Golden Sands: 9 Best Beaches to Visit in Iceland

1. Djúpalónssandur Beach

Situated north of Reykjavik on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is Djúpalónssandur Beach. Known for its captivating black pebbles, it is a beach that shouldn't be missed.

This Icelandic beach is famous for its backdrop of lava rock cliffs, creating a beautiful sight! For that reason alone, photographers visit from all over to capture a photograph of it.

Djúpalónssandur Beach has a historical past. You can even see the remains of an ancient British trawler from its shipwreck in 1948. It is one of the best beaches in Iceland for tourists and history lovers.

How To Get To Djúpalónssandur Beach

You can reach Djúpalónssandur Beach by renting a car and driving three hours north of Reykjavik. You will spend your time driving along the scenic Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

Drive Ring Road until you reach Borgarnes, which is about 43 miles or 70 kilometers from Reykjavik.

There you will drive another 43 miles or 70 kilometers until you get to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Drive on Route 54 until you see signs for Djúpalónssandur Beach.

2. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

If you have heard of Iceland, you have likely heard of the famous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. It is one of the most popular beaches in Iceland and frequently tops lists of the best beaches in the world.

Admire the Reynisdrangar basalt columns and massive sea stacks, which shoot 66 meters or 217 feet from the ocean floor. When the lava from eruptions cooled down, the unique rock formations were formed.

Then, walk along the black sand and enjoy the Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach Trail, a 0.8-mile hike. This unique trail will take you to the beach as you walk along the sea. Educational signs along the way explain the beach and its history.

How To Get To Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach

Take the two-and-a-half-hour drive southeast of Reykjavik to Southern Iceland. The beach is easy to reach since it is located along the infamous Ring Road. You will drive the road for 110 miles southeast of Reykjavik.

Turn off Ring Road and onto Road 215, a paved road that leads to the parking lot.

3. Rauðasandur Red Sand Beach

Iceland has more than just black sand beaches for you to marvel at. The country also has a red sand beach, Rauðasandur. The beach is nestled in the remote region of the Westfjords. A beautiful place to enjoy your Iceland beach vacation.

The beach’s red and gold sand draws visitors from all over the country. The sand appears red due to crushed scallop shells combined with black volcanic minerals.

When the tides change, the colors change with them, illuminating the red and gold sand differently throughout the day.

You can hike along the marked trails and viewpoints along the surrounding cliffs. The remoteness of Rauðasandur Red Sand Beach in Iceland is one of the best reasons to visit!

How To Get to To Rauðasandur Red Sand Beach

You can reach this hidden gem by taking a 5-hour road trip with your Iceland rental car to the Westfjords. From Reykjavik, you will take Route 1 for 122 miles or 197 kilometers until you reach the town of Búðardalur.

Then, you will turn onto Road 6, also known as Road 60. Drive this road for 27 miles or 60 kilometers. Then make a left turn onto Road 619, also known as Rauðasandsvegur.

Take this road for 6 miles or 10 kilometers until you see parking signs for Rauðasandur Red Sand Beach.

4. Diamond Beach

Have you ever wanted to admire glistening ice chunks that resemble shiny diamonds? Well, you can do it by visiting the striking Diamond Beach. This top Icelandic beach is a literal gem, and we will tell you why!

Diamond Beach is a Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain that is fed from the Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. This means there are 1,000-year-old icebergs that float in the water and later wash up on the beach. You can see hundreds of them bobbing around while glistening in the water.

The beach itself has eleven miles of striking black sand for you to walk along. The blank sand, combined with the icy glaciers, creates an out-of-this-world scene. You will truly feel like you are visiting another planet.

Photography is a popular activity here, and many travel from all over to take a shot. Sunset is the most beautiful time to visit, as the colors ricochet off the icebergs.

You can visit Diamond Beach any time of the year, too. While summer is the most popular time to visit, winter brings its own beauty. You may even see the Northern lights shine through the icebergs if you are lucky enough!

How to Get to Diamond Beach

It's a five-hour drive from Reykjavik to Diamond Beach, so it's clearly not a day trip from the capital. Instead, spend the night at Vik or a cozy guesthouse along the way, and make the beach a stop on your Ring Road itinerary.

It is an easy route because you will drive Ring Road the entire time, which means you can add some extra spots along the way.

5. Breidavik Beach

We are covering all of the colors today regarding beautiful beaches in Iceland. This is why Breidavik Beach earns a spot on our list. This beach is famous for its golden sand.

