Are you planning a trip and wanting to know all of the best things to do near Vik, Iceland, but feeling overwhelmed? I’ve been there myself!
Vik is surrounded by incredible spots like Reynisfjara’s black sand beach, the jaw-dropping Fjaðrárgljúfur canyon, and the fun and unique Yoda Cave.
Narrowing down what to do can be tough, but don’t worry – I’ve got you covered!
I’ve compiled this list of the best things to do near Vik (as discovered from my four trips to Iceland) so you can spend less time planning and more time exploring.
From must-see landmarks to hidden gems, let’s dive right in!
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Things to Do Along the South Coast Near Vik, Iceland
Vik, Iceland, is located in the southern region of Iceland, 2 1/2 hours from the capital city of Reykjavik.
It is one of the larger towns in southern Iceland, making it the perfect location to make a base during your trip.
Prefer video over reading? Check out our YouTube video below!
1. Take a walk on Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
Vik is very well known for its captivating black sand beaches. They get their color from crushed volcanic rock and are truly stunning!
Perhaps the most famous beach in this area of South Iceland is Reynisfjara.
This popular beach is only 15 minutes from town and boasts some incredible beauty!
Not only is the beach itself stunning, but it is also home to towering basalt columns.
Plan to spend at least an hour on this beach enjoying the crashing of the waves and climbing on the basalt columns.
There is even a large cave you can stand inside!
If you have a drone with you, be sure to bring it along at this stop to catch some incredible shots of the beach and the ocean.
Note: this beach can be very dangerous due to sneaker waves. Please obey all posted rules for your own safety!
2. Take in the views of Reynisdrangar
Reynisdrangar is a group of majestic rock formations off the coast of Reynisfjara Beach.
These formations tower above the North Atlantic Ocean and create a stunning backdrop, making this one of the best places to get pictures in Iceland.
The best time of day to catch a dramatic picture of Reynisdrangar is mid-morning.
Please don’t forget that the water is extremely dangerous, and you should always stay safe on the beach. Do not attempt to swim out to Reynisdrangar.
Rather, enjoy these natural wonders and the natural beauty surrounding them from a safe distance.
3. Drive to Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey is an arch peninsula over the ocean, and its name means “the hill island with the door hole.” It is located less than 20 minutes from Vik.
To get to the viewpoint, you will have to drive up a steep set of switchbacks.
They have been recently repaved and are a lot better than when they were gravel when I first visited in 2018.
Once you reach the top, it is a short walk out to the viewpoint of Dyrhólaey.
You will pass the local lighthouse as well as fantastic views of the Icelandic countryside!
Please be respectful of the boundaries and do not leave the path—both for your own safety as well as the good of the natural vegetation.
It can take years for the delicate vegetation to recover from the destruction of irresponsible tourists.
Pro tip: In the summer months, this is also a great place to spot puffins in Iceland!
4. Hike to the DC3 plane wreck
Did you know that there is a plane wreck in southern Iceland, only 20 minutes from Vik?
This DC3 Plane crashed on the beach in 1973 after running out of fuel, but fortunately, everyone survived.
The wrecked plane was left on the black sand beach near Sólheimasandur, which has become a popular spot for tourists to visit today.
The hike to reach the plane from the parking lot is 4.7 miles out and back, and even though it looks like a road, it is for hiker use only.
If you don’t want to hike the distance, there is a shuttle that runs every 40 minutes, but it is not cheap.
At the time of our last visit, the shuttle costs almost $20 per person (2,500 ISK) round-trip, and if you miss the last bus of the day, you have to hike back out anyways.
If money is not an issue for you and you are running short on time, the bus does save you quite a bit of time and energy!
If you choose to hike, make sure to bring plenty of water and possibly even snacks.
Once you reach the plane crash, you can take incredible photos with your camera and your drone.
Pro tip: For images without any tourists in them, consider visiting this attraction early in the morning. Or you can also visit during the midnight sun if your trip is in the summer months!
5. Check out the icebergs in Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon is located further from Vik, but paired with a few other stops, it makes for a perfect day trip!
It is roughly 2 1/2 hours from Vik, but well worth the trip!
