Vík is Iceland's southernmost village, in the centre of the Katla UNESCO Global Geopark, and the base for Reynisfjara, the Lava Show and ice cave tours (South Iceland tourism board, read 7 November 2026). It is also the only seaside village in Iceland with no harbour. This page contains partner links: if you book, we earn a commission at no cost to you.
Highlights
The village
Vík í Mýrdal, with its church, sits in the centre of the Katla Geopark.
Reynisfjara
The black sand beach, with basalt columns and sea stacks, is about 11 minutes by car; see Reynisfjara.
The Lava Show
Real molten lava at 1,100 °C poured live, at Víkurbraut 5; see the Lava Show.
The Katla information centre
At Víkurbraut 28, with hiking maps, activity information and a free exhibition on the Katla volcano and the Geopark.
Skaftfellingur
A maritime museum around the wooden ship Skaftfellingur.
Hikes
Reynisfjall near the bird cliffs, Hatta, Hjörleifshöfði with an old farm ruin and a Viking burial mound, and Þakgil canyon in summer only.
The ice cave tour
From Vik: Katla Ice Cave and Super Jeep Tour, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 3,712 reviews, from €166.50 on 6 November 2026.
Practical info
Tips
- The tourism board lists glacier hikes, ice cave exploration, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling near Katla, and in summer ATV tours on Sólheimasandur, zip-lining, paragliding and horse riding on the black sand beach below Reynisdrangar. There is a golf course on the outskirts. Vík is 58 minutes by car from Hvolsvöllur and 1 hour 40 minutes from Selfoss, and bus line 51 serves it (Lava Show, read 7 November 2026). Staying overnight splits the South Coast into two shorter days: see the Iceland itinerary and ice cave tours in Iceland. For a day on the south coast, see Reykjavik to Vik.
How to get there
Vík is on Route 1. Drive from Reykjavík or Selfoss, take bus line 51, or join a South Coast day tour (see how to get around Iceland).
Opening hours
Nearby
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