Golden Circle · Iceland
Dyrhólaey
Dyrhólaey, meaning 'Door Hill Island,' is a 120-metre promontory with a wide view along the South Coast. It is famous for its massive natural stone arch, so large that even small planes have flown through it. From the 1927 lighthouse at the top, you can see the endless black sands of the South Coast and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks. During summer, the cliffs come alive with nesting puffins and other seabirds. Note that access may be restricted during the nesting season (May to late June) to protect the local wildlife.
I drove up to Háey, the upper car park at the lighthouse, and that is the part worth doing — the view over the arch and along the black coastline is the whole reason to come. One thing to plan around: from mid May to late June the upper area is only open from 9am to 7pm to protect nesting birds, and outside those hours the upper road is closed and you cannot reach the car park. If you were counting on being up there for sunrise or late evening light in June, you cannot.
My rating
Scale 1–5. On Cost, 1 means free and 5 means pricey. On Crowd level, 1 means near-solitude and 5 means tour-bus central.
Three out of five. The arch and the view down the black coast are good, and on a clear day you see a long way. It is a viewpoint rather than a place you spend time in.
Dyrhólaey is easily reachable by car from Vík, with parking lots near the upper and lower areas of the cape. Walking paths provide safe access to viewpoints and the lighthouse, with some steep and narrow areas for more adventurous visitors.
Parking is paid through the Parka app — up to about 1,000 ISK depending on the car park, and one payment covers both: Lágey at the bottom and Háey at the lighthouse. Toilets at the lower car park cost 200 ISK. Checked August 2026.
It is a fixed stop on most South Coast itineraries, so the upper car park fills through the middle of the day. Early morning and late evening are quieter — outside the nesting-season restriction, when the upper road is shut at those hours anyway.
Before you go
Planning your own Ring Road trip?
Iceland Ring Road Campervan Guide
My full 14-day route — roughly 2,500 km, every campsite I used, what I actually spent, and the stops worth the detour. The plan I drove, in one PDF.
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How I booked my campervan
I compared three rentals before I chose mine. These are the ones worth checking — Lava gives 5% off with code CREATOR.