Where to stay in Vík í Mýrdal
Vík í Mýrdal is 180 km south-east of Reykjavík, roughly 2h 30 on the ring road in good conditions. It is Iceland’s black-sand-beach town, the pin on every South Coast itinerary, and a mandatory ring road stop. Most travellers do it as an overnight; we would argue for two nights, because Reynisfjara at sunrise is worth staying for and Dyrhólaey benefits from an unhurried afternoon.
Three we recommend
Hotel Kría
The newest full-service hotel in town, opened 2022, five minutes’ walk from Reynisfjara access via the Reynisfjall road. Rooms are minimalist Nordic with proper blackout curtains, and the restaurant runs a solid arctic char and lamb menu.
Price band: $260 to $380 per night (ISK 36,000 to 53,000)
Hotel Vík í Mýrdal
The older mid-range option, walkable to the church on the hill and the town’s two restaurants. Bookings.com’s aggregate score has held steady above 8.5 for four years, which for Iceland at this price is a reliable signal.
Price band: $220 to $310 per night (ISK 30,000 to 43,000)
Magma Hotel
Ten minutes east of Vík on the ring road, quieter than the town itself, with a small hot tub that faces the mountains. The 28 rooms are individual cabins, which suits light sleepers who find hotel-hallway noise a problem.
Price band: $280 to $400 per night (ISK 39,000 to 55,000)
Practical tips
- Reynisfjara has killed several tourists in the past decade; stay behind the safety line and watch the sneaker waves, they are not marketing exaggeration.
- Vík has one supermarket (Krónan) and it closes at 21:00; buy dinner supplies on the way in from Selfoss if you are self-catering.
- The petrol stations at Vík and at Skaftafell are 130 km apart; fill up before leaving town if you are pushing east toward Jökulsárlón.