Black sand beaches can be found all across the world in places such as the US, Japan, Costa Rica, and the Philippines. But they are a rarity and Iceland definitely boasts the most beaches in incredibly close proximity to one another. There are a few black sand beaches in Iceland that have become so famous that they are on many a traveler’s bucket list.
In this article, we tell you exactly what a black sand beach is, how they are formed, which are the most popular black beaches in Iceland, and the various ways you can visit these magnificent places.
What is a Black Sand Beach?
The name is pretty self-explanatory. It is a beach that, instead of the usual red or white sand you see in postcards, has distinct black sand. The sand usually consists of three materials; andesite, basalt, and volcanic glass.
How are Black Sand Beaches Formed?
The black sand you see on black beaches today didn’t start out that way. What you see today is merely the result of eroded volcanic material such as basalt rocks, lava, and other dark-colored minerals and rocks. This is because of how these beaches originally started MILLIONS of years ago.
When a volcano erupts near a coast, red-hot lava flows across the land. But when it reaches the ocean it suddenly cools off. When it does, it hardens and forms black volcanic rock. Then the elements get to work. Between the wind, the crashing waves, and good old time, the rock mass is slowly eroded and broken down into tiny pieces. These tiny pieces are the sand we can now run through our fingers on the black sand beaches.
Why Does Iceland Have so Many Black Sand Beaches?
Well, it’s not called the Land of Fire and Ice for nothing. Iceland is known for its volcanic activity. This volcanic activity is responsible for the natural hot springs all across the island, the diverse landscape, and, of course, the Icelandic black sand beaches. Iceland has both dormant as well as active volcanos and has an expected eruption rate of every 4 years.
The last eruption (Fagradallsfjall) occurred in August 2022 with lava flowing across the Meradalir valley. But the fact that we still have active volcanos and eruptions means that the black sand beaches in Iceland we mention in this article might not be the only ones the island will be seeing in the future.
Where are the Black Sand Beaches in Iceland?
Black sand beaches can be found all across the island. If you would like to tick a few off whilst on your trip to Iceland, these are some of the must-visit spots:
Reynisfjara - Vik, South Coast of Iceland
Reynisfjara is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Iceland and has been listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by National Geographic. Its contrast is breathtaking with the white foam of the waves crashing onto the black sand whilst even more blue water waves are slowly rolling in.
As an extra treat, you can visit the cave (Halsanefshellir) that was created by these ocean waves. Just before you expect a mammoth cave to explore. The cave actually collapsed in 2013, so what you’re left with today is something that resembles a giant dog that tried to dig underneath the cliff face.
Also, a word of warning. Just because it’s a beach and may look inviting to some in the summer months, this is NOT a beach you want to go take a quick dip due to extreme ocean currents.
In fact, you need to be extremely aware of your surroundings simply walking on this beach as it’s known for its “sneaker waves”. These waves are aptly named for the way they can sneak up on you.
Reynisfjara and its sneaker waves have taken many travelers’ lives, so you need to be careful when visiting this spot. You can watch a video of Reynisjfara beach being hit by a sneaker wave and see what it looks like when visitors get caught unaware.
Diamond Beach – Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, South Coast of Iceland
This is one of the most unique black sand beaches in Iceland. The name Diamond Beach is absolutely spot-on. The ice breaking off from the glacier gets swept to shore, making it seem like the beach is covered in sparkling diamonds when the sun hits them.
This is a visitor favorite – not just because of the perfect photo opp with a beach filled with diamonds, but also its close proximity to another popular tourist attraction, the Jökulsarlon Glacier Lagoon, and the fact that one can often see seals playing on the floating ice and in the waves.
Solheimasandur – Between Skogafoss Waterfall & Vik, South Coast of Iceland
Solheimasandur is one of the special black sand beaches in Iceland since its had a “walk on a black sand beach and get a free airplane wreck”-offer since 1990. But don’t worry, the Icelanders are not that macabre to keep a plane wreck – all the crew members survived the emergency landing.
The US Navy plane was not that lucky, though, and was written off and the remains were simply left at the scene. Today, the haunting image of the wreck on the black sand beach is a favorite amongst professional and amateur photographers – despite the not-so-haunting way it got there.
