The 10 best Sights on the Reykjanes Peninsula

Not far from Reykjavik, the Reykjanes peninsula offers a varied landscape in a small area: steaming solfatars, mossy lava fields, towering bird cliffs and photogenic lighthouses. Typically Icelandic and perfect for a day trip from Reykjavik. In this article you will learn about the 10 best sights on the Reykjanes peninsula. You will also get many practical tips for your trip.

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Why visit the Reykjanes Peninsula?
How much Time should one plan?
The Reykjanes Geopark - an Introduction
The 10 best Sights of the Reykjanes Peninsula

Why visit the Reykjanes Peninsula?

Most Island travellers know on the Reykjanes peninsula only the international airport Keflavik. And maybe the Blue Lagoon. I also visited Reykjanes only on my fourth trip to Iceland. And I must say: it was worth it! The map gives you a first overview of the sights on Reykjanes. With a click on the symbols you will also see a small photo of the respective place.

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Tip: start your visit of Reykjanes right after your arrival at the airport in Keflavik. Then you will see many typical Icelandic landscapes on your first day. Perfect for a first impression of the island.

How much Time should one plan?

The sights on the Reykjanes peninsula described here can be seen in one day. But if you want to visit museums or the Blue Lagoon, I recommend to plan a second day. Because the weather was so nice, I did not visit the museums in Reykjanes. But there are several museums that might interest you. For example the cultural centre Duushús, Viking World with the replica of the Viking ship Íslendingur or the Sudurnes Science and Learning Center with the model of the research ship Pourquoi-Pas? of the polar researcher Jean-Baptiste Charcot.

The Reykjanes Geopark - an Introduction

In German Reykjanes means “Rauchspitze”. Reykjanes is the most volcanically active region in Iceland and is crossed by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This is a submarine mountain range about 20,000 kilometres long that runs through the entire Atlantic Ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge separates the North American and Eurasian continental plates. It comes ashore at the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes peninsula. It then crosses Iceland diagonally in a southwest-northeast direction.

Moss covered lava fields, volcanic craters, caves, crevices and faults characterize the landscape. Hot springs bubble up in several places. The geology and the variety of volcanic and geothermal hotspots on the Reykjanes peninsula are unique. Therefore, the Reykjanes Unesco Global Geopark was established here in 2015. You can download a map of the Geopark here.

The 10 best Sights of the Reykjanes Peninsula

#1 Garðskagi Headland - Lighthouses, Birdwatching and local History
#2 The Bird Cliffs Hafnarberg
#3 Bridge between the Continents
#4 Gunnuhver - Hot Springs in Reykjanes
#5 Reykjanesvíti Lighthouse
#6 Steep Coast Valahnjúkur and Scree Ridge Valahnúkamöl
#7 Brimketill - the Bathtub of Giantess Oddný
#8 In Devil's Kitchen - high temperature Area Seltún in Krýsuvík
#9 Lake Kleifarvatn
#10 The Blue Lagoon

#1 Garðskagi Headland - Lighthouses, Birdwatching and local History

Garðskagi in the northwest of the Reykjanes peninsula is an idyllic headland with beach, dunes and breaking waves. Where the sea has washed up seaweed, numerous birds look for food. Garðskagi is a good place for birdwatching, especially during the migration season. Thousands of migrating birds gather here in the surrounding meadows. And if you're lucky, you might even see seals or whales from here.

There are also two lighthousesat Garðskagi headland: the old Garðurviti lighthouse from 1897 and the new Garðskaga lighthouse from 1944. 28 metres high, it is the highest lighthouse in Iceland.

Right next to the Garðskaga lighthouse there is a small ocal history and shipping museum with some old boats. There is a cosy café and even a camping site in a great location right at the headland. But I would recommend this one only with little wind, because it is very exposed. No rocks, hills or bushes offer you protection from the wind. And it must be sometimes strong here. At least, if you want to make this clear from the ships stranded here. An information board shows the location of numerous shipwrecks. If I haven't miscounted, there are 31 ships that were stranded here between 1903 and 1987!

#2 The Bird Cliffs Hafnarberg

South of the old fishing village Hafnir the steep lava cliffs of Hafnaberg rise. It is a bizarre landscape with great views. Do you like birdwatching? Then you are in the right place. Because various seabirds nest in the cliffs.

The best place to park your car is the parking lot at road 44, about 4 km from Hafnir. There are information boards about the cliffs and the birds living there. A path marked with cairns leads you directly to the cliffs. You walk there and back about 5 kilometres. The sandy path leads you through a black lava landscape, colourful flowers blossom left and right and maybe you can already see golden plovers and skuas.

