Summer (June to August) brings nearly endless daylight, the mildest weather (around 10 to 14°C), green hillsides, and puffins nesting at Dyrhólaey from roughly May to August; it is also peak season, so book accommodation early. Winter (November to March) is darker and stormier but it is the only time for natural blue ice caves and your best shot at the northern lights, plus dramatic snow-dusted black sand. The shoulder months of May and September offer thinner crowds and good value. Vík is wet and windy year-round, so pack waterproofs no matter when you come.

Vík is about 180 km (a 2.5-hour drive) east of Reykjavík along Route 1, the Ring Road, with the main international gateway being Keflavík Airport about 230 km away. By far the easiest way to explore is by rental car, which lets you stop at waterfalls and beaches at your own pace; the Strætó public bus (route 51) connects Reykjavík and Vík but runs only a couple of times a day. The village itself is walkable end to end in 15 minutes, but you will want wheels or a guided tour to reach Reynisfjara, Dyrhólaey, and the glaciers. Drive cautiously: south-coast winds can rip car doors off their hinges, and sneaker waves at the beaches are genuinely deadly.