Vík

What to see in Vík?

The southernmost village in Iceland is located on the Ring Road and - while only having a population of 300 - is the largest settlement for miles around, making it a popular stop on trips around the country. It may be tiny, but Vík í Mýrdal, as it's officially known, is home to a number of spectacular landmarks and natural attractions that are well worth a visit:

• Reynisfjara: this famous black beach is located a few miles (5 km) from the centre of Vík, just across the Reynisfjall ridge. Its striking black sand and colossal basalt formations make it one of the most iconic places in Iceland. In 1991, it was voted amongst the top ten most beautiful beaches in the world, and more recently, it has been used as a filming location for the History Channel's Vikings series.
• Solheimasandur Plane Wreck: the abandoned DC-3 plane on the black beach at Sólheimasandur is one of the area's most popular tourist attractions and a surreal image. This American military plane crashed on the south coast of Iceland on 21 November 1973, and its fuselage has remained there ever since. The plane wreck can't be accessed by car, and it's up to a two hour walk across the black sand from the car park. As conditions can be harsh, it's not recommend to do the walk during winter and in bad weather, but there's a shuttle bus as an alternative, and organised tours can take you to the plane by ATV or horse riding. Did you know there's also another plane wreck at Latrabjarg in the Westfjords?
• Víkurkirkja: this tiny church in Vík í Mýrdal village is typical of Icelandic architecture. Located on a slight hill, the picturesque red-and-white building offers panoramic views of Vík and its coastline.

What to do in Vík?

Many people choose Vík as an ideal destination to spend a few nights and relax on their route around Iceland before delving into the sights of the southern coast. The village does offer its own fair share of tourist activities.

A lava show in the village itself allows visitors to discover first-hand what happens when volcanoes erupt and enjoy the incredible natural phenomena that characterise Iceland's geography in a safe and fun way.

On the other end of the spectrum of the Land of Ice and Fire, Vík proves to be the ideal starting point for a trip to visit the glaciers and ice fields of southern Iceland. Climb on a glacier on our Sólheimajökull Glacier Hike or explore inside one on our Katla Ice Cave Tour.