Iceland is one of those locations in the world where no matter which way you turn there is another dramatic landscape to try and comprehend. There are a seemingly endless list of mountains, glaciers and waterfalls to visit however one of our favourite locations from our recent visit was our trip to the black sands of Reynisfjara Beach on the south coast.
How to get to Reynisfjara beach
Reynisfjara beach is 112 miles (180 km) south east of Reykjavik, just outside of the small fishing village of Vik; it will take you around 2 and a half hours to reach it by car. We combined our visit with a south island tour which allowed for a broader itinerary however the route here really is quite straightforward if you decide to go it alone.
Reynisfjara beach
When you arrive at the beach there is a good sized car park available with plenty of spaces so you’ll have no trouble getting parked. You’ll then have the dramatic black sands of the beach right in front of you which you can freely explore. During our visit in December it was incredibly cold and windy so I would really recommend wrapping yourself up warm if you plan to head here!
Aside from the black sands, what makes Reynisfjara so dramatic are the cliffs and jagged rocks that protrude from it. A short walk along the beach reveals a small cave surrounded by an incredibly sinister looking structure of rocks.
One piece of advice here is that the rocks really are as sharp as they look so if you’re walking into the cave be careful not to hit your head or scrape a hand or arm on one of them to avoid an injury.
Reynisfjara features some incredible cliffs comprising of regular basalt columns. These resemble a step pyramid called Hálsanef. If you look beyond the cliffs out to sea you’ll also see the stacks called Reynisdrangar.
From the beach there are some great views out to sea and around the bay.
Reynisfjara has grown in popularity over the years not only due to its status as the most impressive black sand beach in Iceland but also because it is the filming location for Game of Thrones’ Eastwatch by the Sea where the Night’s Watch are guarding the wall.
If you are visiting Reykjavik for a few nights this year make sure you head down to Reynisfjara beach either by car or as part of the south island tour. The beach here is so unique that you simply cannot afford to miss out on experiencing it.
Are you heading to Iceland this year and planning to visit Reynisfjara? Let us know in the comments!
