Iceland Travel Guide
South West and West

Iceland Travel intro | Reykjavik Guide

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NE & East | South | SE

South West Iceland travel: the Reykjanes 'Steamy' Peninsula is home to the most northerly city in Europe, Reykjavik but is otherwise rather barren.

Reykjavik

Reykjavik - no trip to this country is complete without a visit to the dramatically located and colourful capital, see European Cities - Reykjavik; check out the Raudholar, strangely red volcanic mounds just outside of the capital, and Mt Esja is the nearby mountain overlooking the city.

The Hallgrimskirkja church in Reykjavik

Reykjanesfolkvangur Nature Reserve - to the south of Reykjavik is the peninsula's main attraction of geothermal activity and lava creation.
Helgafell reaches just 350m for the reasonably able traveller, there's a large lake, and Krisuvik is the steamy star of the show, with all manner of bubbling, spitting holes.
The very birdy Krisuvikurberg cliffs are nearby.

Blue Lagoon 'Blaa Lonid' [picture below] - bathing beside a powerplant would normally seem like insanity, but not in Iceland, where it's a common social occasion.
The outdoor pool is bath-warm and rich in skin-healing properties such as salts, algae and silica. . 40 minutes drive form Reykjavik. Masseurs available.

Reykjavik's Blue Lagoon thermal spa

Hafnaberg Cliffs - bird nesting cliffs noted for their beauty near to the similarly aesthetically pleasing wooden buildings at the fishing village of Hafnir.

West Iceland: a famous mountain and some good features all within reasonable travel time from Reykjavik, with Snaefellsnes forming the most northerly part of the Golden Triangle, the majority of which is in the South.

Snaefell Volcano Peninsula National Park [picture top right] - includes the Snaefell Glacier of Jules Verne 'Journey to the 'Centre of the Earth' fame; the Arnarstapi fishing village and weathered coastline; the Badstofa cave at Hellnar; the protruding rocks of Londrangar and the and the Dritvik Cove with its historic fishing huts.
Stykkisholmur is the main town in the area and has an interesting church and 'Norwegian House', museum.

Eldborg 'Fire Castle' - a perfectly formed volcanic crater rising 100ft out of its surroundings.

Deildartunga Hot Spring - one of the largest hot springs in the world simmering to near boiling point, near Reykholt.

Hallmundarhraun Caves - impressive caves near Husafell.

Hraunfossar Waterfalls - water travels mysteriously here from underneath the Hallmundarhraun lava field into the 'White' River, near Husafell.

Glymur Waterfall - at over six hundred feet this is the highest waterfall in Iceland, dropping into a narrow gorge. It is best seen from the river below as otherwise only the top is visible, and it may disappoint in summer if there is little melt water or recent rain.

Hvalfjordur 'Whale Fjord' - as the name suggests this can be a good place for whale spotting.