The Reykjanes Peninsula is probably the first place you’ll set foot on when you visit Iceland.

In fact, that’s where Keflavik International Airport is located.

This peninsula must be the most-visited region in Iceland, since at its two ends lie the airport on one side and the capital, Reykjavik, on the other. However, this peninsula is often underestimated and overlooked in favor of better-known landscapes, such as the beautiful waterfalls in southern Iceland or the Golden Circle, and few people stop there, except to visit the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous spa.

Yet the Reykjanes Peninsula has so much to offer, and it provides a complete change of scenery just a few kilometers from the airport. It’s all the more unfortunate given that this region is teeming with geothermal phenomena and hiking trails, and is very easy to reach for those on a short stay in Iceland. From magnificent cliffs to volcanoes and their lava fields, the Reykjanes Peninsula, the border between two continents, is a true hidden gem that is unjustly overlooked.

In this article, I’ll tell you about the things to see, the activities to do, and the places to visit on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

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We’re Guillaume and Maeva, two French travelers. Here, we share our experiences and our travels.
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Where is the Reykjanes Peninsula located?

The Reykajnes Peninsula is located in southwestern Iceland, and it is certainly the first place you’ll set foot on if you arrive at Keflavik International Airport. The peninsula stretches for about 50 kilometers.

Here’s my Google Maps map showing the various locations described in this article.

How can I explore the Reykjanes Peninsula? How much time should I plan to spend there?

The best way to explore the Reykjanes Peninsula is to rent a car. In general, the roads in Reykjanes are in very good condition. There are some unpaved roads here and there, but they are accessible to standard cars.

🚗 Rent a Car at the Best Price in Iceland 🚗

Et pour en savoir plus sur la location de voitures en Islande je vous invite à lire mon article par ici
-> Louer une voiture en Islande, quelle agence choisir, comment se passe la conduite : nos conseils <-

You also have the option of booking excursions departing from Reykjavik, but you’ll be part of a group and won’t be able to spend as much time as you’d like at each destination.

🏔️ Find day trips to the Reykjanes Peninsula from Reykjavik 🏔️

As for how much time to allow while you’re there, one or two days are enough. If you absolutely want to hike the longest of the lava flow trails, you’ll need to allow about 6 hours round trip. So plan on spending two days visiting the peninsula. If you just want to go on a short hike, one day there is enough.

Miðlína: The Bridge Between Two Continents

Located 25 minutes from the airport, Miðlína is a bridge that connects two continents. That’s right, Iceland sits on two tectonic plates: the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate. The fault line between the two plates runs the entire length of Iceland and is visible in several places on the island.

This bridge, built over the fault line, symbolizes the separation between the two tectonic plates. The bridge itself isn’t anything special, and it doesn’t take long to see the site, but it’s still worth a visit. It’s not every day you get to be in two places at once.

Additional information :
– Free parking at this location
– No restrooms on site

Valahnúkamöl and the Reykjanesvíti Lighthouse

The Reykjanesvíti Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Iceland; at 20 meters tall, you can’t miss it.

A little further on, after taking a road full of potholes (as is often the case in Iceland), you’ll find the Valahnúkamöl cliffs and Eldey Island, which means “Island of Fire” in Icelandic. With its black-sand beach and volcanic rocks, it feels like you’re at the end of the world.

Eldey Island is a tiny rock off the coast of the peninsula, formed by an underwater volcanic eruption (hence its name). The island is home to one of the world’s largest colonies of northern gannets, a species of seabird.

Additional information :
– 2026 RATES: Paid parking at this location: 1,000 ISK
Payment accepted via parka.is
– Free restrooms at the lighthouse parking lot

If you’d rather not drive on a road full of potholes, you can leave your car at the lighthouse parking lot. The cliffs are located 600 meters further on.

The Gunnuhver Hot Springs

Right next to Valahnúkamöl, you can see thick smoke rising—that’s Gunnuhver. It’s a geothermal area with hot springs—and not just any hot springs, but the hottest ones in the country. Temperatures can reach 300 °C. There are no geysers here, but a wide, thick, and steady stream of steam rises from a constantly boiling cauldron. The smell of sulfur is very strong (it smells like rotten eggs), and the colors on the ground are surprising. Walkways have been built to allow you to get as close as possible to the fumaroles.

In Icelandic, “Gunna” means “witch” and “Hver” means “hot spring.” According to legend, the ghost of the witch Gunna was tied to a rope and thrown into the hot springs.

Additional information :
– Free parking at this location or at this location
– No restrooms on site

Hiking Along the Lava Flows

Of all the places to visit on the Reykjanes Peninsula, the lava flow is certainly the one that will take you the longest to explore. Hikes range from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the route you choose.

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First, let’s talk about safety. As is the case everywhere in Iceland, you should always check the website
https://safetravel.is/
to see if access to the site is permitted.

You can also find all the latest information directly on the Visit Reykjanes website.

Here is a direct link to the hiking map created by the Regional Office, the Reykjanes Tourist Office:

Additional information :
– 2026 RATES: Several paid parking lots; payment via the parka.is app / 1,000 ISK for 24 hours
Several paid parking lots; payment via the parka.is app
The closest one to the trailheads is P2, located at this coordinates
– No restrooms on site

The Seltún – Krýsuvík Geothermal Area

After Gunnuhver, we headed to another geothermal area: the Seltún hot springs. This area is located in the Krýsuvík region. It looks like something straight out of another planet; to me, it’s one of the most beautiful geothermal sites in Iceland. The colors are stunning, and the boiling pools are bubbling all around.

Between the scents and the colors, ranging from neon green to gray, with a palette worthy of a Pantone color chart, you’ll be treated to a feast for the eyes and the nose.

The site is very well laid out, and wooden walkways and docks allow visitors to walk right up close to the fumaroles. Like every site in Iceland, this is a sensitive and fragile natural area, so please stay on the trails and do not go past the barriers. The water emerging from the ground is 100°C.

The Seltún site is much less crowded and touristy than the better-known Geysir site on the Golden Circle. This means you can enjoy the area at a more leisurely pace.

Additional information :
– 2026 RATES: Paid parking at this location: 750 ISK
– Free restrooms on site

Lake Kleifarvatn

Right next to the Seltún–Krýsuvík geothermal area, you’ll find Lake Kleifarvatn. No need to make a detour, it’s located along Route 42.

Lake Kleifarvatn is the largest lake on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The Hvalsneskirkja and Krýsuvíkurkirkja Churches

Wherever you go in Iceland, you’ll see little churches. You could even plan a themed road trip around them, given how many there are and how unique some of their architectural styles are.

Just a few kilometers from the Seltún site stands the small black church, Krýsuvíkurkirkja. It is a typical example of a rural Icelandic church. Built in 1857, it burned down in 2010 and was rebuilt in 2020 to look exactly the same as before.

But the church that’s really worth a visit is Hvalsneskirkja. Located 14 km from the airport, you’ll find this small church made of gray stone with a bell tower painted yellow and green.

Additional information :
– Free parking at this location
– No restrooms on site

In summary, our take on the Reykjanes Peninsula

Although it’s often overlooked by visitors to Iceland, the Reykjanes Peninsula is worth spending at least a day exploring. Far from the tourist crowds, more authentic than the better-known major sites—though admittedly less spectacular—the Reykjanes Peninsula is a pleasant surprise. And for good reason: the Reykjanes region is, after all, listed by UNESCO as one of the most remarkable geological sites on the planet.

It’s a lovely introduction, far from the crowds and tourist trails.

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