Reykjanes Peninsula is the most south eastern part of Iceland. It’s famous for the Blue Lagoon but there’s much more to see there. Things to do on the Reykjanes Peninsula include;
- Bridge between continents
- Gardur lighthouse
- Grindavik
- Gunnuhver Hot Springs and Reykjanesta
- Seltun
- Blue Lagoon spa
- Blue Lagoon lake
I highly recommend you hire a car to visit Reykjanes Peninsula. As a result you could have some of the beautiful points of interest to yourself.
The bridge Between Continents
Everybody knows about Þingvellir, it’s part of the golden circle of Iceland and it’s very busy. Not many people know about the bridge between continents located in Sandvik which is essentially the same as Þingvellir. The main difference is that you’ll be walking in between the tectonic plates of Eurasia and America alone whereas at Þingvellir you’ll be joined by large groups of tourists. Because this area is so quiet you can take wonderful Instagram photos from the crack between the tectonic plates. There are signs on the bridge between two continents stating if you’re on the Eurasian or American side of the it. Finally, the bridge between continents is also known as the Leif Lucky Bridge.
Gardur Lighthouse
Located in Gardur is the Gardur Lighthouse (in fact there are 2 lighthouses). Certain times during summer you can go inside and to the top of the lighthouse. When I was there in winter it was closed and incredibly windy, the sea was as rough as any sea I’ve ever seen. There’s a folk museum, a hotel and a restaurant located in Gardur but most people will only visit the lighthouse if they visit Gardur at all.
Grindavik
The nearest town to the Blue Lagoon is Grindavik. I wouldn’t normally mention it but there is a good reason to visit Grindavik and that’s cake, chocolate cake! The restaurant which serves this delicious chocolate cake is called Bryggjan and located on the harbor in Grindavik. There’s a pizza buffet everyday, Icelandic soup and a variety of hot beverages available. However, I went for a piece of chocolate cake and a coca cola. This was delicious and exactly the sugar rush I needed to continue with the rest of my day. Be sure to check out the menu at Bryggian, it’s updated monthly.
Gunnuhver Hot Springs
Gunnuhver hot springs are the equivalent of visiting Geysir on the golden circle but without the tourists. Strokkur geyser at Geysir erupts every 5 minutes and is quite calm. The fumarole at Gunnuhver hot spring however is constantly and violently letting off steam. For this reason, Gunnuhver hot springs are a must. There’s a wooden walkway so you can safely walk around the area, the old wooden walkway has been thrown on top of the fumarole which is quite worrying. As I was walking around I was thinking, has the old walkway been thrown there or did the fumarole suddenly move?
Not far from Gunnuhver hot springs you’ll find Reykjanesta which is the most south westerly point of Iceland.
Seltun
Seltun is a geothermal area east of Reykjanes Peninsula. At Seltun there are boardwalks over hot springs, mud posts as well as fumaroles. It’s an incredibly pretty location and there aren’t many tourists. Read about my Seltun Iceland visit on my travel blog.
Blue Lagoon Lake Iceland
When it comes to the Blue Lagoon everyone talks about bathing in the geothermal spa and enjoying a cold beer, maybe putting on a mud mask. I had no idea before visiting that it’s possible to take a small walk around the natural blue lagoon. The natural blue lagoon is stunning, especially when the sun’s out which makes for perfect Instagram pictures. The geothermal water comes from 2,000 meters below the surface which is where freshwater and seawater combine at extreme temperatures. The lake gets its blue color from silica, algae & minerals.
Blue Lagoon Geothermal Spa
The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa is the most popular thing to do in Iceland. It says on the website that it’s one of the 25 wonders of the world, I thought there were only 7 wonders of the world but I guess there are now 25! Because of its popularity you must book well in advance. Parking at the site is free of charge, as is hiking around the natural lake, visiting the visitor center, viewing the spa and souvenir shop. If you plan on bathing in the spa, the official site has up to date information and pricing.
Reykjanes Peninsula and Bridge Between Continents Location
The bridge between continents is located in the south west of Iceland on the Reykjanes peninsula. For this reason, I recommend you hire a car to visit. Due to its remote location, it’s likely you’ll be the only visitor, not only at the bridge between continents but also to most of the points of interest of Reykjanes peninsula.
Did you know there is also a Blue Lagoon in between the islands of Malta and Gozo?
Thanks for sharing. I was a little nervous about the Blue Lagoon, so these tips are very useful. I was not aware I had to book in advance. The lighthouse pictures are also stunning. Can’t wait to be there.
I got excited when I read that there is a pizza buffet there. We need lots of energy when we travel so good food is a must. I have seen lots of Blue lagoon photos all over the internet. It all makes sense that you need to book in advance to go there. I hope that I can visit this place someday.
I’ve heard so much about the Blue Lagoon Spa, but I’m a bit apprehensive coz I really don’t like the crowded tourist places. Walking on bridges across islands?! That sounds thrilling!
I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland! These pictures are absolutely beautiful!
I am not a fan of crowded places but since it is a world wonder (or better one of the 25 world wonders, haha) I definitely wanna visit. Iceland is very high on my list, and so is the Blue Lagoon. Thanks for the background info.
Been skirting around the idea of Iceland for a while not and always kind of didn’t go there due to the expense of things. And while it’s not ideal to see huge numbers of tourists anywhere of such outstanding natural beauty, perhaps their presence will push down prices. Anyway, thanks for sharing and you really have included some really beautiful shots of the country
This is a country top in my bucket-list and thanks for all these info !
I love reading posts on Iceland! The country has been on my bucketlist for a while and obviously visiting the blue lagoon is one of the top 5 things I’d like to do in Iceland. Thanks for sharing this informative and inspirational post!
The Blue Lagoon looks so stunning! Thanks for some useful tips, didn’t know that it’s best to book in advance. Gunnuhver hot springs looks like a must-visit place in Iceland. The pictures are too gorgeous!
The blue lagoon sounds great to relax after the strenuous journey as it falls on the way from airport 🙂 Gunnuhver hot springs and a visit to the Sandvík is now added to our list of must visit in Iceland. The chocolate cake of Grindavik sounds tempting too.
I went to Iceland before it seems to have blown up everywhere, and I really really want to go back! I keep seeing posts like this and it just makes me want to go even more. The Blue Lagoon is such a stunning place.
I have viewed at the pictures from the Blue Lagoon longingly. Nice! Thanks for sharing your insight.
Thanks for your tips! Didn’t know about Sandvík, I’ll write it down somewhere not to forget. Love your fisheye lens photos! 🙂
It’s been a few years since I’ve visited Iceland, so I always love reading about it! Unfortunately, we were only there for 5 days, so we just hit the popular touristy spots that you’ve mentioned. Gunnuhver Hot Springs sounds really cool, and if I ever get to go back to visit, it’s going on my list!
The Blue Lagoon looks like an out of the world destination to explore in a surreal country, Iceland. I love all the colorful pictures that you took and they make me want to visit Iceland soon.