Vík: top attractions & road trip guide
Vík í Mýrdal, usually just called Vík, is Iceland's southernmost village, a small coastal settlement known for the black volcanic sand beach at Reynisfjara, the sea stacks of Reynisdrangar rising from the ocean, and the red-roofed Víkurkirkja church on the hillside above town. The nearby Mýrdalsjökull ice cap conceals the active Katla volcano.
Vík anchors the South Coast route, roughly two and a half hours' drive from Reykjavík along Route 1, with Dyrhólaey promontory just to the west. The coastal weather here is famously changeable, with strong winds and sudden squalls off the Atlantic, and sneaker waves at Reynisfjara make it important to stay well back from the shoreline.
Top attractions
Reynisfjara
A black volcanic sand beach backed by basalt sea cliffs and hexagonal column formations at the base of Reynisfjall mountain. Powerful and unpredictable sneaker waves make it dangerous to approach the water's edge.
Reynisdrangar
Jagged basalt sea stacks rising from the ocean just offshore from Reynisfjara, said in folklore to be trolls caught by sunrise while dragging a ship to land and turned to stone.
Dyrhólaey
A coastal promontory with a natural rock arch large enough for boats to pass through in calm seas, offering views along the coastline and, during nesting season, puffin colonies on its cliffs.
Víkurkirkja (Vík Church)
A small red-roofed church set on a hill above the village, a landmark visible from the coast road and, according to local tradition, a designated refuge point in the event of a Katla eruption.
Mýrdalsjökull
Iceland's fourth-largest ice cap, covering the active Katla volcano beneath its ice, with outlet glaciers and ice caves accessible from the Vík area on guided tours.
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