Vík & Dyrhólaey

Vík í Mýrdal

Vík is the southernmost place in Iceland (population: approx. 750) and the rainiest place on the island (over 2,000 mm of precipitation per year). The small white Víkurkirkja on the hill above the village offers one of the most photogenic views of the south coast: The church against the backdrop of black beaches, the Reynisdrangar rock spires, and the roaring Atlantic.

Vík lives under a silent threat: The Katla volcano under the Mýrdalsjökull glacier is "overdue" for an eruption (the last was in 1918) for over 100 years. An eruption would trigger massive glacier floods (Jökulhlaup) that could reach the village. The village has evacuation plans — the church on the hill serves as a refuge.

The village has an N1 gas station (with a restaurant — the lamb soup is recommended!), a small Krónan supermarket, the Icewear Outlet (affordable outdoor clothing — often 30–50% off!), and some guesthouses. In the Katla Geopark Visitor Center, you can learn everything about the region's volcanoes and evacuation plans.

From Vík, zipline tours over the black beach and ATV/quad tours on the black sand start — an adrenaline rush in a surreal setting.

Dyrhólaey — Iceland's Most Dramatic Cape

The cape Dyrhólaey (120 m high) is located 15 km west of Vík and offers one of the best panoramas of the south coast. From the top, you can see the black beach Reynisfjara, the Reynisdrangar rocks, the endless black sand beach to the east, and in clear weather, the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The name means "door hole island" — the massive rock arch in the sea is so large that in the 1990s, a small plane flew through it (now prohibited).

There are two levels on Dyrhólaey:

• Lower Level (Kirkjufjara Beach): Black beach with basalt columns and view of the rock arch from below. Caution: Risk of rockfall, do not get too close to the cliffs!
• Upper Level (Lighthouse): The old lighthouse Dyrhólaeyjarviti (1910) on the top. From here, the breathtaking 360° panorama. In summer, puffins in the cliffs directly below you

Puffins on Dyrhólaey

From May to mid-August, puffins nest in the cliffs here — Dyrhólaey is one of the best and most accessible places on the mainland to observe the cute birds up close. The birds breed in burrows in the cliffs and are most active early in the morning (before 9 am) and late in the evening (after 7 pm) — during the day, they are at sea fishing.

During the main breeding season (May–June), access to the upper lighthouse may be restricted to protect the birds. Rangers provide information on-site. Keep at least 5 meters away from the nests.