Europe
Iceland
South Region
Vik
Vik Attractions
Reynisfjara Beach
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Reynisfjara Beach

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Reynisfjara Beach
4.5
About
This stunning black sand beach along the South Coast of Iceland is located beside the small fishing village of Vik i Myrdal. It's known for its dramatic natural landscapes: hexagonal basalt columns, the Halsanefshellir Sea Cave, and large rock formations that rise out of the sea. But be careful when visiting though—the spot is prone to sneaker waves that can crash ashore unexpectedly. Try to keep a safe distance of at least 100 feet from the shoreline, and avoid turning your back towards the waves. This spot is often included as a stop on a full-day tour of the South Coast. – Tripadvisor
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
13 within 5 kms
Black Beach Restaurant
415
1.4 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Vegetarian Friendly
Halldorskaffi
1,532
3.2 km$$ - $$$ • American • Pizza • European
Smidjan Brugghus
707
3.3 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • American • Brew Pub
The Soup Company
733
3.4 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Healthy • Soups
Black Crust Pizzeria
191
3.7 km$$ - $$$ • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Suður-Vík
1,840
3.7 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • Pizza • European
Strondin Pub Vík
576
3.8 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • International • European
Skool Beans
139
3.9 km$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • Cafe • Healthy
Berg Restaurant
283
3.8 km$$$$ • European • Scandinavian • Vegetarian Friendly
Wok On Vík
46
3.8 km$$ - $$$ • Fast food • Asian • Vietnamese
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Attractions
11 within 10 kms
Dyrholaey
1,991
1.6 kmPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Geologic Formations
Reynisdrangar
186
1.5 kmGeologic Formations
Black Sand Beach
4,120
3.5 kmBeaches
Reyniskirkja Church
615
1.9 kmReligious Sites
Hálsanefshellir Cave
11
1.7 kmNature & Wildlife Areas
Arnardrangur rock „stożek orła”
1
1.5 kmNature & Wildlife Areas
Vik Swimming Pool
27
3.4 kmSports Complexes
Vikurfjara
5
3.1 kmBeaches
Skaftfellingur Museum
5
3.2 kmHistory Museums
Voyages Friendship Statue
24
3.8 kmMonuments & Statues
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See what travellers are saying
  • Amy O
    Swampscott, Massachusetts30 contributions
    Don’t miss this
    This is a stop that won’t take long but not to be missed. It is so dramatic and beautiful. We were there after a tremendous snowfall so the contrasts were out of this world. White snow. Black sand. Grey basalt columns. Blue sky. Roaring waves. There were lots of people so it wasn’t as peaceful as I would have liked while seaside but amazing nonetheless. The crowds helped to usher us along to our next stop. Sooo beautiful.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 6 January 2023
  • Stacey S
    Sandy Springs, Georgia211 contributions
    Very Interesting Beach
    Like most of the beaches in Iceland, the sand is black. The views from this one are great. You MUST be careful. About one in every 15 waves is much larger than the rest and if you happen to be close to the water when they hit, not only will you get wet, but you risk getting pulled out to sea as the undertow is very strong. There are signs warning people, but we saw several people getting very wet.
    Visited January 2023
    Written 13 January 2023
  • WannaBeObjective
    Switzerland553 contributions
    Captivating
    Captivating view and rock formations… Just like any beautiful spots, there are lots of tourists — very difficult to take shots without having to pixelize them. The waves can be rough, and some tourists who went too close did get quite wet. Be wary please.
    Visited January 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 27 January 2023
  • Paul S
    Portimao, Portugal3 contributions
    Awe inspiring!
    We love the sea and the coast but weren’t prepared for this! Black volcanic sand and huge waves make it a unique experience. It was worth the 3 hour drive from Reykjavík as part of the South Island tour. Don’t bring your trunks as it is unsafe to swim in.
