Southern Region

South Iceland, known in Icelandic as Suðurland, brings together many of the island's most famous natural wonders along a single coastal road. A trip to the Southern Region leads you to geysers and waterfalls, black lava beaches, glacier tongues and a lagoon full of icebergs.

Sights in the Southern Region

The Golden Circle begins in the west of the region: at Þingvellir National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Althing, one of the world's oldest parliaments, first convened in 930 in a rift valley between two tectonic plates. In the Haukadalur valley, Strokkur shoots a fountain of water into the air every few minutes, and Gullfoss plunges in two tiers into a gorge. Farther along the Ring Road you'll come to Seljalandsfoss, which you can walk behind, and the mighty Skógafoss. Near Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland's southernmost village, basalt columns and sea stacks rise from the ocean off the black sand beach of Reynisfjara; the waves here are treacherous and can be deadly. Farther east are Vatnajökull National Park with Skaftafell and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, whose chunks of ice wash up on Diamond Beach. The Westman Islands off the coast, reachable by ferry from Landeyjahöfn, are famous for puffins and for the 1973 volcanic eruption on Heimaey. The Kerið crater with its turquoise lake lies near the Golden Circle, and in the highlands, four-wheel-drive buses take you to Landmannalaugar with its colorful rhyolite mountains.

Towns and Daily Life

Selfoss on the Ölfusá River is the largest town and the region's service center, with a newly built old town in the traditional style. Around Hveragerði, greenhouses make use of geothermal heat, and a hiking trail leads to the warm river in Reykjadalur. The region lives from farming, fishing and, increasingly, tourism. Hella and Hvolsvöllur are starting points for exploring the land of Njál's Saga and for visiting Eyjafjallajökull, whose 2010 eruption brought European air traffic to a standstill.

Food, Getting There and Best Time to Visit

Typical foods include lamb, salmon from the rivers, tomatoes from the greenhouses of Friðheimar, and skyr. The Ring Road connects Reykjavík with Selfoss in just under an hour; a rental car is recommended for exploring the region. The best time to visit is June through September; in winter you can see the northern lights, but storms and icy roads call for caution. Glacier hikes, for example on Sólheimajökull, should only be done with a guide.