Reynisfjara Beach

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In the south of Iceland, about 180 kilometers from Reykjavík and 10 kilometers from Vík í Mýrdal, is Reynisfjara Beach, famous for its black sand and Reynisdrangar rocky peaks. It was first voted into the top 10 most beautiful non-tropical beaches in the world in 1991 and has been a popular and unique travel destination ever since.

The trail of history

At least since the major eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, which paralyzed almost all air traffic in Northern and Central Europe in 2010, or the Fagradalsfjall eruption in 2021, it is generally known that Iceland is the largest volcanic island in the world. It is also thanks to these approximately 130 volcanoes that many natural spectacles can be found in Iceland. White or gold-colored beaches are a rarity on the island, as black stones made from volcanic rock and finely ground characterize the landscape.

But it’s not just the black beach of Reynisfjara that is worth admiring, the Reynisdrangar rocky peaks made of volcanic basalt are also worth seeing. According to legend, these basalt stones were once trolls who failed in an attempt to pull a three-masted ship to land and turned to stone at dawn. According to stories, the largest stone with the three points is the petrified ship and is called Langsamur, the second largest is the troll Landdragur, which has been petrified for eternity, and the smallest is the troll Skessudrangur or also called Háidrangur.

There is also the Hálsanefshellir Cave on Reynisfjara Beach, which for hundreds of years has provided protection from the wild forces of nature to sheep grazing on the mountain, fishermen and today, above all, tourists. It is surrounded by basalt rocks and is therefore a popular photo opportunity.

Useful information

The most important thing in advance: Reynisfjara beach is known for its unpredictable waves, which hit the land with enormous force and higher than you might imagine, even when the weather is nice. A stay is therefore associated with risks and this is also made clear with warning signs. To protect yourself, it is recommended to maintain a safe distance of at least 30 meters from the water and never turn your back on the water. Unfortunately, visitors often underestimate the power of the so-called „sneaker waves“ and are pulled out into the ice-cold sea by the strong current, which is why fatal accidents occur again and again.

However, anyone who is aware of this risk and behaves accordingly will find a unique setting and will fondly remember their visit. All fans of the successful fantasy series „Game of Thrones“ probably know that many scenes were filmed in Iceland – Reynisfjara can also be recognized in some scenes.

How to get there?

Due to its proximity to the relatively large town of Vík í Mýrdal by Icelandic standards, Reynisfjara can also be reached by public transport with a little patience and perseverance. From Vík it is about 5 kilometers or about an hour’s walk to reach the beach. There are sufficient parking spaces on site for visitors with motorized vehicles, and there are also toilets and a small restaurant.

Conclusion:

Visiting Reynisfjara beach was a unique experience for us. The thundering waves of the Atlantic crashing onto the black sand coast formed from volcanic rock show the forces that shaped Iceland. When there are not many people on site climbing around on the basalt columns, you can observe the dramatic beauty of nature undisturbed. With a bit of luck, „Lundis“, also known as puffins, can also be observed at the nesting sites along the coast from June to September. For us, Reynisfjara is exactly the sight we imagine when we think back to our adventure in Iceland: untouched and wild nature, black volcanic rock, the cold wind of the Atlantic Ocean and, when you turn around, the green lush meadows where sheep graze and Puffins raise their offspring with freshly caught fish from the sea.