A rocky promontory about 10 km west of Vik, Dyrhólaey is one of the best viewpoints on Iceland's south coast. The headland rises steeply to a lighthouse at around 120 metres, and from the top the view stretches east along the black sand coast toward the Mýrdalssandur outwash plain and the Mýrdalsjökull glacier, with the Reynisdrangar sea stacks visible in the middle distance. On a clear day the view is genuinely spectacular.
The headland is also a major puffin nesting site: from mid-April to mid-August, Atlantic puffins nest in burrows in the grassy slopes and can be observed at close range from the paths. The area is partially closed during the nesting season (typically May to June) to protect the birds. A rough track leads from the car park to both the lower arch viewpoint and the upper lighthouse platform; the upper route involves some steep sections.