The Best 8 Black Sand Beaches in Iceland | Ultimate Travel Guide
Did you know that the black sand beaches in Iceland are made of frozen volcanic rock?
You read that right.
This northern island of over 100 active volcanoes has experienced many eruptions over the past few millennia. The molten lava that gushes out interacts with the frozen Atlantic Ocean and over time, and much erosion, the iconic black sand beaches were formed.
While you do see some golden sand beaches, the black sand beaches are far more common. A must-see when in Iceland, especially along the Golden Circle.
Are you planning a trip to Iceland? Looking for its best, most instagrammable locations?
In this guide, I will be listing out the best black sand beaches & waterfall you will find Iceland, the safety precautions you need to be aware of as well as the FAQs you will likely have. The Northern Lights, nearby food stops, and outfits to wear are all practical things to bear in mind when visiting the black sand beaches of Iceland (sneaker wave alert!!).
TL;DR Read to learn where, why and how you can find Iceland’s most magical black sand beaches. |
Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Iceland’s Black Beaches Are Close to Reykjavik
Thankfully, some of Iceland’s best black sand beaches can be seen via a day trip from Reykjavik. (P/S: Read THIS POST for inspiration on the things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland.)
So all you need is to plan a trip down to South Coast Iceland to have your fill authentic volcanic lava rock beaches!
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Where You Will Be Based At
Accommodations near Vík / Kirkjubæjarklaustur
I recommend staying near the town of Vík í Mýrdal or Kirkjubæjarklaustur (where I stayed for two nights) in the South Coast of Iceland.
This location will let you experience and see all the other sights nearby (1,000-year-old glaciers and ice caves!) at a more leisurely pace.
Forget the stress of covering everything in one day. Even with two days, I was already rushing and experiencing a small part of what each Golden Circle attraction had to offer.
For accommodations, I stayed at Magma Hotel. It was the perfect luxury escape. A small but modern thatch-roofed chalet overlooking a lake, with the most stunning midnight skies in the summer. Our 2 nights here was far too short!
And did I mention their FREE Netflix?!!
I finished an entire series in two evenings at the Magma Hotel. Talk about addictive!
Day Trips from Reykjavík
If you choose to be based in Reykjavík, there are plenty of tour groups (private or otherwise) that focus on the South Coast of Iceland.
These travel itineraries tend to focus on the black sand beaches, waterfalls and glaciers, all of which are the major Golden Circle attractions you shouldn’t miss. Some of them will also offer unique activities to make your visit even more memorable.
For instance, a zodiac boat ride at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon (HIGHLY recommended!), an ATV ride across the black dunes of Sólheimasandur or even a dip in a nearby geothermal pool!
Safety Precaution: The Dangers of the Black Sand Beaches of Iceland
The black sand beaches of Iceland are pretty but very dangerous.
“Iceland tourist deaths” is a fact and we even saw warnings of this right at the entrance to the Reynisfjara black sand beach. The reason for this is due to the phenomenon known as Iceland’s “sneaker waves”.
“Sneaker waves” refer to oceans waves that sneak up on you. They might look normal, calm and unthreatening but in a moment’s notice, huge waves will sneak up, crash onto the beach and drag unsuspecting tourists out.
There have been numerous accounts of tourists being knocked down and dragged into the ocean before drowning.
As such, the rule is to always always stay away from the surf break of the black sand beach. And NEVER turn your back to it. Instagram pictures are great, but not at the cost of your life.
GPS: N 63.4051° W 19.0561°
Address: Route 215, Vik, Iceland
Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach is one of the most popular and accessible black sand beaches in Iceland. A definite must-see on every Iceland itinerary.
Located some 2.5 hours away from Reykjavik, the Reynisfjara Beach is perfect if you want to visit just 1 black sand beach.
If you don’t fancy a self-guided tour, there are also plenty of group tours that will take you to the Reynisfjara Beach.
When at the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, look out for the following:
- The massive, organ-shaped storm grey basalt columns;
- The basalt cave, which is otherwise known as Hálsanefshellir;
- The Sea Trolls of Iceland (Reynisdrangar Sea Stacks) – there are three Icelandic legends circulating about Reynisdrangar!;
- Local birds such as puffins, fulmars and guillemots;
- The little sheep grazing on the plains above the basalt cliffs (how do they not fall off those steep plains?!); and
- Dyrholaey Arch (home of the puffin birds) in the distance.
This place is so famous, it has even featured in numerous Hollywood movies, TV series and videos! One of the most famous examples being HBO’s Game of Thrones.
