Visit Reynisfjara black sand beach from Reykjavik

If you are looking for ideas to plan what to see and do in Reykjavik, then you have to consider Reynisfjara black sand beach. It is located in the southern part of the country, just like the capital. It is also one of the most visited destinations in the whole country.

I have investigated the alternatives that you have at your disposal if you decide to visit this place during your next trip to the Icelandic territory, as well as I have prepared a series of recommendations to make the excursion as pleasant as possible.

The excursions that leave from the center of the capital and take you to the black sand beach Reynisfjara are the best alternative you have at your disposal if you want to comfortably reach this point of the South Coast from Reykjavik.

The main reason why this alternative is the most comfortable is that they are package tours that include everything you might need on an excursion like this. Therefore, you only have to worry about enjoying the journey and marveling at a landscape as peculiar as this one.

Most of these trips offer stops along the way so you can eat at a restaurant, but the real attraction of the whole thing is that the visit to this famous beach is accompanied by other very relevant and interesting sites in southern Iceland.

For example, almost all tours departing from Reykjavik that have the black sand beach Reynisfjara as destination will also have stops at the Skógafoss waterfall.

This is undoubtedly one of Iceland' s finest waterfalls and has become an important site for filming movies that seek inspiration from peculiar landscapes of our own planet.

A visit to the Sólheimajökull glacier is another of the most common stops on an excursion that is oriented to tour the wonders of the Icelandic south coast.

This polar ice mass is the 4th largest in extension within the whole island. A short walk to a lake formed by the retreat of the glacier is part of this stage of the trip.

The Seljalandsfoss waterfall, known to be passable from its inner side, along with other volcanoes in the area as the Hekla and Eyjafjallajokull volcano, complete the usual itinerary of this type of excursions.

So trying to visit the black sand beach of Reynisfjara in a planned excursion will allow you to explore the whole area near it at the same expense and without having to waste more days of your itinerary going to the same corner of the country again.

On the other hand, there is the fact that the conditions offered by these tours are usually divided under very specific criteria. I will detail them below so that you can choose the one that best suits your needs and requirements.

Details of interest

• Prices: almost all excursions to the black sand beach of Reynisfjara usually cost between 75 and 90 euros per adult, while young people between 15 and 8 years pay rates around 40 or 50 euros. Some offer free trips for children under 8 or 10 years old, but it all depends on the company chosen.
• Duration: the average duration of an excursion like this, knowing that it has approximately 4 or 5 stops plus a stop for lunch, is usually about 10 or 11 hours. You can't overlook the fact that most of them depart from Reykjavik bus station, but at the same time they offer you a pick up and drop off directly to your accommodation for a couple of euros extra.
• Means of transport: depending on whether it is a large group tour or a small group tour, you may get a coach, a minibus or a luxury bus. Something relevant is that the tours for smaller groups are the ones that are closer to that rate of 90 euros per adult person.
• Conditions: almost all tours with an itinerary like this one include an English-speaking guide who will accompany you both to the black sand beach of Reynisfjara and to the other stops on the trip. Some even come with an audio guide that tells you interesting details about Icelandic history and the importance of the south of the country for the development of Viking societies. The vehicles are always air-conditioned to keep out the cold temperatures that characterize the island and free wifi is a usual perk that comes included with the transportation service.
• Advantages: With a fully planned excursion, you don't have to deal with the unforeseen events associated with a self-guided trip. In addition, the simple fact that a personalized guide is included in the tour, you are taken to places where you can buy your food and that a couple of other iconic sites are included in the route, establishes this type of excursion as the best alternative to get to know this beautiful beach if you are visiting Reykjavik.

There is also a 2-day excursion to the black sand beach Reynisfjara next to the blue ice caves.

If a single day seems insufficient to get to know this part of Iceland's southern coast, then you will be pleased to know that you also have at your disposal an excursion that takes you to the black sand beach Reynisfjara to stay in a beautiful Icelandic accommodation and the next day continue touring other natural wonders.

These excursions include breakfasts and hotel accommodation in the rate, which is usually around 450 euros per person. A price that also includes the guide and transportation in a luxurious minibus with wifi and air conditioning on board.

Its main feature is that it not only focuses on the beach and its surroundings, as this two-day excursion takes you to three times as many attractions as a conventional 10-hour tour.

They even combine several means of transportation, since to access the blue ice caves it is necessary to get on a super jeep that will give you an adrenaline-filled ride on the surface of a glacier.

