Surfing in Iceland – A Spot-by-Spot Guide
Surfing in Iceland is a real experience. Combine volcanic reefs and epic point breaks with almost ceaseless Atlantic swell and you get a picture of what’s on offer. Also remember that this is one of the great frontiers of European surfing. No one has discovered Iceland’s full potential.
Iceland – just a mention of the name is enough to get your breath misting in the air and the water freezing on those chest hairs.
This island nation sits way up in the northern part of the North Atlantic, where icebergs command the bays and blizzards are possible well into the summer months.
There’s a mega 4,000 miles of coastline on offer, all of which gets smashed by regular storm swells from the east, the west, the north, and the south.
Everyone agrees that the stand-out surf region in Iceland is the Reykjanes Peninsula. That’s also known as the Southern Peninsula because it juts out from the southwestern edge of the country.
Entirely volcanic from tip to toe, the headland has bays of black sand that get refracting waves for beginners but also gnarly basalt reefs that are pros only. You can get to most in just 30 minutes from the capital of Reykjavík.
That’s really just a taster of what’s on offer when it comes to the Land of Fire and Ice, though. As with a great many other adventure pursuits – hiking, skiing, wild camping – this is a true frontier.
We’ve heard great things about empty bays of wild mountains and peeling rights over on the sides of Snæfellsjökull Volcano and loads more untrodden surf in eastern Iceland. We’ll leave that neatly under the radar and for those who have the appetite for an adventure.
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This is just one part of our ultimate guide to surfing in Europe
Surfing in Iceland at a glance
The good:
The bad:
FAQs about the surf in Iceland
Autumn and winter (September-March) bring the most consistent North Atlantic swells. Summer can have waves, but it’s much less reliable. Just be prepared because the winter months mean heavy wetsuits and short daylight hours.
Not entirely, but most of Iceland’s surf spots are better suited to intermediates and above. The waves often break over reefs or rocky points, and conditions can change fast. That said, some sandy beachbreaks can be manageable for learners with a guide.
A 6/5mm or 5/4mm hooded wetsuit with thick boots and gloves is essential year-round. The water rarely climbs above 10°C, even in summer, so proper gear is non-negotiable. This is cold.
Where to surf in Iceland?
As we’ve said, Iceland is a true untrodden gem for surfers.
There are potential spots all around the country, facing all compass directions. That implies a ridiculous consistency if you’re willing to work for it, not to mention surfs up beyond the Arctic Circle.
By far the most famous surfing is around the Reykjanes Peninsula near the capital. It’s not only accessible stuff (especially compared to some locations here) but has options for beginners and experts alike. Let’s delve in…
Gardur
One of the few north-facing beaches on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Gardur demands a lot of power in the sets for them to wrap through and into the fingers of reef that jut out under the lighthouse here.
If they work, they’ll be big, frothing lefts that mellow out as they peel past the rocks and into the more sheltered bay. S is offshore here, so the spot offers a different option on warmer winds.
Sandvik
Sandvik is one of the best-known and most consistent surf spots in Iceland.
The westerly orientation means that the beach – which is a jaw-dropping run of over 1,000 meters of black-diamond sand – gets almost continuous swell.
That will oscillate between unruly storm swell in the winter months to long-period groundswells from a SW direction when the Gulf Stream allows. Naturally, the latter is better but there can be decently powerful summer windswells to get stuck into in between.
Grindavik
A machine of a right that churns out long, fast shoulders off a very shallow – like, toe-touching sorta’ shallow – reef, Grindavik breaks on the rocks to the west of the harbor of the town of the same name. It’s for experienced surfers only and reigns as one of the most challenging waves on the Reykjanes.
Thorli
The beach that links the Reykjanes Peninsula to the coast of southern Iceland is a wide, upside-down C of a bay that gets hit by any N or NW swell.
We’ve heard stories of people catching long rights off the jetty at the western edge of the beach. However, that’s not the money spot.
