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Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula expands in drama as you move away from the highway between Reykjavík and Keflavík International Airport. You’ll find not only the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous attraction, but numerous other gorgeous and interesting sights, many of them based around active volcanoes. The busiest towns are amenity-rich Keflavík and nearby Njarðvík, but the sweet, windswept fishing hamlets of Garður and Sandgerði – great for whale watching – are just minutes to the west of the airport on a small northwestern spur. The rest of the Reykjanes, from dramatic Reykjanestá in the southwest to the Reykjanesfólkvangur wilderness reserve in the east, is an untamed landscape of multihued volcanic craters, mineral lakes, bubbling hot springs, rugged mountains and coastal lava fields.

Explore Reykjanes Peninsula

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Reykjanes Peninsula.

  • Museum

    Víkingaheimar

    At the eastern end of Njarðvík's waterfront, the spectacular Víkingaheimar is a Norse exhibition centre built in one beautiful, sweeping architectural…

  • Hot Springs

    Seltún

    The volatile geothermal field Austurengjar, about 2km south of Kleifarvatn, is often called Krýsuvík after the nearby abandoned farm. At Seltún, the main…

  • Lake

    Kleifarvatn

    This deep, brooding lake sits in a volcanic fissure, surrounded by wind-warped lava cliffs and black-sand shores. A walking trail runs around the edge,…

  • Natural Feature

    Gunnuhver

    Boardwalks allow visitors to get close to the eerie Gunnuhver site, which is filled with vigorously bubbling mud pools and billowing steam. Some…

  • Natural Feature

    Valahnúkur

    These strangely shaped cliffs and hardened volcanic ash layers were formed in an eruption in the early 1900s. The formations are named tuffs, and consist…

  • Museum

    Sudurnes Science & Learning Center

    This scientific learning centre has a fascinating exhibit about Polar explorer Jean-Baptiste Charcot, whose ship Pourquois Pas? wrecked near here in 1936 …

  • Sculpture

    Giantess

    To the northeast of Keflavík's harbour sits the larger-than-life Giantess, a giant troll character from Herdís Egilsdóttir’s children’s books. A local art…

  • Museum

    Duushús

    In a long red warehouse by the harbour, Duushús is Keflavík’s historic cultural centre. There’s a permanent exhibition of around 60 of Grímur Karlsson’s…

  • Museum

    Icelandic Museum of Rock 'n' Roll

    This museum delves into the history of the awesome Icelandic music scene, from Björk to Sigur Rós and Of Monsters and Men. Admission includes a walking…

  • Lake

    Grænavatn

    Just to the north of the Seltún hot springs, this lake is an old explosion crater filled with gorgeous teal water, caused by a combination of minerals and…

  • Bridge

    The Bridge Between Two Continents

    A walkway over a canyon, which was formed when the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates shifted. These plates drift apart around 2cm a year…

  • Sculpture

    Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture

    Overlooking the ocean, this impressive sculpture in the shape of an abstract anchor is worth a closer look.

  • Lighthouse

    Reykjanesviti Lighthouse

    The first lighthouse in the area was built in 1878, but sadly it wasn't to last. A severe earthquake in Valahnúkur at the beginning of the 20th century…

  • Sculpture

    Keflavík Airport Art

    There are two gigantic sculptures in front of the terminal building at Keflavík International Airport – Magnús Tómasson’s Þotuhreiður (Jet Nest) resembles…

  • Lighthouse

    Gardur Lighthouse

    Positioned on the tip of the peninsular, this attractive red-and-white lighthouse is a lovely spot from which to watch the sunset. You may spot unusual…

  • Historic Building

    Stekkjarkot

    On the point near Víkingaheimar, the tiny folk museum Stekkjarkot is housed in a restored turf house, abandoned in 1924, with parts dating to the 19th…

  • Museum

    Garðskagi Museum

    This small museum is filled with a pleasing mishmash of boating memorabilia, farming equipment and vintage Icelandic goods. The entry fee includes access…

  • Museum

    Kvíkan

    Grindavík’s only tourist attraction is Kvíkan, a museum with two exhibits: a well-curated one on the fish-salting industry, and another about the earth's…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Reykjanes Peninsula.

  • Activities