If you have rented a private car and you consider that driving through South Iceland will be something entertaining for you and your family, then you should know that this is the only other alternative you have at your disposal to get to this area from Reykjavik.

There is no public transportation that will take you to this beach. At the same time, paying a cab round trip would be completely unfeasible, since the capital and this beach are separated by 180 km. This is such a long distance that the bill will easily exceed 300 euros.

So if you have a handy car you just have to take the main road of the country, which is known as Ring Road by the locals.
You will have to be behind the wheel for about 2.5 hours and your final destination should be Vík í Mýrdal.

When you are on your way to this picturesque town you will notice that the two black sand beaches, including Reynisfjara, are only a few kilometers before you reach Vik. So they are accessible to you if you take some of the detours that are on the main road. Their orientation is to the right and each and every one of them is well signposted.

One thing I can assure you is that, even though driving is a bit tiring, it is still one of those things to do in Iceland if you visit it with your family.

Road trips tend to be a fun experience for many family groups, especially for those who have small children and know that a bus can be exhausting for someone their age.

Places to visit if you go on your own

One of the places you have to visit if you drive to this beach in a private car is the Dyrhólaey cliff.

You will quickly recognize this site by the gigantic rock of 120 meters long that forms 2 impressive arches over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

You can get there thanks to a dirt and stone track and if you continue walking you will reach the Dyrhólaey lighthouse, which is located right on one of the most beautiful viewpoints of the entire Icelandic coast.

The towering basalt columns that meet one on top of the other on the cliffs of the beach, the wide coastline full of tiny black volcanic rocks and the high towers of the same volcanic material are some of the corners of the beach that can not miss on your visit.

If you travel in winter you will have the opportunity to see the beautiful contrast between the snow and the black sand of this kilometer-long beach and you can even observe an impressive natural phenomenon. This consists of the formation of small ice structures that reach the coast by the strong tides of this season of the year.

It is important that you are aware of the details that distinguish Reynisfjara black sand beach as a destination worth visiting if you are on vacation in Iceland.

It is normal that you are interested in visiting this magical place, but at the same time there are so many attractions in this beautiful country that you have to adjust the list of places to visit according to the limitations of your budget and the time you have available.

Therefore, here are some very specific reasons that make Reynisfjara black sand beach an unforgettable and recommended spot for your tourist itinerary, as well as a visit to the best hot springs in Iceland or horseback riding tours in the South Icelandic countryside from Reykjavik.

It is a natural wonder

Few beaches around the world have such a significant extension as this one and much less have a black sand of volcanic origin from the beginning of the shore to the other end of it.

The simple fact that the beach has a prehistoric and volcanic origin already makes it one of the most interesting places in the whole country.

But if you add the fact that it is a black beach that is usually covered with snow or ice during half of the year, then it becomes even more interesting for any tourist enthusiastic about unusual landscapes.

Part of the island's iconic sites

If you do a little search on the internet about which are the most touristic and photographed places in Iceland, this beach will appear among the first options on the list.

So it is not such a bad idea to visit a place that for obvious reasons continues to lead the lists of the best places to visit in the south of Iceland if you have a short or quick visit in Reykjavik.

Besides, the fact that you can take advantage of the trip to visit other great attractions in the same itinerary, in the same day, is extremely favorable for your pocket and for your time management.

It is located in an accessible place

Despite the two and a half hour drive from Reykjavik to Reynisfjara black sand beach, it is still true that it is located at a point that is really accessible in the Icelandic national territory.

Keep in mind that this is an important natural attraction that is still located on the southern tip of the country and that implies that you don't have to look for alternative accommodations to visit it.

Also, the fact that you don't have to make connections between different roads is somewhat convenient if you have trouble finding your way around when you are behind the wheel.

If you are traveling on your own, I have to recommend that you bring snacks for the trip, as it is not the same for a guided tour to take you to a restaurant with quality guarantees as it is for you to experiment to see if you are lucky enough to find a place with food that you really feel like eating.

Another key aspect is clothing, as this is a very windy area and therefore it is essential that you wear good coats. Comfortable and suitable footwear is also necessary for walking several kilometers over such uneven terrain as volcanic sand.

The last recommendation I have to make is that you do not venture to try to put your feet in the water of the beach, as the waves are quite aggressive and surprising, which gives it the ability to drag you into the sea in the blink of an eye.

If you want to get in more direct contact with the water of the North Atlantic you can join some of the best boat tours and cruises along the coast of Iceland, I guarantee it will be an experience just as fun and interesting as this one.