Best Things to See & Do in Vik, Iceland

Vík í Mýrdal, more commonly known as Vik, is a small village on Iceland’s South Coast.

It has become a popular base for exploring one of Iceland’s most scenic regions. You’ll find waterfalls, black sand beaches, glacier adventures, ice caves, and dramatic coastal cliffs.

Whether you’re spending just one day passing through or using Vik as your home base for several nights, there’s no shortage of incredible experiences nearby.

In this guide, you’ll find the best things to do in Vik, Iceland, along with helpful tips for planning your visit and making the most of your time on the South Coast.

Visit the Famous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach & Basalt Columns

Reynisfjara has been one of the most-visited spots in the area for years. It was famous for the unique formations made from lava meeting the sea. It created tall basalt columns that looked like perfectly-shaped hexagons. These are also referred to as sea stacks.

Unfortunately, the beach looks quite a bit different now. The sea has washed a lot of it away. You can still visit though and I still think it’s worth visiting.

If you visit, do be careful for “sneaker waves”, which are waves that come without a warning. Don’t turn your back to the sea and keep a safe distance. There have been fatalities from people getting pulled out to sea.

According to Icelandic folklore, these formations were once trolls turned to stone.

Voyages Friendship Statue

You wouldn’t necessarily want to go out of your way for this, but if you visit the Reynisfjara Beach, this is closeby.

The statue pays tribute to the hardships and bravery of Icelandic sailors and their families, including those who have been lost at sea.

Explore an Ice Cave

One of the most unique things you can do in Vik (and in all of Iceland) is to explore ice caves. You do need a tour to do this, but it’s worth the money.

They are literally caves inside of glaciers!

Ice caves are the result of sections of a glacier melting. What’s even cooler (pun intended) is that the paths and colors of ice are constantly changing so you’ll never visit the same ice cave twice.

Winter is the best time to visit the caves, but the Katla ice cave tour is offered year-round.

Click here to book your ice cave tour

Glacier Hiking

Like the ice caves, the only way to hike on a glacier in Iceland is through a guided tour. They’ll also provide all of the equipment for you (crampons, helmets, ice axes, etc) and they’ll teach you how to properly use it.

One of the most popular glaciers near Vik is the Sólheimajökull Glacier. It’s around 25 minutes from Vik and it will be a 3-hour guided hike. It’s relatively easy and doable for most travelers. You will also get to drink glacial water.

Click here to book the Sólheimajökull glacier hike

Kayak a Glacier Lagoon

Kayaking in a glacier lagoon is an unforgettable way to experience the ever-changing landscape. You’ll escape the crowds to paddle across calm, icy waters where you’ll be eye level with huge icebergs that have broken away from glaciers.

Kayaking allows you to get remarkably close to the floating ice formations and appreciate their incredible textures and colors. Shades of brilliant blue, crystal clear ice, and streaks of volcanic ash trapped within the glacier tell the story of ice that has existed for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of years. The constantly shifting landscape means no two kayaking trips are ever the same.

Wildlife sightings are always possible as well and make the adventure even more special. Seals are often seen swimming through the lagoon or resting on icebergs.

You can generally kayak the glacial lagoon May through September.

Click here to book your tour kayaking a glacier lagoon

See the Northern Lights

The real reason we came to Iceland was to see the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, while you can add it to your list of things to do in Vik, whether or not you’ll actually get to see them is largely out of your control.

Check the forecast (we used the Aura app and it was very accurate) for the best odds. I don’t know of any Northern Lights tours from Vik but there are several from Reykjavik if you happen to be spending the night there on your trip (and if you have time, I recommend a couple of nights in Reykjavik!)

The Hotel Vík í Mýrdal also does Northern Light wakeup calls. This means that they’ll call you to wake up you up if the Northern Lights become available. A great reason to book this hotel in my opinion.

The peak northern lights season in Iceland runs from September to March when nights are darkest.

See a Lava Show

The Lava Show in Vik recreates a volcanic eruption in a one-hour show. They pour real lava right in front of you (safely!) You’ll hear it and feel the heat.

I don’t think you’ll ever get closer to lava than at this show!

You will learn about lava behavior and all about the Katla Volcano eruption. You will even have the opportunity to touch the lava at the end of the show.

There is also a show in Reykjavik but the one in Vik is the original one.

Book your ticket to the lava show here

Go Horseback Riding on the Black Sand Beaches

This is another tour we didn’t do that is high on my list for next time. The tour combines two memorable experiences into one – Icelandic horses and black sand beaches.