This lagoon borders Vatnajökull National Park and is frequently filled with floating ice chunks from Breiðamerkurjökull Glacier, which is part of the Vatnajökull Glacier.
We enjoyed watching the seals swim around and under the icebergs and even saw a large herd of reindeer just east of the lagoon!
There are multiple activities and tours that you can take from the lagoon, including glacier walks, a super jeep tour, and kayaking on the lagoon.
There are public restrooms at this stop, as well as a delicious fish and chips stand along with a few other food trucks!
6. Explore amongst the glittering chunks of ice at Diamond Beach
Diamond Beach is perhaps one of the prettiest beaches in Iceland.
The icebergs from nearby Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon wash up onto the black sand beach and slowly melt into water.
If you are traveling from Vik, the parking lot is located just before the large bridge that takes you across to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Pro tip: Morning is the best time of day to visit for maximum ice chunks on the beach.
7. Hike above Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon
Fjaðrárgljúfur is a beautiful stop along the ring road about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Vik.
You will need a 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance to reach the canyon, but the views are worth it!
The hike along the top of the canyon is 2 miles long and is considered relatively easy.
There are viewpoints all along the trail where you can catch glimpses of the canyon and the river Fjaðrá far below.
Taking in these stunning views, you’ll be asking yourself if you’re in the middle of a fairytale! The stark contrast of the colors in the canyon is breathtaking!
You are allowed to fly a drone here, but unfortunately, ours died, and we were not able to.
When we visited in March 2022, the trail was only partially open due to its being incredibly muddy.
However, during our next visit in April 2024, the entire trail was open, and we were able to hike to the end.
Pro tip: If you visit when the trail is fully open, be sure to hike to the very end for stunning waterfall views.
8. Enjoy the quiet of Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach
If you want to experience one of the black sand beaches in the area without the hundreds of tourists Reynisfjara attracts, I highly recommend checking out Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach.
This beach is located just on the edge of town, down a sandy, pot-hole-ridden road.
We stopped here just before sunset, and the glow of golden hour on the beach was stunning!
Similar to its neighboring beaches, there are sneaker waves here as well, so you will need to be cautious not to get too close to the edge of the water.
Another bonus with this beach is that you can see Reynisdrangar off the coast, although the views are not quite as good.
9. Take a hike to Loftsalahellir Cave
On our previous trips to Iceland, we’d driven past this cave many times but never took the time to stop.
So in April 2024, we made sure that we had time for this cave near Dyrhólaey, and it did not disappoint!
You can see our car parked in the picture below to get an idea of the distance from the cave, but what you can’t see is the vertical scramble to reach the top.
If you’re up for an adventure, this is a gorgeous cave and viewpoint, but be warned that it’s not for the faint of heart!
While we were in the cave, the local nesting seagulls made sure to let us know they did not approve of our presence, lol! But we did our very best not to disturb them.
10. Yoda Cave – see you must!
If you’re a Star Wars fan, then seeing Yoda Cave (formally known as Gígjagjá Cave) needs to be at the top of your list!
Once you take a step inside and see what it looks like, you’ll instantly know how it got its name.
The cave entrance bears a remarkable resemblance to Master Yoda.
This stop is still somewhat of a hidden gem near Vik, so you shouldn’t have the big crowds that other locations seem to draw.
The road to get to Yoda Cave is gravel and can have some deep pot holes, but we found they repair the road often enough that it is pretty easily passable.
On my most recent girl’s trip to Iceland, we did not have a 4WD vehicle, but we were still able to manage this road just fine.
The Best Waterfalls Near Vik, Iceland
Iceland is famous for all of its incredibly stunning waterfalls!
There are four main waterfalls that we think you shouldn’t miss when you are visiting the area.
While none of them are directly in town, most are within easy driving distance.
11. Stjórnarfoss
Stjórnarfoss is not as popular as some of the other nearby waterfalls, and tour buses do not commonly stop here, which makes this an ideal waterfall to visit!
The area is very peaceful, and the waterfall itself is beautiful!
Stjórnarfoss is located near the town of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and is located about halfway between Vik and Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
You are able to park close to this waterfall, and a long hike is not required, which makes it great for those who are unable to hike long distances.
