Looking for the best things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula? We’ve got you covered with some of the most fascinating sites that the southwest of Iceland has to offer.
Planning your trip to Reykjavik last minute?
Make sure to book ahead! Hotels and tours often sell out the closer you get to your trip. Here are our top picks for Reykjavik!
Top Experiences And Tours In Reykjavik:
- Golden Circle Full-Day Tour From Reykjavik (Likely To Sell Out!)
- Northern Lights Bus Tour (Go with a local guide)
- Whale Watching & Marine Life Cruise (Often sells out!)
- Keflavik > Reykjavik Bus Airport Transfer (Skip the line!)
- South Of Iceland Full Day Trip (Our pick!)
Top Hotels In Reykjavik:
- 201 Hotel (Highly rated!)
- Reykjavik Residence Apartment Hotel (Includes a kitchen)
- Center Hotels Plaza (Central location in Old Town)
- R13-A Townhouse Hotel (Great for families!)
The Reykjanes Peninsula often gets overlooked for the more popular south coast, Golden Circle, or Ring Road tourist routes, but given its proximity to the Keflavik Airport and its unique natural landscape, it should be given its time in the spotlight.
Many of the stops along this route are quick, leaving you ample time to pack in a full schedule. Now hop in the car or book a tour because the lava rock and rocky seas of the Reykjanes Peninsula await you!
What Is The Reykjanes Peninsula and Why You Should Visit
You’re driving away from the Keflavik Airport after just landing in Iceland and what is the first thing you see? The endless lava fields of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Depending on the time of year they’ll be blanketed with snow or moss, but they stretch as far as the eye can see.
The Reykjanes Peninsula is geologically fascinating as a region of high volcanic and geothermal activity thanks to its location along the Mid-Atlantic Rift. Unsurprisingly the entire peninsula has been named a UNESCO Global Geopark.
You’ll have the opportunity to walk between continents, be enveloped by steam in otherworldly landscapes, and watch the raging Atlantic Ocean crash against jagged walls of lava rock.
If that’s not enough, the Reykjanes Peninsula is home to the Blue Lagoon, one of Iceland’s most well-known tourist attractions. Soaking in the warm waters of the lagoon is a surefire way to forget any worries and relax to the fullest.
Best Reykjanes Peninsula Tours
Though we’re giving you a selection of the best activities on Reykjanes Peninsula, perhaps you’d like to take the planning out of your trip altogether. In this case, you might consider picking a tour and letting the tour company and guide lead you to the best spots.
In some cases, you’ll be required to take a tour, such as at the Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel where one of four different guided tour options is the only way to view the tunnel.
For the rest of the peninsula, you’ll have the option of joining a tour leaving from Reykjavik or renting a car and exploring on your own.
If you’ve decided on taking a tour, you’ll want to consider the Guided Volcano and Lava Field Hike with Geopark or the Volcano Eruption Site and Reykjanes Tour.
These tours cover many of the most popular Reykjanes sites such as the Gunnuhver Hot Springs and the bridge between continents, but they also give you a glimpse into the most recent volcanic activity on the peninsula.
On both tours, you’ll get to walk the landscape around the Meradalir Volcano that erupted on August 3, 2022. The Guided Volcano and Lava Field Hike tour will also take you to the Geldingadalur Volcano which erupted on March 19, 2021.
Though the volcanoes are no longer actively erupting, it’s a wonderful opportunity for you to see the country’s most recent lava formations up close.
Getting To The Reykjanes Peninsula
Regardless of how many total vacation days you have in Iceland, a trip around the Reykjanes Peninsula is easily accomplished thanks to its proximity to Reykjavik, Selfoss (the largest south coast town), and the geothermally active south coast area of Hveragerði.
If you choose to take a tour you’ll find plenty of options leaving from Reykjavik. If however, you’d like the flexibility of exploring on your own time, a rental car is the way to go.
Many of the best things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula can be reached in a 2×2 vehicle, but there are a couple of sites with rockier roads that are best reached in a 4×4.
Since the Keflavik Airport is on the peninsula it makes a trip to the Blue Lagoon particularly easy if you choose to visit right after landing or at the end of your vacation on your way back to the airport.
There are a number of bus transport options including the official Destination Blue Lagoon bus that will take you from Keflavik (or Reykjavik) to the Blue Lagoon and back.
