Expert-verified surf spot database with detailed swell/wind parameters, hazards, and travel information
Þorlákshöfn (Thorlakshofn) is Iceland's most accessible surf spot—a black volcanic sand beach on the south coast that receives consistent North Atlantic swells. The water is brutally cold (6mm wetsuit minimum), and the weather can be brutal, but the waves are real and the setting is otherworldly: glaciers in the background, volcanic sand underfoot, and the possibility of Northern Lights while you surf. Arctic surfing at its most extreme and beautiful.
🇮🇸 Iceland's best • Black volcanic sand • Arctic adventure
Works best with swells from 200° (SSW). Workable range: 170°-250°.
Ideal size: 2.3m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 3.5m.
Needs at least 10s period. Ideal: 14s+ (long-period groundswell).
Offshore wind from 0° (N). Offshore range: 315°-45°. Best window: both.
Autumn-winter has most swell. Summer has midnight sun but less waves.
Extremely cold water (6-12°C). Thick wetsuit essential. Remote location.
Swell direction must be within the workable range AND within the spot's coastal orientation. A south-facing beach cannot receive north swells, no matter the size or period.
Offshore wind (blowing from land toward ocean) grooms the wave face. Onshore wind (blowing from ocean toward land) destroys wave quality. Wind tolerance varies by wave type.
Drive from Reykjavik. Beach access near harbor.
Thorli is Iceland's most accessible quality wave—a right-hand reef break on the Reykjanes Peninsula where North Atlantic swells meet volcanic rock in one of Europe's most dramatic settings. The wave breaks over lava reef with steam vents and geothermal activity visible nearby, and the Northern Lights can illuminate evening sessions during autumn and winter. The water is cold but surprisingly not as frigid as the latitude suggests, thanks to Gulf Stream influence. For surfers seeking waves in truly unusual places, Thorli offers quality surf with a side of Nordic otherworldliness.
🌌 Northern Lights sessions • Volcanic reef • North Atlantic power
Works best with swells from 250° (WSW). Workable range: 220°-290°.
Ideal size: 2.0m. Too small below 1m, too big (closeout) above 3m.
Offshore wind from 60° (ENE). Offshore range: 20°-100°. Best window: morning.
Autumn best. Consistent North Atlantic swells.
Very cold water. Volcanic rock reef. Strong currents.
45min from Keflavik airport. Good road access.