16 Dec Top Attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula is in such a convenient location that everyone who travels to Iceland can schedule a visit. The majority of people will fly into Keflavík airport, which is located at the northeastern tip of the peninsula. You can thus plan to see the top attractions in Reykjanes first thing when you leave the airport. On the other hand, you can wait until your last day to check them out. Either way, you will not be disappointed! 

Need some additional help planning your trip to Iceland? Check out this (very detailed) road trip itinerary for Iceland as well as this list of international travel essentials.

Contents:

1) Blue Lagoon 

2) Fagradalsfjall Volcano

3) City of Reykjavík

4) Bridge Between Continents 

5) Gunnuhver Geothermal Area

6) Cliffs of Valahnúkamöl 

1) Blue Lagoon – Reykjanes Peninsula

• Estimated visit time: 1 hour +
• Parking: Blue Lagoon Car Park
• Article for more information: The Blue Lagoon in Iceland: Everything to Know.

Put on a swimsuit, enter the Blue Lagoon, and then let the geothermal waters rejuvenate your body, mind, and skin. Iceland’s weather can be chilly in the summer and very cold in the winter. Nothing feels better than walking around in what is essentially an extremely large hot tub. My top tip is to arrive as early as possible. We booked the earliest tickets at 9:00am, and I was actually the first one to enter the lagoon that morning.

Additionally, the Blue Lagoon made it on my list of the Top 10 Things to Do in Iceland, ranking at number nine. Some people believe it is a tourist trap, but I greatly enjoyed my time there. 

Location

The Blue Lagoon is located on the western side of the Reykjanes peninsula. For reference, it is only a 25 minute drive from Keflavík airport. There is a parking lot right before the main building, and I included the link above. You should never have to worry about finding a space, as the lot is huge.

For nearby lodging, we stayed at Guesthouse Pavi in the city of Reykjavík. On the other hand, why not book a room at one of the most romantic hotels in Iceland? 

If you are also planning a visit to northern Iceland, do not miss out on Myvatn Nature Baths. Why not visit two geothermal pools during your time in Iceland? If you can only visit one due to time or budget constraints, let me help you decide: How to Decide Between the Blue Lagoon vs. Myvatn Nature Baths.

Opening Hours 

The Blue Lagoon is one of the most popular destinations in Iceland and thus also one of the top attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula. It is open from around 9:00am to 9:00pm every single day of the year with limited hours on certain holidays.

Letting the Blue Lagoon rejuvenate my body

Ticket Options – Reykjanes Peninsula

Ticket options range from the basic comfort package (starting at $53 or 7,500 ISK) to the premium package (starting at $68 or 9,600 ISK) to the retreat spa package (starting at $448 or 63,000 ISK). All tickets, except a children’s ticket, come with one free drink and one free face mask at the bars within the lagoon.

The main difference between the comfort and premium tickets is that the premium comes with additional rentals, drinks, and face masks. The retreat spa package offers a lot more amenities than the previous two ticket packages. However, this is to be expected due to the price difference. For example, you can enjoy a private changing room, the three chambers of the Blue Lagoon ritual, the Lava Cove, and so much more.

Visitor Information

Do you want total privacy when visiting the lagoon? Well, that might not be possible unless you book the retreat spa package. Nevertheless, you will find less crowds at the Blue Lagoon right when it opens. We booked tickets for the earliest time slot at 9:00am, and I was actually the first one in the lagoon that day. I was quite surprised when I walked out and saw absolutely no one around. I was not messing around; I wanted some nice photos with limited crowds in the background. 

Additionally, please note that they do ask you to shower without a swimsuit before entering the lagoon. There are both public and private showers available. Furthermore, they provide you with an electronic wristband so you can obtain access to a locker within the changing rooms. 

I have two more quick recommendations. First, remove any silver jewelry. The minerals within the lagoon can turn silver black. Second, do not submerge your hair in water if you have any sort of coloring in it. Again, the minerals within the lagoon can be harsh, especially to treated hair. 

Swimming around in the Blue Lagoon

Background

We have to go all the way back to the 1980s to understand the origin of the Blue Lagoon. The activity of a nearby geothermal power plant caused the turquoise blue water to rise to the surface in a lava field. People just expected the water to slowly absorb back in the earth, but it never did. Why is that? The water remained above the surface due to the fact there is so much silica present within it.