When the days are sunny, and the water is bright, the beach has a tropical vibe to it. For that reason alone, many come here to have a beach vacation right in Iceland.

This is also an amazing area for birdwatching. Breiðavík is near the Látrabjarg birdwatching cliffs. Puffins come here to migrate and rest on the rocks during summer. In my opinion, admiring puffins while lying on a golden beach seems like the perfect Iceland beach holiday.

How to Get to Breidavik Beach

To reach Breidavik Beach, take a road trip from Reykjavik to the remote Wesfjotds. This five-and-a-half-hour drive will bring you north along Ring Road.

You will then stay left onto Route 60 and continue west until you reach Breidavik Beach. Drive over the mountain pass before reaching Hótel Breiðavík. Once you see the hotel, the beach is a few minutes away.

It's probably better to complete the journey in two days. Otherwise, you might want to go to Breidavik as part of your Westfjords itinerary on your way back to Reykjavik.

6. Stokksnes Black Sand Beach

While all of Iceland’s beaches are gorgeous, some have a historic past. Stokksnes Black Sand Beach in Southeast Iceland is one of those places. So, of course, we gave it a place on our Iceland beach guide.

The Stokksnes Peninsula is one of the earliest places where Icelanders settled in the 9th century. Stokksnes was also used as a base for the British Army in World War II.

While the beach is beautiful during the day, it can get a little creepy at night. The beach is said to have had the most shipwrecks in Iceland.

Haunted documentary filmmakers come to Stokksnes Beach to capture its spooky moments. They have reported seeing footprints in the sand that led straight into the way, so it is no wonder that the beach earned the nickname " Sea of Ghosts."

If you want to avoid haunting sightings, visit during the day! The beach has a scenic lighthouse at the end of the causeway. Stokksnes Lighthouse is a fun place to explore and take pictures.

Whether you want to visit at night or during the day, Stokksnes Black Sand Beach is worth the trip.

How to Get to Stokksnes Black Sand Beach

Get in your Iceland rental car and hit the open road to the Stokksnes peninsula. This 6-hour drive will bring you to Iceland’s south coast.

When leaving Reykjavik, you will take Ring Road for 280 miles or 451 km. Then, you will turn onto Route 99 towards Höfn. Much like Diamond Beach, it's better to split the journey into several days. Since the beach is close to Höfn, staying there might be a good idea. After spending the night in Höfn, return to the Ring Road and turn right into Stokksnesvegur. From there, it's pretty straightforward. The total journey takes no more than 20-25 minutes.

7. Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach

Take a Mediterranean-style vacation when visiting Iceland by spending your day at the Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach. Thanks to its proximity to Reykjavik, the beach has the nickname “Paradise in the City.”

The beach is located in the historic town of Nauthóll, which was built in 1850. The ocean sits at the end of an old airplane runway that was used for Seaplanes in World War II.

This beach is special because it is one of the few swimming beaches in Iceland. This makes it one of the top Iceland beach attractions!

Spend your day laying out and soaking up the sun before taking a dip into the man-made lagoon. The water in the swimming area is around 60° F or 15°°C in summer.

After swimming, make your way over to the Sedation Pool. The long rectangular pool sits behind the beach. You can view the ocean right from the geothermally heated hot tub.

In addition, there is a smaller Beach Pool right next to the ocean. This pool is cooler,, which is a refreshing transition from the Sedation Pool. You can even feel the mist of the waves as you soak.

There is a small entrance fee of $6 or 810 ISK to access the beach. This gives you access to their changing facilities, hot pools, and more!

How To Get To Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach

One of the best perks of this beach is that it is only a five-minute drive from downtown Reykjavik. You can take the quick 2-mile (3.4 km) road trip to the beach, or you can leave your rental car at your hotel and take a long walk.

If you choose to drive, go northwest on Vonarstræti toward Suðurgata. Then, make a left turn onto Suðurgata.

Once you reach the roundabout, take the third exit onto Route 49. From there, you will make a right turn onto Nauthólsvegur.

Then, you will take the first exit on the next roundabout. From there, continue until you see signs for the Geothermal Beach.

8. Sólheimasandur

In 1973, a tiny DC plane crashed onto the black sand beach of Sólheimasandur. Luckily, everyone on board survived the crash landing. Today, the shell of an airplane sits on the vibrant blank sand beach. This is why Sólheimasandur Black Sand Beach is a must-visit beach in Iceland.

