South Iceland has a huge amount to offer in a small amount of space, which makes it a popular spot on the tourist trail. You can easily spend a full week here (I would recommend it), though most people allot between one and three days to drive around the Golden Circle. But there’s so much to see — and how do you choose? Take a look at these options for great things to do.

Best Hot Spring/Thermal River: Reykjadalur Hot River

You’ll need to trek a long(ish) way in to get there, but the steaming Reykjadalur River offers a great place to strip down to your swimsuit and relax in the heat.

Best Geothermal Activity: Geysir

If you like your geothermal activities on the spectacular side — and who doesn’t? — then Geysir is the place for you. It’s usually on South Iceland’s greatest hits list, so it’ll be hard to miss.

Runner-Up: Reykjadalur Valley

Geysir is a relatively small attraction, but the entire sweep of the vast Reykjadalur Valley looks like it’s about to erupt in fire. Bubbling mud pots, steaming crevices, otherworldly colors — this is the place to go if you want a reminder that there’s a lot of hot stuff not far below the ground.

Best Beach: Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

I didn’t know this was an award you can win, but apparently, Reynisfjara was voted one of the 10 most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world in 2011 by National Geographic (they then upgraded it to one of the 21 most beautiful beaches in the world in 2017). Above you’ll see the view down toward the beach from Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve, a spectacular place in its own right (if you visit in summer, you might see puffins!).

Best Coffee Shop: Skool Beans Cafe

This school bus alone makes it worth the drive to Vik. Great vibe, cute space, and I am still dreaming of my orange hot chocolate with a perfect pile of fluffy whipped cream on top.

Best Restaurant: Lindin Restaurant

It may not look like much from the outside, but this little cafe in Laugarvatn served the best meal I had in Iceland. You can skip the chocolate mousse, but if the two-fish main is on the menu, make sure to order it.

Best Thermal Pool: Secret Lagoon

The Secret Lagoon in Flúðir is not really secret, and it’s not a lagoon — instead, it’s Iceland’s oldest known swimming pool, and it’s terrific. Warm water, soft pebbles underfoot, free pool noodles … what a great place to while away an afternoon.

Best Hike: Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike

This is not the hike that begins at the end of the road to Sólheimajökull Glacier — instead, as you drive up that road, pull over on the right and park your car at these coordinates: 63.5262898, -19.3674152. Then head out to the right from there, and you’ll find an unmarked but fairly obvious trail. I should note that I’m not sure whether this is an official trail — but it’s beautiful, and it will get you to amazing views of the glacier!

Runner-Up: The Skógarkotsvegur and Gönguvegur Loop Trail in Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park

This relatively easy loop trail has amazing views and immense quiet. We were surprised that it didn’t have higher reviews on AllTrails — it’s spectacular.

Best Waterfall: Brúarfoss

Why? Because the water is fantastically blue, and it spills over the rocks so beautifully. You can pair the hike to Brúarfoss with a hike to two other fantastic waterfalls, Hlaup­tungufoss and Miðfoss, though the trail is likely to be icy in winter and muddy in spring. Hlauptungufoss was actually my favorite waterfall of the trip, but it requires more of a trek than most people might be willing to do.

Runner-Up: Gullfoss

There are plenty of amazing waterfalls to see in South Iceland, but few can beat the two-tiered wonder that is Gullfoss.

There are so many amazing waterfalls! in Iceland If you want to explore more, head over to this post and pick your favorite.

Best Geological Feature: The North American/Eurasian Tectonic Plate Boundary

Two tectonic plates meet up — and shift apart — at Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park. You can actually see evidence of continental drift in the many rifts and cliffs that draw long lines along the valley.

Best Churches: Skálholtsdómkirkja & St. Þorláks Booth

Skálholt was one of two episcopal seats in Iceland from 1056 to 1785, which means that it was a place of huge religious and cultural importance for centuries. Now you can see two churches there: a large cathedral from the late 1950s (Skálholtsdómkirkja), and a controversially reconstructed turf church from the 17th century (St. Þorláks Booth).

Runners-Up: Þingvallakirkja and Víkurkirkja (Mýrdal Church)

While this iteration of Þingvallakirkja, a tiny church in Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park, has only been standing here since 1859, lore has it that a church has existed at Þingvellir since the early 11th century.

Víkurkirkja, built high up on a hill above the town of Vik, has commanding views out over the sea (unless it’s snowing, in which case you won’t see too much past the parking lot). The church building doesn’t have a long history — it was only built in the 1930s — but it’s striking (and I have a soft spot for it because it features in Katla, a slow-burning Icelandic psychological mystery-drama).

Best Cave & Turf Dwelling: Rutshellir

Okay, there may not be many turf and cave dwellings to choose from, but that doesn’t make Rutshellir any less interesting. The largest man-made cave in Iceland, this building once housed people, a smithy, and hay. Rutshellir is one of over 200 caves in this area that used to be inhabited, and you can still see many openings dotting the hillside along the nearby roads.

Best Experience: Northern Lights (Beyond South Iceland Bonus)

Northern lights aren’t unique to the south of Iceland, but they were one of my favorite experiences, so I wanted to make sure to include them. We saw these out in the middle of nowhere, several kilometers north of Reykholt. If you want to see northern lights, find someplace with no light pollution between October and early April, head out around midnight, and hope that the skies will light up.

Best Candy: Sambó (Beyond South Iceland Bonus)

How does chocolate-covered licorice become delicious? I don’t know, but this stuff is incredible (even my non-licorice-loving husband gave it a thumbs-up). An easy runner-up is Hraun, a truly yummy combo of puffed corn and milk chocolate. Definitely try these if you’re out on a road trip!

Finally, if you’re starting or ending your South Iceland stay in Reykjavik, make sure to read my two-day itinerary for the best museums, cafes, hot springs, and more.