Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach – Things to Do, Tours & Nearby Attractions
Located about 187 km (2.5 hours) from Reykjavík along Iceland’s South Coast, Reynisfjara isn’t your average seaside stroll.
Instead of sunbathing and beach volleyball, expect a volcanic black sand beach haunted by folklore, towered over by basalt cliffs, and patrolled by sneaker waves with the subtlety of a wrecking ball. It’s one of Iceland’s most dramatic locations — and also one of the most photogenic and dangerous.
This is where trolls supposedly turned to stone after trying to steal a ship (classic Iceland), puffins nest in the cliffs during summer, and the Atlantic Ocean crashes ashore like it’s got something to prove.
If you're looking for moody beauty, jagged drama, and the kind of place that’s part nature documentary and part Norse myth — Reynisfjara delivers. Just keep your distance from the waves and don’t turn your back on the sea (seriously, we’re not being poetic).
Tours That Visit Reynisfjara
Most tours to Reynisfjara depart from Reykjavík and include additional stops along Iceland’s scenic South Coast. These are usually small-group minibus tours with expert guides and flexible pacing, letting you experience the best of the South without stressing about road conditions, signage, or sheep in the road.
Day Tours
Don’t have days to spare? No problem. These one-day wonders cram in black sand beaches, moody waterfalls, brooding volcanoes, and maybe even a glacier or two—all before bedtime in Reykjavík. Perfect for the time-crunched, commitment-averse, or anyone chasing Iceland’s wild side at warp speed.
2–4 Day South Coast Escapes
Short on time but not on ambition? These mid-length escapes are perfect for exploring Iceland’s South Coast without sprinting through it. You’ll hit the big hitters—Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, Reynisfjara, Jökulsárlón, Diamond Beach—and still have time for glacier hikes, ice caves, and an actual night of sleep in a cozy countryside hotel (or at least a guesthouse that hasn’t been claimed by elves).
Join #TeamTroll to the most popular locations along Iceland's South Coast and experience a rare natural phenomenon: A blue ice cave and hiking on a glacier.
During this unforgettable 2-day tour, we will take you to the hidden gems of the most visited place in Iceland – the South Coast. Get ready to climb on one of Europe’s largest glaciers, catch a boat to gigantic icebergs, and explore the most beautiful places in the South of Iceland. Along the shore, you’ll also get the chance to stop by some majestic waterfalls, the beautiful Black Sand Beach, and learn everything you need to know about Iceland.
Join us for a 3 days excursion to see the famous Golden Circle and the South Coast. Experience the beauty of our glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, hike on Europe's largest glacier and powerful waterfalls.
Join us for a three-day adventure, with accommodation included, to discover the most renowned destinations on the Golden Circle and the South Coast. During this tour, you will witness the breathtaking Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon and explore Europe's largest glacier. You will go glacier hiking and visit an Ice Cave!
From September to March, if the weather conditions allow, you may even catch a glimpse of the magnificent Northern Lights.
在我们三日的旅行中,我们将会探索冰岛最著名的黄金圈和南岸精华景点。其中包含权利与游戏的拍摄地辛格维利尔国家公园(Thingvellir National Park),盖歇尔地热区(Geysir),黄金瀑布(Gullfoss),玄武岩黑沙滩,冰川徒步项目,蓝冰洞,杰古沙龙冰河湖(Jökulsárlón),刘昊然同款钻石沙滩以及壮观的塞里雅兰瀑布(Seljalandsfoss)和斯科加瀑布(Skógafoss)。如果天气条件允许, 客人可以在下榻酒店就可欣赏到美丽的北极光。
In this multiday tour package we combine some of our best tour options. You’ll get the chance to see the beautiful Western Iceland. There, you’ll explore the hidden gem of the West, the peninsula of Snæfellsnes also known as “Iceland in a nutshell”. Snaefellsnes is characterized by magnificent and picturesque sites: glacial-carved mountains, endless black beaches, moss topped lava fields, volcanic craters, coastal cliffs topped off by the volcanic glacier Snæfellsjökull and the Center of the Earth.