This adventure is less of a beach day and more of a thrilling hiking experience. You will hike for two miles to access the DC-3 Plane, which is nestled in the sand right next to the water. Once you feel the ocean breeze on your face, you will know you are getting close.

You can have a unique beach day here. Pack your favorite snacks and a towel to sit out and admire the plane. If you are feeling courageous, you can even climb to the top. Or sit where the cockpit used to be.

Some even hike here to see the Northern Lights, thanks to the minimal light pollution in the area. It may not be one of Iceland's typical black beaches, but it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We have written up a guide for Sólheimasandur that breaks down how you can enjoy a full day here!

How To Get To Sólheimasandur

Take the two-hour and fifteen-minute drive south of Reykjavik.

Head southeast on the Ring Road until you see the sign for the Parking Area.

You will begin your hike from the parking area.

9. Dyrhólaey Beach

Spend some time enjoying the southernmost point in Iceland, the Dyrhólaey Peninsula. The peninsula is already famous for its rock arch and birdwatching. But, there is another gem here, Dyrhólaey Beach.

This beach is just west of the infamous Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach. On a clear day, you can see the basalt columns and sea stacks in the distance.

The black sand beach has the nickname Endless Beach. That is because you can see it stretch for miles and miles! Spend your time walking down the beach while admiring your surroundings.

To How To Get To Dyrhólaey Beach

The beach is easily accessible since it's only two and a half hours' drive from Reykjavik.

You will drive down east on Ring Road for most of your drive. Then you will reach road 218, where you will turn immediately before. Drive the road until you come to the end, where there will be an optional turn.

If you want to visit the beach, go to Lower Dyrholaey, and you will continue to drive straight down the road.

You can make a right up the hill to explore upper Dyrhólaey. We recommend doing both since the whole peninsula is breathtaking.

The Dyrhólaey Peninsula is a trip of its own. Our guide will help you explore the entire area.

Safety Comes First, Always

Iceland’s beaches have a reputation for being dangerous. This is because of the random sneaker waves that come out of nowhere. These waves have taken the lives of tourists in the past. Most of the fatalities happened at Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland’s most popular tourist area.

We don’t want you to be scared to visit the beaches, since there is a way to explore safely. Most importantly, never turn your back on the water. Also, do not get too close to the water.

You can enjoy and photograph the beaches from a safe distance and still get the same beautiful outcome.

Iceland's waters are rough, which is why most are unswimmable. Offshore currents and arctic water are just a few reasons to avoid getting in. Since the black sand beaches are not swimmable, do not get in the water. Only do so if there is a sign saying it is safe.

If you are planning a beach day, set up your beach equipment far back from the water. That way, if a sneaker wave comes, you will still be at a safe distance.

It is rare to experience one, but things do happen. Iceland is a volcanic country with intense weather, which also makes it one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Rental Vehicles for Visiting Iceland’s Beaches

Now that you have a list of Iceland beaches to explore, you can reserve your rental vehicle. We have plenty of options when it comes to vehicle types. Here is an overview of each type!

Standard

If you are hitting the beach solo or with your favorite person, reserve a small rental car. These vehicles are compact, cozy, and reliable.

They are ideal for driving on paved roads around Iceland. Fortunately, most of the beaches on our list are accessed by paved roads.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide on our standard rental cars!

Midsize

Our midsize rental vehicles are a little bigger than our standard vehicles. That means you can bring anywhere from 3-4 people to your Iceland beach day.

These vehicles are still great for 2 people too who need more luggage space.

SUV

Depending on which beach you visit, a 4X4 SUV may be better for you. Our fleet of SUVs is infamous for handling gravel roads and rough terrain. They are also reliable if you hit rough weather or rainstorms.

Most of our SUVs are 4X4 vehicles too, so you can drive Iceland’s mountainous F-Roads. Our SUVs are built for adventures and thrill seekers!

Read our guide on why an SUV rental can be necessary in Iceland.

Minivan

It is time to bring the whole family to Iceland’s beaches! You can do this with ease by reserving one of our Minivans. These large vehicles can fit 7-9 people comfortably.

Did we mention you will also have plenty of room for all of your beach necessities? That means back the cooler full of favorite snacks and local cuisine.

Want to know what the Best Family Minivan to Rent in Iceland is? Check out our guide.

Conclusion

Iceland has so many beaches for you to enjoy, and they are all just a road trip away. Spend your day soaking up the sun while admiring the views of the ocean in the distance. We couldn’t think of a better way to spend your holiday!

Frequently Asked Questions