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Visiting Dyrhólaey: What to Know Before You Go

Dyrhólaey is one of the most striking headlands on Iceland's south coast, a 120-metre-high promontory rising out of the black sand just west of Vík. Its name means "the hill with the door-hole," a reference to the massive natural arch carved through the rock by the sea. On calm days the arch is wide enough that a small plane once flew through it, a stunt pulled off by an Icelandic pilot in the 1990s that locals still talk about.
20.05.2026
Dyrhólaey seen from above. Photo: Haukur Snorrason
Dyrhólaey seen from above. Photo: Haukur Snorrason

For most visitors, Dyrhólaey is a stop on the South Coast or Volcanic Way routes. It rewards even a short visit: the view stretches west along an unbroken line of black sand, east to Reynisfjara and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks, and inland to Mýrdalsjökull glacier sitting above it all.

What you'll see

  • The arch — best viewed from the lower viewpoint near the lighthouse parking area, where you can see the sea cutting through the rock.
  • The lighthouse — a small, square, orange-roofed lighthouse built in 1927, perched on the highest point of the headland.
  • Puffins — Dyrhólaey is one of the most reliable puffin spots in South Iceland. The birds nest in the cliffs from late April to mid-August, and you can often see them from the paths near the upper viewpoint.
  • The view — on a clear day, one of the great panoramic views of the south coast.

Opening hours and access

This is the most important thing to know before you visit. Dyrhólaey is a protected nature reserve, and parts of it close every spring during the bird nesting season, usually from around mid-May to late June. The exact dates change slightly each year depending on when the birds arrive and how the season progresses. During nesting season, both areas are open daily from 9:00 to 19:00 (9AM-7PM).

During the closure between 19:00 - 09:00 (7PM-9AM):

  • The upper area around the lighthouse is fully closed.
  • The lower area near the arch viewpoint usually remains open, though sometimes with restricted hours.

Signs at the entrance show the current status. The closures are taken seriously — they exist to give nesting birds, including puffins and Arctic terns, the quiet they need to raise their chicks. Please respect the barriers even if other visitors don't.

Outside the nesting season, both areas are open and free to visit, with no entrance fee.

Getting there

The turnoff from Route 1 is well signposted, about 5 km west of Vík. The road in is gravel and includes a steep, narrow section up to the upper viewpoint that can be rough. A 2WD car is fine in summer, but take it slowly. In winter the upper road is often closed entirely due to ice and wind.

Parking is paid. You can pay through the PARKA app, which is the simplest option for most visitors. Download it before you arrive, since mobile signal at the headland can be patchy.

Good to know

  • Wind on top of the headland can be extreme — much stronger than down at road level. Hold on to car doors and hats.
  • Stay well back from cliff edges. The drop is sheer and gusts are unpredictable.
  • There are toilets at the lower parking area in summer.
  • Combine it easily with Reynisfjara, just a few minutes' drive away — but read up on Reynisfjara's sneaker waves before you go.

Seeing Dyrhólaey from a distance

You don't have to drive up to Dyrhólaey to appreciate it. The headland is just as striking from a distance, and one of the best places to take it in is from Reynisfjara, looking west across the black sand. From there you see the full shape of the promontory rising out of the beach, often with waves breaking around its base. If Dyrhólaey itself is closed during nesting season, this is a beautiful way to still experience it — and many visitors find the view from Reynisfjara even more photogenic than the one from the top.