The real jewel are the A-frame peaks that form up on the shallow cobblestone beds near the rivermouth in the east. They’ll work a charm when there’s a cold winter N wind blowing and look dreamy for surf photographers with the wild mountains rising like a phalanx of giants behind.
Sometimes hollow and made easy because there’s a very clear paddle channel. Cold water in that comes straight down from the glaciers so be sure to pack the rubber.
When to surf in Iceland?
Overall, we’d say that the transition seasons of spring and fall offer the best surf conditions in Iceland.
They tend to have the calmer winds and relatively consistent Atlantic gulf swells from the west, along with N winds from the Arctic that can be offshore along the whole south coast and the popular Reykjanes Peninsula.
Lots of guides will say that winter is the most consistent time. That’s technically true, but ask yourself if you fancy doing battle with 25-foot bombs that have gathered nothing but unadulterated ocean power since forming off the Canadian coast.
There are weeks in winter when Iceland is a blown out mess and there’s nothing to be surfed. We actually even prefer the summer because it gets cleaner and brings better waves into the more exposed bays close to Reykjavík.
Is the surf in Iceland difficult?
We’d rate Iceland as an upper-intermediate surf destination. There are two reasons for that.
Firstly, the volcanic nature of the country means that many of the breaks here are over pretty shallow basalt reef. Anyone who’s ever surfed that will tell you that it’s not the most forgiving platform, with less give to it than coral and the potential to get pretty darn sharp.
Secondly, Iceland’s peak season brings heavy swells and very cold water. The combo of overheads in the North Atlantic and 5-mil of rubber minimum can crank the challenge here to all new and dizzying heights.
If you’re considering coming as a beginner, our advice would be stick to summer and choose only the easier spots (AKA – limit yourself to the sandy beach break down in Sandvik).
Where to stay for surfing in Iceland?
- Black Sand Hotel – This incredible hotel has front-row seats overlooking the beach breaks of Thorli, one of the most consistent waves in the country. It’s ultra stylish; like proper Scandi-cool stuff.
- Kristinsson Apartments – This apartment sleeps up to four adults and extra kids. It’s super modern and really cozy, plus has a very tactical location for people looking to surf and do some Icelandic things. The Blue Lagoon is up the road but so is the beach at Sandvik and in the other direction the beach at Thorli (the first 20 mins drive, the other 40 mins drive).
Things to do in Iceland when not surfing
Bring the board to Iceland but don’t JUST surf. Seriously, this is an INCREDIBLE island and if it’s your first time, make some space to see other stuff. You’ll be thankful for it.
If I had to whittle it down to a 5-piece bucket-list it would look something like this:
- Soak in the Blue Lagoon – Iceland’s most famous geothermal spa, with milky-blue waters rich in minerals, just a short hop from Keflavík Airport. It’s fricking lovely sitting here and boiling away.
- Drive the Ring Road (Route 1) – A full loop around the island takes in waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, black-sand beaches, and remote fishing villages – the ultimate road trip. Get your own hire car from Discover Cars, who I think are still the cheapest in Europe, Iceland included.
- The Golden Circle – This is basically a name for an area of Iceland that has AMAZING draws. Tick off Thingvellir National Park (home to the ancient gathering spot of Iceland’s old Viking government), the erupting Strokkur geyser, and Gullfoss waterfall in a single, easy loop from Reykjavik.
- See the Northern Lights – From late September to April, Iceland’s dark skies often light up with green and purple auroras dancing above volcanoes and fjords. One thing I will say is that Iceland isn’t the most reliable for Northern Lights viewing. On the flip side, it’s got some really great Northern Lights hotels that are going to be gorgeous stays even if you don’t see the show. Personally, I don’t think you can beat the outdoor hot tubs at Hotel Ranga.
- Visit Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon – Watch icebergs drift out to sea and glitter on nearby Diamond Beach, one of the most surreal landscapes in the country. Or anywhere, for that matter.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!