Directions to Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach:
Input “Reynisfjara” into both Waze & GPS.
Take Highway 1, which leads off Ring Road Iceland. You will arrive at the top of a hill where a large car park awaits. You can’t miss it as most of Ring Road is a two-way road.
For a full review of my visit to Reynisfjara, read my travel blog post here!
Sólheimasandur DC-3 Plane Wreck
GPS to Parking Lot: 63.4912391,-19.3632810
GPS to DC-3 Plane: 63.459523,-19.364618
Sólheimasandur is famous because of the DC-3 plane wreck on this black sand beach.
You used to be able to drive all the way out to the Sólheimasandur plane wreck but that is no longer possible.
Instead, park your car at the designated car park, then hike around 4 km (round trip) to the 1973 United Navy plane wreck. The car park is large to cater to the growing influx of tourists.
It should take you around 1 hour to hike to the site of the Sólheimasandur plane wreckage. You will be walking on Iceland’s trademark volcanic black sand beach the whole way. A photographer’s dream!
Pair this attraction with a visit to the Skogafoss Waterfall. It is a mere 10 minutes between both locations on Route 1.
And if you have the time, don’t forget to check out Seljalandsfoss Waterfall too!
Directions to the Sólheimasandur Plane Wreck:
Use GPS / Waze to find the car park. You will recognise the place due to the large number of vehicles present
Fun Activity
If you are looking for a unique adventure or just don’t fancy walking, how about an ATV tour?! Explore awe-inspiring waterfalls (Skógafoss & Seljalandsfoss) and ride an ATV across the dark beach plains to get to the DC-3 plane wreck here!
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
GPS: N64° 3′ 26.260″ W16° 13′ 3.333″
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon was one of my favourite places to visit.
Although it is far more commercial than the Fjallsárlón Iceberg Lagoon, I loved it because of 2 things:
- a lagoon full of 1,000-year-old glaciers; and
- volcanic black sand beach.
Visitors often come to experience a boat ride out across the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. You have two boat options.
First, there is the amphibian boat. It is a massive yellow boat that cruises at a leisurely pace around floating icebergs, giving you a taste of what it is like to be in the midst of Iceland’s largest glacier lagoon.
The second option is to go by the Jokulsarlon zodiac boat ride – an experience I highly recommend and have written about here. This is an intimate boat experience that will require you to zip up in a thick thermal suit.
Thereafter, you are whisked off at high speed around the glacier lagoon for around 40 minutes. Your tour guide will try his best to bring you right up to the edge of the glacier lagoon where a giant wall awaits.
Don’t be surprised if the wall looks familiar. This is the same wall that appears in HBO’s Game of Thrones! Sadly, the glacier is constantly calving and while we were there, we could hear the constant booms of calving icebergs.
But back to the black sand beach!
Once you have experienced the Jökulsárlón Iceland zodiac boat ride, head to the edge of the commercial area/parking lot.
You can experience and see the icebergs that are being swept out into the Atlantic Ocean while standing on Iceland’s pebbly black sand beach.
P/S:
It was pretty chilly even at the height of Iceland’s July summer. Not unlike sticking your head into a freezer!
And again, click here for my review of the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon zodiac boat tour.
Don’t forget to leave a comment too!
Getting to Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
Input “Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon” into Waze.
You will be by-passing the Diamond Beach on your right (where the Atlantic Ocean is) before you come across a one-way bridge (see photo above, where a glimpse of Jökulsárlón can be seen on the left where all that ice is!).
What this means is that the bridge allows only one vehicle to pass at one time. If you arrive at the bridge first, you can cross the bridge.
Otherwise, let the cars on the other side cross first. It’s a pretty tricky bridge. It was rather long and hard to see which of us arrived at the bridge first. Took us forever to get across!
Once you cross the bridge, the path leading to the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon opens up on your left. Turn in.
It is HIGHLY commercial, so expect lots of cars and tour buses. This is the only place I went to in Iceland where it actually felt congested!
Stokksnes Beach
GPS: 64.283544, -15.050664
Stokksness Beach is less well-known but a must-see if you are in east Iceland.
The Vestarahorn Mountain (known as the Batman mountains) borders the large expanse of black sand that is Stokksnes Beach.
You will need to pay 800 kroner to the landowner inside the cafe. This entrance fee lets you get through the gate to visit Stokksnes Peninsula, and also enter the ageing Viking village. You can drive down or park at the cafe and explore on foot.
However, it is an otherworldly experience you shouldn’t miss if you have the time and are a lover of black sand beaches! It is also a fantastic place for trying to catch the Northern Lights.
