Reykjavik - Day 8 - Reynisfjara

Reynisfjara is a world-famous black-sand beach found on the South Coast of Iceland, just beside the small fishing village of Vik í Myrdal about 112 miles from Reykjavik.

Reynisfjara is around 112 miles (180 kilometers) from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavik, and is a popular stop-off for those taking a sightseeing tour along the popular South Coast.

Upon visiting the beach, travelers will immediately observe rocky sea stacks sitting off the shoreline, known as Reynisdrangar.

According to local folklore, these large basalt columns were once trolls trying to pull ships from the ocean to shore. However, these trolls were dim and went out too late in the night; dawn broke on the horizon, turning the trolls into solid stone.

Another legend tells of a husband whose wife was kidnapped and killed by two trolls. The man followed the trolls down to Reynisfjara where he froze them, ensuring that they would never kill again.

So mesmerizing are Reynisdrangar that they were featured in Season 7 of the HBO Series Game of Thrones. You can spot them in a few scenes shot ‘North of the Wall’.

The sea stacks themselves are home to thousands of nesting seabirds. Species that can be found nesting on the cliffs include puffins, fulmars, and guillemots, making it a must-see location for birdwatchers.

On this journey we actually had the best meat soup and the best fish and chips at the Black Beach visitor center. It’s interesting that these tours usually have a lunch stop and the centers have good food even though they would be what we consider a “tourist trap” restaurant. In other places we’ve travelled and even in the US this is generally not the caseEn savoir plus