    Visited March 2023
    Written 2 March 2023
  • The adventures of an English Rose
    Leamington Spa, United Kingdom28 contributions
    Stunning
    Couple with a young child. We went on an organised tour, as we researched the area. Which is unsafe and should not be visited unless.with an experienced company. The sand is black and warm, our child stayed toward to.top away from the shoreline and.played with the sand. Very picturesque.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 1 May 2023
  • EC13091
    Ellicott City, Maryland1,248 contributions
    Go in good weather. Not worth it if it’s foggy.
    We went twice, and we’re so glad we did. We arrived first on a rainy afternoon and could see some of the beauty but could not even make out the beautiful stone buttes. After checking into our hotel in Vik, we saw the sun peeking out and hopped back in the car to return. We were pleased we did. Not only was the weather better but as it was later there were fewer people around. We loved dodging the sneaker waves (danger rating yellow on the day we visited) but just reveled in the beauty of the place.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 May 2023
  • 1957
    Ottawa, Canada697 contributions
    Magnificent Balt columns!
    Part of our organized tour, we saw this stunning black sand beach in the the south coast of Iceland. The small fishing village of Vik is beside it. Unfortunately the fishing industry is not active as it once was. The dramatic landscape, the hexagonal basalt columns were magnificent to see. There is a cave called Halsanefshellir but we did not visit .
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 2 June 2023
  • ERFSU82
    Wellington, Florida1,192 contributions
    Well worth seeing
    This is a very scenic black sand beach with unique rock formations in the cliff. It’s a short drive off the main highway about 2 miles west of Vik. There’s a nice cafe next to the parking lot with good food, drinks, and seating. There are signs warning about “sneaker waves” so be careful and don’t get too close to the water.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 9 June 2023
  • Destination789167
    12 contributions
    Amazing Visit to The Black Beach
    The beach was stunning, very windy but a highlight of our trip. We were careful not to get too close to the water as there were multiple warnings about sneaker waves. My husband, adult son and my two sisters all enjoyed this one of a kind beach experience.
    Visited October 2022
    Travelled with friends
    Written 30 June 2023
  • blackeberg
    812 contributions
    Awesome but respect the warning signs
    We went in the middle of the evening after seeing a forecast for severe gales the day that we had planned to go. I imagine that you'd get good photos at most times but the evening sun definitely helped in our case. We'd seen the warnings about sneaker waves in advance and the coloured picture warning boards looked clear enough to us. It didn't stop one large family group taking pictures with their backs to the waves and letting their toddler paddle. Luckily they only got wet shoes.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 2 July 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia17,664 contributions
One of real musts
Oct 2023 • Family
I rarely use "must see" in my reviews, but Reynisfjara is that for sure.
It's located in the middle of the southern Iceland coast, almost at the most southern tip. You can easily reach it by paved road at which end is a paying big parking lot.
Have in mind it's one of the most tourist places on entire island so expect huge crowds.
The beach is just amazing, no wonder it's voted one of the worldwide top ten.
And, I say that after visiting it on the worst day we had in Iceland.
It was raining all day, clouds to ground with very strong winds putting black sand into our faces and clothes and roaring crushing big waves. But, that also left a deep impression of mother nature power. So, no matter how's the weather do come here and visit. Just follow the rules many others pointed out in terms of approaching the sea and dangerous sneaker waves.
I can only imagine (and see from pics of other travelers how it's on a sunny day).
Reynisfjara is one of reasons we'll be back in Iceland, hopefully in better weather.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bandit-One
Lucerne, Switzerland7,836 contributions
An amazing sight
Oct 2023 • Couples
No trip to Iceland is complete without visiting Reynisfjara beach. The Black Sand Beach. At least for first-timers.
It's a very long stretch of sand. Black in colour because of the volcanic stone/soil. There are also amazing cliffs and stacks/rock formations in the sea.
