Southern Iceland Trails on Foot
Walks in Southern Iceland fall into four groups by how much preparation they need: walks that need nothing special, walks that need waterproofs, walks where closures decide the day, and a glacier outing that needs a guide. Money is in Icelandic króna (ISK).
Walks that need nothing special
Þingvellir. A path leads from the visitor centre along the Almannagjá rift to the Lögberg, the old assembly ground of the Alþingi. Entering the park costs nothing. The parking tariff is 1,000 ISK a day for cars of up to 5 seats and covers all lots, as set out on the park’s website .
Walks that need waterproofs
Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi. Spray soaks anyone on the path behind the fall, and the approach to Gljúfrabúi is wet, so dress for it. The path behind Seljalandsfoss shuts for ice in the colder months, around November to March. Parking is about 1,000 ISK.
Skógafoss. Climb the stairs, about 527 steps, to the top. From there a trail follows the Skógá river upstream. Parking is about 1,000 ISK.
Walks where closures decide
Fjaðrárgljúfur. The canyon has a rim path. The ledge that went viral online is closed to protect the site, so keep to the path. The canyon may be shut in spring and autumn, and safetravel.is is the place to confirm.
Fimmvörðuháls. From Skógafoss the hike runs 22 to 25 km and needs 8 hours or more. A blog dated 28 August 2026 described it as closed because of conditions around the glacier. Look at current notices from safetravel.is and the Met Office , and go only if you are experienced and well equipped.
A walk that needs a guide
Sólheimajökull. Ice here must be walked with a certified guide, who provides crampons, an ice axe, a helmet and a harness. Allow roughly 3 to 4 hours. Resellers show prices from about 13,500 ISK. Operators with listings include Adventures.is and Troll.is . The glacier car park costs about 750 ISK.
A note on Reynisfjara
Do not treat the black sand beach as a stroll along the shoreline. Wave surges can reach well up the sand without warning. Walk only behind the limits shown by the yellow and red lights, keep an eye on the sea, and stay away from the columns and the cave when it is rough.
Kit and safety
Waterproof jacket, firm shoes and a charged phone cover most of these routes. The SafeTravel app can pass your GPS position to the emergency line on 112. Read road.is for the roads that lead to trailheads.
Read more: the sightseeing page describes the stops themselves, and the Iceland 3-day itinerary puts walks into a schedule.
Guided hikes are listed on Viator .