You’ll get the chance to see the famous geothermal erupting Geysir, the powerful waterfall Gullfoss and Thingvellir National Park in the Golden Circle.
You’ll then be taken to the famous South Coast. Along the shore, you’ll get to see the two waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the famous Black Sand Beach. You’ll also visit the stunning Glacier Lagoon Jökulsárlón in Vatnajökull National Park, where you’ll also get the chance to explore Europe’s largest glacier. And you have the opportunity to visit boat tour in Jokulsarlon.
During this four days excursion we will explore the most famous locations in the Golden Circle and the South, and the West. See our stunning glacier lagoon Jökulsárlón, Europe's largest glacier, and travel to one of the most visually stunning areas of Iceland's Snæfellsnes peninsula.
6–8 Day Ring Road Adventures
Ready to go full Viking? These longer tours circle the island and cover it all: moody fjords, lava plains, puffin cliffs, geothermal hot spots, and more black-sand drama than a Scandinavian noir series. Great for the traveler who wants to really get to know Iceland—and possibly befriend a glacier or two along the way.
Hop on board this unique minibus journey around Iceland for six full days and explore the country's most popular destinations. Visit Iceland's most beautiful sites all around the Ring Road including the Golden Circle, South Coast, and the most beautiful hidden gems in the North of Iceland. Included in this tour is a Glacier Hike, Whale Watching Boat tour and an Ice Cave tour. Depending on weather, you might see the beautiful Northern Lights.
Tour departing each day from Reykjavík.
搭乘这趟独特的冰岛小巴之旅,从雷克雅未克出发,用整整六天时间周游冰岛最受欢迎的目的地,参观环岛公路周围颇负盛名的景点,其中包括黄金圈、南岸风光,以及冰岛北部隐藏的瑰宝。
Hop on board this unique minibus journey around Iceland, exploring for eight full days the country's most popular destinations from Reykjavík and visit Iceland's most beautiful sites all around the Ring Road, including the Golden Circle, South Coast, East of Iceland as well as a few hidden gems in the North and the West.
Come along on a fantastic summer adventure with this 8 Day Tour around the Ring Road and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. See for yourself the country's most beautiful spots including Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and Dettifoss Waterfall as they are bathed in everlasting summer light.
What to Do Near Reynisfjara – Without Getting Lost
Reynisfjara is a showstopper, but there’s an entire supporting cast of wild experiences just a short drive away. Here's how to turn your visit into a greatest-hits adventure — grouped by location, so you're not zigzagging like a confused puffin.
Vík í Mýrdal (10–15 min drive)
Sólheimajökull Glacier (30–40 min drive)
Get a chance to experience a world completely covered with ice.
Join this unforgettable tour to see and experience the world’s rarest natural wonder - Iceland’s majestic glacier.
Glaciers formed during our previous ice ages, when temperatures dropped worldwide. Nowadays only a few countries in the world can enjoy the stunning glaciers - including Iceland.
Sólheimajökull is a beautiful outlet, which is the most accessible glacier from Reykjavík.
It is also known for being the Glacier of Fire & Ice, because of all the ashes covering and mixing up with ice from the previous volcanic eruptions. Underneath the glacier lies an active volcano Katla, which erupted last time in 1918.
It is believed that Katla should erupt within the next few decades, therefore completely melting the ice. However volcanoes are highly monitored in Iceland, making it absolutely safe to travel in the area, hike on a glacier, and explore the wild ice caves.
Join this spectacular tour, and get a chance to hike on a real glacier!
Tie your hiking boots and put on your adventure hat because Sólheimajökull glacier will blow your mind. You'll feel like you have landed on the moon walking on ice and volcanic ash. We'll provide you with ice axes and basic ice climbing techniques for you to climb up as you rise from the ice wall of a glacier crevasse.
Spend your afternoon hiking & ice climbing on one of Iceland’s most iconic glaciers!
This unforgettable adventure will test your strength skills, as you’ll be climbing an ice wall on the 4th largest glacier in Iceland. This activity is for enthusiasts, who would like to explore the Icelandic glaciers to the fullest.
