After exploring the gorgeous city of Reykjavik and finding hidden gems on the Golden Circle, it was time to head to the beach! Iceland boasts of its unique landscape, and the black sand beaches are no exception. I want to share with you the perfect 3-day itinerary in Vik!
If you drive around 2 and ½ hours south of the capital city Reykjavik, you will be in Vik! Surrounded by cliffs and mountains, Vik is not a place you will forget!
Day 1
Reynisfjara
Your first stop on day 1 must be Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. Reynisfjara is a stunning beach, but not great to swim in. The rip tides can easily pull you out into the freezing water. You are advised to never turn your back on the ‘sneaker waves’ – waves that can appear when you least expect it.
You may notice the stunningly formed cliffs as well; these are the rocky sea stacks made up of basalt rock. They were formed when lava was quickly cooled and exposed on the surface. They are fun to climb and make great photos!
Off the shoreline is Reynisdrangar – There are many local Icelandic legends that explain why these columns exist. One suggests the large basalt columns were once trolls trying to pull ships from the ocean to shore. However, these trolls were too late; dawn broke and turned the trolls into solid stone.
Fun Fact: Reynisfjara was featured in Season 7 of the HBO Series Game of Thrones; you can see them in a few scenes shot ‘North of the Wall’.
Dyrhólaey Lighthouse
About a 10-minute drive from Reynisfjara is the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is situated high on a cliff making it the perfect viewpoint! Soak in the beauty of Iceland and catch sight of Reynisfjara, Arnardrangur (or Eagles Rock), and to the north, Mýrdalsjökull glacier. If you are there in the spring and lucky enough, you may catch sight of the adorable Puffin!
Day 2
Abandoned Plane at Sólheimasandur
Start your day bright and early and head to the stunning abandoned plane crash! In 1973 the United States Navy plane ran out of fuel and crash-landed on the beaches of Sólheimasandur – fortunately, no one was hurt. It is now a photographer’s paradise! The contrast of the black sand with the silver
Vik i Myrdal Church
This is what I picture when Vik is mentioned: A church with a classic steeple and a red roof, sitting on a hill with majestic mountains as a backdrop. Built in 1929, it is accessible by car or foot. These views are stunning from the hill and are hard to beat. It is also a great location to have a picnic!
Fun Fact: You can actually get married here if you wanted an Icelandic wedding!
Day 3
Travel farther outside Vik for some more Icelandic adventures! Here are a few day trips you can make from Vik.
Diamond Beach – icebergs from the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon wash up onshore. It is a stunning picture to see the glistening icebergs stand in contrast to the black sand beach. A 2 ½ hour drive from Vik, spend the day exploring the sparkling beach and soaking in the beauty of Iceland!
Fun fact: Seals can be spotted here, and it is one of the best places in Iceland to see orcas from the shore!
Glacier Hiking – almost 11% of Iceland is covered in glaciers, and glacier hiking is a ‘must’ while you visit. Located only 28km (17 mi) from Vik is Mýrdalsjökull Glacier. It is Iceland’s 4th largest icecap and sits on top of the explosive volcano, Katla. Hike on Sólheimajökull Glacier, the outlet glacier from Mýrdalsjökull to get the full experience! Extreme Iceland is a great tour group to use.
What better way to end the day, than at a lava show?! Right in the heart of Vik enjoy a ‘dinner and a show’, the only place in the world to experience lava up close! The show imitates an exploding volcano by pouring molten lava into the showroom over ice. It is fascinating to learn more about the volcanos in Iceland while feeling the heat from the lava!
- $45 for dinner and dessert
- $40 per ticket
Where To Stay?
Vik is a small village but offers many unique places to stay. We were lucky to find Hotel Kria – a newly built hotel that has a modern feel but perfectly blends with Vik’s earthy tones. Hotel Kria has splendid views from each room, however, the wind does get a bit noisy, so keep that in mind. Breakfast is included and was my favorite part! From yogurts to eggs, bacon, sausages, to bread and waffles, you will leave full. You must make a reservation for dinner, we tried it out one night and it was delicious!
- $121 per night
- $100 dinner and dessert for 1 night (Keep in mind this is fine dining and in my opinion, worth splurging one night 🙂
Where To Eat?
Iceland can be expensive, including food. We mostly had packed lunches but tried a few restaurants for dinner. 🙂
Restaurant Sudur Vik – located on the hill past the Vik i Myrdal Church is Restaurant Sudur. This unique restaurant is actually on the top floor of a renovated home. We were the first to arrive for dinner, so we had our choice of seating. The service was fast and friendly.
- $65 for dinner and dessert
Víkurskáli – if you are looking for a cheaper option, I recommend the Vikurskali. Located behind the gas station, Víkurskáli offers soups, salads, and sandwiches.
Vik is a lovely village to escape to for the weekend! We enjoyed our stay here and hope we have inspired you to visit as well!
Until the next destination!
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