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CaveSouth Coast

Rútshellir

South Coast, IcelandSelf-guidedModeratehelmet, flashlight

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CaveSouth Coast

Rútshellir

South Coast, IcelandSelf-guidedModeratehelmet, flashlight

About

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Plan your visit to Rútshellir

Build an itinerary — full days, multi-stop routes, drive times, alternatives.

Map of Rútshellir

Rútshellir is on Iceland's South Coast at 63.5229°N, 19.5724°W. The interactive map has the exact pin, parking and everything around it.

Open Rútshellir on the interactive map →

Plan your visit

Getting there: Road 1 (Dyrhólav.-Steinar)
Off the main road: 0.1 km from Route 1
Nearest town: Vík í Mýrdal — 30.2 km away
Distance from Reykjavík: 135 km in a straight line
What else is close: 378 mapped places within 20 km

Rútshellir weather and conditions

At Rútshellir in South Coast, conditions as of 1 September 2026, 08:15 (Iceland time): 8°C, clear, wind 2 m/s. Daylight today: 14 h 37 m (sunrise 06:00, sunset 20:37). Check road status before driving on live road conditions.

Data verified 1 September 2026, 08:15· source: Open-Meteo at this location’s coordinates · refreshes hourly

Driving conditions

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Daylight today

Visit now · Open year-round · 30 min stop · Visibility —

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South Coast Reykjavík West North East Westfjords Reykjanes Highlands

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Cars & campers

−12%exclusive discountFree cancellation

KEF airport pickup 24/74.8

SUV

Dacia Duster 4x4

Cheapest real 4WD in the fleet — gravel, the Westfjords and easy summer F-roads without truck prices.

VW Caravelle

Whole family or friend group in one car — gear in the back, room to stretch.

TransmissionAutomatic

12,750 kr15,000 kr/day

Reserve −12%

Camper

Key Camper Wild Duo

Sleep right by the trailhead, wake up at the falls — F-road ready from mid-June.

Tours near Rútshellir

Free cancellation

Small groups

Iceland tour

Adrenaline Combo: Off-Road Buggy & Mega Zipline Experience

The Buggy Iceland and Mega Zipline Combo Tour offers an exhilarating adventure for thrill-seekers exploring Iceland.

Duration3 hours

HighlightsSouth Iceland

Buggy Adventure-Þórsmörk

"Þórsmörk has a spot in every Icelander's heart.

Duration5 hours

HighlightsSouth Iceland

Bus transfer from Landmannalaugar to Hella / Reykjavik

Our transfer service offers a comfortable and safe way to travel from the heart of Iceland's highlands, Landmannalaugar, to the…

Duration4 hours

HighlightsSouth Iceland

Photos & videos

Rútshellir — photo by Bromr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo: Bromr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

No verified videos yet — we only show footage confirmed to be Rútshellir, no lookalikes. Search YouTube

Reviews

Frequently
asked
questions

Can I visit Rútshellir without a guide?

Rútshellir is generally open to self-guided visitors, but treat it seriously: it is dark and cold inside, the floor is uneven lava rock, and you must bring a head-torch and helmet. Never enter a cave alone or without telling someone your plans.

How do I get to Rútshellir?

Rútshellir is in South Coast. Many Icelandic caves sit off highland tracks that need a 4WD — check live road and weather conditions on this page before you drive, especially in winter when routes close.

What should I bring to Rútshellir?

A helmet and a proper head-torch or flashlight are the minimum — there is no daylight inside and the floor is broken lava rock. Add warm layers and sturdy boots; the cave stays near freezing year-round. Recommended gear: helmet, flashlight.

Does Rútshellir cost anything to visit?

Rútshellir is generally free to enter, though the access road may need a 4WD. Guided cave tours elsewhere in Iceland are paid. Conditions change with weather, so plan around the forecast.

