Vík í Mýrdal

Understand

Vík is a very small village, with about 300 inhabitants.

The village and the surrounding countryside are in constant danger of floods that might result from a potential volcanic eruption, which has been expected for many years now. Day to day, however, Vík is very safe!

On the other side of the village lies the Atlantic Ocean which is treacherous in these parts, waves can be big and small boats easily get swallowed up if the crews are not experienced enough. While there is no reason to worry about the volcano if you're a tourist, you should be very careful going into the ocean — there have been cases of tourists drowning when caught by waves on the beach near Vík.

Get in

Vík is located on Iceland's famous Ring Road. There are few other roads in the area.

Vík is located 187 km (116 mi) east of Reykjavík and 270 km (178 mi) southwest of Höfn. The closest airport is Keflavík International Airport, near Reykjavík. The drive from the airport, which has rental cars available, is about three hours.

If you do not want to rent a car, Strætó operates buses from Reykjavík to the . The trip is about 3 hours 40 minutes, including a 50-minute layover in Selfoss (departs 12:00, arrives 15:42) or, in the summer, Skógar. The bus generally operates seven times a week, although weekend and holiday schedules sometimes vary. Bus fare is 38-70 kr. That said, having access to a car in Vík is very useful in order to go to the many amazing sites in the area.

Get around

Vík is absolutely tiny (1.5 km/1 mi at its widest point), so walking around the village is easy. For the many amazing sites in the surrounding area, however, it's a good idea to have a well-equipped car, preferably with four-wheel drive, because many of the interesting sights are only accessible via gravel tracks. Alternatively, most hotels can help arrange transportation to many of the popular sites around the area.

See

thumb|Basalt sea stack in a black lava beach under Reynisfjall near Vík

Do

There are many activities to be enjoyed if you are visiting Vík í Mýrdal. If you are into hiking you will find endless routes to take advantage of — there isn't another settlement in a radius of over 60 km so you will not be disturbed by much on your walks. Jeep tours are available as well as different types of guided tours for those who enjoy bird-watching, want to look at geologic formations, explore a glacier or even see a crashed U.S. Navy airplane.

Buy

You can stock up on food from the local grocery store here because there are no other nearby supermarkets. If you want to buy any alcohol head up for the state-run liquor store .

Eat

There is a good choice of eateries in Vik suitable for most tastes and budgets. Fish and lamb are some of the more popular items on most menus. Vegetarian options are available at nearly all restaurants.

Drink

As most restaurants also serve beer and wine, you can have a drink in a variety of settings in Vik. From the more informal and easy going atmosphere of the Strondin Bistro and Bar to the more formal surroundings of some of the hotel bars like the Icelandair Hotel. A few have happy hour specials with cheaper drink prices in the late afternoon.

Sleep

You can find a variety of accommodation options here, however it can get very busy during the summer months so it's a good idea to book well in advance.

Connect

Free wifi is often available at hotels, restaurants, and stores.