My 10 Top Things to Do in Vík, Iceland (+ Surrounding Areas)

Vík í Mýrdal is pretty much the only settlement of any reasonable size on Iceland’s South Coast, and as a result, it’s a popular place to refuel and sleep when driving around the Ring Road. It’s also where I recommend basing yourself if you’re seeing the South Coast in more depth. 

Besides being a convenient place to stay, Vík itself has lots of interesting things to do. Spending longer here will allow you to not only visit the nearby attractions but also learn more about the village itself. Many tourists don’t see much of Vík, which—in my opinion—is a shame.

Today, I will help you plan the Vík leg of your Iceland trip more effectively. You’ll discover the best things to do in Iceland’s southernmost village, along with what you can do in its surrounding areas. 

In addition to discovering the best things to do in and around Vík, I’ll give you some practical information to help you plan your trip as well. 

1. Spend an Afternoon Doing the Vík Culture Walk

We did not know about the Vík Culture Walk before visiting in 2024, but I’m so glad that we discovered it. This self-guided walk takes you through Vík’s Old Town and to multiple other points of interest, giving you an in-depth insight into the village’s long and interesting history. 

We began the walk at Víkurfjara Beach, and the entire trail has various boards with useful information. It’s an easy one to complete regardless of your fitness levels, and I appreciated how we got to see parts that some tourists never visit. 

More importantly, I gained a newfound appreciation for Vík; when I first visited in 2019, it was just for a quick pit stop on a South Coast tour. Besides being one of the best things to do in Vík outright, the Vík Culture Walk is entirely free. You can do the walk within a couple of hours.

2. Visit Vík’s Famous Church

When researching for your Iceland trip, you will almost certainly have seen photos of Vík’s iconic church. It looks quite similar to many that you’ll find throughout Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and while small, it’s blessed with beautiful surroundings. 

You’ll see the church perched atop a hill when you visit Vík, and it’s a short walk up to the building. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s still worth coming here for some photos. It’s quite busy when tour buses arrive, but once they’re gone, you won’t have to deal with massive crowds compared to some other attractions in Iceland. 

The church is picturesque, regardless of when you visit. In the summer, it’s surrounded by lupine flowers. In the winter, it looks eerie with snow covering the nearby mountains. 

3. Enjoy Views of Vík From Above

In addition to visiting the main church in Vík, I recommend admiring the views of Vík and its surroundings when you’re here. If you continue going up the hill, you’ll get an excellent view of the church, the village, and the North Atlantic Ocean. 

Many people take the same photo of the church and Vík, and while worth capturing, there are a number of other photo opportunities here. One of my favorites is looking toward Vík, but without the church being included; the straight road going through the Old Town is great for leading lines photography. 

Like the church itself, this area can get quite busy with tourists—especially when tour buses pass through. But if you wait a few minutes for them to leave, it’ll quickly become peaceful again. You can always include some of these people in your photos for more unique shots 🤷🏾‍♂️. 

From this viewpoint, you can also see the Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks.

4. Vikurfjara Beach

Reynisfjara gets all of the attention when talking about beaches in Iceland, but to be honest, I think it’s a bit overrated. Iceland has multiple black-sand beaches, and Víkurfjara is one of my favorites.

Víkurfjara is right next to the center of Vík and offers a fantastic view of the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. It’s also right next to a dramatic cliff that adds to this area’s awe-inspiring atmosphere. If you’re a photographer, Víkurfjara should absolutely be on your Iceland South Coast itinerary. 

During the summer, Víkurfjara is also a great place for birdwatching. It’s an ideal spot for viewing puffins, and you’ll also find plenty of Arctic Terns here. One useful note with the latter: These birds are known for dive-bombing anyone (or anything) that gets too close to their nesting grounds. 

The issue? Identifying their nesting grounds is hard, since they breed on the ground. Let’s just say that you’ll know if you’re too close 🤣. If you accidentally wander into one of these and you can’t leave the area, hold something above your head (e.g., a tripod); they normally dive at the highest point. 

Also important: Like Reynisfjara, the waves at Víkurfjara are unpredictable and dangerous. Keep a good distance from the water; if the sand is wet, step back. And then, create even more of a distance from that point.

