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The Lighthouse Trail is a peaceful area where you can unwind with the sound of seabirds and ocean waves in the air. The wide sky scenery by the coast is perfect for experiencing the midnight sun in summer, or gazing at stars and northern lights in winter.

Off the beaten track, with easy reach from Keflavik airport, lies the South Coast Lighthouse Trail. It is a travel route that draws attention to the coastal scenery south of the Golden Circle. Visit three unique seaside villages: Þorlákshöfn, Eyrarbakki, and Stokkseyri, highlighting the history and culture of the area as well as activities and nature. The route is just under 50 kilometers, stretching from Selvogsviti lighthouse to Knarrarósviti lighthouse. You can download a map of The South Coast Lighthouse Trail here.

Attractions and activities - The name stems from the three lighthouses that mark the route: Selvogsviti, Hafnarnesviti, and Knarrarósviti. If you are driving, this is an ideal full-day journey, visiting each village and lighthouse, and entering museums and galleries. That being said, you can easily spend several days there, exploring nature, kayaking, horse-riding, ATV tours, Rib-boat tours, bird-watching, and hiking, to name a few activities. You will also find family-friendly swimming pools along the way and excellent restaurants.

Driving, cykling or walking - The majority of visitors explore The Lighthouse Trail by car with frequent stops along the way. However, you may opt to hike or bike the entire trail in 2-4 days, truly soaking in the tranquility of the area. For biking, parts of the way are best completed on the road. Hikers can thread the coast on trails or beaches, only entering the road once to cross the bridge across Ölfusá river, between Stokkseyri and Þorlákshöfn.

Dining -  A feast of flavors awaits while traveling the coastline as all villages have restaurants with the possibility of a delicious dining experience from local ingredients. Iceland has been known for its top-quality seafood so experience the finest and freshest that we offer in one of the coastal village’s restaurants.

The Lighthouse Trail is ideal to take straight after you land in Iceland as you can drive the route directly from the airport to the South Coast. Thereby you can enjoy what the route has to offer immediately and straightaway get your insight into the lovely south coast, its activities, cuisine, and accommodation.

Allow plenty of time for the trip −  for those who take the time, there is a lot to be discovered.

Highlights

History of the Lighthouses
The Villages
Culture and History
Nature and Wildlife
Interesting places
Travel ideas
ÁRNES

ÁRNES

Árnes is a small village with inhabitants of ca 50. In Árnes, there is a small convenience store, a swimming pool, a campsite, and a guesthouse.  &he
ÁSAHREPPUR

ÁSAHREPPUR

Ásahreppur is a community on the western edge of Rangárvallasýsla and takes its name from  “the ásar”, natural ridges in the area. On the Ring Road th
BORG

BORG

There is a growing community in Borg in Grímsnes, where there is a wide range of services for locals and tourists, including schools, kindergartens, s
BRAUTARHOLT

BRAUTARHOLT

A small village. Swimming pool, shop, community center and camp site.
EYRARBAKKI

EYRARBAKKI

Eyrarbakki, pop. 585 is a friendly village that used to be the largest commercial community and main harbor on the South Coast of Iceland. Many preser
FLÓAHREPPUR

FLÓAHREPPUR

Flóahreppur is a peaceful municipality situated in South Iceland, between the two large Salmon Rivers Hvítá and Þjórsá. Flóahreppur is famous for its
FLÚÐIR

FLÚÐIR

Flúðir is a rapidly growing community in the center of the Hrunamannahreppur district, about 25 minutes off the main Ring Road. The area is considered
HELLA

HELLA

Welcome to Rangárþing ytra, one of Iceland’s largest municipalities in terms of geographical size, with around 2000 residents. It is one of three muni
HVERAGERÐI

HVERAGERÐI

Hveragerði has long been a famous destination for tourists with many hotels and restaurants. Both summer and winter, Icelanders and foreigners alike h
HVOLSVÖLLUR

HVOLSVÖLLUR

Rangárþing eystra, with a population of about 2100, is a vast district in central South Iceland and ranges from the highlands to the sea. It boasts ma
HÖFN

HÖFN

Hornafjörður is a blooming community close to the biggest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull in the south eastern part of Iceland. The district’s most den
KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR

KIRKJUBÆJARKLAUSTUR

SkaftárhreppurSkaftárhreppur district is the center of the south of Iceland and the perfect location to stay while taking day tours to see many of Ice
LAUGARÁS

LAUGARÁS

The development of the small village Laugarás started when geothermal activity was discovered in the area. There are numerous horticultural farms in t
LAUGARVATN

LAUGARVATN

Laugarvatn is a shallow lake, about 2 km2 in size, and is located in the inlands of Árnessýsla, midway between Þingvellir, Gullfoss and Geysir, 100 km
REYKHOLT

REYKHOLT

The development of the small village Reykholt started in the first half of the 20th century, when geothermal activity was discovered in the area. Ther
SELFOSS

SELFOSS

Selfoss, pop. 8.832 is the largest town in South Iceland and the main center of trade and industry. The distance from the capital is 57 km, and variou
SKÓGAR

SKÓGAR

Skógar is a small village with about 25 inhabitants. Despite its small size, it has various accommodation and restaurant possibilities. Skógar used to
SÓLHEIMAR ECO-VILLAGE

SÓLHEIMAR ECO-VILLAGE

Sólheimar is considered the oldest Eco-Village in the world. Sólheimar was established as a children's home in 1930. Still, today, Sólheimar focuses o
STOKKSEYRI

STOKKSEYRI

STOKKSEYRIStokkseyri, pop. 559 is a charming village renowned for its beautiful seashore, breaking ocean waves and birdlife, and rich in handicrafts a
VÍK

VÍK

Mýrdalshreppur is one of the three municipalities within Katla Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark. Vík in Mýrdalshreppur is situated in the center of th
ÞORLÁKSHÖFN

ÞORLÁKSHÖFN

The main town in Ölfus is Þorlákshöfn, west of Eyrarbakki. The town is important as a port because the only viable harbour on Iceland's southern coast
ÞYKKVIBÆR

ÞYKKVIBÆR

Residential area by Hólsá and south of Safamýri. Before, Þykkvibær was flooded in every way. People had to wade up to the waist or deeper to get betwe
ÖLFUS

ÖLFUS

Ölfus municipality is located on the southwest coast of Iceland, approx. 50 km from Reykjavík capital. The population is slightly over 2000 inhabitant