Overview
Sólheimajökull is one of the most visited glaciers in Iceland by ice climbing enthusiasts & professionals, as it offers spectacular ice walls, in a super location – just a few hours away from Reykjavík.
This fun activity will definitely leave you with tons of adrenaline & unforgettable experiences.
Tie your hiking boots and put on your adventure hat because Sólheimajökull glacier will blow your mind. You'll feel like you have landed on the moon walking on ice and volcanic ash. We'll provide you with ice axes and basic ice climbing techniques for you to climb up as you rise from the ice wall of a glacier crevasse.
Spend your afternoon hiking & ice climbing on one of Iceland’s most iconic glaciers on this private tour!
This unforgettable adventure will test your strength skills, as you’ll climb an ice wall on the 4th largest glacier in Iceland. This activity is for enthusiasts who would like to explore the Icelandic glaciers to the fullest.
Overview
Sólheimajökull is one of the most visited glaciers in Iceland by ice climbing enthusiasts & professionals, as it offers spectacular ice walls, in a super location – just a few hours away from Reykjavík.
This fun activity will leave you with tons of adrenaline & unforgettable experiences.
This is a comprehensive glacier tour, where you’ll learn about these massive natural phenomena from your guide and be provided with all the necessary equipment to get some exercise in full comfort and safety.
This tour is for anyone looking to experience one of the natural wonders of the earth.
Mýrdalsjökull & Katla (45 min drive)
Are you ready to turn into an adventurous "Ice-cave Explorer Troll" 🧌 ?
Come join our Tröll Expeditions team on an extraordinary journey to the majestic Katla Ice Cave.
This unique experience is perfect for those who are seeking an off-the-beaten-path adventure away from the crowds and looking forward to being lost in the wild, breathtaking landscapes of Icelandic nature.
Our experienced glacier guides will lead you through the mysterious wilderness in a Super-jeep from Vik, sharing fascinating tales about the area, interesting facts related to the Katla volcano, and geological insights along the way. Safety is always our priority: our guides will provide you with helmets, headlamps, and crampons to ensure a smooth journey.
Witness the awe-inspiring combination of fire and ice as you explore the volcanic glacier outlets of Mýrdalsjökull glacier, a remote location inaccessible to most. With panoramic views, stunning ice formations and tunnels, and the chance to see real Game of Thrones Dragon-Glass, this tour is one of Iceland's best-kept secrets.
Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience at the foot of the powerful Katla Volcano.
Book your once-in-a-lifetime adventure: book the Katla Volcano Ice Cave Tour today!
Ready to go deeper, stay longer, and explore further?
Step aboard our Katla Ice Cave Extended Tour, a 4-hour journey into Iceland’s most cinematic and hidden glacial world—beneath the mighty Katla Volcano. This adventure is an enhanced and extended version of our popular 3-hour tour, giving you extra hike around the glacier where you seek out secret glacier canyons and hidden waterfalls, offering more chances for once-in-a-lifetime photographs.
Led by our expert glacier guides and powered by rugged Super Jeeps, this tour is perfect for explorers who want a more immersive and uncrowded experience. Walk through winding tunnels, peer into glittering ice chambers, and witness the dramatic dance of fire and ice sculpted through millennia.
If you're a photographer, nature lover, or thrill-seeker looking for something beyond the ordinary, this is your chance to venture further off the beaten path and soak in every icy second. Let’s go beyond the surface.
You will start your day with a Super jeep ride to the amazing Katla Volcano Ice Cave.
Afterward you will have time to grab lunch before your next adventure.
A zipline ride is a great adventure for all those who love the thrill of doing something challenging but, at the same time, very safe. The tour includes a hike through a breathtaking river canyon and four zipline rides: 120, 240, 30, and 140 meters long. The scenery below you is breathtaking, and you will have a birds-eye view of it as you whiz down the zipline.
If you're eager to explore Iceland's volcanoes and learn more about the country's natural wonders, this tour is tailored for you.
