The village of Vík í Mýrdal, known as Vík for short, is the southernmost inhabited place in Iceland and also a very popular tourist stop on the circular route around the island.

The village of Vík lies in a specific microclimate and is the most influenced by the Gulf Stream of all Iceland. This is why the area around Vík is one of the rainiest on the island, but because it is mostly quick, short showers interspersed with sunny weather, Vík is also the place with the most rainbows in Iceland.

The village has a population of about 300 people and with its panorama of a beautiful red-roofed church and hilly surroundings, it could be categorised as a "typical Icelandic village".

You will find several gas stations/chargers for electric cars, a fairly large shopping centre with several restaurants and shops as well as a tourist information centre.

Beaches, cliffs and glaciers

The main attraction is undoubtedly the exotic beaches with black volcanic sand stretching for miles across the open countryside along the hundred-metre cliffs.

Just a few dozen metres from the centre, visit Black Sand Beach, overlooking the 66-metre-high Reynisdrangar rock formations literally jutting out of the sea. You can then hike up the 120-metre cliff on a 6km marked trail (see map) for breathtaking views of the entire coastline.

Just 2km as the crow flies, but with the need to drive a 12km detour, you'll then come across one of Iceland's most famous beaches , Reynisfjara, and even further afield, the cliffs of Dyrhólaey.

In the mountains above Vík, 4x4 travellers can visit the Sólheimajökull glacier or the foot of Katla volcano.

Accommodation Vík í Mýrdal

As the village is located right on the main ring road number 1 and is the largest settlement within a 70 km radius, it is one of the very popular overnight stops during a road-trip around Iceland. Almost every second house in Vík serves as a hotel or private guesthouse. Prices range between 2,800 and 183 EUR per night, the Icelandic average.

Search for accommodation in Vík

Some of the cheapest guesthouses in Vík, with prices below 110 EUR, include Guesthouse Galleri Vík or Puffin Hostel Vík, both with only rooms with shared bathrooms, but with a perfect location right in the middle of the village.

How to get there?

By car from Reykjavík, Vík can be reached comfortably after a 185 km drive (route map: google.com/maps) along the main road number 1. On the way you will pass one of the top spots in all of Iceland - Seljalandsfoss waterfall.

There is also a bus line number 51 from the town of Selfoss that runs to/from Reykjavik once a day.