5. Get the Best Pizza in Iceland (Yes, I’m Being Serious)

You probably didn’t visit Iceland to try good pizza. But good pizza is always a nice idea. And since one particular restaurant in Vík excels in that respect, you might as well. 

I’ve visited Iceland six times, so I’m pretty qualified to talk about good food in this country. Let me just say that Black Crust Pizzeria is one of the best meals I’ve ever had on any of these trips combined. 

The color of the pizza is a tribute to the nearby black sand beaches, and its sourdough pizzas are incredible. I had one with four cheeses and Icelandic jam, and thinking about it still makes me turn into the drool emoji face to this day. We also had a very nice starter.

The pizzeria also has a range of beers, desserts, and other drinks. You can’t book a table, but we had no problems finding a place to sit. 

Address: Austurvegur 16, 870 Vík

Social Media: Facebook | Instagram

6. Have Lunch at the Soup Company

The Soup Company is another great place to eat in Vík, especially if you visit on a chilly or rainy day. This family-run restaurant is famous for its red-hot lava soup, which features black beans, meat, red wine, and various other ingredients. It’s served within a bread roll. 

Another option is the Icelandic lamb soup, which comes with lamb and fresh vegetables. A vegan soup is also available if you’re on a plant-based diet or want to try something new.

Besides soup, you can also get various other dishes—such as spaghetti—here. The restaurant is right next to the Icelandic Lava Show. 

Address: Víkurbraut 5, 870 Vik

Website: https://www.thesoupcompanyiceland.com/

7. Go Shopping in Vík

Vík has a handful of shopping opportunities, especially if you’re looking to get a famed Icelandic sweater. The family-run Katla Wool Studio is the place to go if you want authentic knitwear produced locally. Besides being a fantastic souvenir, you can also protect yourself against the harsh Icelandic elements. 

Vík also has a shopping center with a large Icewear store. Here, you can buy various outdoor garments—including jackets and sweaters. Plenty of souvenirs are also available. At the shopping center, you’ll also find a large grocery store. If you’re staying in the area for a few days and self-catering, as we did, this is your go-to place for food ingredients. 

8. Spend a Half-Day at Dyrhólaey

Each time I go to Vík, it’s primarily to explore the nature nearby. One of the easiest places to visit from the village is the Dyrhólaey Nature Reserve, which—for such a small area—is surprisingly diverse. 

There’s no shortage of things you can do while you’re here. The lighthouse is very picturesque, and it’s a great place for birdwatching. You’ll find several colonies of fulmars, and in the summer, it’s a good place to see puffins. 

While at Dyrhólaey, you’ll get amazing views of Reynisfjara Beach on one side and the endless black sand beach on the other. It’s not actually endless, of course, but it looks like it as the beach stretches out way into the horizon. 

The views of the nearby mountains and landscapes are similarly well worth your time at Dyrhólaey. Parking your car is free here, but you will need to pay a small fee if you wish to use the toilet.

How to Get to Dyrhólaey From Vík

The nature reserve’s parking lot is just over 15 minutes from Vík by car. If you don’t have a 4×4 car, use the lower parking lot. From here, you can then walk.

9. Visit Skógafoss

I don’t think I will ever get bored of visiting Skógafoss. Yes, it’s one of the most popular waterfalls in Iceland—but there are few places like it if you want to see the sheer force of nature. It’s easy to drive to if you’re driving to or from Vík, too, so you can stop by on the way from Reykjavík. 

Skógafoss is grand, and while you’ll need to wait a while to take photos without people in them, it’s worthwhile. Beyond that, though, you’ll get a newfound perspective on Icelandic nature here. It’s the place where I damaged my old camera, too, since apparently water and electronics don’t mix 🙂. 

Besides Skógafoss itself, I recommend walking up the stairs and walking along part of the trail behind the waterfall. Along this trail, you’ll see various other waterfalls. The staircase is steep, but the walk itself is okay once you get up there. 

Pretty much every South Coast tour stops at Skógafoss, and as a result, it can be busy when there are tour buses. However, these are normally gone again within 15-20 minutes. Bring a good jacket to Skógafoss, too, because you *will* get wet. 

While at Skógafoss, you should also consider visiting the nearby Skógar Museum. 

How to Get to Skógafoss From Vík

Skógafoss is just over 30 minutes from Vík by car; you’ll drive along the Ring Road in the direction of Reykjavík. 

