Top Things to Do and See in Vik (Vík í Mýrdal), Iceland

January 24, 2021 Mustafa Natalwala 2712 Views

Vik i Myrdal or just Vik is the southernmost village in Iceland. The village is at a 180 km distance from the nation’s capital and is one of the most popular places to visit in Iceland. This is a place for explorers, especially those who wish to behold incredible sights of nature. Some of the best things to do in Vik are hiking to the beautiful coastal locations and glacier adventure sports. The village is also located close to Katla Volcano, which is popular among Vik attractions for hikers and trekkers.

The village is a wonderful sight all and by itself. Get on top of a hill near the village and you have one of the most quaint and picturesque things to see in Vik, a village with green pastures all around and small colorful rooftops. Though, the biggest attraction which pulls people to visit this south Iceland village is the Black Sand Beach of Vik. It is a unique sight and a rare combination of black sand and ocean found only in a handful of other places around the world. The entire coast encompasses several Vik attractions to explore. There is a US Navy Plane that crash-landed on the beach here. It has become a monument of sorts and people take loads of pictures with it. You can plan an entire day of Vik travel just along the coast starting from the village all the way to Dyrholayer Cape. For the purpose of convenience, we have placed a 2-day itinerary of the best things to do in Vik, Iceland in the section below. It will allow you to plan your trip efficiently and explore the maximum number of attractions during Vik sightseeing.

For the more adventurer-type people, there are offerings beyond Vik beach in Iceland. You can find the complete list of adventurous things to do around Vik in the offbeat section of this article. Just to give you an idea, the adventure activities to explore when you visit Vik include Glacier Hiking, Dog Sledging, Ice Cave Exploration, Paragliding, and so on. These activities do require a bit of travel and hiking outside the village. It is worth it for those looking for adrenaline-pumping experiences. For less adventurous activities, you can follow one of the many hike trails close to the village. Some of these trails lead to hot springs in Vik while some lead to waterfalls. There are also hiking trails along the coast and up mountains. No matter what path you choose, there are always beautiful places to visit in Vik.

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Table of Contents

Explore The Best Tourist Attractions of Vik, Iceland in 3 Days

Though there are several things to see in Vik, these are the most popular ones. This 2-day itinerary allows you to explore the popular Vik attractions. The places are also picked based on their proximity to one another so you don’t have to waste time planning and traveling. The majority of the activities are things to do around Vik, so a little bit of travel will be involved.

Day 1

1. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

This beach is the most popular place among Vik attractions. The black sand and the beautiful ocean combine to create a breathtaking view unlike any other place on earth. The black sand beach of Vik is sometimes the primary motivation for tourists to journey to this little village. You can spend hours and hours walking along the beach and exploring the hike trails along the coast near this Vik beach in Iceland. For the purpose of the itinerary though, we would suggest 2 to 3 hours of time here.

At Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, you can do the following activities:

2. Reynisfjara Basalt Stacks

Besides the black sand and the ocean, another major attraction at Reynisfjara are Basalt Sacks. These are located under mount Reynesfjall. The rocks seem to be carved into cubes and cuboids. You would need 30 to 45 minutes for this natural monument.

3. Reynisdrangar Rock Columns

These rock columns can be seen from Reynisfjara beach and are popularly photographed natural monuments in the ocean. There is also an Icelandic legend associated with these rocks, making them even more fascinating. You would need 20-30 minutes to admire these rocks from a distance. Going close to them can be dangerous.

4. Dyrholaey Cape

The cape itself is a marvelous sight to behold. You would truly feel like a voyager or an explorer having found their destination. You will have to hike a little, but the effort is worth the view. It is also one of the most photographed place to explore during Vik sightseeing. You can easily spend a couple of hours exploring the cape and taking pictures.

5. Dyrholaey Lighthouse

This lighthouse is situated on the south west end of the coast near the beach. It is an extremely picturesque location and among the most popular places to visit in Vik. You will need 30 to 45 minutes at the Lighthouse.

6. Reyniskirkja Church

This church is situated a little further away from the village and has the traditional red rooftop and and spire look. If you are looking to more things to see in Vik, you can visit this one on your way back from Dyrholaey.

7. Vík í Mýrdal Church

This quaint little church can be listed among best things to do near Vik, though it sits just outside the village. It sits at a little height and you get a nice of the small village from here. You won’t need more than an hour here.

