Waterfalls, black sand & glacier lagoons
This is leg 1 of 3, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Iceland Ring Road
Reykjavík to Vík
Reykjavík and Vík sit about 165 km (103 mi) apart in a straight line, with Vík to the south-east. It is leg 1 of 3 on our Iceland Ring Road itinerary, a 10-day trip. Here is how long it takes by car, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 165 km · 103 mi
- Est. road distance
- 198–232 km
- Est. drive time
- 2 h – 3 h 30 min
- Direction
- Heading south-east
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By car
Most travelers on our Iceland Ring Road itinerary do this leg by car. We estimate 198–232 km (123–144 mi) of road and 2 h – 3 h 30 min behind the wheel, so check live traffic before you set off.
A rental car is the standard way to do the ring road, with a loop that returns you to the starting region. Some travelers join guided tours for parts of it, while domestic flights can shorten the trip if time is tight.
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Vík
Allow a full day for the waterfalls on the drive in plus black-sand beaches, and overnight in Vík.
Seljalandsfoss
60-meter waterfall with a path that loops behind the falls.
Sólheimajökull glacier walk
Guided glacier hike on an outlet of Mýrdalsjökull with crampons and axes.
Víkurkirkja
Red-roofed hillside church overlooking Vík and the sea stacks.
Suður-Vík
Restaurant in an old house serving lamb, burgers and Asian dishes.
Smiðjan Brugghús
Vík craft brewery and burger bar.
Gljúfrabúi
Hidden waterfall in a narrow canyon just north of Seljalandsfoss.
Before you leave Reykjavík
Spend one to two days: the old center and harbor on foot, a lagoon soak, and a half-day out to Þingvellir.
On this curated route
Where Reykjavík → Vík sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Vík to Reykjavík is the same 165 km in a straight line, heading north-west. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
Average daytime highs at both ends stay within 1°C of each other all year, so you can pack the same way for both. Over a year, Vík gets about 730 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reykjavík high | 2° | 3° | 3° | 6° | 9° | 12° | 14° | 14° | 10° | 7° | 4° | 3° |
| Vík high | 3° | 4° | 4° | 6° | 8° | 11° | 13° | 13° | 10° | 7° | 5° | 4° |
| Reykjavík rain | 169 | 152 | 153 | 119 | 93 | 83 | 99 | 121 | 181 | 147 | 149 | 172 |
| Vík rain | 250 | 232 | 222 | 174 | 124 | 120 | 144 | 166 | 229 | 235 | 221 | 251 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Vík month guides.
Reykjavík to Vík: questions travelers ask
How far is Reykjavík from Vík?
Reykjavík is about 165 km (103 mi) from Vík in a straight line, with Vík to the south-east. By road, we estimate 198–232 km (123–144 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Reykjavík to Vík?
An estimated 2 h – 3 h 30 min, assuming 198–232 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Reykjavík to Vík?
Our Iceland Ring Road itinerary includes this leg. Iceland Ring Road runs about 10 days across 4 stops, best in Jun – Sep.
Onward from Vík
- Vík to Jökulsárlón 155 km
Guides for both ends
- Reykjavík travel guide
- Reykjavík weather best time to visit
- Vík travel guide
- Vík weather best time to visit
Vík by month
Plan Reykjavík → Vík with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.