13 Incredible Things to Do in Vik, Iceland
Are you planning on visiting Southern Iceland? If so, here’s our list of the most amazing things to do in Vik.
This beautiful town is one of the most amazing places to visit in Iceland.
Located along the south coast, it’s close to some of Iceland’s most impressive scenery, and the town itself is just gorgeous. There are mountain views, the cutest little church and so many black sand beaches within walking distance.
So, if you’re planning on exploring southern Iceland, here are the 13 most amazing things to do in Vik.
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Vik Must-Do’s!
Short on time? You NEED to do these are 3 bucket-list things in Vik! ❤️
Our fave hotel: Black Beach Suites
1. Visit Vik i Myrdal Church
This cute little church is the symbol of the town. With white walls and a bright red roof, it’s a simple building that emanates all of Iceland’s charming style.
It’s located on a hill above the town and the views from up there are worth the visit on their own. You can see all the way to the famous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach.
You’ll also have panoramic views over the entire town of Vik and the crashing waves and rock formations in the distance.
Plus, it’s gorgeous no matter the season. If you visit in winter, you’ll find snow-covered rooftops; in summer, you’ll be treated to colourful lupine fields.
2. Go Glacier Hiking
Going on a glacier hike should be one of the top things on anyone’s Iceland bucket list. It still remains one of the most incredible things we’ve done in Iceland to date and we loved every second of our tour.
There are two popular places to go glacier hiking in Iceland – Vatnajokull National Park and Sólheimajökull. Luckily, if you’re visiting Vik, Sólheimajökull is just a 35-minute drive away.
If you book the glacier hiking tour, most tour companies will either pick you up from Vik or ask you to meet them at the location.
The tour will likely last around 3 hours and it will be one of the most incredible 3 hours you spend in Iceland – we can almost guarantee it!
3. Admire Reynisfjara Beach
Of course, while you can just admire the beach from afar, you can’t visit Vik and not see its most famous attraction.
Reynisfjara Beach is the most popular black sand beach in Iceland. It is visited by thousands of people every year and it’s easy to see why.
The beach is strikingly beautiful with towering basalt columns, large caves, and unique rock formations. The last time we were there, we even saw whales and seals out in the distant ocean. It’s a magical place.
TOP TIP: Reynisfjara can also be quite dangerous because of the sneaker waves. Keep back from the water’s edge, keep your eyes on the waves, and follow the warnings when you get onto the beach.
4. Get a Black Crust Pizza!
One of the more unique things to do in Vik is to get a black-crust pizza. This restaurant is located in the town centre and has become something of a sensation.
Their unique recipe uses charcoal-infused sourdough to create the base and there is a huge range of topping options.
They only accept walk-ins, so you can’t book a table and you may well find huge queues in the summer months. But, it’s a very interesting dining experience and well worth trying while you’re in Vik.
5. Take a tour to Katla Ice Cave
Whilst this isn’t actually in Vik itself, most of the tours will use Vik as the pickup point. Katla Ice Cave is one of the most unique experiences you can have in Iceland.
The tours will take you on a super jeep onto Katla Volcano where you’ll then be able to put your crampons on and head into the ice caves.
It’s totally surreal. The ice is bright blue and black from where it’s mixed with the volcanic sand and, because the cave is constantly melting and refreezing, no two visits are the same.
This is a very popular tour though, so you will definitely need to book in advance. But if you’re spending some time in the south of Iceland, you just have to!
❤️ You’ll need to book this in advance but it’s such an incredible experience!
6. Watch the Icelandic Lava Show
Iceland isn’t called the Land of Fire and Ice for nothing! As well as all the cold-weather activities, you should also make time to see some of the fire and the Icelandic Lava Show is the perfect way to do this.
The one in Vik was the first Lava Show to open in the world. There is now another show in Reykjavik, but this one remains slightly different.
Throughout the show, the hosts will tell you all about the history of Volcanoes in Iceland, and what they predict for the future, and also pour real lava (taken from the Katla volcano’s last eruption) and pour it into the showroom via a tunnel.
They show you exactly how the lava behaves, what happens when it comes into contact with ice, how lava tunnels are formed, and much more. It’s completely fascinating and also just really cool to see real lava up close.
7. Visit Kvernufoss Waterfall
No doubt if you’ve driven along the south coast you will know about Skogafoss waterfall. But, what if I told you there’s another waterfall right next to it that’s just as impressive, but much less known?
