Skardsvik Beach sits on the outer western coast of the Snaefellsnes peninsula in West Iceland, off Route 579. The sand is golden, which is rare in a country where beaches are almost always black, and volcanic rock and lava field surround the bay on all sides. Cliffs stand at either end and the waves break against them. A gravel road leads to a small car park, and a wooden deck with steps runs down to the sand. It works as a short stop on the way to Svörtuloft lighthouse at the end of the road.
Skardsvik Beach
Local name: Skarðsvík
Nearly every beach in Iceland is black. Skardsvik is golden sand, ringed by black volcanic rock.
- Accessibility
- Steps lead from the wooden deck down to the sand, so the beach is not step-free.
- Parking
- Free car park at the beach, with space for only a handful of vehicles. The road to it is gravel.
- Difficulty
- Easy: a short walk from the car park, then a flight of wooden steps down. Large pebbles and loose volcanic stones underfoot on the sand.
- Hours
- Open 24 hours.
- Address
- Skarðsvík, 356 (Route 579)
What makes it special
Iceland's beaches are almost always black. Skardsvik is golden. The sand runs a warm blonde colour, and volcanic rock closes the bay in on all sides, so the contrast is obvious from the first step onto the deck. The beach itself is small. Cliffs stand at either end, lava field runs behind it, and the open sea fills the rest. Large pebbles and loose volcanic stones lie mixed into the sand. The place is exposed and often very windy. It also works in black and white, reduced to bright sand, dark rock and grey water.
Good to know
- Getting a car in: the road down to the beach off Route 579 is gravel and rocky. One visitor found a 4x4 necessary for it.
- Wind: the bay is open to the sea and often very windy. Bring a windproof jacket even if it is still inland.
- Underfoot: steps lead down from the wooden deck, and the sand is mixed with large pebbles and loose volcanic stones.
- Seating: a couple of picnic benches stand by the beach. Bring your own food and water.
- Pair it with the lighthouse: Svörtuloft lighthouse sits at the end of the same road, and the beach makes a short stop on the way.
Getting there
Skardsvik Beach lies off Route 579, near the western tip of the Snaefellsnes peninsula. The last stretch to the car park is gravel and rough. From the car park it is a short walk to a wooden deck, and a flight of steps drops from the deck onto the sand. Svörtuloft lighthouse stands further along the same road, at its end.
Best time to visit
Best: late afternoon into sunset. The low sun warms the golden sand and sets the black rock against it, and the beach tends to be quiet at that hour.
Avoid: windy days. The bay is fully open to the sea, wind is common here, and blown sand makes a stop unpleasant and hard on a camera.
Sun & daylight
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Skardsvik Beach on the map
The beach faces the open ocean and the waves break hard against the cliffs at either end. Stay well back from the waterline, keep children close, and never turn your back on the sea.
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Frequently asked questions
What makes Skardsvik Beach different from other Icelandic beaches?
The sand is golden rather than black, which is rare in Iceland. Black volcanic rock and lava field surround the bay, so the colour difference is hard to miss.Do you need a 4x4 to get there?
The road from Route 579 down to the car park is gravel and rocky. One visitor found a 4x4 necessary to leave the main road. Judge the surface before you commit to it.How do you get from the car park down to the sand?
A short walk leads to a wooden deck, and steps run from the deck down to the beach. Below the steps the sand is mixed with large pebbles and volcanic stones.Is there anywhere to sit or eat?
A couple of picnic benches stand by the beach. Bring your own food and water.What else is on the same road?
Svörtuloft lighthouse sits at the end of Route 579. The beach makes a stop before or after it rather than a destination of its own.