12. Svartifoss
Svartifoss is one of my favorite waterfalls in all of Iceland!
It is surrounded by stunning basalt columns, which makes it incredibly unique and helps it stand out from all of the other waterfalls in the area.
The hike to Svartifoss is 2.9 miles round-trip and rated moderate, and the elevation gain is over 550 feet.
Plan to take lots of breaks as needed and bring plenty of water with you.
While this hike does take some time to complete, it’s totally worth it.
Pro tip: This is a very popular hike in Vatnajökull National Park, so try to hike early in the morning to avoid crowds if you want to get great pictures.
13. Skógafoss
Once again, Skógafoss is one of my favorite waterfalls in Iceland, and it is also one of the most famous.
It is one of the biggest waterfalls in Iceland! You can walk right up to it, but you will almost certainly get soaked!
It is less than 30 minutes from Vik, and if you are lucky enough to catch the sun shining on this waterfall, it creates a stunning rainbow in the water!
Many tourists and tour buses come to this waterfall, so be prepared for a crowd of people waiting to take a photo of this iconic waterfall.
This waterfall is located between Reykjavik and Vik, making it a great stopping point along your route.
14. Kvernufoss
Although right next door to the popular Skógafoss waterfall, Kvernufoss is much less known and less visited.
It is tucked back into a beautiful gorge and was one of our favorite hikes in the area!
The trail is rated easy and is just under one mile roundtrip.
Even though Skógafoss next door was packed, we only saw a handful of other tourists when we visited Kvernufoss!
Kvernufoss is also only about 30 minutes from Vik.
If you are looking for a stunning waterfall to visit without the crowds, Kvernufoss is the perfect option.
Check out our complete guide to Kvernufoss for more info on this hike!
Pro tip: If you don’t mind getting a little wet, you can hike behind this waterfall! We did so, and it was epic.
Activities to Do Near Vik, Iceland
There are plenty of fun activities and excursions that you can enjoy during your stay in Vik, Iceland.
Below are a few activities we enjoyed while staying in Vik.
15. Ride Icelandic horses on the black beach in Vik
Perhaps our favorite unique experience on the southern coast of Iceland was riding Icelandic horses!
Out of everything that we did in Iceland, riding the Icelandic horses was one of my top two favorite memories!
Fun fact: Icelandic horses are the only breed allowed on the entire island, and there are over 80,000 of them!
When I visited Iceland for the first time, I fell in love with the Icelandic horses.
We did not have time on that trip to book a riding tour, so when we went back again, it was a high priority for me.
And it just so happened to work out to where we enjoyed this tour on our wedding anniversary!
It exceeded my hopes and was so incredibly fun!
We booked our tour with Vik Horse Adventure and did a one-hour tour, although they also have a 30-minute family tour.
We arrived early and were able to walk around the stables and enjoy the horses while we waited.
Our tour guides gave us brief riding instructions, and then we set off for the beach!
I really enjoyed the height of the Icelandic horses. They are generally only 13-14 hands and are similar in size to a Quarter Pony.
They have a very unique gate that we got to try out!
Riding on the black sand beach was truly magical!
We had a beautiful view of Reynisdrangar off of the coast and even stopped for some pictures before heading back to the stables!
If you are considering a horse riding tour during your stay in Vik, I highly recommend it!
The guides were very nice, and the horses were well-trained.
The next time we revisit Vik, I plan to book another tour here!
16. Watch the Northern Lights
We were able to catch a beautiful Northern Light show during our stay in Vik, even though it was already April.
To get the best view of the Northern Lights near Vik, drive out to the Dyrhólaey parking area.
We spent two nights hunting for the Northern Lights and were most successful in this spot!
Only a handful of other vehicles headed up there that night with us, so we basically had most of the area to ourselves!
Be sure to wear multiple layers if you are planning to stay out for a very long time, taking pictures of the Northern Lights.
The wind up on the top of the peninsula can be especially cold.
If you want to get a good picture of the Nothern Lights but only have a phone, consider purchasing an app specifically designed for Northern Lights photography.
Below is a picture of the peninsula overlook during the day and also during the night when we saw the Nothern Lights from the same location.
