúi, a hidden waterfall tucked inside a rocky gorge — easily missed but worth finding.

Skógafoss is one of Iceland's biggest and most dramatic waterfalls, dropping 60 metres with a width of 25 metres. On sunny days it produces a beautiful rainbow in the mist. You can climb 527 steps to the top of the falls for a panoramic view over the south Iceland coastline — on a clear day you can see for miles.

According to legend, a Viking settler named Þrasi hid a chest of gold behind the waterfall. Locals tried to pull it out by a ring on the chest lid — but only got the ring, which is now displayed in the nearby Skógar Museum.

Vík is the southernmost village in Iceland and one of the most scenically dramatic towns you'll visit. The village sits beneath the Mýrdalsjökull glacier (which covers the Katla volcano) and faces a sweeping black sand beach with iconic basalt rock stacks rising from the sea.

It's a great base for exploring the surrounding area and has good cafés, restaurants and a supermarket — stock up here before heading further east into less populated territory.

Reynisfjara is Iceland's most famous black sand beach and one of the most dramatic coastal landscapes in the world. The jet-black volcanic sand, towering hexagonal basalt columns (Reynisfjara's equivalent of the Giant's Causeway) and the dramatic sea stacks of Reynisdrangar rising from the surf make it utterly unlike any beach you've seen before.

Puffins nest in the cliffs above the beach from May to August — bring binoculars for a close look.

Vatnajökull is Europe's largest glacier by volume, covering around 8% of Iceland's total land area. Several glacier tongues extend down from the main ice cap, including Svínafellsjökull and Skaftafellsjökull — both easily accessible from the Ring Road and popular for glacier walks and ice climbing tours.

Skaftafell, on the edge of Vatnajökull, is one of Iceland's most beautiful nature reserves with marked hiking trails leading to the stunning Svartifoss waterfall — surrounded by the same hexagonal basalt columns as Reynisfjara.

Jökulsárlón is Iceland's most visited natural attraction outside of the Golden Circle — and for good reason. This stunning glacier lagoon is filled with floating icebergs calved from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier, drifting slowly towards the sea in shades of electric blue, white and black. It's like nowhere else on earth and has featured in multiple James Bond films.

Just across the road is Diamond Beach, where icebergs wash up on the black sand shore and glitter like diamonds in the sunlight. It's one of the most photographed spots in Iceland.