The Reykjanes Peninsula

The Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland’s southwestern extremity, is often visitors' first glimpse of the country as they exit Keflavík International Airport and head east on Route 41 towards Reykjavík. The local scenery is stark and rugged—endless lava fields, distant peaks, and rocks painted with lichen and moss. Most travellers rush through Reykjanes without a second thought, eager to reach Reykjavík or begin the famous Ring Road loop. But if you’ve got a few hours to spare—before a flight, perhaps—the peninsula has plenty to offer close to the capital: soak in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous hot spa; explore the cod museum in Grindavík; walk across a bridge that spans two continents near Hafnir; or take in the wild, rocky coastline, dotted with birdlife and haunting ruins.

Buses run daily all year from Reyjavík to Keflavík and the airport, and from Reyjavík to the Blue Lagoon and Grindavík; elsewhere you’ll need your own vehicle or to arrange a tour from the capital.

Tip from Rough Guides: also learn about the best ways to get to Iceland.

Lava tube tours

Reykjanes is riddled by a subterranean network of lava tubes, formed when the sides of a deep lava flow cool and solidify, allowing the still-liquid centre to drain away after the eruption ends. Pick of the local tubes include kilometre-long Raufarholshellir; the similarly scaled Buri Cave, only discovered in 2005; Þríhnúkagígur, though this is actually a drained magma chamber; and Leiðarendi, perhaps the most accessible. With the exception of Þríhnjúkagígur, you can only visit these as part of a tour offered by Extreme Iceland.

The Bridge Between Two Continents

About 2km south from the Hafnaberg car park, the Bridge Between Two Continents is a thin steel span in the middle of nowhere, supposedly crossing the rift separating the North American and Eurasian continental plates. The bridge is decked in steel mesh, so you can look down into the shallow ravine below; “contrived” doesn’t begin to describe the site, but the idea is fun and it’s perked up by “Welcome to America” and “Welcome to Europe” signs at either end.

Top image: Seltun geothermal area, Krysuvik, Reykjanes peninsula in Iceland © Olga Gavrilova/Shutterstock