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Best of Reykjanes Peninsula

Thrainn Kolbeinsson - (thrainnko)
Itinerary created by
Thrainn Kolbeinsson
What you’ll do

The Reykjanes peninsula is one of the most underrated areas in Iceland. It has been going under the radar until very recently but it's still an incredible region to beat the crowds and see some epic spots without having to drive for hours upon hours. You should be able to see most of these in a single day but there's one area that take a bit of time to get to (which specified in the itinerary).

PACE: It is common when people travel around Iceland that they want to see and do as much as possible during their stay. I design my itineraries in a way where you can get the most out of every day – but still having reasonable time at each location. That being said, we all travel at different speeds and you can easily stretch the itineraries by a day or two.

SUMMER VS WINTER: During summer, we have pretty much endless daylight here in Iceland. That means you have the maximum amount of time to explore and enjoy. The opposite is true for winter when the days can be as short as 4-5 hours. That means you will have less daylight and driving can also be more difficult so I recommend stretching the itineraries a day or two and slowing down just a bit.  

Alright, Reykjanes! We have many interesting spots ahead but we all travel on our own speed so don’t worry if you won’t make it for all the stops. The itinerary is just for inspiration so take the time you have and prioritise what you’re most interested in.

I made it into two days but if you only have one day to explore feel free to combine your favourites into one epic Reykjanes day! It's can also be the perfect way to start your Iceland adventure by doing one day in Reykjanes, staying and Reykjavík for the night and then keep going wherever you want to go next.

NOTE: Due to the recent seismic activity around Grindavík the roads around the town might be closed meaning you might need to drive a bit more instead of doing a convenient loop.

Have a great journey!

1

Blue Car Rental
Blue Car Rental
Car rental - get 5% off
Category
Car Rental

13.7 km (8.5 mi)

15 min

2

Hvalsneskirkja
Hvalsneskirkja
Magical Icelandic culture exploration
Category
Sightseeing

2.8 km (1.7 mi)

5 min

3

Stafnesviti
Stafnesviti
A picturesque lighthouse
Category
Sightseeing

21.7 km (13.5 mi)

19 min

4

Bridge Between Continents
Bridge Between Continents
Want to stand right between two continents?
Category
Sightseeing

2.5 km (1.5 mi)

2 min

5

Stampar
Stampar
A volcanic crater row
Category
Sightseeing

5.5 km (3.4 mi)

7 min

6

Reykjanes Lighthouse
Reykjanes Lighthouse
Historic Icelandic Lighthouse Tour
Category
Sightseeing

60 m (0 mi)

7

Reykjanestá
Reykjanestá
Epic rock formations at the tip of Reykjanes peninsula
Category
Sightseeing

489 m (0.3 mi)

1 min

8

Reykjanestá Lighthouse
Reykjanestá Lighthouse
Historic and scenic lighthouse
Category
Sightseeing

6 km (3.7 mi)

10 min

9

Gunnuhver Hot Springs
Gunnuhver Hot Springs
Inspiring geothermal springs
Category
Sightseeing

4.8 km (3 mi)

8 min

10

Brimketill lava rock pool
Brimketill lava rock pool
A natural pool right by the ocean
Category
Sightseeing

46.4 km (28.8 mi)

36 min

Depending on whether the roads are closed around the town of Grindvík (due to the recent seismic activity), you'll either have to turn around here and drive back or you can keep going and finish the loop. Here you can see the road conditions in the area.

If you need to turn back, I'd suggest you grab a bit in any of the restaurants in Keflavík on your way back.

The first spot listed after this is Staðarborg, I wouldn't say it's a must-see and is a bit of a detour but if you have the time and are interested, definitely give it a go!

11

Staðarborg
Staðarborg
Century old sheep shelter in Reykjanes Geopark
Category
Sightseeing

12.2 km (7.6 mi)

28 min

Now if you feel like doing a bit of hiking, turn here off Road 41 and follow the instructions in the options I list here. You have a few great hiking options in unique landscapes!

Depending on how much time you have you might have to pick one or two. I'd personally try to reach the Sogin geothermal valley and do some hiking around there but being on top of Keilir, Grænadyngja or Trölladyngja at sunset is also incredible.

12

Keilir
Keilir
A mountain in the Reykjanes peninsula
Category
Sightseeing

38.6 km (24 mi)

57 min

13

Grænadyngja
Grænadyngja
A shield volcano overlooking a geothermal valley
Category
Sightseeing

42.4 km (26.3 mi)

1 hr 5 min

14

Trölladyngja
Trölladyngja
A shield volcano with epic views
Category
Sightseeing

40.9 km (25.4 mi)

1 hr 3 min

15

Reykjanes highlands
Reykjanes highlands
The hidden highlands of Reykjanes
Category
Sightseeing

395 m (0.2 mi)

16

Sogin
Sogin
An incredible geothermal area
Category
Sightseeing

1.3 km (0.8 mi)

2 min

17

Grænavatn in the Reykjanes Highlands
Grænavatn in the Reykjanes Highlands
A unique green lake in the hidden highlands of Reykjanes
Category
Sightseeing

If you're doing this in two days, I'd head to Reykjavík for dinner and rest for the night before starting the second day tomorrow.

18

Down Town Reykjavík
Down Town Reykjavík
Experience the down town area in the capital
Category
Sightseeing
19

Choose the option that fits you the best

Grandi Mathöll
Grandi Mathöll
Vibrant street food hall in Reykjavík
Category
Restaurant
Tres Locos
Tres Locos
Vibrant Mexican restaurant in Reykjavik
Category
Restaurant
Höfnin Restaurant
Höfnin Restaurant
A seafood restaurant by the old marina
Category
Restaurant
Pósthús Food Hall & Bar
Pósthús Food Hall & Bar
Foodie paradise with diverse cuisines
Category
Restaurant
Grillmarkaðurinn
Grillmarkaðurinn
A high end grill restaurant
Category
Restaurant

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