This is Kvernufoss Waterfall, a stunning hidden gem in southern Iceland that is almost right next to Skogafoss, but many people skip it. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Vik.
This is one of our favourite waterfalls in Iceland. You can walk all the way behind it and the views are incredible. There’s a short hike to reach the falls, but it’s only about 20 minutes into the canyon.
8. See the Puffins at the Dyrhólaey Peninsula
Did you know that Iceland is one of the best places to see puffins in the world? The island country is home to a colony of over 10,000 puffins and one of the best places to see them is just a short drive from Vik.
The Dyrhólaey Peninsula is about 15 minutes by car from the centre of Vik. You can do a lovely walk around the peninsula, stopping at the lighthouse, the viewpoints, and the archways.
If you visit during the summer months of late May to September, you also may be able to spot these cute but clumsy little birds.
9. Visit Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck
This place is a photographer’s dream!
The Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck is the wreckage of a 1973 DC plane that fell onto the Sólheimasandur beach in Iceland when it ran out of fuel. The US Navy decided not to recover the vessel, instead leaving it on the sands.
Today, you can either walk 45 minutes along the sand to the wreckage or take the paid shuttle bus. The shuttle is a little on the pricey side at £20 per person, but the walk is super boring and long, so it may be worth it just to save on time!
The wreck is one of the best things to do along the south coast and the car park is about 20 minutes’ drive from Vik. If you’re into photography or love unique spots, this is one of the best things to do in Vik.
10. Get the Best Coffee in Iceland
You just can’t visit Vik without popping into Skool Beans! This cute little coffee is located down a (very bumpy) dirt road in Vik town centre. It’s a micro-roaster inside a converted school bus.
Their menu is fantastic. There are all sorts of different coffees on there from your standard latte to a mocha smothered in cream and topped with marshmallows. They also offer lots of tea options and signature hot chocolates.
The last time we visited, Andrew had something called ‘The Overdose’ which was the biggest hot chocolate on their menu complete with Maltesers, marshmallows, and two chocolate bars!
They also offer a selection of bagels and sweet treats, ideal if you need a little snack on your road trip.
11. Visit Víkurfjara Black Sand Beach
While people tend to flock to Reynisfjara, many don’t know that there’s a black sand beach located within walking distance of Vik.
Víkurfjara is another hidden gem of the south coast and you can get here within just 15 minutes on foot from the town.
It may not have the basalt columns and caves of Reynisfjara, but you can see the rock formations in the distance and, if you visit during golden hour, the views are magical.
12. Find Hjörleifshöfði (Yoda Cave)
Located a 15-minute drive from Vik in the direction of Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, Hjörleifshöfði is another of the most unique things to do in Vik. The cave quite literally looks like the famous Star Wars character, hence the name.
The striking resemblance to Yoda has made this cave a favourite spot for Star Wars fans and photographers.
Surrounded by dramatic landscapes, Hjörleifshöfði offers not only the iconic cave but also more black sand beaches, rugged cliffs, and lush greenery. It’s a perfect place to stretch your legs, explore, and take some really cool photos.
13. Take a Day Trip to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Last, but not least, Vik is located in the centre of the south coast, so it’s the ideal stopping point on a drive from Reykjavik to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
If you’re planning on doing this journey, this is exactly how we recommend splitting it up. Drive to Vik, stay there for a few days, then continue on to Jökulsárlón. This makes the 5-hour drive from Reykjavik much more bearable.
If you’re staying in Vik, it’s possible to visit the lagoon as a day trip – and so worth it!
Jokulsarlon is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever visited in Iceland. Seeing hundreds of icebergs floating in the lagoon was pretty amazing, plus you can also head across the road to admire Diamond Beach, another incredible spot.
The scenery is breathtaking and it’s one of Iceland’s most unique landscapes.
If you can, it’s worth staying in the area longer than a day as there’s a lot to do around here, but if a day is all you have it’s still 100% worth a day trip.
Is Vik Worth Visiting?
Yes, Vik is 100% worth visiting and the area is one of our favourite parts of Iceland. The scenery around here is incredible and you can see waterfalls, black sand beaches, caves, puffins, and visit some of Iceland’s most unique food spots.
If you’re considering spending some time in Iceland, I hope this list of the best things to do in Vik has given you plenty of inspiration.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to join our free Facebook Group to ask us anything!
👉 Planning on staying? Check out our favourite hotels in Vik.
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