Map Of Reykjanes Peninsula
If you’re a more visual person we’ve provided a map so you can see where this list of things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula takes you and the peninsula’s location in relation to the Keflavik Airport, Reykjavik, Selfoss, and Hveragerði.
11 Best Things To Do In Reykjanes Peninsula You Shouldn’t Miss
Take A Guided Tour Through The Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel
One of the best things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula with kids is down below the earth’s surface just 30 minutes from the capital. The Raufarhólshellir Lava Tunnel stretches for 4,500 ft drawing visitors from around the world all year round to its otherworldly depths.
This lava tunnel is accessed through a 1 hour guided tour where you’ll be led with the help of provided helmets and headlights through the main part of the tunnel. The tour cost is reduced for teenagers and free for kids aged 3-11.
If you are an adult wishing to go further and have the stamina to do so, you can join the 3-4 hour Lava Falls Adventure Tour.
As you walk through this natural wonder you’ll see colorful, mineral-rich walls and natural skylights where the tunnel’s roof caved in. You’ll also be remarkably in tune with the sounds of the cave as you push further into the darkness.
Get Envolped By Steam At Gunnuhver
One of the most hauntingly eerie of the Reykjanes tourist attractions is Gunnuhver, home to Iceland’s largest mud pool with fiercely boiling 570F seawater. In addition to the mud pots, you’ll find steam billowing from the ground in clouds so large it feels as though they could consume you.
In addition to the somewhat eerie appearance of this geothermally active site, the story behind its name involves a suspected witch named Gudrun whose spirit is said to be trapped in the hot springs.
If you’re up for feeling a bit of mist on your face you can view the hot springs up close from a ramp. If you’d rather opt for the zoomed-out view from a distance you’ll find a second ramp that gives you a more complete picture of the area. This is one of the coolest places to visit in Iceland!
Walk From North America To Europe At The Bridge Between Continents
The Bridge Between Continents allows you the unique opportunity to walk from North America to Europe in a span of seconds. To cross the Mid Atlantic Ridge where these two tectonic plates are separating at a rate of a couple of centimeters per year, you’ll cross a small 50ft footbridge.
With basalt columns and a vast volcanic landscape split by a pathway of black sand, you get a sense of the impressive impact these tectonic plates have on the surrounding landscape.
Also known as Miðlína or Leif the Lucky Bridge (after the famous explorer Leif Erikson), The Bridge Between Continents is one of the top Reykjanes tourist attractions, perfect for a quick but fascinating stop as part of a larger road trip.
Relax And Soak For Hours At The Blue Lagoon
Looking for things to do near Keflavik Airport when you first arrive in Iceland? There’s no nearby stop more iconic than the Blue Lagoon. While there are plenty of wonderful free things to do on Reykjanes Peninsula, if you’re willing to splurge a little, the Blue Lagoon is worth the stop.
The Blue Lagoon is located in the town of Grindavik and has rapidly become one of Iceland’s most popular and luxurious tourist attractions featuring milky blue, mineral-rich waters ideal for relaxing and healing.
A swim-up bar adds to the luxury, while the surrounding vast fields of lava rock act as a reminder of Iceland’s uniquely beautiful landscape.
There are limited things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula at night, but given the right weather conditions, the Blue Lagoon can be particularly magical at night. Imagine sitting in the lagoon and looking up at the sky dancing with Northern Lights or being bathed by the summer midnight sun.
Be sure to book tickets for the Blue Lagoon well in advance of your trip as its popularity and limit on the number of guests per hour make it impossible to get into at the last minute.
Watch The Birds At Krýsuvíkurberg Cliffs
Avid bird-watchers will agree that the Krýsuvíkurberg Cliffs are among the best places to visit in Reykjanes Peninsula. This is an ideal location to visit in the summer when nearly 60,000 seabirds find refuge among the cliffs to breed.
Beyond the opportunity to see puffins and peewits among others, the landscape itself is remarkable with layers of lava forming the cliffs that the Atlantic Ocean so fiercely crashes against.
Driving to a parking lot within easy walking distance of the cliffs is best done in a 4×4 as the road is rocky and requires more attentive navigating. Though the road may not be the easiest, you’ll be greeted at the end with a stunning coastline that might just take your breath away.
Climb To Reykjanesviti Lighthouse Then Take In The Views At Valahnúkamöl
Why not knock out two of the best Reykjanes activities at once? Your first stop will be at Reykjanesviti, Iceland’s oldest lighthouse. Though the original lighthouse was built in 1878, the ensuing destruction from an earthquake led to the current structure being erected from 1907-1908.