#3 Bridge between the Continents

At the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes peninsula the Mid-Atlantic Ridge comes to the surface. Here, the Eurasian and North American continental plates drift about 7 millimetres apart every year. The bridge between the continents near Sandvík is a small pedestrian bridge. It leads across a large crack between the two tectonic plates. It is intended as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America and is probably one of the most famous sights of Reykjanes. Here you can walk a few steps from Europe to America. Great, if only it were always so easy. Would be really practical for my long-distance relationship Berlin - Los Angeles 🙂

#4 Gunnuhver - Hot Springs in Reykjanes

The central high temperature area of the volcanic system of Reykjanes is the heart of the Geopark. You can see the hot springs at Gunnuhver from far away. White steam rises several meters into the air. Wood plank paths lead you past mud springs and fumaroles. From two viewing platforms you can see - and even hear - the 300°C hot water bubbling.

Like many places in Iceland, the hot spring of Gunnuver is linked to a legend: a female ghost called Gunna is said to have caused some trouble here. A priest set a trap for her and she fell into the hot spring. Today the spring bears Gunna's name. 

Since 2006 the springs have become more active, there have even been explosions in the springs. After a temporary closure, the area has been open again since 2010. You can still see remains of the old wooden footbridge. Nevertheless it is said: Keep your distance! Because every now and then the spring is supposed to throw hot lumps of clay into the air.

#5 Reykjanesvíti Lighthouse

The coast off Reykjanes is a tough one. Not only for walkers, who are almost carried away by the wind. The coast is especially dangerous for shipping. The coast has already become the doom of many ships. To make navigation safer, Iceland's first lighthouse was built here. This was in 1878. After an earthquake the lighthouse was heavily damaged and was not far from the edge of the cliff. Therefore the lighthouse Reykjanesvíti was rebuilt in 1908. This time, however, a little further inland.

In the meadows around the lighthouse, countless Arctic ternsbreed. But instead of taking care of their nests, the birds like to sit on the warm asphalt.

#6 Steep Coast Valahnjúkur and Scree Ridge Valahnúkamöl

If you follow the road from the Reykjanesvíti lighthouse towards the coast, you will come to the Valahnjúkur cliffs. Already from the parking lot you have a fantastic view of the wild coast with its black rock pillars. Numerous seabirdsbreed on the cliffs. But the cliffs of Valahnjúkur are closed. Because the terrain is unstable and there is the danger of landslides.

There's another path instead, which will lead you past the foundations of the old lighthouse . Then the path continues towards the coast until you reach the Valahnúkamöl scree ridge. The ridge consists of rounded stones and is about 420 metres long, 80 metres wide and 10 metres high. At this point, one clearly sees the forces of nature that work here in Iceland: as this huge ridge is only originated by wind and waves.

#7 Brimketill - the Bathtub of Giantess Oddný

Brimketill is a small basin formed by sea erosion, which is said to have been used as a bathtub by the giantess Oddný. A short path leads from the parking lot to the viewing platform. From here you have a good view of the surf and experience the natural forces of Iceland at close quarters. Sometimes however not without side effects: Because when the waves are high, you will almost certainly get soaked.

#8 In Devil's Kitchen - high temperature Area Seltún in Krýsuvík

Seltún is another important high temperature geothermal area and definitely one of the sights of Reykjanes that you should not miss. Piles of steam rise and mud pots bubble up. The ground around the fumaroles is coloured red, yellow and green. Various mineral deposits make the landscape colourful. A wooden walkway leads you through the landscape, past the most splendid springs. A walk from the car park takes about 20 minutes. But if you like to take pictures as much as I do, you can take a little longer. The Seltún geothermal area is particularly diverse and offers many great photo opportunities.

A steep path leads up to the top of the mountain. From here you have a great view over the whole area.

#9 Lake Kleifarvatn

Lake Kleifarvatn is the largest lake on the Reykjanes peninsula. With about 97 meters it is one of the deepest lakes in Iceland. It is framed by high mountain flanks and offers a great photo opportunity in every season. Folklore says that a monster lives in the lake . It is said to have the shape of a worm and the size of a whale. So watch out!

#10 The Blue Lagoon

Bathing in turquoise water between fissured black lava formations? Floating in warm water at 37 to 42 °C while the lagoon mud on your face drives away wrinkles? Sounds great at first - but.

I was once in the Blue Lagoon. It was in 2010 when I was in Iceland for the first time. It was quite nice, but after 30 minutes I got bored and left. Today the entrance fee for the Wellness Temple is 36 to 298 Euro per person depending on the package. Quite a lot of money. But I have to admit: the sight and the colour combination was just great: the bright blue of the water and the black of the lava stones give a great contrast. Not for nothing the Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular attractions of the peninsula Reykjanes.

Next to the Blue Lagoon there is a circular trail of about 500 meters that takes you past more lakes and black lava. But the water here is not as blue as I remember, rather milky. Nevertheless it is a nice little round trip.

Book Recommendations for Iceland

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Recommendations for further Reading

Do you love the Scandinavian countries as much as I do? Then you might also be interested in my articles about the Faroe Islands or a tour on a Dog Sled from Tasiilaq to Tiniteqilaaq in East Greenland.