Best Beaches in Iceland: Where They Are, How to Get There and When to Go

Reynisfjara is Iceland’s most well-known black sand beach, framed by basalt columns and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, while Diamond Beach adds icebergs washed up on the sand and Stokksnes adds grassy dunes below the Vestrahorn peaks. These are beaches for walking and looking: sneaker waves, strong currents and sea temperatures between 41°F (5°C) and 53°F (11°C) near Reykjavik keep swimming out of the picture.

What are the best beaches in Iceland?

Stokksnes lies beneath Vestrahorn and combines black sand with grassy dunes. On the western edge of Snæfellsjökull National Park, Djúpalónssandur is a curved gravel cove where the lava meets the open ocean.

• Reynisfjara: black sand, basalt columns and sea stacks · parking lot with a marked footpath · for first-time visitors who want the classic view
• Vík: black sand beaches and rough seas · a seaside village · for a stop with a village close by
• Diamond Beach: black sand with icebergs from Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon · for photographers and anyone who wants ice on the shore

Plan on having your own transport. For ice, add Diamond Beach. Djúpalónssandur suits a day on the Snæfellsjökull side of the country.

How warm is the water at the beaches in Iceland?

Late summer has the mildest sea. Near Reykjavik, the water averages 52°F (11°C) in July and 53°F (11°C) in August, then 50°F (10°C) in September. That is still cold, so a beach visit is about the walk and the scenery.

Spring and winter are colder. By October the sea has dropped back to 47°F (8°C). These sea temperatures are for the Reykjavik area, so treat them as a guide to the general range. A warm layer matters more than swimwear in any month.

Where are the beaches in Iceland, and how do you get to each one?

Reynisfjara: basalt columns and sea stacks

The beach has a parking lot, and a 300-meter (984-foot) chain runs along it, leading people along a footpath past the signs. Access is currently only possible as far as the upper beach ridge, so walking down to the basalt columns is not possible. Check the lights on arrival: a yellow light means stay out of the yellow zone, and a red light means stay out of the red zone.

Vík: black sand and rough seas

Vík has black sand beaches and rough seas, and it is Iceland’s only seaside village with no harbour. Many ships stranded on the black sands of the south coast, which is a good reason to watch the water from a distance.

Diamond Beach: icebergs on black sand

The nickname comes from icebergs that drift out of Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon and wash ashore on the black sand. Check conditions locally before you set out. Keep a safe distance from the waterline.

Stokksnes: black sand and grassy dunes

It suits a slow walk with the mountains behind you. Bring a windproof layer for the open ground.

Djúpalónssandur: black pebbles and lifting stones

Parking and toilets are on site. Wading and swimming in the sea is forbidden because of great depth and strong currents. Start with the lightest stone.

Laugar swimming pool: warm water near Mývatn

For a swim, this is a pool, not a beach. It is 25 meters long at 86°F (30°C), with two hot tubs at 104°F (40°C) and 99°F (37°C). It sits 37 miles (60 km) east of Akureyri, 25 miles (40 km) south of Húsavík and 12 miles (20 km) north of Mývatnssveit. Pair it with a day around Mývatn.

What should you know before going to the beach in Iceland?

• Sneaker waves: they can appear without warning at Reynisfjara even on calm days and can reach much farther up the shore than expected. Check Safetravel, stay well back from the water and heed the warning signs.
• Reynisfjara risk: sneaker waves make it one of the most dangerous destinations in Iceland.
• Signs: dangerous sites such as glaciers, beaches with sneaker waves and geothermal areas are marked with signs. Read them.
• Weather and terrain: Iceland regularly has quickly changing weather, active volcanoes and earthquakes. Trails and natural hazards are not always well marked, so dress and plan for conditions on the day.