From Iceland — Vík í Mýrdal: Nestled Under The Mountains, Shielded By The Sea

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Vík í Mýrdal: Nestled Under The Mountains, Shielded By The Sea

Vík í Mýrdal: Nestled Under The Mountains, Shielded By The Sea

CONTENT SPONSORED BY:
Hannah Jane Cohen
Photo by
Art Bicnick

Published February 28, 2019

Cocooned in by high cliffs on one side and the raging sea on the other, the town of Vík í Mýrdal is the beloved little oasis of the southern coast. A popular stop on road trips, the tiny settlement is a peaceful enclave full of nestling birds, frothy waves, charming guesthouses, and a myriad of outdoor activities, all watched over by the town’s iconic hillside church. For birdwatchers, adventure-goers, or any type of traveler, Vík provides numerous activities. Spend the day gazing out at the Reynisfjara beach, zip-lining down the Grafargil canyon, checking out the Lava Show, or you can simply enjoy your time in one of the loveliest towns in the country.

Choose a trip

Let’s hear it from you!


Name: Vanessa
Age: 36
From: United States

When did you arrive to Iceland? “This morning at 4:10 AM!” Vanessa says, laughing. “I haven’t slept yet. I just jumped on this South Coast tour.”

Why did you choose to come to Iceland? “It’s only a 4.5 hour flight from Boston and I had 5 days free so it was kind of a perfect amount of time,” Vanessa explains. “The main reason I am here is to see the Northern Lights, so hopefully they will be prominent this weekend!

How have you found Vík so far? “We just came from the Reynisfjara rock formations. It was beautiful, but very windy,” Vanessa says, grinning. “Plus, I’ve been watching this show on Netflix called ‘Sense8’ and they do a lot of filming there. It’s a gorgeous landscape.” She pauses. “I love the elements here: the severe wind, the drastic change in weather.”


Name: Gideon & Becky
Ages:  27 & 27
From: England

How did you hear about Vík? “We are on a bus tour traveling down the south coast,” Gideon says. “We saw the pictures of Vík and thought it looked amazing. We had to come here.”

Have you been to Iceland before? “No, this is our first time,” Gideon says. Becky quickly interjects, “And it’s perfect, just beautiful.”

How does Vík strike you? “This is probably the most scenic place we have ever seen,” Becky says with a bright smile. “We were just saying, the sea is so wild. It’s beautiful.”


Meet a local!


Name: Holly
Age: 37
From: United Kingdom
Occupation: The Tourist Information Centre at the Katla Centre

What is your favourite part of Vík? “The community,” Holly says quickly. “Here, people are very welcoming. They combine multicultural ways—whether that be food, events, holidays—so that people who move here feel welcome from the very beginning.” She smiles. “Then, of course, it’s a beautiful town by the sea. We are very lucky to live here.”

How do you like working with tourists and visitors? “For me, it’s very interesting,” she explains. “I love the geology around Iceland. It’s one of the main reasons I am here, so to share something I love with others is really nice.” Holly pauses. “Also, giving travellers the opportunity to do something on their bucket list. That could be seeing the northern lights, or booking them a glacier show. Vík has a lot to offer.”

What would you recommend for tourists when visiting Vík? “Lava show. Black beaches. Getting on the glacier. They aren’t going to be here forever, it’s important to learn about them now,” Holly says, smiling.


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