Hop aboard a Super Jeep for an unforgettable journey to the stunning Katla Volcano Ice Cave. Then, delve into the captivating LAVA SHOW, renowned worldwide as the sole live lava presentation. Celebrated for its educational and cultural significance, this attraction has earned widespread acclaim and numerous honors, making it a highlight among Iceland's premier destinations.
Reynisfjara Is Just the Beginning: Here’s What’s Nearby
Reynisfjara may be the brooding poster child of Iceland’s South Coast—with its wave-thrashed black sands and gothic basalt columns—but it’s far from the only marvel in the neighborhood. Venture just a bit inland or down the Ring Road and you’ll stumble into a natural highlight reel: thunderous waterfalls, glacier tongues, haunted volcanoes, and lava shows that could outdo Hollywood’s CGI budget. If you’ve already made it this far, don’t stop at the beach—there’s a whole lineup of unskippable stops just a scenic drive away.
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
You’re standing on it. The black sand, hexagonal basalt columns, and bone-rattling waves make it one of Iceland’s most iconic (and photogenic) spots. Just keep a safe distance from the ocean—those sneaker waves don’t care about your camera gear or your carefully curated itinerary.
Dyrhólaey (15 min / 18 km from Reynisfjara)
This wind-swept headland serves big drama: a massive sea arch (yes, you can see the ocean through it), cliff-edge views over black sands and glaciers, and during summer, it’s puffin party central. Come for the photos, stay for the hold-onto-your-hat gusts that will absolutely try to launch your dignity into the North Atlantic. Bring layers, a firm grip, and a deep respect for Icelandic wind.
Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks (0 km – visible from the beach)
You’re basically already looking at them. These jagged sea stacks just offshore are the beach’s crown jewels (or brooding sentinels, depending on the weather). According to legend, they were trolls caught mid-theft and petrified by the morning sun. Moral of the story? Don’t steal ships. Or underestimate Icelandic daylight.
Vík í Mýrdal Village (11 km – 15 min drive)
A charming little village just around the corner, perfect for regrouping after facing down angry waves and existential weather. Vík offers warm cafés, local crafts, and the must-see Lava Show, where molten rock gets dramatically re-melted right in front of your face. Very hot. Very safe. Very Iceland.
Skógafoss (40 min / 51 km from Reynisfjara)
One of Iceland’s biggest and most Instagrammed waterfalls. It’s loud, it’s tall (60 meters), and if local legend is to be believed, there’s Viking treasure hidden behind it. Whether you chase myths or rainbows, the staircase to the top offers panoramic views—and possibly a spontaneous leg workout you didn’t sign up for.
Seljalandsfoss (1 hr / 66 km from Reynisfjara)
Famous for the “walk-behind-the-waterfall” experience that’s as magical as it is soaking wet. You’ll get a unique perspective, killer photo ops, and a sudden respect for waterproof clothing. Bring a raincoat. Trust us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve braved the black sands, dodged the sneaker waves (hopefully), and maybe questioned your life choices mid-windstorm. Now it’s time for answers. From how to get here, to what to wear, to whether or not you can picnic without being chased by wind demons — we’ve got you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s a black sand beach formed from lava, with basalt columns, sea stacks, and sneaker waves that love drama. It’s appeared in Game of Thrones and countless travel documentaries.
Only if you’re a seal or have a death wish. The waves are unpredictable and extremely dangerous. Stick to admiring from a safe distance.
From Reykjavík, it’s around a 2.5-hour drive east along the Ring Road (Route 1), with clear signage near Vík.
Year-round, but summer has puffins and better driving conditions. Winter = epic lighting and fewer crowds, but roads can be tricky.
Layers. Waterproofs. Something windproof. And maybe something to hold your hat down — unless you enjoy watching it fly to Denmark.
Yes, there's a parking lot, café, and restrooms nearby. But don’t expect a beach bar or lifeguard.
Absolutely. It’s a short detour from Route 1 near Vík. But if you want to bundle in other stops with a pro guide, tours are the way to go.
Got More Questions?
Our team of Iceland experts is just a message away. Whether you’re curious about tour details, weather prep, or which adventure suits you best, we’re here to help.
Chat with us or Contact our support team and let’s plan your perfect Iceland experience.
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