A guide to the Reykjanes peninsula

In this guide:

• Where is the Reykjanes peninsula?
• About Reykjanes peninsula's volcanoes
• What is Reykjanes Geopark?
• Things to do on the Reykjanes pensinula
• How to build a Reykjanes peninsula day-trip itinerary

Photo: Aerial view over boardwalk at Seltún. Banner photo of Reykjanestá area, featuring Rekjanesviti and Valahnúkur.

The Reykjanes peninsula isn’t just a destination, it’s an active geological frontier. Beneath your feet lie a handful of volcanic systems, including Reykjanes, Eldvörp-Svartsengi (often referred to as simply 'Svartsengi'), Krýsuvík, and Fagradalsfjall. There are six main systems on the peninsula – some are relatively quiet, while others are more active, with eruptions in recent years stemming from the Fagradalsfjall (2021–mid-2023) and Svartsengi (late 2023–2025) systems. Prior to the recent series of eruptions, the peninsula's volcanic systems had been quiet for over 800 years.

Eruptions in this region tend to be classed as fissure eruptions, where free-flowing basaltic lava emerges from long cracks in the ground. While the newest eruption sites are out of bounds for safety reasons, you can still visit lava fields and volcanic sites which are new formations created by Fagradalsfjall eruptions from 2021 to July 2023.

Of course, there’s plenty of older lava and landscapes to admire. One of the more unique examples is Eldey island, produced by another volcanic system just off the coast of the peninsula. The Eldey volcanic system is mainly underwater, but you can see the small rocky outcrop it produced in the ocean from Reykjanestá.

Past volcanic activity helped build the peninsula, and current activity is very well monitored. The safety of visitors and inhabitants is a number-one priority, and there are various safety protocols in place. If you're planning to visit the area, you can check for updates on Reykjanes peninsula volcano activity to be prepared, and also check Safe Travel for official updates.

Learn more facts about volcanic systems in other parts of the country in this guide to Iceland’s volcanoes.

There are many different ways to see the sights of the Reykjanes peninsula based on how much time you have and what you’d like to do.

• Under a day: You can drive a shorter loop in a couple of hours, taking in Kleifarvatn, Seltún, Brimketill, and Reykjanestá.
• Around a day: Do a complete Reykjanes peninsula day trip by visiting the key landmarks above plus sites like the Bridge Between Continents and Garður.
• More than a day: Stretch out your trip by combining Reykjanes attractions with a relaxing visit to the Blue Lagoon.

A visit to Reykjanes is perfect if you plan on staying in the area the night before your flight, especially if you have an early-morning departure from Keflavík. Whatever your Reykjanes peninsula itinerary, there's more than enough to keep you busy.

We recommend checking the region’s roads and hiking trail safety updates before you travel to make sure they’re accessible, as volcanic activity across the peninsula may occasionally close certain roads and hiking routes.