Check out these Iceland Northern Lights quotes to caption your stunning pictures!
17. Stop in at the Rutshellir Caves
Less than 30 minutes from Vik, you will find the Rutshellir Caves.
This is a popular stop right on the main Ring Road and is considered a historical landmark.
If you choose to go inside this hidden gem, you will find ancient man-made caves that you can explore.
The area is completely fenced in for local livestock, but you can easily cross the fence using the provided stiles.
Beware of the high winds that this area can endure!
We almost found ourselves knocked over by the strong gusts of wind waiting for us outside our rental car!
Although this is not an elaborate stop, it is worth pulling over for a quick view if you are already driving past.
18. Book a glacier walk
While we were in Vik, we decided to book a glacier walk nearby.
You can book a tour on the Sólheimajökull glacier, but we chose to book our tour closer to Vatnajökull National Park at Falljökull glacier.
We booked a 3-hour guided tour from Sakaftafell, but it ended up being over 4 hours long because they combined our tour with another ice cave tour!
We had to hike about a mile to reach the glacier, and then they provided crampons for us to strap to our boots for the rest of the hike.
Seeing a glacier from far away is incredible, but being on top of one and seeing it up close is even cooler! They truly are remarkable.
If you can afford it, I highly recommend booking this tour on your trip to Iceland.
19. Take an ice cave tour
We also really enjoyed being able to stop at the natural ice cave on our tour.
You can book ice cave tours that leave from Vik specifically for the ice caves.
We were just lucky enough to have it added to our glacier walk tour!
20. Enjoy the views of the Vík i Myrdal Church
There are also a few things in Vik that you can enjoy during your stay.
You can take a walk up to the Vík í Mýrdal Church, which provides beautiful views of the surrounding area.
The church is high up on a hill and is actually the place where the locals would gather in the event of a volcano eruption because it is the highest spot in the town.
Pro tip: To reach the location where I took the photo pictured below, you will need to drive up the hill behind the church which leads to a small graveyard.
21. Grab a delicious crepe from the food truck
If you get hungry, there are several great restaurants in Vik to choose from.
But one that was super cute and fun was the little black crepe stand on the edge of town!
There are only a few flavors to choose from, but I went with the Nutella and Prince Polo (minus the bananas), which was delicious!
This food stand is fairly new, so it wasn’t around during my early trips to Iceland, but now I stop here each time I go to Vik.
22. Learn about volcanos at the Icelandic Lava Show
Did you know there is a local Icelandic Lava Show where you can experience real flowing lava?!
They show you what a local volcanic eruption would be like, similar to the Katla volcano and others nearby.
This show is located in the same building as the Soup Company (where you can get a delicious hot bowl of soup) and is easy to find in town.
I highly recommend checking out this show if you have the time and funds to make it happen. It was a highlight for me, and I learned a lot!
You can get your tickets for the Icelandic Lava Show in Vik here.
In Closing: 21+ of the Best Things to Do Near Vik Iceland in 2024
As you can see, there are plenty of things to do near Vik, Iceland! We stayed in this area for three days during our longest trip and could have easily spent another day or two in the area.
There is also a local swimming pool, which is the perfect place to enjoy a swim or soak in a hot tub after a long day of Iceland travel and exploring the nearby attractions of this small town.
Check out our other Iceland travel guides below, and don’t forget to join my South Iceland Travel Facebook group!
Find More Iceland Travel Adventures & Inspiration
- 21 of the Best Things to Do Near Vik Iceland in 2024
- Top 15 Beautiful Waterfalls in South Iceland You Can’t Miss
- Exploring the Largest Man-Made Ice Tunnel in Iceland
- Black Beach Icelandic Horseback Riding Vik Iceland
- Top 30 Iceland Instagram Spots You Don’t Want To Miss
- 160+ Inspiring Iceland Quotes & Captions for Instagram
- Kvernufoss Waterfall Guide (South Iceland Hidden Gem)
- Brúarfoss Waterfall Guide in Iceland’s Golden Circle
- Efstidalur II Farm Review (Golden Circle Iceland Restaurant)
What would you add to our list of the best things to do near Vik, Iceland?
Happy travels!