Set aside at least an hour for this place. Maybe more, if you are a photo enthusiast!
Directions to Stokksnes Beach:
It is a 6-hour drive from Reykjavik (yikes!), located near the town of Höfn.
You will first need to go pass the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and the town of Höfn along the Ring Road. Soon after, take the road that branches out on your right, just before a tunnel.
Breiðamerkursandur (Iceland’s Diamond Beach)
Located across from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and 45 minutes from the Stokksnes Beach, the Diamond Beach is another popular Golden Circle attraction.
The “diamonds” on Breiðamerkursandur’s black sand beach originally came from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Due to the strong waves from the Atlantic Ocean, some of these “diamonds” ended up being swept onto the black beach.
As such, this is a popular place to stop by after visiting the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon.
Waltz along the black sand beach. Take photographs of the glistening icebergs. Maybe even taste one for the experience! It is one of the freshest ice you will ever have. Just don’t bring any black sand back with you.
For an in-depth guide to visiting Iceland’s diamond beach, read this!
Getting to Breiðamerkursandur (Iceland’s “Diamond Beach”):
When you exit the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon car park, take a right and cross the bridge. The bridge only permits one car to cross, as mentioned above.
Once you have crossed the bridge, you will find the Diamond Beach on your left.
Your destination will be evident due to the many cars in the car park. Parking is FREE.
And don’t forget to read my travel guide to Iceland’s Diamond Beach here!
P/S:
Even if the glaciers look stable, don’t be fooled. Iceland’s weather and landscape is wild and violent. Don’t be like this grandma, who sat on one of the throne-like diamonds and got swept out into the Atlantic Ocean!!
Dyrhólaey Arch
GPS: N63° 24′ 25.168″ W19° 7′ 16.344″
Address: Dyrhólaey 871 Vik, Iceland
The Dyrhólaey Arch is the result of an ancient volcano eruption and the craftsmanship of the Atlantic Ocean currents. In fact, the Dyrhólaey Arch is so massive that ships and even tiny aeroplanes are able to fly through it!
Dyrhólaey is known for two things:
- puffins; and
- the Dyrhólaey Arch (with the large expanse of the Reynisfjara black sand beach beneath you).
Because the Dyrhólaey promontory stands at a towering 120m, you will get a dramatic view of the Reynisfjara black sand beach beneath you towards the east. The north is occupied by the Mýrdalsjökull glacier. The perfect place for some breathtaking Instagram shots!
Dyrholaey is also the site of Iceland’s puffin colonies. If you are lucky and come during the summer, you might see some puffins!
Unfortunately, despite visiting in July, I had no such luck. We were slammed with thick fog, heavy, lashing rain and the kind of cold that seeped straight into my bones. The arch wasn’t visible at all. It was just a sheer wall of white!
However, I was advised by two local boys that on a good day, you can see the arch from the 1927 Dyrhólaey lighthouse at the top.
As you can see, even the Dyrhólaey Lighthouse was shrouded in mist when I was there.
On a more positive note: While I didn’t get to see the black sand beach from Dyrholaey, I did get up close to the black sand beach itself when we visited the Reynisfjara volcanic black beach. The Dyrholaey Arch was visible, albeit from a distance.
P/S:
It gets really windy at Dyrhólaey.
Travel Tips on Getting to the Dyrhólaey Arch:
Pair a visit to Dyrhólaey promontory with Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach and Vík í Mýrdal.
Getting to Dyrhólaey Arch was a trial. We took around 40 minutes just to crawl up a very steep, gravel road.
If you want to get to Dyrhólaey Arch, DON’T try in a normal car.
Located on the Snæfellsnes peninsula, Djúpalónssandur is another stunning black sand beach to visit when in Western Iceland. Lava fields full of huge, otherworldly rock formations and a bow-shaped black beach framed by dark cliffs are its trademarks.
The Nautastígur path (known as the “Path of the Bull” takes its name from bulls being led down the path towards the lagoon.
Its many breathtaking features include:
- two lagoons that are known as Djúpulón (Deep Lagoons) and Svörtulón (Black Lagoon) – legends hold that these lagoons were blessed by Bishop Guðmundur góði (or Guðmundur the Good) and possess special healing powers;
- the Gatklettur – a rock with a hole through which you can spot the Snæfellsjökull glacier;
- the Aflraunasteinar – Steinatök – also known as the lifting stones, these massive stones were used by Icelandic fishermen to measure their strength. These lifting stones can be found on the way to the Einarslón lagoon. The lightest at 23kg is called Amloði (Bungler) whereas the heaviest, Fullsterker (Fully Strong), is a whopping 154 kg!
