The Top 5 Icelandic Highlights Near Keflavik Airport

Iceland’s nickname, the Land of Fire and Ice, gives you a strong clue to why people are drawn to this island nation in the North Atlantic. The country’s breathtaking scenery has been a driving force in the growth of tourism in this far-flung part of Europe and it’s not hard to understand its appeal. For some time, visitors have hurried from the airport at Keflavik, excited to see the waterfalls and canyons further east or to immerse themselves in the charms of Reykjavik with its delightful restaurants and varied museums.

Yet all along, the wonders of Iceland were right under their noses here on the Reykjanes peninsula. Increasingly, visitors are wising up to what’s on offer in this part of the country, taking time out to explore the airport’s hinterland before heading further afield. The eruption at Fagradalsfjall in 2021 and continued volcanic activity on and off ever since has helped shine a spotlight on Reykjanes peninsula and its extraordinary geology.

It’s easy to book an Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland transfer from Keflavik Airport to Reykjavik, but you might want to take a bit of a detour and see a little of Reykjanes along the way. Switch up your shared transfer for a customisable private tour and explore a region of Iceland that’s still relatively overlooked. Here are our picks for the top five Icelandic highlights near Keflavik Airport if you’re open to being inspired – try to make time to incorporate them all if you can.

Seltún-Krýsuvík Geothermal Area

Reykjanes is young in geological terms and its geothermal areas are evidence of that. The last major eruption to affect Seltún took place in the 13th century, but the clues to past tectonic activity are all around you. Take a hike through this colourful place and you’ll see pillow lava formed into ridges and tiny fragments of rock cemented together as breccia deposits.

But the most captivating aspect of this place is its mud pools, hot springs, solfataras and fumaroles, which remind us that nature is not finished creating this place yet. Small explosions happen periodically, but so long as you follow local advisories you can safely visit. Sulphur splatters the landscape with patches of yellow, while there’s also evidence of iron oxides, silica and pyrite in the red, white and blue colouring.

Once, Seltún was the site of a commercial mine, though it’s hard to imagine that today as you stroll through this protected space. Sulphur mining took place here as far back as medieval times, when the stuff was in great demand for an assortment of medicines and as a component of gunpowder. Trade eventually wound down, however, and by the 1880s sulphur mining was pretty much finished at Seltún.

Today, steam rises from the ground and the smell of sulphur – akin to rotten eggs – hangs in the air. The water here bubbles at temperatures of at least 34 °C to 50 °C, sometimes much more. Boardwalks lead you through this ethereal landscape, so make time to explore on foot but always stick to the marked paths for your own safety and to protect the fragile natural environment.

This is one of two major geothermal areas on the Reykjanes peninsula; the other is further to the south west at Gunnuhver. It too boasts mud pools – the largest in the country, in fact – as well as steaming vents. One of the best vantage points to appreciate the whole landscape is on the top of a sinter mound called Kísilhól.

Kleifarvatn

Kleifarvatn is one of a number of lakes dotted around the Reykjanes peninsula; in fact, it’s the largest of those on the Reykjanes peninsula and one of the biggest in the country. In all, it covers an area of more than three square miles and measures 97 metres down to the bottom at its deepest point. The lake laps a black sand beach, making it especially photogenic in winter after snow falls.

The lake contains plenty of fish, and as a consequence it’s a popular fishing spot: anglers come here to catch Arctic char and brown trout. The former were released into the lake in the 1960s and have since thrived. So long as you have the appropriate permit, you can fish from any part of the lake; it’s a peaceful spot to do so.

This lake is actually quite unusual. Usually you’d expect to see a stream – or several – entering the lake to counter the effects of evaporation and keep the lake topped up with water. But this isn’t the case with Kleifarvatn, whose supply of water comes from beneath its surface instead.

The water level changed dramatically a couple of decades ago. The area on which it sits is seismically active and a sudden earthquake saw it suddenly lose around 20% of its water. Later sediments helped make the floor of the lake less permeable and since then, rainfall has topped up the levels almost to what they were before.

That same quake also led to the creation of several hot springs in one corner of the lake, so in some respects perhaps it’s more interesting as a result. Equally enthralling is Grænavatn, a smaller lake nearby. The name of this water-filled explosion crater translates as “green lake” on account of the algae that give it such a distinctive colour.

The Bridge between Continents

The Bridge between Continents is an important landmark within the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark. Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet. These vast segments of the earth’s crust are moving away from each other. The rate, just a few centimetres every year, is imperceptible to the human eye.

