Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
A dramatic black volcanic beach near Vik - basalt columns, sea stacks and powerful, dangerous surf on Iceland's south coast.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
Reynisfjara, near the village of Vik, is the most famous black sand beach in Iceland, a dramatic shore of jet-black volcanic sand backed by a cliff of hexagonal basalt columns, with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks rising offshore. Wild, beautiful and moody, it is a highlight of the south coast, and its powerful surf is genuinely dangerous.
What you actually see
- The black sand - the jet-black volcanic beach.
- The basalt columns - the cliff of hexagonal columns and the cave.
- Reynisdrangar - the pointed sea stacks rising from the waves.
- Vik and Dyrholaey - the village and the nearby cliff arch and puffin colony.
When to go
Year-round; the beach is dramatic in any weather, and moody storms suit it. Puffins nest on the nearby cliffs in summer.
Honest expectations
The sneaker waves here are notoriously powerful and unpredictable, and people have been killed, so never turn your back on the sea and keep well up the beach. It is a busy stop in season. The wind and cold can be fierce.
Nearby
Vik village and the Dyrholaey arch are close; the Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss falls lie back west.
What to pack for Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
