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By Monika

Dyrhólaey, Iceland – the Iconic Dyrhólaey Arch and More!

The South Coast of Iceland is rich in amazing places to visit.  Dyrhólaey Peninsula (also known as Dyrhólaey Cliffs) is one of the spots you don’t want to miss during your travels.

It is best known for the massive stone Dyrhólaey Arch (sometimes called “an arch with a hole”) rising from the sea, but there’s so much more to explore. There is the picturesque lighthouse, the puffins and let’s not forget the incredible views of the nearby black sand beaches. 

Let me give you the highlights of Dyrhólaey, Iceland and the best tips for making the most of your visit. 

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What is Dyrhólaey?

It is a tall flat promontory, located near the village of Vik. Its most prominent feature is the abovementioned stone arch. 

Dyrhólaey means “door hill island” and the name comes from the fact that the hole in the arch is large enough for boats to pass through – like through the door hole.

It is also a prime birdwatching spot, especially if you’re looking for puffins. Due to the abundant birdlife, it was established as a nature reserve in 1978 to protect it.

Helpful hint: Access to Dyrhólaey may be limited or even entirely restricted between May and June due to the puffin nesting season. Keep that in mind when planning your trip!

Where is Dyrhólaey?

This beautiful small peninsula is located in southern Iceland, about a 20-minute drive from the village of Vík and just over 2.5 hours from Reykjavik.

How to get to Dyrhólaey?

By car:

The best way to get there is by car, especially if you’re planning to visit the lighthouse (more on access and parking below).

It only takes a short detour from the Ring Road to rt. 218 (Dyrhólavegur) and can easily be included in your Iceland road trip itinerary.

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Parking:

There are two parking lots for Dyrhólaey: the lower lot (Lágey) and the higher lot (Háey). 

The lower lot:

The lower lot is very easily accessible from the Ring Road. It is big, free and has nice clean restrooms. 

Fun fact: The restrooms have an area before you enter the stalls, that has floor-to-ceiling windows. It makes a great place to check out the area in bad weather!

To reach that parking lot put Dyrhólaey view parking lot and WC. If you put in Dyrhólaey Viewpoint or Lighthouse, you’ll be taken to the upper lot.

To reach the lower area lot you just follow the Ring Road to a turn for rt. 218 and drive till the end of the road.

The upper lot:

That’s where you need to go to reach the lighthouse and the prime viewpoint for the stone arch.

To reach this parking area put in Dyrhólaey Lighthouse, Dyrhólaey Lighthouse parking top or Dyrhólaey Viewpoint in your GPS.

You will need to take a right at the fork of rt. 218 before you reach Lágey, and follow a slightly steep winding road all the way up.

I have to admit that after reading many accounts of a bad, narrow gravel road full of potholes, I was nervous about driving up there, but I REALLY wanted to see that rock arch! So during my most recent trip (2024), I decided to just go for it.

Well, I worried needlessly – the road has been paved! And it’s just wide enough for two cars to pass each other. It is still twisty, with some hairpin turns but if I could drive it, you can too! 

Here is a quick video of the drive, both up and down. We had a gorgeous day, but the sun was right in my windshield going up, so keep watching the drive down as well – the recording is much clearer, and the views are truly stunning.

Parking costs: Dyrhólaey parking lots are now paid (they were free during my visits), and the cost is 750 ISK for a standard car. The fee covers both lots and can be paid via parka.is app or online.

With a tour:

There are many tours of the South Coast, but not all of them include Dyrhólaey. Here are some good choices with the peninsula listed as a stop:

• Reykjavik: South Coast, Waterfalls, Black Beach Small Group 
• South Coast Waterfall, Black Sand & Ice tour
• South Coast and Hidden Waterfalls tour

If you’re interested in seeing the lighthouse and the Dyrhólaey arch, reach out to the tour company to make sure these stops are included in the itinerary. Sometimes it’s not clear in the tour description which part of the cliffs you’d be visiting.

On your way to Lágey – Loftsalahellir Cave

This is a quick detour that is easy to miss (ask me how I know, lol!), so I’m putting it here for you to check out if you have the time. Loftsalahellir is a small cave that you’ll pass on the way to the cliffs.