Blue Lagoon Limited, a company formed to study the properties of the lagoon water, formed in the early 1990s. They were the ones to first open the lagoon to visitors in 1999. I think they made some good business choices, for now the Blue Lagoon is bigger and better than ever. 

The temperature of the lagoon ranges from 98 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (~37 to 40 degrees Celsius). In terms of size, it is approximately 93,650 square feet (~8,700 square meters) large.

For more details, check out this article: The Blue Lagoon in Iceland: Everything to Know.

Enjoying some peace and quiet at the Blue Lagoon before the crowds arrive

2) Fagradalsfjall Volcano

• Estimated visit time: 2+ hours   
• Parking: Fagradalsfjall 

If you have a chance to hike a volcano in Iceland, do it! Fagradalsfjall was actually erupting while we visited in August 2021. We immediately added this hike to our list of priority activities when we learned about it.

Nothing can compare to hiking an erupting volcano. As we got closer and closer, we could see lava spewing out of the top, running down the sides, and slowly turning black. There was not exactly a defined trail, but that just added to the adventure. You can even walk up to some of the cooling black lava and hold your hands over the steam to warm them.

Furthermore, hiking Fagradalsfjall volcano made it on my list of the Top 3 Things to Do in Iceland, coming in at number three. It is no surprise it is thus also included on this list of the top attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula. 

Lava erupting from Fagradalsfjall Volcano

Location – Reykjanes Peninsula

Fagradalsfjall Volcano is located in the central/western section of the Reykjanes Peninsula. For reference, it is a 35 minute drive from Keflavík airport.

Head to Fagradalsfjall Volcano on google maps to find the parking lot for viewpoints A and B. Shortly after starting the trail from the parking lot, you will come to a fork in the trail. We decided to continue to the left, which was the trail to the backside of the volcano. I can assure you that we had fantastic views of the volcano and the lava spewing out of it. There is not a defined trail to the end, but you can just keep hiking along until you are as close (while still remaining safe) to the volcano as possible. 

Background

Fagradalsfjall started erupting in March of 2021 and then continued to erupt for six more months before becoming dormant once again. Moreover, that was the first time it had erupted in over six thousand years. You might wonder if there were any signs of the eruption before it happened. Yes, there were a few signs – mainly earthquakes. For the three weeks before the eruption, Iceland (and the Reykjanes Peninsula specifically) experienced over 40,000 earthquakes. However, most of them could not be felt by humans. Nevertheless, some were large enough to damage buildings. 

The Fagradalsfjall eruption can be classified as an “effusive fissure eruption”. This means it included spewing lava and volcanic gases but no ash plumes.

Now that we know a bit about its current state, let me take you back to its origin story. It originally formed during the Last Glacial Period from an eruption under the ice sheet. 

Looking onward to Fagradalsfjall Volcano

3) City of Reykjavík – Reykjanes Peninsula

• Estimated visit time: 2+ hours    
• Parking: Reykjavík Ink (we parked next to here and walked around)

Reykjavik is the capital city of Iceland and thus of course on the list of the top attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula. We spent part of our last day exploring the city, for it has much to offer in terms of attractions, shops, and restaurants.

Interested in a tour originating from Reykjavík? There are so many options, including ice cave tours as well as two-day south coast tours.

Location

The capital city of Reykjavík is located on the northeastern point of the Reykjanes Peninsula. For reference, it is 50 minutes from the Keflavík airport. 

Hallgrimskirkja Church (modeled after basalt rock columns)

Main Attractions 

We first got tattoos at Reykjavík Ink because why not! There is something incredibly exciting and intimate about getting a tattoo while traveling in another country. We then walked around to some of the main attractions in the city.

First, we saw the Sun Voyager, a sculpture right on the coast. Jón Gunnar Árnason created the sculpture to represent “the promise of undiscovered territory, a dream of hope, progress, and freedom.” Second, we walked to Hallgrimskirkja, a church with a stunning architecture and history. For example, it was designed after the popular basalt rock columns seen throughout Iceland in places such as Reynisfjara black sand beach and Stuðlagil Canyon. 

Third, we explored Laugavegur street, which had all of the shops and restaurants we could ever need. Lastly, we checked out a seafood diner called Sægreifinn (Seabaron). It was FANTASTIC. The lobster soup was heavenly. (If you eat there, feel free to bring me back a gallon of that soup).

