Things to Do in Vík: Katla Visitor Centre, the Icelandic Lava Show, Reynisfjall and Sólheimasandur

Vík is Iceland’s southernmost village. It sits between the Mýrdalsjökull glacier to the north and black sand beaches to the south, and it is the only seaside village in Iceland with no harbour. Then climb Reynisfjall for the view over the Atlantic.

At a glance

• Top sights to see first: Katla Visitor Centre, Hafnleysa Maritime Museum, Icelandic Lava Show
• Where: Víkurbraut, the street of the main village sights
• Day walks: Reynisfjall, Hatta mountain, Hjörleifshöfði
• Postal codes: 870 and 871
• Festivals: Rainbow Festival in October, Vor í Vík and Geopark Week in April, Mýrdalshlaup race in May

What are the best things to do in Vík?

Katla Visitor Centre

The centre is housed in the historical Brydebúð building at Víkurbraut 28. Its exhibition is about the Katla volcano, and more than 150 eruptions have been recorded in the Katla Geopark area since the 9th century.

The Katla exhibition is free, which makes the centre an easy first stop on arrival. The Maritime Museum and the Lava Show are also on Víkurbraut, so all three fit into one walk along the street.

Hafnleysa Maritime Museum

The museum is at Víkurbraut 17. It tells the story of the Skaftfellingur, a ship that carried people and products along the south coast from 1918 to 1939. The ship is renowned for saving a crew from a sinking German U-464 submarine in 1942. In 2001, Sigrún Jónsdóttir salvaged its remains and brought it home to Vík.

Adults pay 500 ISK and seniors enter free. Twelve to 16 year-olds pay 200 ISK, and children under 12 get in free. Groups of 8 or more get a 20% discount, so a family or a group of friends should ask for it at the door.

The Icelandic Lava Show

The show is at Víkurbraut 5.

Check the schedule before you plan the day, and book ahead if you are visiting in a busy month.

Reynisfjall

Reynisfjall is a tuff mountain of 1,115 feet (340 m) near the village. A walk up it is a local favorite, with views over the Atlantic and gorgeous bird cliffs close by.

Choose a clear day, because the view is the reason to climb. Wear shoes with a good grip, since this is a mountain walk.

Hjörleifshöfði

Hjörleifshöfði is a tuya cliff of 722 feet (220 m). On the cape stand the ruins of an old farm and a Viking burial mound.

Come here if you like history and open landscape. Skip it if you prefer sights in the village itself, since the cape lies away from Víkurbraut.

The Vík Culture Walk and Treasure Quest

Vík has long been an important trading post for farmers along the south coast of Iceland. The Vík Culture Walk is a tour of the village, and the Vík Treasure Quest is another way to explore it.

Both suit a first afternoon on foot, before heading to the mountain or the beach.

When is the best time to visit Vík for sightseeing?

From January to March, highs stay at 40 to 41°F (4 to 5°C) and about 18 days a month bring rain, so sightseeing here means waterproof layers. April warms to 45°F (7°C) with 15 rainy days, and May reaches 50°F (10°C) with 13. June is the mildest of these months at 54°F (12°C), with 11 rainy days, which is the best of them for the mountain walks and beach days. Þakgil Canyon is accessible in summer only.

Beaches and outdoor things to do in Vík

Black sand beaches run along the south of Vík. Many ships stranded on the black beaches of South Iceland, and they are the site of shipwrecks and disasters. A horse riding tour follows the black sand beach overlooking the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. Sólheimasandur is a sand desert formed by glacial outburst floods from the Katla volcano system, and ATV tours run on its black sand beaches.

Away from the sand, there are numerous hiking routes and a golf course on the outskirts of Vík. Ziplining goes through the Grafargil canyon, and paragliding is on offer. Mýrdalsjökull glacier has guided glacier hikes, ice cave explorations all year round, glacier-lagoon kayaking and snowmobiling.

Day trips from Vík

Reynisfjall gives views over the Atlantic and its bird cliffs. A walk up Hatta mountain gives a view over the glacier and Heiðarvatn lake.

Þakgil Canyon is another outing, but it is accessible in summer only.

Things to do in Vík at night

Leikskálar hosts events, festivals, concerts, meetings and performances throughout the year, so check its program for your dates.

Three festivals are held every year in Vík í Mýrdal. Vor í Vík and Geopark Week both fall in the third week of April. The Mýrdalshlaup off-road race is held every May.

Things to do in Vík with kids

The Vík Treasure Quest is a way to explore the village as a game.

The Hafnleysa Maritime Museum is free for children under 12, and 12 to 16 year-olds pay 200 ISK. The Katla exhibition is free too. The beaches have a hard history, since many ships stranded there, so keep children back from the water.