HomeNews & LifestyleVisiting Diamond Beach, Iceland: Everything You Need To Know

Visiting Diamond Beach, Iceland: Everything You Need To Know

Breiðamerkursandur (AKA Diamond Beach) Is An Ethereal And Magical Place

Diamond Beach Iceland is one of the most glorious places in Iceland, and that’s saying a lot. This strip of black sand belongs to the greater Breiðamerkursandur glacial plain. It’s located on the South Coast of Iceland by Jökulsárlón glacier.

This gorgeous black sand beach is littered with massive chunks of ice. Because of this, it’s become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Iceland.

Come For The Black Sand And Clear Ice

diamond beach iceland
Image: @kirstenfloris on Instagram

The chunks of beautiful, clear ice scattered across the volcanic sand glistens like giant gemstones. Hence the name Diamond Beach. You’ll find this beach about a six hour drive from the country’s capital, Reykjavik.

While it’s not part of the popular Golden Circle Tour, that doesn’t take away from how many people have Diamond Beach Iceland on their bucket list.

Where Does The Diamond Beach Ice Come From?

diamond beach iceland
Image: @kirstenfloris on Instagram

Diamond Beach is right by the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon, which is constantly filling with huge pieces of ice. Because of this, the ice breaks off of the outlet glacier, which incidentally is the largest icecap in Europe.

The contrast of the clear, pristine ice against the black volcanic sand creates a stunning aesthetic. And let’s be honest, it also creates really great photo opportunities.

The beach never looks the same on any two given days. As the ice melts, new chunks come ashore creating an ever-changing visual landscape.

How To Visit Diamond Beach, Iceland

diamond beach iceland
Image: @hristova_vesela on Instagram

You can visit Diamond Beach, Iceland if you’re taking a trip to the southern coast of the island. Self-driving is the best way to visit the beach;  you can rent a car and drive along Route 1. If this is the way you choose to go, you can stop and see the sights at your own pace.

Best Time Of Year To Visit

diamond beach iceland
Image: @rhclphoto on Instagram

As with most of the main attractions in Iceland, you can see it at any time of the year. The summer months, however, are preferable. The weather during this time has more favourable driving conditions, and because of this you’ll find the road more predictable.

Keep in mind, if you travel during the summer months, you’ll also have much more daylight to enjoy the sights and get around.

Other Things To Do In The Area

diamond beach iceland
Image: @pantouflesdeverre on Instagram

You can see the Northern Lights at Diamond Beach, Iceland! It’s a very popular place to watch this incredible natural phenomenon, especially because it’s far from light pollution.

The south coast of Iceland is filled with amazing destinations, so you can really choose from many breathtaking attractions. The Vatnajökull National Park is the largest national park in Iceland. It’s also made up of one of the largest ice caps in all of Europe. When you visit this spot, you can go ‘ice caving’ under the glacier, or try snowmobiling or even glacier walking.

Check out this article about Elephant Rock. This is yet another inspiring attraction in Iceland, and the source of much folklore, history, and Instagram content!

Related: Snorkelling Iceland’s Silfra Fissure means you can touch two continents at once!

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