The Perfect One-Day Itinerary for Exploring Iceland’s South Coast

One of the most incredible drives in the world will take you past waterfalls, black sand beaches, one-of-a-kind natural wonders and scenery that will make your Instagram followers jealous.
The drive is along Route 1 in Iceland from Reykjavik to Vik. With stops along the way -- including bathroom breaks and meals -- the drive will take you about 10 hours.
Here’s a guide of the best places to stop on that beautiful drive:

Everytime I travel to Iceland, I spend a day exploring the South Coast. I pick up a warm pastry in the morning, put on a podcast and take my time driving down Route 1. It is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful drives in the world.
The only way I can describe the experience is this: Imagine entering a complete different country every 15 minutes. Over 2.5 hours you will encounter snow-capped mountains, black sand beaches, lush green fields, golden meadows and ash-covered riverbanks. You see something new and beautiful every 15 minutes. It’s breathtaking.

Árbæjarlaug
Is there anything better than starting off a day-long road trip with a dip in a geothermal pool? Árbæjarlaug is a great meeting place for locals to start their day off. I met some great people at Árbæjarlaug. Cost is less than $10. 
I HIGHLY recommend it.

Seljalandsfoss
Seljalandsfoss is a must see waterfall along Route 1. The waterfall drops 200 feet, making for awesome photos.

Landeyjahöfn
Landeyjahöfn is a black sand beach and ferry terminal about 15 minutes from the main road. The ferry takes you from Landeyjahöfn to the Westman Islands.

Eyjafjallajökull
Aside from being a major plot point in “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” with Ben Stiller, Eyjafjallajökull is a sight to behold. At 5,417 feet tall, Eyjafjallajökull is one of the smaller ice caps of Iceland. The most recent eruption of the volcano was 2010, when it blanketed Europe with ash.

Drangshlíð Rock
Just a couple seconds off of Route 1 is the Drangshlíð Rock and turf houses. I forgot to take pictures the last time I was there, so here's a pretty picture of Route 1.

Skógafoss
Skógafoss is my favorite waterfall in all of Iceland. This stunning waterfall is formed at the cliffs of the former coastline. Parking and nearby restroom facilities are also pretty nice.

Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
The Dyrhólaey Lighthouse is the perfect location to get great photos of the Dyrhólaey arch. Be careful, the road lead up to the lighthouse can be rocky.

Dyrhólaey
One of the most photographed natural wonders in Iceland. You can hike out onto the peninsula for a beautiful view.

Reynisdrangar
The Reynisdrangar Sea Cliffs stand under the Reynisfjall Mountain, at the end of a dramatic stretch of black sand beach.

Reynisfjara Beach
Unbelievable black sand beaches and enormous basalt stacks. Be careful of the waves, they'll surprise you.

Vik i Myrdal Church
Built on the cliffs of Vik, the Vik i Myrdal Church is a small but charming church that overlooks the small town and beaches. Great photo opportunity.

Kirkjufjara beach
Awesome views of Iceland's coast. There's a couple short hikes (5 minutes) in the area to give you unique perspectives of the coastline.

Did I miss anything? If so, comment below!