Vik in Myrdal, south Iceland
GPS POINTS N63° 25′ 7.740″ W19° 0′ 19.705″
Vik in Myrdal, south Iceland
Location: South Iceland
Directions from Reykjavík to Vik in Myrdal on Google maps.
Duration: Cirka 2 hours and 30 minutes drive from Reykjavík to Vik in Myrdal
Vík í Mýrdal is a village in Mýrdalshreppur in Vestur-Skaftafellssýsla. It is the southernmost urban area in Iceland and the only Icelandic fishing village with no harbor.
Numerous tourists visit Vík í Mýrdal every year, and you can see the town full of tourists during the summer. The town’s location is unique, as visitors can gaze upon glaciers and majestic mountains to the north and listen to the soothing sounds of waves crashing the beach at the southern tip of town.
It takes about 2.5 hours to drive to Vík in Mýrdal from Reykjavík, but for those who want to enjoy all the attractions on the way, they often spend a whole day getting from Reykjavík to Vík in Mýrdal. Thus, this charming town often becomes the first stop for travelers who aim at driving the ring road and, as such, a great place to start at and enjoy nature all around.
In Vík in Mýrdal, you can find a good supermarket, petrol station, shop, health center, swimming pool, fitness center, numerous restaurants, hotels, camping sites, and other accommodation options. Most tourists who visit Vík take a walk down to the beach to see the famous Reynisdrangar cliffs and enjoy being in the black sand. Birdlife in Vík is also unique, and you can also find horse rentals there.
Welcome to Vik in Myrdal
From Vík, you can walk up to the nearby Reynisfjall and enjoy the view of the Atlantic Ocean, Reynisdrangar, and steep bird cliffs. Another popular trail from Vik leads hikers up to Hötta, the highest mountain in Mýrdalshreppur. From there, you can view the Myrdalsjokull glacier, and of course, you will have a great view over Vik on your way up the mountain.
For information on hiking trails, please visit the information center found in town.
The Icelandic Lava show in Vik is definitely worth the visit. It is the only place in the world where you can safely experience hot molten lava in close proximity! The show is both educational and exhilarating as the wonderful reviews can testify. The show recreates a volcano eruption, similar to what Eyjafjallajökull and Katla volcano are famous for, by pouring molten lava (1100°C / 2000°F) into the showroom and over ice. It is an epic battle between the elements and a unique opportunity to get close to red-hot lava, see it flowing, hear it sizzling, and feel the intense heat that radiates from it.
Most people visiting Vik have either rented a car or booked one of many tours that take you to Vik in Myrdal. If you are heading to Vik in Myrdal by car, just head east and follow route 1 from Reykjavik and you will arrive at Vik in 190 KM. It’s as simple as that.
Exciting attractions surround vík in Mýrdal. To the east, it is Þakgil canyon, but the drive to the canyon is magnificent, to say the least. Further east is Kirkjubæjarklaustur, about a 40-minute drive away. The road to Vík from Reykjavík has incredible places, such as Skógafoss Waterfall, Seljalandsfoss Waterfall, Dyrholaey, Reynisfjara beach.