Best of Iceland — Self-Launched Ring of the South Coast

Land at Keflavik and take the Flybus or Strætó bus 55 into the city centre (Flybus ~£20-25 one way, Strætó ~£12 but slower and less frequent). Check into a hostel dorm near Laugavegur or the old harbour — Kex Hostel itself is a good option if you want to recreate the original's base. Spend the late afternoon wandering the colourful houses of the old town, Hallgrimskirkja and the Sun Voyager sculpture, then cook dinner in the hostel kitchen or grab a cheap hot dog at Baejarins Beztu (~£4). Book tomorrow's Golden Circle bus and your glacier hike tonight — winter departures fill up.

🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 from Keflavik airport to Reykjavik BSI (~£12-25)

🛏Hostel dorm (Kex Hostel or similar, ~£40-55/night in dorm)

• →Self-guided old town and Hallgrimskirkja walk
• →Sun Voyager and harbour stroll
• →Book Golden Circle bus + glacier hike

The Golden Circle is the hardest part to do purely on Strætó: there is a seasonal summer bus service but winter connections are patchy. The practical self-launched option is a small-group Golden Circle day tour (GetYourGuide or Reykjavik Excursions, ~£55-75), which covers Thingvellir National Park, the Strokkur geyser, Gullfoss and often stops at Efstidalur farm for ice cream (~£4-6) and the Fridheimar geothermal greenhouse. Alternatively, if you have a full driving licence, split a rental car with 2-3 hostel mates (~£45-60/day each including fuel and insurance) — that gives you freedom to linger. Overnight in Selfoss or Hvolsvollur area rather than Midgard Base Camp to keep costs down; the Midgard rooftop sauna/hot tub is a nice-to-have, not essential.

🚌Organised Golden Circle day tour (~£55-75) or shared rental car (~£45-60 pp)

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Selfoss/Hvolsvollur (~£55-75/night dorm or shared)

• →Thingvellir National Park walk between the tectonic plates
• →Strokkur geyser and Geysir geothermal area
• →Gullfoss waterfall
• →Efstidalur farm ice cream tasting (~£5)
• →Fridheimar geothermal greenhouse (tomato farm)

Take the Strætó bus 51 (Reykjavik–Vik route) south, getting off at Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss — both are roadside stops so bus timing matters; check straeto.is the night before and buy tickets in the Strætó app (~£15-20 for the day's segments). Walk behind Seljalandsfoss (bring a waterproof), climb the 527 steps above Skogafoss, and look north to Myrdalsjokull glacier from the road. Continue to Vik, drop bags at the hostel and walk or catch the local shuttle to Reynisfjara black sand beach — heed the sneaker waves, they are genuinely dangerous. Dinner at a Vik cafe or hostel kitchen (~£12-15).

🚌Strætó bus 51 south coast (~£15-20 day pass/segments)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Vik (~£50-70/night)

• →Seljalandsfoss (walk behind the waterfall)
• →Skogafoss waterfall and staircase
• →Myrdalsjokull glacier viewpoint
• →Reynisfjara black sand beach and basalt columns

This is a long day: Jokulsarlon is roughly 3 hours east of Vik. Strætó bus 51 continues to Hofn via Skaftafell and Jokulsarlon but runs limited times — check schedules carefully, or join a small-group South Coast-to-Jokulsarlon day tour from Vik (~£100-120) which is the reliable winter option. At the lagoon, take a self-booked amphibian or zodiac boat tour (~£45-70) among the icebergs, walk the black Diamond Beach where ice chunks wash ashore, and view Svinafellsjokull glacier outlet from the roadside near Skaftafell. If you want the glacier hike on Vatnajokull, book directly with a Skaftafell operator (~£90-120 for a 3-hour guided glacier walk, crampons included) — this must be booked ahead and is weather dependent. Overnight back in Vik or Kirkjubaejarklaustur.

🚌Strætó bus 51 east (~£20-25) or organised day tour from Vik (~£100-120)

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Vik or Kirkjubaejarklaustur (~£50-75/night)

• →Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon boat tour (~£45-70, book direct)
• →Diamond Beach walk
• →Svinafellsjokull glacier viewpoint, Skaftafell
• →Optional Vatnajokull glacier hike with guide (~£90-120)

Bus 51 back to Reykjavik Mjodd/BSI (~£20-25, about 4 hours with a change) — book a seat early on the app. Check into the hostel, then in the afternoon take Strætó bus 55 or a local tour out to the Reykjanes peninsula: Kleifarvatn lake, the Gunnuhver hot spring area, the bridge between continents at Sandvik and the dramatic lava coast near Grindavik. If you want the Blue Lagoon, book directly online in advance (~£60-90 depending on time slot — Sky Lagoon is often similar and closer to town); the public Reykjanes geothermal pools or a local swimming pool (~£7-10) are the budget alternative for a hot soak. Final night in Reykjavik: cheap eats at a hostel or a bakery dinner (~£12).

🚌Strætó bus 51 back to Reykjavik (~£20-25); local bus 55 to Reykjanes (~£8-10)

🛏Hostel dorm in Reykjavik (Kex Hostel or similar, ~£40-55/night)

• →Kleifarvatn lake and Reykjanes geothermal sites
• →Gunnuhver hot springs and Bridge Between Continents
• →Optional Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon (~£60-90, book direct)
• →Budget alternative: local geothermal swimming pool (~£8)

A slow morning: coffee and a pastry at a local bakery (~£6), a last wander through the harbour or the Kolaportid flea market if it's a weekend, then Flybus or Strætó 55 back to Keflavik airport. Allow 2.5-3 hours before your flight — Iceland's airport is small but queues at bag drop can be slow. If your flight is late, the National Museum or a geothermal pool pass is a good way to fill time.

🚌Flybus or Strætó bus 55 to Keflavik airport (~£12-25)

🛏—

• →Bakery breakfast and harbour stroll
• →Optional National Museum of Iceland (~£15)