With over 4,000 miles of coastline to explore, Iceland’s beaches range from black sand beauties to golden coast with stunning backdrops to match.
You might not expect a chilly destination like Iceland to have fantastic beaches, but with fascinatingly diverse stretches of sand, there’s so much to explore along this country’s shores.
Read on to learn more about the top eight Iceland beaches, including maps and travel tips!
Iceland Beaches Map
1/ Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
- Where: Southern Coast
- How to get there: Take the Ring Road (Route 1) south out of Reykjavik before turning right onto Route 215 to reach the car park for Reynisfjara.
- Time to visit: Summer is the best time to visit Reynisfjara as it’s easy to reach, although there will be significant crowds. Winter is equally beautiful as the beach is often covered in snow but it can be more difficult to get to due to weather conditions.
Reynisfjara is one of the most popular black sand beach in Iceland, although equally as dangerous. Known for its “sneaker” waves that have been known to drown unsuspecting visitors, this is Iceland’s quintessential black sand beach. At the far eastern end of the beach, you’ll find striking basalt column sea stacks and also black lava rocks.
2/ Diamond Beach
- Where: Southern Coast of iceland
- How to get there: Follow the Ring Road (Route 1) south out of Reykjavik. Diamond Beach is located just beside the road, across from the Jokulsarlon Lagoon.
- Time to visit: Diamond Beach can be visited at any time of year. The long days of summer give you ample time to visit throughout the day while seeing the contrast between snow and the sparkling chunks of glacier is otherworldly. Winter does present more challenges in terms of getting to the beach on your own due to weather conditions.
A black sand beach littered with sparkling chunks of ice, Diamond Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Iceland. Situated right beside the Jokulsarlon glacier Lagoon, huge pieces of ice break off from the Vatnajokull Glacier and float into the ocean, washing up on Diamond Beach. Walk between these twinkling ice cubes at any time of year for unbelievable views.
- Want to know more about Diamond beach? Read our Complete Diamond Beach Iceland guide
3/ Ytri-Tunga Seal Beach
- Where: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- How to get there: Take the Ring Road (Route 1) north out of Reykjavik until you reach the gateway to the Snæfellsness Peninsula in Borgarnes. Turn left onto Route 54 and follow it until you reach the short turn-off for Ytri-Tunga.
- Time to visit: Summer is the best time to visit Ytri-Tunga Beach, as this is the only time of year to see the famous seal colony.
Known for its golden sand and thriving summer seal colony, Ytri-Tunga Beach is a rarity in Iceland and well worth a summer trip. Typically strewn with huge clumps of seaweed, visitors should keep their distance from the seals to help prevent distress, especially during pupping season.
4/ Djúpalónssandur Black Beach
- Where: Snæfellsnes Peninsula
- How to get there: Take the Ring Road (Route 1) north out of Reykjavik until you reach the gateway to the Snæfellsness Peninsula in Borgarnes. Turn left onto Route 54 and follow it until you reach Utnesvegur Road. You’ll make a left turn on Route 572 near the tip of the peninsula, leading to Djupalonssandur Beach.
- Time to visit: The best time to visit Djupalonssandur Beach is in the summer months, as it can be treacherous to reach in winter.
Directly translated as black lava pearl beach, Djupalonssandur Beach is a crescent-shaped, black pebble beach tucked near the end of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Aside from being a striking beautiful stretch of coast to explore, this beach is also historic.
Visitors will find four lifting stones still scattered on the beach. These were originally used by local fishermen to test their strength. You’ll also find the remnants of a shipwrecked British trawler along Djupalonssandur Beach.
5/ Nautholsvik Golden white Sand Geothermal Beach
photo from Nautholsvik bay
- Where: Reykjavik
- How to get there: Nautholsvik is located at the southern end of Reykjavik Domestic Airport
- Time to visit: You can visit Nauthólsvík Beach at any time of year. You can switch between the icy-cold natural beach and hop into the manmade geothermal pools.
Although Iceland is known for its black sand beaches, Nautholsvik is a striking golden sand. This beach is also unique for being located in the city of Reykjavik. With both a naturally occurring beach and a manmade geothermal lagoon, this beach has several amenities, including changing rooms, steam baths, and hot tubs. Hours vary throughout the year, so be sure to double-check before heading over.
6/ Raudasandur Red Sand Beach
- Where: Westfjords
- How to get there: Take the Ring Road (Route 1) north out of Reykjavik before turning left onto Route 60. Weave your way through scenic fjords and along the ocean until you reach Route 62. Follow this road until you come to a left turn for Route 612, and follow it for a few minutes before turning left again on Route 614.
- Time to visit: Visit Raudasandur from April to September. However, you can only reach the beach during low tide.
Raudasandur is translating to “Red Sand,” Raudasandur Beach is one of the most jaw-dropping beaches in the entire country. Located in the remote Westfjords, Raudasandur Beach’s sand changes color depending on if it’s wet or dry. Made of crushed red scallop shells, it appears red when wet and yellow when dry. Framed by rugged, sheer cliffs, this beach is almost always empty, meaning you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
7/ Stokksnes Black Sand Beach with a Backdrop of Vestrahorn
- Where: Southeast
- How to get there: Follow the Ring Road (Route 1) south out of Reykjavik. Follow it for about 280 miles to Stokksnesvegur Road. You’ll pass by the Vestrahorn Campground, continuing to the end of the road to find the parking area for Stokksnes Beach.
- Time to visit: Accessible year-round, Stokksnes Beach is one of the most photo-worthy destinations in Iceland. Visitors might have difficulty reaching Stokksnes in the winter due to ice and snow on roadways.
With the stunning backdrop of Vestrahorn, this black sand beach is even more scenic in the fall and winter, with snow capped mountains in the distance. Aside from strolling around this windswept beach, you’ll also find a lighthouse and a reproduction Viking village.
8/ Solheimasandur Black Sand Beach with DC-3 plane wreck
- Where: South Coast
- How to get there: Follow the Ring Road (Route 1) south out of Reykjavik until you reach the parking lot for Solheimasandur Beach.
- Time to visit: It’s possible to visit Solheimasandur Beach at any time of year, but winter can bring high winds and freezing temperatures.
Best known for its DC-3 plane wreck, which rests on this black sand beach, Solheimasandur is an easy day trip from Reykjavik. This massive sand plane located in South Iceland was created during an eruption of the Katla Volcano. The US Navy plane crashed in 1973, and while everyone survived, the plane was left and is simply a photo opp today.
Conclusion
No matter which of these incredible Iceland beaches you decide to visit, you’ll be enchanted by the diversity and rugged quality of Iceland’s beautiful stretches of coastline.
The best way to see these Icelandic beaches is by renting a car. You’ll have the flexibility to stop at any beach, spending as much time as you’d like. You’ll also be able to stop by any other amazing locations you pass by.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive rental car to connect the dots, Firefly Iceland Rental Car is the way to go! Not only will you find some of the best rates in Iceland, but you’ll also have their expert advice to rely on should you need help planning your trip.
