The best beaches in Iceland

Fire and ice have shaped Iceland's glaciers, its mountains and the coves that stud its indented coast. From a black volcanic shoreline backed by mysterious basalt columns to a geothermal park dusted with blond sand, the beaches of Iceland are unlike anywhere else in the world.

Spending time outdoors is one of the best things to do in this startlingly beautiful country. These seven of the top beaches in Iceland are truly unmissable.

1. Reynisfjara

Best for sea stacks

Near the village of Vík in Southeast Iceland, Reynisfjara is arguably Iceland’s most famous beach. With stacked geometric basalt columns and a sweep of black sand, the beach is dark and moody but stunningly beautiful. It’s little wonder that Reynisfjara is such a firm favorite for travelers and locals.

Wander to the edge of the water and listen to the roaring waves of the Atlantic Ocean crashing around the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, emerging from the foam like monstrous fangs. These three basalt rocks are said to be the petrified remains of trolls that stayed out too late and were transformed into stone at sunrise. This mysterious piece of folklore only adds to the magic.

Planning tip: Reynisfjara is striking but also dangerous, and deadly waves can sneak up at any time – they're even called sneaker waves – and sweep away onlookers. This is no place for swimming or selfies with your back to the water.

• Location: South Iceland

• How to get there: Off the Ring Road (Rte 1), 12km west of Vík

• Parking: Yes

• Amenities: Restrooms and a restaurant

2. Djúpalónssandur

Best for rock formations

The pebbly shore of Djúpalónssandur sits cozily at the foot of Snæfellsjökull, a glacier-capped volcano about 200km northwest of Reykjavík. Djúpalónssandur means "Deep Lagoon’s Sand," a reference to the silent lake inland, though the Djúpalón lagoon is actually only 5m deep.

Ancient lava flows created some striking rock formations, including the impressive Söngklettur (Singing Rock), which is said to be protected by elves. Emerging from the sand are the rusted remnants of a shipwrecked British trawler, left as a monument to those who died there in 1948.

Planning tip: Come to stroll in a fairytale-like location, but keep a safe distance from the waves; they’re more dangerous than they appear.

• Location: West Iceland

• How to get there: Off Rte 574, at the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula

• Parking: Yes

• Amenities: Restrooms

3. Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach

Best for golden sand

This artificial geothermal beach is an ideal escape, just a few kilometers from downtown Reykjavík. Water that's geothermally heated to 15–19°C (59–66°F) is pumped into the lagoon during the summer months, making this one of the most appealing places to swim in the metropolitan area. Linger on the imported golden sand, or braver souls can swim out into the chilly sea for a hot-cold experience.

Planning tip: Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach is open year-round (closed Sundays and Mondays).

• Location: Reykjavík

• How to get there: On Nauthólsvegur, about 4km south of Reykjavík's Old Harbor

• Parking: Yes

• Amenities: Changing facilities, showers, steam baths and hot tubs

4. Fellsfjara

Best for icebergs

Have you ever walked among sparkling icebergs strewn across a stark and empty black sand beach? If not, add Fellsfjara, aka Diamond Beach, to your bucket list immediately. The frozen blocks that stud the shore are fragments of icebergs that broke off the nearby Breiðamerkurjökull, floated across Jökulsárlón and drifted out to sea, where they were broken up by waves, then washed back ashore.

Planning tip: New icebergs are constantly calving off the glacier, but resist the temptation to climb on any of the beached blocks. The edges are slippery and sharp.

• Location: South Iceland

• How to get there: Off the Ring Road, between Fagurhólsmýri and Kalfafellsstadur, 200km east of Vík

• Parking: Yes

• Amenities: No

5. Rauðisandur

Best for red sand

Rauðisandur translates to "Red Sands," and visitors will quickly see why. Stretching along the picturesque and remote coast of the Westfjords for over 10km, the lush red-toned sand meets looming cliffs and windswept grasslands on a completely unspoiled stretch of Icelandic shoreline.

Planning tip: The journey to remote Rauðisandur is lengthy (395km if you set out from Reykjavík). Camping options in the area add a bit more adventure to your stay. Just be ready for a restless night: the wind whispers eerily along the shore.

• Location: Westfjords

• How to get there: At the end of Rte 614, 60km from the ferry dock at Brjánslækur

• Parking: At the Melanes campsite

• Amenities: Restrooms at the Melanes campsite

6. Stokksnes Beach

Best for the northern lights

Where mountains meet the sea, an atmospheric beach framed by Vestrahorn's line of jagged peaks is dusted with charcoal-colored sand. Just a 20-minute drive from the town of Höfn in Southeast Iceland, this beach is one of Iceland's most distinctive, thanks to the sawtooth ridge on the far shore, which climbs to 454m. Vestrahorn's dark color and spiky formation are due to the high levels of iron and magnesium in its gabbro rock.

Planning tip: Come in winter to see the mountain covered in snow and watch the aurora borealis from the sandy beach.

• Location: Southeast Iceland

• How to get there: 5km off the Ring Road to reach Viking Café, 17km from Höfn

• Parking: Yes

• Amenities: Restrooms at Viking Café

7. Grótta Island

Best for birds

At the tip of the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula and set aside as a nature reserve, this island is a little bit of wilderness on the edge of Iceland's capital. Locals love the charming coastline, sprinkled with smooth stones and dark sand, and lorded over by a 19th-century lighthouse. At low tide, visitors can easily walk to the lighthouse to get a better look.

Thronged by seabirds, Grótta Island is one of the best spots for natural encounters in the Reykjavík area, and you can walk here from downtown. You might even catch a surfer or two trying out the waves off the peninsula.

Planning tip: With little light pollution, Grótta Island is one of the best places in Reykjavík to see the northern lights in winter.

• Location: Near Reykjavík

• How to get there: Eiðsgrandi to Norðurströnd, 4km from Reykjavík's Old Harbor

• Parking: Yes

• Amenities: No