What to Eat on the Jökulsárlón Cafe Route

What to bring for 14 hours on the road

Since meals are not included on this full-day tour, planning ahead for food and drink is essential. You will spend 14 hours travelling and stopping at some of Iceland's most remote landscapes, and while cafés exist at certain points along the route, they are not guaranteed to have what you need when you need it. The tour visits five main stops (Hvolsvöllur, Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Jökulsárlón, Vik, and Seljalandsfoss), but the spacing between them and the unpredictable queues mean that relying on roadside services alone can leave you hungry or thirsty for hours.

Bring a packed lunch if you prefer certainty, or budget for purchasing meals at the stops detailed below. A refillable water bottle is highly recommended. While the bus does not have toilet facilities onboard, you will have regular access to them at each major stop, so plan your fluid intake accordingly. In winter months, food options can close unexpectedly or operate shorter hours, so flexibility and self-sufficiency are your best strategy.

Hvolsvöllur: first fuel stop

Hvolsvöllur appears early in your journey, roughly 90 minutes from Reykjavik. This small service town is where most tours make their first significant stop, and it has basic facilities including a petrol station shop and a small café. The shop sells sandwiches, hot drinks, snacks, and some groceries at standard Icelandic prices. Depending on how many coaches stop at the same time, you may encounter a queue, though the stop here typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes, which is usually enough time to buy something and use the toilet.

If you did not bring supplies from Reykjavik, this is a reasonable place to purchase a sandwich or coffee for the road. The selection is limited compared to larger towns, but adequate for basic needs. Do not expect a leisurely meal here; most passengers eat quickly and re-board. This stop works best as a water-refill and toilet opportunity rather than a proper lunch venue.

Quick meal break on Iceland's southern route, wind and weather in view

Kirkjubæjarklaustur: the midpoint rest

Kirkjubæjarklaustur sits roughly halfway through the tour, after you have travelled through the central southern coast and before the main attractions. This village has a small shop and café facilities, though options are modest. You will find hot drinks, light sandwiches, and snacks, but the menu is basic and geared toward quick service. The stop here typically lasts 15 to 20 minutes, which is adequate for a toilet break and a quick purchase but not a full meal.

By this point in the day you should have eaten lunch if you are planning to. If you have not, and no packed lunch was brought, a sandwich and drink here will sustain you until the evening. The toilet facilities are available, and this is another good opportunity to refill a water bottle. The café by the waterfall experience is not part of this stop; instead, the waterfall you will visit is Seljalandsfoss, which is approached later in the tour.

Jökulsárlón: dining with a view of the glacier lagoon

The glacier lagoon café menu at Jökulsárlón offers your best opportunity for a proper meal or substantial break during the tour. The café here serves soups, sandwiches, hot drinks, and light meals. Prices are higher than in smaller towns due to the remote location and heavy tourist traffic, but the quality is reliable and the views across the icebergs and lagoon are exceptional. Most tours allocate 45 minutes to an hour at Jökulsárlón, and if you choose the optional boat tour of the lagoon, the stop may be longer.

If you selected the boat tour option, you will have time both before and after to visit the café. Many visitors eat here rather than bringing packed food, as it justifies the experience. The toilet facilities are clean and accessible. Water bottles can be refilled here, though you may want to purchase drinks from the café instead. This is the most reliable place on the route to find a hot meal and a substantial rest before continuing.

The kiosk near Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Seljalandsfoss is one of Iceland's most photographed waterfalls, and the cafe by the waterfall serves as a final food stop before returning toward Reykjavik. A small kiosk operates near the waterfall entrance, selling hot drinks, light snacks, and basic refreshments. The stop here is usually 20 to 30 minutes, allowing time to walk to the waterfall, take photographs, and grab a warm drink. This is not a full meal venue, but rather a place to refuel with coffee or tea.

By the time you reach Seljalandsfoss, you are in the final stretch of the tour. Most passengers have eaten by this point. If you have not, the kiosk can provide a snack, but it would be insufficient as a lunch. The toilet facilities are available, and this is your last good opportunity to use facilities and refill water before the return journey to Reykjavik begins in earnest.

Vik: the southern coast gateway

Vik is a village stop on the southern coast, positioned between the lagoon and Seljalandsfoss. The town has a small supermarket and café options, though they are limited and can experience busy periods when multiple tour coaches arrive simultaneously. Vik dinner Iceland style means hearty, warming food, but the café here is geared toward quick service rather than sit-down meals. You may find a sandwich, soup, or hot drink available, but do not expect a restaurant experience.

The stop in Vik is typically 15 to 20 minutes, which is enough for a toilet break and a quick purchase. If you are hungry at this point and have not eaten since Jökulsárlón, a sandwich from the local shop will help. Water refilling is possible, and the facilities here are standard. Vik is best used as a support stop rather than a planned meal location.

Planning your eating strategy for the full 14 hours

The most practical approach is to bring a packed lunch from Reykjavik or purchase one at Hvolsvöllur, then plan a proper meal at Jökulsárlón where you have time and reasonable options. This avoids hunger during the long stretches between Kirkjubæjarklaustur and the lagoon, which is the quietest part of the route. Alternatively, if you prefer to purchase meals rather than bring food, budget for lunch at Jökulsárlón and light snacks at other stops. Bring your own water bottle and refill it at each stop to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Toilet breaks align well with the five main stops, so you will not be stranded without facilities. However, remember that the bus itself does not have a toilet onboard, so use facilities at each stop as an opportunity rather than waiting until you are desperate. In winter, some cafés may have reduced hours or close unexpectedly, so flexibility in your meal plans is important. By treating food as a logistics problem rather than an experience, you will stay comfortable and focused on enjoying the remarkable landscapes of Iceland's southern coast.