Icelandic horses are considered one of the world’s most unique horse breeds for several reasons:

• They played a huge role in Icelandic culture. Before modern roads and vehicles, they were essential for transportation across Iceland’s rugged landscapes and are deeply woven into Icelandic folklore and identity.
• They have five gaits instead of the usual three. Most horses walk, trot, and canter/gallop. Icelandic horses also have:
  • Tölt: An incredibly smooth, four-beat gait where riders experience very little bouncing. You can comfortably travel long distances at speed.
  • Flying pace (skeið): A fast, two-beat gait where both legs on the same side move together. Some Icelandic horses can reach impressive speeds in this gait.
• They’ve been genetically isolated for over 1,000 years. Since around the 10th century, Iceland has prohibited importing horses to protect the breed from disease and preserve its unique characteristics.
• Once they leave Iceland, they can never return. Because of strict biosecurity laws, an Icelandic horse exported from Iceland is not allowed back into the country.
• They’re small but not ponies. Although they stand only about 13–14 hands high, they are officially classified as horses because of their build, strength, and temperament.
• They develop remarkable winter coats. Their thick, shaggy fur helps them thrive in Iceland’s harsh weather, allowing them to stay outdoors year-round.
• They’re known for their personalities. Icelandic horses are generally friendly, curious, intelligent, and willing partners, making them popular with both beginners and experienced riders.

Even you don’t take a horseback riding tour, you will definitely see them when you’re driving.

The tour is around one hour. You’ll love the gorgeous Víkurfjara Beach, which is a black sand beach, and the views of the Reynisfjall cliffs.

You don’t need to have experience riding, either! They’ll give you an introduction to horseback riding.

Click here to book your Icelandic horseback riding tour

Vík i Myrdal Church

An iconic picture of Vik that tends to show up pretty much everywhere is a shot of a church with a reddish roof on a hill. That church is Vík i Myrdal Church.

It sits on a hill overlooking Vik and has some absolutely stunning panoramic views.

The church was built in 1929 and you can drive up to it, making it easy to visit.

Dyrhólaey Peninsula

The Dyrhólaey Peninsula has dramatic, panoramic views of the Atlantic and black sand beach. But it is most famous for the natural rock arch and the puffins that breed there!

There is also a lighthouse, but it doesn’t look like a lighthouse you might normally picture. I actually had no idea it was a lighthouse until we’d left – it looks like an oddly-shaped building!

Like I mentioned, the puffins breed on the cliffs here and this is one of the most popular places to see them. The puffins are only there in the summer months, May through September, though there are no guarantees. Since we visited in February, we didn’t see any puffins.

It’s only a 15 minute drive from Vik.

Hike to Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck

The Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck is one of the most popular things to do in Vik. It’s a plane crash from a US Navy cargo plane in 1973. Everyone survived the crash.

The plane was featured in Justin Bieber’s video “I’ll Show You” in 2015 which really made the hike popular.

There is plenty of parking, you can park off of Route 1 (you’ll most likely see a bunch of other cars there). It’s around a 2 hour hike. Or you can take an ATV tour or a shuttle from the parking lot for $24.

We skipped this because we really didn’t have time for the hike. As a side note – there’s just no way to fit in everything you are going to want to do in Iceland. There is just SO much to see and do that you’re going to have to compromise on some things. It’s a good thing because that’s why we all love Iceland so much, but it’s also kind of a bummer to have to pick!

Anyways, I didn’t know that you can actually pay a shuttle or ATV to get there now.

Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon

The Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon is around an hour from Vik, but it’s gorgeous, so worth the drive if you have the time.

It’s really gained popularity over the past couple of years. Justin Beiber filmed part of “I’ll Show You” at Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon in 2015. Because of this, parking can fill up quickly so you may want to try to get there early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

It is famous for its dramatic cliffs, winding river, and lush green landscapes. From the parking lot, you will walk uphill to multiple viewing platforms.

Snowmobiling in Vík, Iceland

Another tour we didn’t do because I don’t know how well a 9 month old would do on a snowmobile 😉

But I imagine snowmobiling in is probably one of the most exhilarating ways to experience the dramatic glacial landscapes.

There are a few tours that depart from the area surrounding Vík and take you to the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, one of Iceland’s largest ice caps, which sits atop the famous Katla volcano.

You will bundle up in insulated overalls, helmets, and gloves. Then you’ll be transported to the glacier! You’ll load up in a special Jeep that’s meant for offroading. The guides will give instructions and the tours are designed for beginners and experienced riders.

If the weather is clear, you’ll have views of Iceland’s South Coast for miles. The contrast between the white of the snow and the dark, rugged scenery makes you feel like you’re on another planet.

Not to mention that you’re literally snowmobiling on a literal glacier.

Where to Eat in Vik

• Skool Beans – a school bus transformed into a coffee shop. Amazing hot chocolate and coffee
• Black Crust Pizzeria – Famous for their signature black dough, but they also serve very creative pizzas using local ingredients.
• Sudur-Vik – Traditional Icelandic dishes, fresh seafood, and burgers. Reservations are recommended.
• The Soup Company – Family owned restaurant with homemade soups and stews, famous for creamy red hot lava soup (spicy soup with prime beef, black beans, and vegetables) and the unlimited bread. They also serve paninis, salads, and options for vegans.
• Smidjan Brugghus – A cozy brewery great if you enjoy craft beer. They also have good bar food.