- the iron remains of the British trawler, the Epine GY7. The orange pieces are still present, half buried in the black sand, but are protected. You can’t touch them as they are meant to commemorate the English fisherman who lost their lives here;
- the pearls of Djúpalón, i.e. small black lava pearls (pebbles) that can be found after you leave the lava field;
- Söngklettur – known as the “Singing Rock”, this red lava rock is HUGE & is said to be the Church of the Elves;
- the Karl and Kerling lava formations – rock formations that are rumoured to have been trolls that turned to stone after being caught by the sun;
- the Dritvík cove – the largest fishing station from the 16th to 19th century, which is encircled by tall lava walls; and
- an ancient labyrinth located between Dritvík and Djúpalónssandur.
Sneaker Wave Alert
Lest you forget, stay clear of the shoreline at Djúpalónssandur Beach. Don’t get caught by the sneaker waves!
Getting to the Djúpalónssandur Beach
Take the Útnesvegur road until you reach the intersection at 572 Dritvíkkurvegur.
You will find a parking lot by the cove of Djúpalónssandur.
Landeyjahöfn
Address: Landeyjahöfn, Landeyjahafnarvegur, Iceland
Landeyjahöfn is a gem of a place that is tucked away in towards the South of Iceland.
Not many tourists know about it but its dramatic isolation makes it all the more memorable. Facing the Vestmannaeyjar islands, Landeyjahöfn consists of miles of black sand and perfect for bird and seal sightings.
If you fancy a visit to the Vestmannaeyjar islands, you will need to take a boat from the Landeyjahöfn Harbour which can be found here.
Do note however that the weather is very unpredictable and ferries have been known for being cancelled without any prior warning!
Getting to the Landeyjahöfn Beach
Landeyjahöfn Beach can be reached via a 1 hour 48 minutes (137 km) drive along Ring Road (Þjóðvegur) 1 from.
Make sure you take a 4 x 4.
Alternatively, park at the pier of Landeyjahöfn and complete the rest of the journey by foot.
Héraðssandar
Located in East Iceland (Hóll), Héraðssandar is another stunning stretch of black sand beach located in the Reykjanes & Snæfellsnes peninsula. The views are incredible from both the northern and southern side.
To fully appreciate the view, avoid the Ring Road and drive to Vopnafjörður. Drive onward to the top to take photos and don’t stop in the middle of the road! It might be tempting, but that simply isn’t allowed in Iceland.
Outfit for Visiting the Black Sand Beaches of Iceland
Regardless of the time of year, make sure you bring waterproof clothing. The weather can change on a dime, and the rain and chill are unforgiving, so it’s better to be prepared than sorry.
Wear waterproof boots in case you get wet and of course, your clothes should be waterproof too. Above all, make sure you have at least one set of warm clothes (and shoes) to change into. The last thing you want is to catch hypothermia.
This outfit is important when visiting the other attractions along the Ring Road of Golden Circle Iceland, including the Skógafoss Waterfall (where you will go drenched as you approach the waterfall) and if you opt to hike out towards the Sólheimasandur plane wreck.
FAQs
Why is the sand black in Iceland?
Iceland’s black sand beaches gain their infamous jet black colour from volcanic ash.
The rocks and ashes that come from volcanic eruptions over the past centuries have turned the beach sand into its jet black state. Each beach carries its own variant of black. In fact, even the pebbly shores of some of Iceland’s waterfalls are black!
Why are Iceland’s black beaches a must-see when on the Golden Circle?
Because it is one of the trademark sights of Iceland, which you can rarely see elsewhere!
The views and experience are different depending on which part of the year you visit. Just remember to leave the black sand where you find it!
Is it free to visit the black sand beaches of Iceland?
For the most part, Iceland’s black beaches are all FREE to visit (save for Stokksnes Beach). There tends to be a large car park beside the black sand beaches where you can park and get down.
Do note however that you should only park at designated car parks.
I spoke to a local who mentioned that one of their pet peeves is when tourists stop their cars at random parts of the road. It’s dangerous. Moreover, it’s illegal and harmful to the ecosystem!
TL;DR Park only at designated car park spots. DON’T park illegally at a random road side no matter how tempting it might be! |
What can I do at Iceland’s black sand beaches?
I’ll start off by telling you what you can’t do: sunbathing and swimming.
