Reykjanes Peninsula

Jutting out from Iceland’s southwest coast and a popular choice for a day trip from nearby Reykjavík, the Reykjanes Peninsula is home to some of the country’s most beguiling landscapes—a patchwork of rugged lava fields, soaring sea cliffs and steamy hot pools.
Heading south from the capital the first stop is Hafnafjörður, Iceland’s third-largest town, but undoubtedly the biggest tourist magnet is the Blue Lagoon, the famous geothermal spa named for its startling blue, mineral-rich waters. While many day-trippers are tempted by a whistle-stop tour of the Blue Lagoon, there’s plenty more to see and do on the peninsula. Spot puffins, herring gulls and black guillemots swooping over the Krísuvíkurbjarg sea cliffs, sample traditional Icelandic cuisine at the fishing villages of Grindavík, Sandgerði and Garður, discover the secrets of Iceland’s geothermal energy at the Hellisheiði Power Station, or walk the ‘Bridge Between Two Continents’, which traverses the dramatic rifts at the meeting of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. 

Practical Info

The Reykjanes Peninsula is located on Iceland’s southwest coast and can be explored by car, public transport or guided tour from Reykjavík.