On the east end you'll find the carpark, the visitor center and all the facilities. Parking comes with a fee, the beach is free to enter. Many folks just rush to the stacks, cliffs and cave. But take your time if possible. Take in the breathtaking scenery. Take a walk towards the west. As far as you like. You could actually walk all the way to the Dyrhólaey útsýnisstaður (the arch). We walked about 45min to the west. Just met two more visitors. It's peaceful and quiet. Most visitors won't walk away further than 3min. It's really too bad, since this is a major attraction and takes time to appreciate.
It really is amazing as people say. Something you need to see. Even though busy and popular it's a must-do. And people come and go quickly, so you will get some nice pics if you're patient. If you don't need a sunny, pic-perfect day, choose a cloudy/rainy one to meet even less visitors.
Written 24 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jojoma56
New York City, NY84 contributions
Windy spot
Nov 2023 • Couples
This beach is so windy! The black sand was blowing everywhere. The waves were too rough to walk around to see cave on other side. We thought we would get blown away!
Written 19 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael K
London, UK522 contributions
Characteristic, photogenic Icelandic black sand beach
Oct 2023 • Couples
A black sand beach, alas not at all suitable for bathing (the sea is too perilous). The black sand is created by the grinding of the glaciers on basalt over millennia. Apparently black is the normal colour for sand here; gold is the unusual one for an Icelander! The beach is a photogenic location, because of the impressive basalt columns that look as though medieval builders have created the entrance to a cathedral. Just out to sea are some basalt stacks – the Troll Rocks, said to be petrified trolls (a folk legend is attached to this). In summer, apparently, puffins are plentiful here, but had disappeared for the winter by the time of our visit.

Written 3 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Be U
Bangkok, Thailand225 contributions
Black sand beach
Oct 2023 • Couples
All angles could be nice pictures. Be careful while climbing those Basalt columns, they are slippery.
Written 2 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leza H
London, UK676 contributions
A must see when in Iceland
Oct 2023 • Couples
This was definitely one of our highlights on our recent trip to Iceland. The black sand, the amazing black shallow cave, the basalt columns and jagged rocks standing in the sea…really beautiful and very dramatic. We visited around 4.30pm and there were still a lot of other visitors even in October. Free parking right next to it. Beware of the sneaker waves, they might look fun but can catch you out…you don’t want to be pulled in to the sea. Look fir the warning light system as you enter the beach. It was amber the day we visited so we didn’t walk too far down the beach. It can get very windy and cold…wear appropriate clothing.
Written 12 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vk K
Reykjavik, Iceland1 contribution
Wrong statement
Jun 2023 • Solo
Vik is not a fishing village. There are no harbor at Vik. Please correct. I’m often with my family in Vik, so I know. I have lived in Iceland for 67 years.
Written 30 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EmeraldDiva
Victoria, Australia3,613 contributions
Too crowded
Aug 2023 • Solo
There are many black sand beaches in Iceland and they are less crowded than this one! I was on a tour and it was super crowded when we were here. The yellow warning light were flashing but people were still down close to the shore. We were asked not to climb the basalt columns but people were all over them. It was a bit of a turn off. I am sure this would be so much more enjoyable at a quieter time, but I was glad to leave.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noraatc
Sudbury, MA34,885 contributions
Absolutely surreal…
Aug 2023 • Couples
After stopping at lovely Vik, our wonderful Nice Travel small group tour had arrived to the highlight of our trip: Reynisfjara - The Black Beach. It is a miracle of a sight: a symphony of black volcanic ash on the beach, mighty black and golden cliffs, deep caves with whimsical mosaic of the walls inside… Looks surreal… like from another planet.
Written 15 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avux99
Cheshire, UK599 contributions
Reynisfjara Beach
Sep 2023 • Solo
A beach that does live up to the hype, though you may want to forget about sunbathing here. Stunning back sand, basalt columns, caves, rock formations, cliffs with Puffins dependent on the time of year and magnificent waves which you need to be very respectful of, though on the day I visited the amber light was on but plenty of people were in the amber restricted zone. So I joined them, making sure I was amongst those people who were furthest away from the waves. Any closer and you are asking for trouble.
Written 10 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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REYNISFJARA BEACH: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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