The sea temperature at Reynisfjara today is 7.6 °C (46 °F) – only for cold-water swimmers. The usual October average is 9.1 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea has cooled from 10.2 °C to 7.6 °C. Rarely swimmable – the sea seldom averages 18 °C or more. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.2°C / 45.0°F | 7.5°C / 45.5°F | 7.8°C / 46.1°F |
| February | 7.1°C / 44.8°F | 7.4°C / 45.3°F | 7.6°C / 45.7°F |
| March | 7.2°C / 44.9°F | 7.4°C / 45.2°F | 7.6°C / 45.6°F |
| April | 7.4°C / 45.2°F | 7.7°C / 45.8°F | 7.9°C / 46.3°F |
| May | 7.8°C / 46.1°F | 8.5°C / 47.3°F | 9.1°C / 48.3°F |
| June | 9.0°C / 48.2°F | 9.5°C / 49.2°F | 10.1°C / 50.1°F |
| July | 10.7°C / 51.2°F | 11.2°C / 52.2°F | 11.8°C / 53.3°F |
| August | 11.2°C / 52.1°F | 11.7°C / 53.1°F | 12.2°C / 53.9°F |
| September | 10.1°C / 50.2°F | 10.8°C / 51.4°F | 11.3°C / 52.3°F |
| October | 8.7°C / 47.7°F | 9.1°C / 48.5°F | 9.7°C / 49.5°F |
| November | 8.0°C / 46.4°F | 8.4°C / 47.2°F | 8.8°C / 47.8°F |
| December | 7.6°C / 45.7°F | 8.0°C / 46.4°F | 8.5°C / 47.2°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | -0.3°C / 31.5°F | -0.1°C / 31.8°F | -0.1°C / 31.8°F |
| February | 0.7°C / 33.3°F | 0.8°C / 33.4°F | 1.0°C / 33.8°F |
| March | 0.1°C / 32.3°F | 0.5°C / 32.9°F | 1.1°C / 33.9°F |
| April | 1.9°C / 35.4°F | 2.4°C / 36.3°F | 3.1°C / 37.5°F |
| May | 4.2°C / 39.5°F | 4.5°C / 40.0°F | 4.9°C / 40.8°F |
| June | 5.9°C / 42.7°F | 6.3°C / 43.3°F | 6.8°C / 44.2°F |
| July | 7.9°C / 46.2°F | 8.3°C / 46.9°F | 8.7°C / 47.7°F |
| August | 7.8°C / 46.0°F | 8.3°C / 47.0°F | 8.9°C / 48.0°F |
| September | 5.9°C / 42.6°F | 6.4°C / 43.5°F | 7.0°C / 44.6°F |
| October | 3.4°C / 38.2°F | 3.8°C / 38.8°F | 4.3°C / 39.7°F |
| November | 2.3°C / 36.1°F | 2.3°C / 36.1°F | 2.4°C / 36.2°F |
| December | 0.3°C / 32.5°F | 0.3°C / 32.6°F | 0.4°C / 32.8°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Reynisfjara holidays
A black-sand beach on the south coast of Iceland, Reynisfjara lies just west of the village of Vík í Mýrdal, about 180 km from Reykjavík along the Ring Road. Basalt columns rise from the sand at the foot of the Reynisfjall mountain, and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks stand in the surf offshore.
Beaches
Reynisfjara is a place to look at the sea, not to swim in it. Sneaker waves – sudden large waves that run much farther up the sand than the ones before – have swept people into the cold Atlantic at Reynisfjara, and the undertow is strong. Keep well back from the water, never turn your back on the sea, and obey the current warnings, barriers and access restrictions. Vík has its own black beach below the village, with views of the Reynisdrangar from the other side.
Things to do
At the eastern end of Reynisfjara, the basalt columns form a stepped wall and a cave, Hálsanefshellir; erosion and sea conditions can restrict access, so use only the areas currently open to visitors. Dyrhólaey, a promontory with a huge rock arch a short drive to the west, gives views along the coast and is a nesting site for puffins in summer, when parts of it may be closed. Along the Ring Road to the west are the waterfalls of Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss and the Sólheimajökull glacier, where guided glacier walks start. In winter, the dark skies away from towns are good for watching the northern lights.
Weather and best time to visit
The weather at Reynisfjara is cool, wet and often very windy at any time of year, and it can change within an hour. Summer brings long daylight and the mildest days, while winter has only a few hours of daylight, storms and icy roads, so check road and weather warnings before driving. Most tours from Reykjavík visit year-round.
Hotels and where to stay
Vík í Mýrdal, around 15 minutes from Reynisfjara by road in good conditions, has hotels, guesthouses, a supermarket and restaurants, and is the usual overnight stop on a south-coast trip. Farms and cottages along the Ring Road on either side of Vík also take guests.
Signature hotels: Hotel Vík í Mýrdal (Vík)
Airport and getting there
Keflavík International Airport (KEF) is about 230 km from Reynisfjara, around three hours by car. Most visitors drive the Ring Road in a hire car or join a day tour from Reykjavík; there are also scheduled buses along the south coast to Vík. The beach is reached by a short side road off the Ring Road west of Vík.