"On not seeing the Northern Lights" Top 5 Page for this destination South Iceland by toonsarah

South Iceland Travel Guide: 187 reviews and 594 photos

Scenery near Dyrhólaey, on Iceland's south coast

We came to Iceland in search of the Aurora. We didn't see it - but we saw so many wonderful sights that the journey was more than worthwhile.

My abiding memory from this trip will be the wonderful light in which these spectacular landscapes were bathed for much of the time at least. It was February, so some bad weather was probably inevitable, but we were lucky to have sunshine on two of our three days, and being so low in the sky throughout the day meant that the light was always warm and never harsh. Add to that the sharp silhouettes of icy mountains, rainbows dancing in the spray in a waterfall, waves crashing against a black lava beach, perfect reflections in the stillest of pools ... Truly, this is a photographer’s paradise.

Ranga Hotel at sunrise

After an initial night near the airport in Keflavik, we based ourselves at the Hotel Ranga about an hour’s drive east of Reykjavik. We chose it for its reputation as a great place from which to see the Northern Lights (staff undertake to wake you if the lights appear at any time during the night). It disappointed on that front, but not on many others. This is a very special place to stay, Aurora or no Aurora, although the restaurant may just have got a bit too ambitious for its own good. No matter – we were very cosy here, with a comfortable bedroom, a hot tub just outside our door, and a welcoming bar (and polar bear!)

Rainbow at Skógafoss

In our three days of sightseeing we managed to see a little of the capital, Reykjavik, and spend two days driving around the famed Golden Circle and along the south coast. Highlights for me were the dramatic coastal scenery around Dyrhólaey; the falls at Gullfoss, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss; and a fabulous sunrise one morning over Eyjafjallajökull.

Too soon it was time to come home, but we did so resolving to return for a longer visit very soon. Iceland had captured our hearts, and we knew we would be coming back.

If you would like to follow our South Iceland trip in the order we visited the places, you can do so by starting with my first tip, our flight to Keflavik, and following the links in each tip. Or of course you can simply work through each section as you choose!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Stunning landscapes bathed in an often wonderful light
Cons:When it's wet and windy, it's VERY wet and windy!

Last visit to South Iceland: Feb 2012
Intro Updated Feb 26, 2012
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Reviews (25)

Flying to Iceland Transportation (2)

We flew to Iceland with Icelandair, from London Heathrow to Keflavik. The plane was very new and like all of... more travel advice

Car hire Transportation (2)

Our mini-break package included car hire with Avis and the agent recommended 4WD as we would be driving in February... more travel advice

Convenient for the airport Hotels (2)

As we were arriving at 4.00 pm, and as in February it gets dark in Iceland soon after 5.00 pm, we decided that we... more travel advice

Friendly service and a haven from the... Restaurants (2)

We had planned to go for a walk around Keflavik and hunt out somewhere nice to enjoy our first meal in Iceland, but the... more travel advice

Things to Do (13)
See All Hafnarfjördur
Off The Beaten Path (1)
Eyrarbakki
Favorites (3)
See All A very special light

Local Customs (1)
Beer and other drinks
Warnings and Dangers (1)
Of waves and currents and icy patches
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Comments (10)

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willy_wonka Aug 9, 2012 at 7:27 PM

Your photography of these insanely beautiful sceneries is fantastic! Loved taking this journey with you. Iceland is high on the wish list anyway, but even more so now! Glad I got a chance to explore (Ale is having a rare daytime doze) lol
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yumyum May 1, 2012 at 1:25 PM

I've seen a few of the same sights when I visited with my mum :-) I like the ice pattern and the funniest was you sitting in the that tub with a woolly hat on!!! :-)
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balhannah Apr 3, 2012 at 9:55 PM

What can I say, but lucky you getting a package deal to this wonderful country. Sounds like you had a wonderful time, and the sights you saw were beautiful. How I would like to see them for myself! Great page!
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hunterV Mar 16, 2012 at 12:13 PM

Hello, Sarah! I wonder if the Lava beer would pack me a real punch ... Thanks for sharing your lovely story!...
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Redang Feb 29, 2012 at 9:47 AM

Amazing country, isn't it?
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HORSCHECK Feb 27, 2012 at 10:42 AM

Sarah, fantastic page with outstanding photos of this region of Iceland. The brilliant lights seem to be perfect for stunning photos. Iceland is one of the few countries I still have to visit in Europe.
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Trekki Feb 27, 2012 at 9:38 AM

Oh wow, magic indeed! I flew with Icelandair several times to US and Keflavik Airport always impressed me. I also saw some magic light settings, but.... have to do just what you did: come over for a long weekend. Love your tour, especially the very much photogenic sites, such as Reynir Church (my favourite I think with this gorgeous red roof). Trying to imagine to live next to Skógafoss and hear the waterfalls day and night, oh what a gorgeous feeling that must be. The scenery to Dyrhólaey reminds me simply of elves and troll land, or of Lord of the Rings, as I would imagine it (never seen the movies). Eyrarbakki is stunning, especially your beautiful house & window photos!! Haha, your remark with the warning beep reminds me of own experience with rented cars. And, at least you know that the puffins are cute, so I won't comment more :-) But the desert looks ... very delicious :-) So does the beer.
And congratulations for entering into videomaking :-))
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Ekaterinburg Feb 26, 2012 at 2:33 PM

I've really enjoyed this virtual tour of South Iceland Sarah. Your descriptions give the reader a real 'being there' feel and the photos are excellent. I especially like the colourful shots of the fishing village cottages and the marvellous ice puddles.
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spidermiss Feb 26, 2012 at 12:20 PM

Great photos and tips! Love to return to Iceland some day!x
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Nemorino Feb 26, 2012 at 10:11 AM

You certainly provide proof that Iceland is an incredibly photogenic country, even in February. And as always I like your well-written and informative texts. Good idea to include links to the videos in the appropriate tips.