Voyager Sculpture along the coast in Reykjavík

4) Bridge Between Continents

• Estimated visit time: 30 minutes    
• Parking: Parking for Bridge Between Continents

Have you ever wanted to walk from the continent of North America to the continent of Europe? It might seem like a strange desire, but when confronted with the opportunity, how could you pass it up? The North American and Eurasian tectonic plates have drifted apart over the years, creating small valleys. The 50 foot Bridge Between Continents spans one of those valleys. It is also known as Midlina. 

Thingvellir National Park is also located on the rift between the tectonic plates, and snorkeling is offered as an excursion there. Not many people can say they have had the opportunity to snorkel in between the tectonic plates.

Location – Reykjanes Peninsula

The Bridge Between Continents is located on the western tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula. For reference, it is 25 minutes from the Keflavík airport. There is a parking area close to the bridge, and a small pathway connects the two. 

Background

As mentioned previously, the Bridge Between Continents spans between the continents of Europe and North America. The bridge is approximately 50 feet (~15 meters) long and extends between the two tectonic plates. Additionally, the tectonic plates are actually drifting further apart each year by less than an inch on average. 

You will find a plaque in the middle of the bridge that says “Midlina – in the footsteps of the gods”. On both sides of the bridge, you will see welcome signs to North America and Europe respectively. 

Furthermore, the bridge is dedicated to Leif Erikson. If his name sounds familiar, it is because he was the first European to walk on North American soil over a thousand years ago. 

5) Gunnuhver Geothermal Area – Reykjanes Peninsula

• Estimated visit time: 30 minutes 
• Parking: Gunnuhver East Parking or Gunnuhver West Parking

Fifth on the list of the top attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula is the Gunnuhver Geothermal Area. You can visit the Blue Lagoon to get your fill of geothermal pools, and you can visit Gunnuhver to get your fill of geothermal areas.

If you plan to visit northern Iceland, be sure to check out Hverir Geothermal Area in the Myvatn region. It holds the largest geyser in Iceland: Strokkur. 

Location

Gunnuhver Geothermal Area is located on the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula. For reference, it is 30 minutes from the Keflavík airport. As linked above, there are two parking lots for the geothermal area. You can park at either one and then walk around the perimeter of the area on the designated trails. 

Background

The geothermal area is full of steam vents and mud pools, which you can view from along the trails. Be careful not to venture off the trails, however, for some of the water can reach temperatures as high as 570+ degrees Fahrenheit (~300+ degrees Celsius). Additionally, the water within Gunnuhver is actually seawater, which makes it different from the majority of Iceland’s other geothermal areas. 

The entire region of Reykjanes Peninsula is prone to volcanic activity, which is also evident from the Fagradalsfjall volcano mentioned earlier. Why is this? Well, the Mid Atlantic Ridge, which is the rift that separates the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, runs through the peninsula. The activity of the tectonic plates then causes heat to rise closer to the surface. 

For a bit of a legend, it is said the spirit of a woman is trapped in the geothermal area. Her name was Gunna, and Gunnuhver Geothermal Area is thus named after her. 

6) Cliffs of Valahnúkamöl

• Estimated visit time: 30+ minutes 
• Parking: Valahnúkamöl

Lastly, we have the Cliffs of Valahnúkamöl on this list of the top attractions in Reykjanes Peninsula.

For more coastal views in Iceland, head to the town of Arnarstapi where you can see the sea arch Gatklettur. Additionally, head to Ytri Tunga Beach on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula for the chance to spot some seals.

Location – Reykjanes Peninsula

The Cliffs of Valahnúkamöl are located on the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula. For reference, they are 30 minutes from the Keflavík airport. 

For parking, simply drive to the end of the road and park at the location linked above. It is then just a short walk to the coast to view the cliffs. 

Background

The Cliffs of Valahnúkamöl were created by powerful coastal storms. The waves from the sea consistently smashed into the cliff over the years, thus creating its now jagged appearance. You can look out into the sea and see some rocks standing straight out of the water.

Additionally, you can take a short walk to Reykjanes Lighthouse, which is the oldest lighthouse in Iceland. 

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Start planning your Iceland road trip: Iceland Road Trip Packing List: 6 Items.

Be prepared for hiking in Iceland: Iceland Hiking Essentials: 5 Items to Pack.