Dyrholaey – Vik, South Coast of Iceland
Dyrholaey also offers visitors more than just a walk on a black sand beach in Iceland. First, it impresses with a gigantic rock arch that the ocean carved out. Second, visitors can actually go out on this arch-shaped cliff and get spoiled with absolutely amazing panoramic views.
Third, visitors can also pop around to the quaint little lighthouse. And fourth, if you’re lucky enough to visit during the breeding season (May to August), you’ll also spot a few Puffins on your black sand beach walk.
Stokksnes – Höfn, East Iceland
Stokksnes is considered to be a bit of a hidden gem. It doesn’t see as many tourists as some of the other black beaches in Iceland we mention here, and this is probably one of the reasons why this should be part of your black sand beaches in Iceland itinerary.
You may very well end up having an entire beach to yourself! And it’s definitely one of the prettiest in our books. You have a backdrop of snow-covered mountains that meet the ocean and we’d say it’s definitely worth the 6-hour drive from Reykjavik. As an added bonus, it’s one of the Northern Light’s hot spots during the winter season.
Seltjörn – Reykjavik
This black sand beach in Iceland is perfect for those visitors who don’t have much time on the island and will stay in and around Reykjavik. Seltjörn is just a 10-minute drive from the city center.
But the one thing you need to be aware of is that the term black sand beach might be a little misleading in this case. Father time has definitely touched the beach, so the black has turned to more greyish. But since that’s pretty much all of our fates, who are we to judge?
Djupalonssandur aka The Black Lava Pearl Beach – Snæfellsjökull, West Iceland
This black sand beach, located close to the Snæfellsjökull volcano is like a bit of a time machine. Here you will find heavy ancient lifting stones as remnants of the native fishermen that used to live in this area. Also what’s left of a shipwrecked British fishing trawler.
We have to admit that with the right gloomy weather, this black sand beach can become quite eerie, but that’s probably yet another great photo opportunity.
Kirkjufjara – East of the Dyrholaey Arch, South Coast of Iceland
This is the baby beach of the black sand beaches when comparing sizes. But this peaceful and perfectly formed little beach that often gets overlooked definitely deserves some admiration.
Sadly, Kirkjufjara beach has been closed since 2017 due to safety concerns regarding the waves as well as rocks falling from the cliffs. So today, you’ll need to settle for taking a picture from the Dyrholaey rock formation.
Myvatn – Lake Myvatn, Northern Iceland
This is the only black sand beach in Iceland that’s fairly safe to swim at. It’s for this reason that many families opt to visit the beach. It’s also very easily accessible and just a short drive from Ring Road 1.
How Can I Get to See a Black Sand Beach in Iceland?
Well, first you need to travel to Iceland silly! But all joking aside there are a few ways you can visit these magnificent beaches. You can opt for booking a spot on a guided tour (but these can get pretty expensive if you do a lot of them). You can also opt to rent a vehicle and do day outings from the cities.
But if you go this route, you will obviously not be able to tick off all the black sand beaches on your Iceland bucket list. We believe the best way is to make a road trip out of your holiday.
By renting a car or campervan and going cross-country, you’ll easily be able to take a quick detour off the main road and visit each of these special sites.
Some Helpful Tips for Visiting a Black Sand Beach in Iceland
If this is the first time you’ll be visiting a black sand beach on the island, here are a few helpful tips to keep you safe and ensure a wonderful experience:
Never turn your back towards the sea. You can’t deal with a situation you didn’t even see coming in the first place.
Always bring a warm down jacket along with you to the beach as it’s often colder there and quite windy.
Do not even think about taking the chance and swimming at any other black sand beach than Myvatn. Even though most are not quite as dangerous as Reynisfjara they all still hold very real safety issues. And since there are no lifeguards, you’ll truly be on your own if you mess this one up.
Time to Create That Black Sand Beaches in Iceland Itinerary!
Now that we’ve answered all your questions such as “does Iceland have black sand beaches?” and “why is the sand black in Iceland?”, and we’ve given you the lowdown on all the must-visit black sand beaches in Iceland, it’s time to create the ultimate black sand beach itinerary and travel to Iceland!
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