Golden Beach is a stretch of gold-to-white sand in the Westfjords of Iceland. The water over the shallows is turquoise, and shells lie thickly across the sand. Road 612 runs along the coast above the beach and gives a view of the whole sweep from higher ground. It is a long drive out. The colour holds even under rain and low cloud, and a spell of sun raises it further.
Golden Beach
Local name: Tungurif
Road 612 runs above the beach, so the gold sand and the turquoise shallows are in view from the car before you walk a step.
- Parking
- Nearest car park about 1.1 km from the beach; nothing closer.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours, every day.
- Address
- Route 612, Patreksfjörður Bay, Westfjords
What makes it special
The sand runs from gold to white, and the shallow water over it is turquoise. Shells are scattered across it in numbers. Road 612 passes above the beach on higher ground, and the whole curve of sand is visible from up there. The beach can be photographed from the road without walking down to it at all.
Colour here does not depend on sunshine. Under rain and low cloud the sand and the water still hold it, and a break of sun lifts it further.
Good to know
- Long drive: the beach sits far out in the Westfjords on road 612. Reaching it is a serious drive, not a short detour.
- Weather: rain and low cloud are ordinary here, and neither flattens the colour of the sand or the water. Sun is a bonus, not a plan.
- The view is from above: road 612 runs higher than the beach and shows the whole sweep, so walking down to the sand is optional.
- Children: the site is recorded as suitable for children, and the water over the sand is shallow.
Getting there
Access is by car. Road 612 runs along the shore and sits above the beach, so the sand is in view from the road itself. The drive out here is long. The car park is not at the sand, and the last stretch is on foot. Many drivers stop on the road, take their photographs from above and never go down; reaching the sand means leaving the road and dropping to the shore.
Best time to visit
Best: a break in the cloud, when sun brings out the turquoise in the shallow water.
Avoid: a tight schedule that only works in clear weather.
Sunshine here is not something to count on. Rain and overcast skies are ordinary, and the sand and water keep their colour under them, so a grey day still repays the drive.
Sun & daylight
Nearby Places
Similar Places
Your whole travel map in one place
Get inspired by new places around the world and find the ones worth the journey
Frequently asked questions
Where is Golden Beach?
On the coast of the Westfjords, Iceland, beside road 612, which runs along the shore above the beach.What does the beach look like?
Sand from gold to white, scattered with shells, and shallow turquoise water over it.Is it worth going in poor weather?
Yes. Under rain and low cloud the colours of the sand and water still hold; sun deepens them but is not required.Can the beach be seen without walking down to the sand?
Yes. Road 612 runs on higher ground along the beach, and the whole sweep is visible and photographable from there.