However, as you stand on this metal bridge, the evidence for past movement is clear to see. A rocky ditch that at first sight might be confused with a dried up river bed runs beneath the structure. It’s tangible proof of the impact this divergent plate boundary has on the landscape of this part of the Reykjanes peninsula and yet you’ll have travelled less than half an hour from the airport to lay eyes on it.

At this exposed site, the Icelandic weather makes its presence felt. This is a place that can be buffeted by strong winds; exposed, you’ll acutely feel any rain, hail, sleet or snow. But that’s part of the attraction; in this wild place, you’ll feel invigorated and exhilarated as nature puts on a show that’s impossible to ignore. If you find yourself here after dark, you might even catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis too – the dark sky makes this an awesome place to stake out the Northern Lights.

There’s a nod to Iceland’s history and heritage here too, as with many of Iceland’s landmarks. The Bridge between Continents is sometimes referred to as Leif the Lucky’s Bridge. Leif the Lucky’s real name was Leif Erikson. He was a Norse explorer who was the first person to set foot in North America, making a groundbreaking trip long many centuries before Christopher Columbus’ historic voyage.

The Hafnaberg bird cliffs

Wildlife, particularly coastal, is a good reason to come to Iceland, and to the Reykjanes peninsula. Here, some of the best chances of sightings await visitors to the western coast of this region. At Hafnaberg, one of the sites that comprise the Reykjanes Geopark, the heavily faulted lava cliffs teem with sea birds of many varieties. You’ll sometimes spot whales passing just out to sea so it’s worth periodically keeping an eye on the horizon just in case.

Once, locals would have lowered themselves down the sheer faces of these rugged cliffs on ropes, dangling precariously above the turbulent water below. They came in search of eggs from birds such as fulmars. Today, as with everywhere in Iceland, Hafnaberg’s birds and their eggs are protected, and you are welcome only to observe.

Colonies of fulmars, guillemots, kittiwakes and razorbills habitually come here to nest and raise their chicks. It’s possible, sometimes, to see puffins here too. One species you might want to be especially wary of are Arctic terns, often seen in the south western part of Reykjanes. They are known for their aggression when protecting their young – they’ll swoop down and dive at people’s heads if they feel at all threatened.

One species you won’t see here, or anywhere along the Reykjanes coastline, is the great auk. It was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. A little further south, at Reykjanestá in the shadow of a hill called Valahnjúkur, you’ll encounter a sculpture that commemorates

the last breeding pair. They were killed on nearby Eldey Island back in 1844. However here too, you’ll find plenty of bird life, some on the sea stacks that rise from the swirling waves near the shore.

The Blue Lagoon

This Icelandic icon is one of the most famous geothermal spas in the world, and with good reason. It’s a breathtaking place where the opacity of the icy blue, silica-rich water is offset to perfection by the dark greys of the lava that surrounds it. It’s hard to believe, but this place came about because of the by-product of a geothermal power plant.

Geothermally heated water is used to create electricity. Interestingly, the waste water didn’t disappear as you might perhaps expect. Instead, a layer of silica coated the landscape and prevented the water draining away. Seizing an opportunity, some enterprising Icelanders established the Blue Lagoon. Fast forward a few decades and this has become one of Iceland’s most luxurious geothermal lagoons.

That silica mud is one reason for the Blue Lagoon’s enduring popularity. Every guest is given a pot to smear over their skin; when washed off, many notice that their skin feels rejuvenated. There’s a swim-up bar too, and as you sip a drink and feel the soothing effect of the geothermally heated water on your skin, it’s clear to see why this is a must-visit during your time in Iceland.

Other treatments, such as algae masks and lava scrubs, are also offered at the Blue Lagoon. There’s a sauna and steam room, and the option to indulge in a silica salt scrub and in-water massage as your body is supported by a flotation mat. Wellbeing is at the heart of provision and this is a great place to come if you need to rest and replenish prior to setting off on your Icelandic adventure.

With Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland, you don’t have to miss a thing

Many travellers don’t realise just how interesting the Reykjanes peninsula is and hurry by on a direct connection into Reykjavik. Instead, why not consider making your journey from Keflavik to the Icelandic capital a private transfer with Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland? If it’s just you and your own party, then we can help facilitate the chance for you to fine tune your itinerary into something that’s the perfect fit for your needs. It’s easy to build in a spa session en route to the airport or Reykjavik.

Why not get in touch with us at Gray Line to discuss how you might customise your booking? With a tailormade Airport Direct by Gray Line Iceland transfer, you could incorporate at stop at one or more of these unmissable Reykjanes destinations along the way.