Instead, Iceland’s black sand beaches are a favourite among photographers and tourists looking to visit one of the most unique beaches in the world. I would advise doing your research beforehand to identify all the major features of each black sand beach.
For instance, the Reynisdranger sea stacks and basalt caves are major highlights at the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. For more information on visiting the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach, read this travel guide.
And if you are travelling to Iceland during the summer, you might get lucky and spot a puffin bird or ten!
What is it like visiting Iceland’s black beaches in the summer?
If you come during the summer, you can spend as long as you want at each black sand beach. The sun never sets. This is also when Iceland experiences its greatest influx of tourists, so it might be hard to get a photo of a deserted beach. However, with a little patience (and photoshop!), it’s entirely possible.
As an aside, I feel like the level of tourists in Iceland is nowhere near that of other countries and cities like London, Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore.
The only place that felt truly packed for me was at the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon but otherwise, it felt relatively “empty. Even in the height of summer in July.
What is it like visiting Iceland’s black beaches in winter?
Visiting the black beaches in Iceland during the winter is a wholly different experience. The keyword is caution. The summer conditions were already pretty fierce (I wore four layers of thermal more of the time, although to be fair, I’m a tropical girl).
Winter conditions in Iceland will be even fiercer, coupled with only 3 to 4 hours of sunlight in a day. Winds can also go up to 75 mph on Iceland’s black beaches, so make sure you check the weather forecast. For an idea of the ideal travel apps to download when visiting Iceland, check out this post.
Even so, the experience of seeing a breathtaking sheet of white covering Iceland’s black sand beaches, ringed by majestic hexagonal basalt columns and looming basalt caves, will be incredible.
Just make sure you are not caught unaware by Iceland’s infamous sneaker waves!
Can I catch the Northern Lights from Iceland’s black sand beaches?
Yes, you can! Assuming that you are visiting Iceland during the wintertime, Iceland’s black sand beaches (e.g. Stokksnes Beach) are a prime location for catching the Northern Lights.
Travelling along Golden Coast Iceland? Read these posts for travel inspiration & wanderlust:
- 120+ Travel Tips to Iceland
- Things to do in Reykjavik, Iceland
- Skógafoss Waterfall
- Gullfoss Waterfall
- Glacier Hiking at the Sólheimajökull Glacier | Adventure Travel
- Iceland’s Diamond Beach (Breiðamerkursandur)
- Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
- Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon
- Top 13 Travel Apps You Need When Visiting Iceland
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16 Comments
Kez
Wow! So much information here.
Iuliya
Hope you found it useful!
Patrice
I’ve wanted to go to Iceland for a long time. Your detailed guide makes me eager to see these black sand beaches myself!
Iuliya
It’s a pretty incredible sight!
Nomads RTW
We have been to Iceland before but we did not have the time to explore the beaches. We do want to go back to see all we couldn’t ! 😀
Iuliya
Oh no!!! The black sand beaches need to be your priority on your next visit!
Tricia Snow
I have been wanting to go to Iceland for a while now. I will be using this as soon as I book! Thank you!
Iuliya
Amazing! I hope it helps 🙂 Reynisfjara is absolutely a must-see!
Vidya Sury
I have only seen Iceland in the movies or described in the books I’ve read. It always feels like a fairytale-type atmosphere. Your post is fascinating. I did not know there was black sand there. Makes sense now that it is volcanic rock. The photos are so beautiful! Thank you!
Iuliya
It really does seem like a fairytale, doesn’t it?! One of the many things that make Iceland unlike any other country.
Jenny Bhatia
Iceland is on the top of my bucket list. I didn’t know of the black sand beach, looks beautiful, but kinda scary. I have never heard of that type of wave, it doesn’t happen like that in Florida. I am always grateful for your Iceland posts and I will pin for my dream vacation.
Iuliya
Haha, but I’m sure the waves in Florida are pretty spectacular! Glad you’ve found this post helpful 🙂 Feel free to reach out if you’re ever planning your Iceland trip in the future!
Becki
I visited Iceland a few years back, and on that trip visited a black sand beach. It didnt actually cross my mind that there would be more Black Sand beaches. At first I thought they would be dirty, I found it soo odd to be walking on sand which was so dark. They are so pretty though.
Iuliya
They’re truly stunning! 🙂
Nina
Thank you so much for this great blog. I love all of the safety information you included in it!!!!! There are so many people that are more concerned about getting the perfect picture that they are not thinking about their personal safety! I love all of the other details you included as well!
Iuliya
You’re welcome!! Glad you found it helpful 😀