Look for a small parking area along rt. 218, about 3 km before you get to Dyrhólaey’s lower lot.

You’ll find a short, uphill path leading to the cave from which you’ll have a great view of the promontory and the lighthouse.

Things to on Lágey  (lower parking lot)

On this level, you have lots of walking paths to explore the area. If you walk towards the ocean and up a small hill with a monument on it, you’ll be able to see the iconic arch in the distance.

It’s also a great spot to see the puffins in their natural habitat in season. That’s where we were able to spot those adorable birds during one of our trips in August and it was an unforgettable experience.

Read more about our puffin encounter at Dyrhólaey and watch the cutest puffin video in this article!

You can also hike from this area to the upper parking lot. The hike is about 1.3 km long and during the summer months, you’re likely to see the puffins as you walk.

Here is the map of the parking lots and the trail.

This level also offers incredible views of Reynisfjara Beach and the famous Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks.

You can also see the lonely, strange rock formation in the black sand of Kirkjufjara beach near the cliffs.

Things to do on Háey (upper parking lot)

The main feature of that area is the historic Dyrhólaey Lighthouse (Dyrhólaeyjarviti) which was built in the early 1900s. You can’t go inside but you can walk around and admire it from the outside.

The arch with a hole is massive, very impressive, and definitely worth the drive to the top of the cliff.

The best viewpoint for the iconic photo is in the back of the lighthouse – you can see the stone arch with the waves crashing into it at high tides, which is exactly how the hole was formed in the first place. It’s a spectacular sight!

From that spot, you can also clearly see the hiking trail between the two levels of Dyrhólaey.

Let’s not forget the stunning views from the promontory.

You can see the unusual rock formations and beautiful black sand beaches – Dyrhólaey Beach (also called “the Endless Black Beach”) in one direction and Kirkjufjara, all the way to Reynisfjara in the other.

Best time of year to visit Dyrhólaey

I recommend visiting in the summer months, especially if you’d like to see the puffins. Also, the drive to the lighthouse may be tough during the winter months.  However, the lower level may be a great spot to view in the fall and winter months due to the remote location and low light pollution.

Best time of day to visit Dyrhólaey

Both the upper and lower levels of the peninsula are open 24/7.

Due to low light pollution, Dyrhólaey makes a perfect spot for the Northern Lights viewing – just be careful when driving the winding road to the top of the cliffs in the dark! You may want to stick to the lower level in the winter months.

For the best time of the day to see the puffins read this guide.

How much time do I need at Dyrhólaey?

It really depends how long you’ll want to stay at each level, if you’re going to hike the trail between them, and whether or not the puffins are there (allow extra time for that!).

I’d allow at least 30 minutes for each area and about 30-60 minutes for the hike.  

Are Dyrhólaey cliffs worth a visit?

With so many natural wonders and attractions to see along the South Coast, like the famous waterfalls, canyons to hike, glaciers, and glacier lagoons, Dyrhólaey Cliffs are often skipped, but I hope this article convinced you that this spot is worthy of being included in your Ring Road trip.

🛜 Stay connected during your trip with an eSIM like Airalo, Saily or Sim Local!

Where to Stay Near Dyrhólaey Cliffs

There are a lot of options for accommodations near Dyrhólaey. The first place that comes to mind is of course Hotel Dyrhólaey! For an apartment feel check out Black Beach Suites near Reynisjfara.

The nearby town of Vik offers great choices and both Kirkjubæjarklaustur and Höfn are only about an hour away from Vik in opposite directions and have some nice places to stay.

Nearby attractions:

• Vik – Iceland’s southernmost town
• Yoda Cave
• Skogafoss waterfall
• Kvernufoss waterfall
• Solheimajökull – visit the glacier and/or go on a glacier hike
• Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach
• Solheimasandur plane wreck
• Seljavallalaug geothermal swimming pool
• Seljalandsfoss waterfall

Need some inspiration to plan your trip? Check out my 10-day Ring Road & the Highlands itinerary and my 7-day South Iceland itinerary.

👉 Don’t forget TRAVEL INSURANCE! I don’t travel without it. Get a quote from my personal #1 choice – Travel Guard – or check more options here!

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