Nearby

km column = your drive

Waterfalls

#1.Skógafoss

3.2 km·~4 min drive

One of Iceland's most powerful and recognizable waterfalls. 60 meters of pure force…

#2.Hestavaðsfoss

3.4 km·~4 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

#3.Fosstorfufoss

3.7 km·~4 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

#4.Steinbogafoss

3.9 km·~5 min drive

A waterfall in South Coast.

4 waterfalls near South Coast

Hot Springs

#1.Seljavallalaug

5.1 km·~6 min drive

Historic 1923 pool in valley near Seljalandsfoss. Free, 15-min walk, unmaintained. Bring…

#2.Hot Spring Shower

29 km·~35 min drive

Geothermal spot

#3.Geothermal hot spring near Mýrdalshreppur

30 km·~36 min drive

Public_bath hot spring

#4.Geothermal hot spring near Vestmannaeyjabær

37 km·~44 min drive

Hot_tub hot spring

4 hot springs near South Coast

Campsites

#1.Tjaldsvæðið við Skógafoss

3 km·~4 min drive

The campsite is situated in South Iceland just few minutes from the Skógafoss waterfall.…

#2.Básar á Goðalandi (Þórsmörk)

18 km·~21 min drive

The campsite in Básar is all around the cabin. It is possible to camp in flat areas and…

#3.Strákagil

18 km·~21 min drive

Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Facilities…

#4.Bjargaflöt

18 km·~21 min drive

Icelandic campsite offering basic facilities for travelers exploring the area. Iceland's…

4 campsites near South Coast

F-Roads

#1.F206 Lakavegur

11 km·~14 min drive

Road to Laki craters

#2.F207 Lakagígavegur

15 km·~19 min drive

Loop around Laki craters

#3.F249 Þórsmerkurvegur

18 km·~22 min drive

The road to Þórsmörk valley

3 f-roads near South Coast

Supermarkets

#1.Krónan

31 km·~37 min drive

Krónan supermarket — supplies

#2.Bónus

36 km·~43 min drive

Bónus supermarket — supplies

#3.Kjörbúðin

54 km·~64 min drive

Supermarket — supplies

#4.Krambúð

77 km·~92 min drive

Krambúð supermarket — supplies

4 supermarkets near South Coast

Gas stations

#1.Vík í Mýrdal

31 km·~37 min drive

N1 · 309.9 kr/L petrol

#2.Vestmannaeyjar

36 km·~43 min drive

ÓB · 308.7 kr/L petrol

#3.Hvolsvöllur

41 km·~50 min drive

N1 · 310.9 kr/L petrol

#4.Hella

53 km·~64 min drive

Orkan · 308.6 kr/L petrol

4 gas stations near South Coast

Tours

#1.Adrenaline Combo: Off-Road Buggy & Mega Zipline Experience

3 hours

The Buggy Iceland and Mega Zipline Combo Tour offers an exhilarating adventure for thrill-seekers exploring Iceland.

from 29.300 ISKView tour →

#2.Buggy Adventure-Þórsmörk

5 hours

"Þórsmörk has a spot in every Icelander's heart.

from 89.990 ISKView tour →

#3.Bus transfer from Landmannalaugar to Hella / Reykjavik

4 hours

Our transfer service offers a comfortable and safe way to travel from the heart of Iceland's highlands, Landmannalaugar, to the…

from 12.220 ISKView tour →

3 tours near South Coast

Data & sources

Everything on this page comes from the sources below. Live feeds refresh automatically.

Wikimedia CommonsHero & gallery photography · Bromr · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
VegagerðinVisitor access & practical facts
VegagerðinLive road status & cameras · Icelandic Road Administration
Open-MeteoWeather forecast · CC BY 4.0
NOAA SWPCAurora (planetary Kp) forecast · public domain
OpenStreetMapInteractive-map data · ODbL
Esri, Maxar & Earthstar GeographicsSatellite imagery for the 3D terrain render · GIS User Community