Though you can’t go inside the lighthouse, you can climb up to its base for a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape which includes your next stop, Valahnúkamöl. Be aware that the road from the lighthouse to Valahnúkamöl is not particularly smooth.
Valahnúkamöl is a stunning seaside cliff (one of many on the Reykjanes Peninsula) formed in a volcanic eruption and made of pillow lava. Stay for a while and take in the views particularly of the volcanic island Eldey, jutting out of the ocean just 9 miles offshore.
Watch Waves Crash Into The Brimketill Lava Rock Pool
Like many of the best things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula, Brimketill takes you seaside. This time you’ll be viewing a fascinating natural pool made of lava rock, molded from many years of taking a beating from the rough Atlantic seas.
A viewing platform gives you an opportunity to soak in the scene as well as the surrounding landscape. Do not venture down to the pool however as the sharp rock, rough waves, and unpredictable weather make it very dangerous.
If you enjoy a good backstory, the pool was once named after the giantess Oddný who bathed and washed her clothes in Brimketill before losing track of time and being turned to stone by the morning light.
Admire The Vibrant Colors And Geothermal Activity At Seltún
Does it smell like rotten eggs? Congratulations, you’ve arrived at one of the top attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula, the Seltún geothermal area. Thanks to its location in the fissure zone of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Seltún and the greater Krýsuvík area are rampant with geothermal activity.
As you navigate your way along the boardwalk, you’ll see bubbling mud pools and steam rising from the ground, all surrounded by colorful hues of red and yellow courtesy of mineral deposits.
Take a minute to enjoy the educational signs as you walk through the landscape so you can have a better understanding of the geological goings-on around you.
Admire The Impressive Coastline At Festarfjall
Talk about a dramatic coastline. The ocean waves rolling over a black sand beach against a wall of black cliff is enough to draw you in.
Pair that with the subglacial volcano Festarfjall and what ensues is a sight that’s equally as stunning and unique as the rest of the Icelandic landscape you’ve been viewing throughout your trip.
Though a captivating sight at any time of year, a visit to Festarjall might just be one of the best things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula in winter if you’re hoping to get a glimpse of the mountain dusted in a layer of snow that contrasts beautifully with the black of the sand and cliffs.
Wander The Ruins at Selatangar
Haunting, tempestuous, seemingly uninhabitable…these are all descriptions that come to mind when visiting the ruins at the old fishing station of Selatangar. Selatangar remained an important fishing hub until 1880, but if you visit now, it’s hard to believe anyone ever braved the rough conditions.
The ruins that you visit today are nothing more than the foundations of small huts, hardly suitable for fending off the Icelandic storms. The Atlantic Ocean still rages against the black lava rock as cold winds sweep through the area.
Unsurprisingly, as is the case with a number of the Reykjanes tourist attractions, there is a story behind the location this time involving a ghost named Tanga-Tómas who haunts the area. Whether you encounter a ghost or not, it’s hard to deny the eerie nature of this abandoned fishing village.
You’ll want to drive a 4×4 vehicle when visiting this site to avoid getting having problems traveling over the rough terrain.
Stop For A Meal And Groceries In The Town Of Grindavik
If you’re looking for the best things to do in Reykjanes Peninsula before or after a soak at the Blue Lagoon, the town of Grindavik should definitely be on your list. This is an ideal stop for a meal and/or a grocery run at Nettó before heading to your next destination.
Grindavik centers around the fishing industry. The town is even home to the Saltfish Museum featuring all the information you could want on the country’s former largest export.
In a town so synonymous with fish, you’d be remiss not the visit Bryggjan for a bite to eat and indulge in their famous Lobster soup or their cod and trout dishes. Looking for a simpler meal? Head to Papa’s Restaurant for delicious pizza.
We’re thrilled you’ve chosen to embark on a trip around the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Whether you’re searching for the best things to do in Reykjanes for adults or are traveling with children as a family, these 11 sites are a great place to start for anyone of any age to get a glimpse of the powerful landscape.
Perhaps you’re visiting landscapes for the haunting thrill of the associated folklore or maybe you’re looking to have your breath taken away by the raw beauty of this southwest Icelandic landscape. Either way, you’re in for a real treat.
If you have any questions as you plan what to do on Reykjanes Peninsula, feel free to leave us a comment below.
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