Explore Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula

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Flying into Iceland, I dreamed of out of this world landscapes, stories of elves, and horses with fluffy manes. Much to my pleasure, all of these things can be found in Iceland. My first day held excitement and a sense of adventure. Fighting through the exhaustion of an overnight flight, I walked up craggy cliffs, through geothermal fields, and between two continents.

If you are flying to Iceland, you are most likely landing in the city of Keflavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. There are so many beautiful sights to see on this peninsula that will give you a feel for Icelandic terrain. If you are just doing a quick stop in Iceland for a few days, you should definitely explore the Reykjanes Peninsula and Reykjavik. If you can spare a full day, make sure that you see the Golden Circle as well.

A yellow sign with a silhouette of a town marks the entrance to the town of Hafnir in Iceland. Hafnir is a small town on the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Towns in Iceland are marked by these cute signs.

The Reykjanes Peninsula

As you leave Keflavík and head towards Reykjavik on road 41, hang a right onto 44 to see some lovely coastline, small towns, a continental divide, and some geothermal fields. All of these things are within an hours drive of the airport.

A golden owl-shaped lock hangs on Lief the Lucky's Bridge, which connects the fissure cause by the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Photo taken on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.
People have hung locks on Lief the Lucky’s Bridge, which connects the divide between continents.

The Bridge Between Continents

Did you know that Iceland technically sits on two continents? While Iceland is a European country, the island is split by the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. As you drive along road 44 (which turns into 425), you will see a great fissure in the ground. Turn left and park to cross the bridge between America and Europe.

This major plate boundary known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge shows how the two plates are slowly but surely drifting apart. A small pedestrian footbridge (Lief the Lucky’s Bridge) connects the two sides of the divide and symbolizes the connection between Europe and North America.

While you are here, you can cross the road and head towards the ocean to see some of Iceland’s iconic black sand and sea cliffs. It is a bit of a hike, so if the weather isn’t good for that, keep on going and you can get a bit closer to those waves.

Rock formations jut up out of the ocean at Valahnukamol along the coast of the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.

Valahnúkamöl

This ridge located right on the coast is where I fell in love with Iceland for the first time. When the sun shines over the water and the waves crash against the cliffs, you can’t help but be mesmerized.

We discovered this place by accident by following roads towards the Reykjanes Lighthouse. Take the road past the lighthouse and park to walk over to the ridge. This is an excellent place for photography, bird watching, or reading a book on a nice day.

Steam billows out of a vent at Gunnhuver on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland.
Honestly, this is where I would dispose of a ghost, too.

Gunnhuver Mud Pools and Steam Vents

As you are leaving Valahnúkamöl, take a right when the road ends and you will find Gunnhuver. This geothermal area is named after a ghost who was laid to rest here.

The woman, Gunna hated the local sheriff in life. When the sheriff was found dead the day after attending her funeral, the locals suspected that she had not truly been laid to rest. A priest was convinced to take care of the vengeful ghost, and so he made a rope that would take her to her final resting place. That place is Gunnhuver, as she was pulled into the hot springs and never heard from again.

Gunnhuver has become a bit more dangerous due to splashing boiling mud and hot steam onto viewing platforms. If you visit, be cognizant and follow the marked paths. Safety first!

The sun reflects on the ocean beyond Oddny's pool, formed by the rocks at Brimketill.
You can see Oddny’s Pool. The waves would crash and refill it every so often.

Brimketill, or Oddnýjarlaug

The current name, Brimketill translates to “White Cauldron”. As cool as that name is, the historical name, Oddnýjarlaug, or Oddný’s Pool has a better origin.

The story goes like this: Oddný the troll went out one night to fetch a whale carcass near Brimketill. On her way home, she decided to rest and have a bath in the pool at Brimketill. She spent a bit too much time in the baths, however, and when she left to go home she got caught by the sun and turned to stone. (It is common knowledge that trolls turn to stone when exposed to the sun).

For a long time, a tall pinnacle graced the coast and was said to be Oddný’s frozen figure. However, it has been washed away by the ocean. Now you can view Oddný’s pool at Brimketill and gaze over the ocean as you listen to the waves crash and fill the pools with white sea foam.

A cat is painted on the bottom of a home in Reykjavik. It appears to be sneaking up on something around the corner.
A painted cat creeps around the corner…I can’t resist cat street art.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik is the largest city in Iceland with a population of ~123,000 people. This seems very small to those of us who live in heavily populated places. Though Reykjavik is still clearly a city with a natural charm that makes you feel right at home.

There are many iconic places to visit in Reykjavik and they are all worth seeing in my opinion. Take your time and explore and you never know what you may find.

A photo of the Sun Voyager, a steel sculpture of a ship that sits looking out at the sea on the edge of Reykjavik in Iceland.
This view is irresistible. The Sun Voyager really is a thing of dreams.

The Sun Voyager

Perhaps the most iconic spot in Iceland. Every Instagrammer who has been to Iceland will likely post this photo at some point. The Sun Voyager sits on the path that leads along the sea and the edge of the city. If you walk this path, you will find several of Iceland’s iconic sights, including the Harpa.

The Sun Voyager was sculpted by the artist Jon Gunnar Arnason in 1986. He won an outdoor sculpture contest which celebrated Reykjavik’s 200th anniversary.  The idea came to him in a vision as he traveled in Finland. It was a surreal dream of his previous life and suggested a correlation between Iceland and Mongolia.

With a spiritual background, the Sun Voyager has many stories surrounding its creation.  The sculpture is indeed beautiful, but its story is rich and fascinating. When you see it, consider what the sculptor must have been thinking as he brought his vision to life.

