7 Days in South Iceland: A Shorter Itinerary (Reykjavik to Höfn)
Don't have 12 days for the full Ring Road? This 7-day South Iceland itinerary covers Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and the South Coast all the way to Höfn and the glacier lagoon.
Not everyone can take two weeks off to circle the entire island. If you've only got about a week, South Iceland gives you the single best return on time — Reykjavik, the Golden Circle, and the whole South Coast down to Höfn, packed with waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, and canyons, without ever needing to backtrack. This is the exact route I'd take with 7 days, condensed from my full 12-day Ring Road itinerary if you'd rather keep going and do the whole country.
Planning Your Route
- Base yourself in Reykjavik for the first three nights, then move to Vik for two nights, and finish near Fjaðrárgljúfur/Höfn.
- Best time to go: Summer (June–August) for long daylight and easier driving; shoulder season (May/September) for fewer crowds.
- Car: A 4x4 is worth it even for this shorter route, especially if you want to detour onto any F-roads.
Day 1: Reykjavik
Ease into the trip with the capital itself — walk up to Hallgrímskirkja church, see the Sun Voyager sculpture down by the water, and wander Rainbow Street. It's a light day, good for resetting after the flight.
Day 2: Reykjavik waterfalls loop
Head out from Reykjavik for a full day chasing waterfalls: Barnafoss and Hraunfossar sit right next to each other, Glymur rewards a long but manageable 6-7 hour hike to the top (one of the best hikes in Iceland), and Þórufoss on the way back is worth a short 15-minute hike down to its base. For the full breakdown of all four waterfalls, see my waterfalls roundup.
Day 3: The Golden Circle
The classic route: Þingvellir National Park, snorkeling between the tectonic plates at Silfra (book ahead — it's the only place in the world you can do this), Bruarfoss, Geysir and its Strokkur eruption every 5-10 minutes, Gullfoss (one of the best waterfalls in Iceland), Kerið crater lake, and finishing at the Reykjadalur hot springs. It's a full day — pace yourself.
Day 4: Reykjavik to Vik
Move base to Vik, stopping along the way at Seljalandsfoss (walk all the way around behind it) and the nearby Gljúfrabúi cave waterfall, just two minutes on foot from Seljalandsfoss.
Day 5: Vik
A packed day: Skógafoss (climb to the top and keep walking — there are hidden waterfalls just beyond it that most visitors never see), Kvernufoss five minutes away and far less crowded, and Reynisfjara black sand beach. Take the beach warnings seriously — the sneaker waves here are genuinely dangerous.
Day 6: Fjaðrárgljúfur & Þakgil
Two of the most rewarding stops on this whole route. Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon is stunning and easy to access — and one of the only spots in Iceland with a clearly signed drone-friendly zone. Þakgil is the wildcard: the drive in is tricky, but the valley is one of the best things I've seen anywhere. Ask at the campground for the unmarked trail — it's worth every steep, vertigo-inducing step. Full details on both are in my best hikes in Iceland guide.
Day 7: On to Höfn
Finish at Skaftafell National Park (Svartifoss is worth the two-hour stop), the lesser-known Múlagljúfur canyon if you're up for a longer hike with a glacier payoff at the top, and Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon — keep an hour for the lagoon and the diamond beach, and watch for seals. From here, continue on to Höfn for the night.
Where to go from here
If a week isn't enough and you want to keep driving, this route picks up exactly where it left off in my full 12-day Ring Road itinerary, continuing on through the Eastfjords, Mývatn, and Snæfellsnes back to Reykjavik.