Parking at Skógafoss used to be free, but a 1,000 ISK fee (which is roughly $8) was introduced in 2025. You can pay via the Parka app, available on iOS and Android. While you’re in Iceland, you should download Parka and several other essential apps to have a better trip.

10. Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi

Seljalandsfoss is another popular waterfall in Iceland, and you can actually see it from the Ring Road. After visiting for the first time in 2019, I wanted to revisit and spend more time here—and I’m glad that I did, even though it took five years to do so. 

When driving toward Vík after spending a night on the Westman Islands, we stopped here for an hour or so. The waterfall isn’t as powerful as Skógafoss, but it’s still beautiful. I also think the way that the water comes down is quite cool. 

Like Skógafoss, Seljalandsfoss can be busy when tour buses are here. Tourists are often here in general, but I do think that most of the crowds are manageable. 

You can walk behind Seljalandsfoss if it’s not fenced off; I was able to do this when visiting Iceland in the summer, but not when I was here in the off-season. If the area is fenced off, please respect the warning and do NOT climb over it.

If you walk along the footpath, you’ll eventually find Gljúfrabúi—a waterfall hidden in a canyon. It’s pretty cool, in my opinion; bring a good rain jacket, because let’s just say that you’ll need it. 

How to Get to Seljalandsfoss and Gljúfrabúi From Vík

Like Skógafoss, you can visit these waterfalls either as a day trip from Vík or when driving between Reykjavík and the village. From Vík, it’s around a 50-minute drive along the Ring Road in the direction of Reykjavík. 

You will need to pay for parking at Seljalandsfoss; the fee is 1,000 ISK, and you can keep your car here while you see both Gljúfrabúi and Seljalandsfoss. Type “Seljalandsfoss Parking” in Google Maps.

Here’s Where I Recommend Staying in Vík 🙂

You’ll be spoiled for choice with accommodation in Vík, and my top recommendation is Black Sand Suites. This hotel is located within the mountains, around 10 minutes from the town center, and feels like a million miles from civilization; it was quite expensive, but we thought it was well worth the price. The beds are some of the most comfortable I’ve ever had—perfect after a day of exploring and hiking! 

We also had an excellent range of utensils so that we could cook, and plenty of parking spaces are available. Since you’re away from Vík (and most light pollution), you also have a chance of seeing the Northern Lights. You will need a car to get to Black Sand Suites.

How Long You Stay in Vík Depends on Your Iceland Travel Preferences

When we first based ourselves in Vík rather than visiting as part of a day tour, we were there for four nights. This is because we wanted to explore the South Coast of Iceland in significant detail, and in my opinion, that was wise. If you’re going to visit anywhere further away than Vatnajökull National Park, such as Jökulsárlón, I suggest staying in Höfn instead. 

Many South Iceland tours (read my guide on the best tours in Iceland) will stop in Vík, but only as a short pit stop. You’ll see the main church, but you generally won’t have time to do the Culture Walk and whatnot. The tour I took in 2019 is ideal if you wish to see lots of the South Coast and are visiting without a car, but I preferred staying in Vík and exploring more slowly. 

I’d suggest staying in Vík for 3-5 nights if you’re specifically visiting Iceland to explore the South Coast. 

How to Get to Vík

Driving to Vík is the easiest way to get here; the village is just under two-and-a-half hours from Reykjavík by car. You’ll drive along the Ring Road, and you can stop by multiple points of interest—including the Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls—along the way. 

I recommend driving straight to Vík and then viewing these attractions on the way back to Reykjavík if you’re only exploring the South Coast. If you’re doing the full Ring Road, stop by these on the way and allocate some additional time.

It is possible to get the bus to Vík, but if you plan to also explore the surrounding areas, I don’t recommend it because it’s infinitely more complicated than driving. Nonetheless, you can check long-distance bus journeys here. 

Final Thoughts

Vík is an ideal base to explore Iceland’s South Coast, but the village is also worth exploring in its own right. You’ll find some nice restaurants, along with an interesting culture walk and a pretty church. Plus, the scenery from Vikurfjara Beach is stunning.

In addition to the village itself, you can easily reach some of Iceland’s main sights within an hour or two by car. Rather than using Vík merely as somewhere to stay, this guide—hopefully—has helped you get more out of your trip and see some things you might otherwise not have. 

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