Must-see attractions in Southeast Iceland

  • Fjaðrárgljúfur

    Southeast Iceland

    This darkly picturesque canyon, carved out by the river Fjaðrá, has been well and truly discovered, thanks to Instagrammers and one Justin Bieber (who…

  • Lómagnúpur

    Southeast Iceland

    Adding more eye candy to an impressive road trip, a precipitous 767m-tall palisade of cliffs known as Lómagnúpur towers over the landscapes, begging to be…

  • Skeiðarársandur

    Southeast Iceland

    Skeiðarársandur, the largest sandur in the world, covers a 1300-sq-km area and was formed by the mighty Skeiðarárjökull. Since the Settlement Era,…

  • Þórbergssetur

    Southeast Iceland

    This cleverly crafted museum (its inspired exterior looks like a shelf of books) pays tribute to the most famous son of this sparsely populated region –…

  • Fjallsárlón

    Southeast Iceland

    A sign off the Ring Road indicates Fjallsárlón – this is an easily accessible glacier lagoon, where icebergs calve from Fjallsjökull. There are Zodiac…

  • Svínafellsjökull

    Southeast Iceland

    Heading east on the Ring Road from Skaftafell, a sign points the way to the glacier Svínafellsjökull. A rough, potholed dirt road leads 2km to a car park,…

  • Núpsstaðarskógar

    Southeast Iceland

    Inland from Lómagnúpur peak is Núpsstaðarskógar, a beautiful low-growing woodland area on the slopes of the mountain Eystrafjall. Due to the perils of…

  • Flatey Farm

    Southeast Iceland

    The Flatey dairy farm (also known as Flatey á Mýrum) lies almost exactly halfway between Jökulsárlón and Höfn and is hard to miss as you drive along – the…

  • Systrafoss & Systravatn

    Southeast Iceland

    At the western end of the village, the lovely double waterfall, Systrafoss, tumbles down the cliffs and a sign outlines three short walks in the pretty…

  • Fláajökull

    Southeast Iceland

    Fláajökull is 8km off the Ring Road on a gravel road (signposted just east of Hólmur guesthouse) that leads to a small car park with pit toilet. A…

  • Núpsstaður

    Southeast Iceland

    Lómagnúpur towers over the impossibly photogenic old turf-roofed farm at Núpsstaður. The farm buildings date back to the early 19th century, and the…

  • Meðallandssandur

    Southeast Iceland

    This outwash plain spreads across the Meðalland district south of Eldhraun and east of the river Kúðafljót (ie south of Kirkjubæjarklaustur). The sandy…

  • Landbrotshólar

    Southeast Iceland

    West of the village and south of the Ring Road is this vast, dimpled, vivid-green pseudocrater field. Pseudocraters formed when hot lava poured over…

  • Hoffellsjökull

    Southeast Iceland

    From the Hoffell guesthouse, a signed, 4km gravel road leads to Hoffellsjökull glacier tongue, calving into a small lake. There are some good short walks…

  • Laki

    Southeast Iceland

    Although the peak called Laki (818m) did not erupt, it has loaned its name to the 25km-long Lakagígar crater row, which stretches northeastwards and…

  • Gamlabúð

    Southeast Iceland

    The 1864 warehouse that once served as the regional folk museum has been moved from the outskirts of town to a prime position on the Höfn harbourfront. It…

  • Kirkjugólf

    Southeast Iceland

    The basalt columns of Kirkjugólf (Church Floor), smoothed down and cemented with moss, were once mistaken for an old church floor rather than a work of…

  • Dverghamrar

    Southeast Iceland

    Just east of Foss á Siðu waterfall (about 11km from Kirkjubæjarklaustur on the Ring Road) is the outcrop Dverghamrar (‘Dwarf Rocks’) – two rock formations…

  • Diamond Beach

    Southeast Iceland

    At the Jökulsá river mouth you’ll see ice boulders and bergs resting photogenically on the black-sand beach as part of their final journey out to sea…

  • Heinabergsjökull

    Southeast Iceland

    Heinabergsjökull is 8km off the Ring Road on a gravel road (signposted not far east of Guesthouse Skálafell). Brilliant summertime kayaking trips operate…

  • Fagrifoss

    Southeast Iceland

    Fagrifoss (Beautiful Falls) is not a misnomer: this waterfall must be one of Iceland’s most bewitching, with rivulets of water pouring over a massive…

  • Systrastapi

    Southeast Iceland

    Religious connections are particularly strong around Klaustur. The prominent, stumpy rock pillar Systrastapi, near the line of cliffs about 1.5km west of…

  • Kvíárjökull

    Southeast Iceland

    Kvíárjökull glacier snakes down to the Kvíá river and is easily accessible from the Ring Road; look for the sign for Kvíármýrarkambur just west of the…

  • Lakagígar Crater Row

    Southeast Iceland

    The crater row is fascinating to explore, riddled with black sand dunes and lava tubes, many of which contain tiny stalactites. At the foot of Laki,…

  • Steingrímsson Memorial Chapel

    Southeast Iceland

    The triangular, distinctly atypical wood-and-stone chapel at the heart of the village was consecrated in 1974. It commemorates Jón Steingrímsson’s …

  • Foss á Siðu

    Southeast Iceland

    This waterfall, 11km east of Kirkjubæjarklaustur on the Ring Road, is a head-turning cascade that normally tumbles down from the cliffs. During especially…

  • Seamen's Monument

    Southeast Iceland

    This monument stands on Ósland, the bird-filled promontory south of the harbour. Head here for good walks and views.