Day 2

1. Skaftfelingur Maritime Museum

This museum tells the story of naval expeditions of the region going all the way back in history to the age of the Vikings. It is among the most interesting places to visit in Vik. You will need about an hour to see the various artifacts in this museum.

2. Icelandic Lava Show

This place serves dinner and puts on a great show. It is perhaps the safest way to see actual lava up close. You would need about an hour to enjoy the various things to see in Vik exhibited here.

I suggest you should get your Skip-the-Line Ticket of the Icelandic Lava Show in advance.

3. Glacier Hiking

If you are looking for adventurous things to do in Vik, go for this incredibly exciting sport. But, do not venture out alone. There are a few vendors and experienced adventure sports clubs who would take you on a day tour for Glacier Hiking. There are two major destinations for glacier hiking, ice cave exploration, and other adventurous things to do around Vik. You would either be heading to Solheimajokull Glacier or Myrdalsjokull Glacier. Do enjoy the experience and always be careful.

There are also many other activities you can do at Solheimajokull Glacier or Myrdalsjokull Glacier. Here below I am suggesting couple of activities you should do:

Day 3

1. Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

The plane wreck is again a popular spot for photography among places to visit in Vik. This wrecked plane has appeared in several films, commercials, TV shows and music videos. You would need about an hour at this location.

If you plan to visit Vik for more than 3 days or if you wish to explore more during your trip, check out the section below. We have compiled a list things to do and places to visit in Vik which you can add to your itinerary.

Things to do in Vik

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Vik

Reyniskirkja Church
Vík í Mýrdal Church
Voyages Friendship Statue
Skaftfelingur Maritime Museum
Dyrholaey Lighthouse

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Vik

Reynisfjall
Heioarvatn Lake
Dragon Glass Ice Cave
Solheimajokull Glacier
Myrdalsjokull Glacier
Katla Volcano

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Vik

Iceland Lava Show

Beaches & Islands in Vik

Reynisdrangar Beach
Dyrholaey Cape
Reynisfjara Beach
Arnardrangur Beach
Kirkjufjara Beach

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventure in Vik

Hiking
Glacier Hiking
Trekking
Mountaineering
Ice Cave Exploration
Glacier Cruise
Zip Lining
Paragliding
Horse Riding
Boat Tours
Husky Sledging

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Vik

Restaurant Sudur
Halldorskaffi
Strondin Bistro & Bar
Hotel Hofoabrekka
Restaurant Berg
Black Beach Restaurant
Hotel Katla
Arcanum Glacier Cafe
The Soup Company

Where to Stay in Vík?

Here I have listed Top Rated Hotels in Vík. You can check below listed hotels for your perfect stay in Vík.

Custom Tours Package in Vík

How to Reach Vik?

By Air

The closest airport for Vik travel is the Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik. Once you reach the airport, you will need to head to the city and look for buses to take you to Vik. You can also book cabs and rent a car for the journey from Reykjavik, but it is cheaper to visit Vik by bus.

By Road

The bus journey for Vik sightseeing from Reykjavik takes about 3 hours. Majority of the buses for this route leave early in the morning. It is better to make your bookings in advance. You can also get day tour buses for places to visit in Vik and return back to Reykjavik. Though it is advisable to stay in Vik for 2 days at least. All the best things to do in Vik require lot of time and there is travel involved as well.

In case you are driving to visit Vik or renting a car, you should stick to Ring Road route 1. This is the only highway route that can take you to the beautiful village. The route also has several amazing sights including a few hot springs near Vik, which you can explore along the way. The scenery along almost any road in Iceland is breathtaking. You will also be taking this route for many things to do around Vik.

By Water

There are no water routes for Vik travel, despite it being so close to the coast. You can however take boat rides to explore glacier. There are a few amazing sights in the ocean to explore among things to do near Vik.

Image Reference

Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Ian Crowther / Flickr
Reynisfjara Basalt Stacks – Zaldun Urdina / Flickr
Reynisdrangar – Ron Kroetz / Flickr
Dyrholaey Cape – Dan (catching up) / Flickr
Dyrholaey Lighthouse – Shutter Runner / Flickr
Reyniskirkja Church – Al Case / Flickr
Vík í Mýrdal Church – Scott Butner / Flickr
Skaftfelingur Maritime Museum –
Icelandic Lava Show –
Glacier Hiking – Yuan / Flickr
Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck – Ayesha12 / PixaBay