Hallgrimskirkja from a side street in Reykjavik, Iceland.
It is impossible to miss Hallgrímskirkja as you walk through Reykjavik.

Hallgrímskirkja

This imposing structure stands in the middle of Reykjavik at an impressive 74.5 meters (~245 feet). This Lutheran church is one of the tallest buildings in the country, and from the top, you can see an amazing view of the city (or so I hear, I was too late to go inside).

The construction of this behemoth concluded in 1986. Expect to see plenty of people in the courtyard before the church. This landmark is quite popular.

Standing in front of the church is a statue of the ever famous Lief Erikson. This Viking explorer of Iceland was the first European to discover America, prior to Christopher Columbus by roughly 500 years.

A rocky path leads from the black sand beach to a lighthouse at Grotta in Iceland.
The Lighthouse at Grótta is only accessible for about three hours each day.

Grótta

At the westernmost end of Reykjavik you will find Grótta, a small islet that is home to a lighthouse. This is technically in the small township of Seltjarnarnes.

You can walk out to the lighthouse during a small window of time between high and low tide each day. If you decide to visit the lighthouse, make sure that you don’t get stuck. Rumor has it that this is a great place to view the Northern Lights if you can’t make it out of the city.

You can also walk along the beach and look back towards Reykjavik from a quiet and peaceful place. When I visited, it seemed like a refuge from the city. Neighborhoods with pleasant houses sit nearby and it just felt like an easy place to call home.

Perlan - The Wonders of Iceland, sits atop a snowy hill in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Perlan is a great experience, especially for those with limited time in Iceland.

Perlan – The Wonders of Iceland

The glass dome atop Perlan sticks out as a marvel as you drive toward Öskjuhlíð. This magnificent building atop a hill holds a museum and other attractions that are a great place to experience Iceland, especially if you cannot make it far out of the city.

Perlan is home to a museum that brings together some of the best exhibits to showcase Iceland’s unique nature. You can enter the building and peruse some parts for free, but there is a fee to see the museum portion and planetarium shows.

The upper level holds a restaurant and cafe with a view of the city, and you can even go out on the terrace for a 360-degree view of Reykjavik.

Entrance to the Wonders of Iceland is 3900 ISK for adults, and 4500 ISK for the museum and planetarium show Árora.

The golden sand at Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach in Reykjavik, Iceland.
The geothermal beach has a slightly warmer water temperature for swimming. It still looks cold to me!

Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach

A 15-minute walk down from Perlan through Öskjuhlíð will take you to Nautholsvik Geothermal Beach. This golden sand beach opened in 2001 much to the delight of locals.

This is a popular place for sea-swimming with the hot tubs and steam baths so close by. Cold water swimming is a past time in Iceland as crazy as that might sound. The water in this lagoon is actually a bit warmer than expected at 15-19 degrees Celcius in the summer months.

Bathing here is free in the summer and a mere 100 ISK in the winter.

Laugavegur Street in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Laugavegur

Historically, Laugavegur is a street that was used by women who were walking to hot springs to do their laundry. The name loosely translates to “Water Road”.  Nowadays, Laugavegur is a vibrant street with shops, restaurants, museums, clubs, and more.

I am not one for clubbing when I travel, but the venues in Reykjavik are certainly tempting. Lebowski Bar, anyone?

If you want to see just how eclectic and artsy Iceland can be, take a quick jaunt down Laugavegur. You could easily spend an afternoon wandering through shops.

A small viking figure stands outside of a shop on Laugavegur in Reykjavik, Iceland.
We loved this sweet friend outside of a shop on Laugavegur.

Other Places to See in this Region

While I would have loved to see everything in this part of Iceland, alas, I had not the time. There is so much more here I would like to see, so I will share some of the other places that I found when I researched the area.

  • The Blue Lagoon: This popular lagoon is a mere 20 minutes from the airport, making it a popular place for those with long layovers to take a quick break. If you are planning a visit, consult this comprehensive guide for the Blue Lagoon Spa.
  • Reykjanesfólkvangur: This nature preserve sits to the east of Reykjavik and is ideal for scenic hikes and a good dose of nature. Expect more natural hot springs, volcanos, and sea cliffs.
  • Hafnarfjörður: We did not take the time to explore the third largest city of Iceland which sits just south of Reykjavik. This is a port town, so seek out fresh seafood.
  • Museums: I love museums, but I sadly did not get to visit many. Some to look for include: The National Museum of Iceland, The Iceland Phallological Museum, Saga Museum, Reykjavik Art Museum, and many more.

Just Keep Exploring

Iceland is a place where the more you explore and go off track, the more amazing things you will find. That being said, because Iceland has done such an amazing job preserving its nature, we are tasked with keeping it as pure and untouched as possible.

Humans have a major impact on nature whether we like it or not. If we continuously trod on and touch a place it will surely change over time, and probably not for the better. So while you are in Iceland, respect the nature, listen to the signs that tell you not to go somewhere, and don’t sit on an iceberg and float out to sea.

When you travel, do you try to leave little behind? I like to leave a very small or no trace at all. I try to be quiet and respectful of the world as I travel through it. Keep this in mind when you visit Iceland, and you will enjoy it even more. I promise.

If you are planning a trip around the Ring Road, you can check out my full driving route here.

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If you only have a short time to explore Iceland you can see the different landscapes of Iceland right on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Combine this with a visit to Reykjavik and you will have an excellent experience in Iceland! #reykjavik #rekjanespeninsula #iceland #travel

Planning what you will do in and around Reykjavik? Learn about 10 must see places in Reykjavik and the Reykjanes Peninsula. #rekjavik #rekjanespeninsula #iceland #travel

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