• Your Guide To

The Icelandic countryside is beautiful and the landscape varies from one place to another. It can be a real energy boost to go outside the capital city area. Apart from Gullfoss, Geysir, Þingvellir and the Blue Lagoon, there are many interesting sites to visit close to Reykjavik.

(Approx. driving time from Reykjavik centre in brackets)

Hafnarfjörður (15 min)  - Bus no. 1
A cosy old town just outside Reykjavik. Famous for its Viking Village & Restaurant, and an alleged elf population that is said to be the biggest in Iceland. Maps and walking tours to see the residences of the elves are available at the local tourist information centre. Íshestar Riding centre offers riding tours every day all year round.

Heiðmörk (15 min)
A protected outdoors and hiking area just outside Reykjavik. Specific sites of interest include the Búrfell volcano and Mt. Helgafell. The landscape is dominated by birch covered lava fields, summer cottages and planted trees, such as fir and pine.

Álftanes (20 min) - Bus no. 1 to Garðabær and no. 23 from there
The residence of the president, Bessastaðir, is located on this small peninsula. The beach is great for observing birdlife, especially in spring and autumn, when various migratory species stop by in search of food.

Mount Esja (20 min)  - Bus no. 15 to Mosfellsbær and no. 27 from there
Presiding over the city, Mt. Esja is popular with hikers. Several trails of varying difficulty lead up to the top.

Nesjavellir (45 min)
Geothermal area and power plant. Great view to Lake Þingvallavatn. Fosshotel Nesbúð is located close by.

Hveragerði (45 min)
Greenhouse village with the small geyser Grýta and a thermal swimming pool with a good sauna. The Garden of Eden is a popular stop for tourists.

Stokkseyri (45 min)
Small village by the seashore of South Iceland. Thermal swimming pool, a ghost museum and a hunting museum! Kayaking is available in summer. Við Fjöruborðið restaurant in Stokkseyri is famous for its lobster feast.

Hvolsvöllur (65 min)
Sögusetrið museum at Hvolsvöllur gives you a good insight into the saga of Njáll, and life in the Viking age. Icelandair hotel Rangá is situated nearby.

Flúðir (70 min)
A nice greenhouse village with good hiking possibilities and lots of summer houses, located 35km from Gullfoss and Geysir. Icelandair Hotel Fluðir offers accommodation for visitors. An 18 hole golf course, a thermal swimming pool with sauna and hot pots, a camping site and a country pub named Útlaginn (the Outlaw) all await visitors!

The Westman islands
(30 min by plane,
3 hours by ferry from Þorlákshöfn)
Climb Eldfell volcano that erupted in 1973 for a superb view. Unique nature and birdlife. One of the best places to see puffins in summertime. Impressive rock cliffs and lava structures take one?s breath away. Once the home of Keiko, the famous movie star!

Hvalfjörður fjord (30 min)
Beautiful and tranquil scenery. A short hike from the road is Iceland's highest waterfall, Glymur (198 m), located at the end of the fjord. Nearby is an old whaling station which is now non-operational.

Akranes (45 min) 
Only 10 km from the northern end of Hvalfjörður tunnel is the town of Akranes. Those without a car can reach it within an hour from Reykjavík with the city busses by taking bus no. 15 and then changing to no. 27. Akranes' setting is picturesque with Mt. Akrafjall on one hand and Langisandur Beach on the other. There's an interesting Museum Area formed by 4 museums, among them a well praised folk museum and a museum of Icelandic stones.

Borgarnes (1 hour)
Largest town in West Iceland. Many sagas have their setting in this area. The most notable one is the saga og Egill, a fierce viking, and from Borgarnes you can take guided tours to follow "Egil's trail" around the vicinity. The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes is an exhibition on sagas and the settlement of Iceland.

Snæfellsnes peninsula (2.5 hours)
The area is renowned for its mysterious aura. In Jules Verne's book "The Journey to the Centre of the Earth" Snæfellsnes volcano/glacier was where the travellers began their descent. It is also the site of Iceland's newest national park. Cruises on Breiðafjörður Bay are offered from Stykkisholmur, the biggest town on the peninsula. Rugged cliffs, varied birdlife and breathtaking nature - a must place for nature enthusiasts! Hotel Edda in Hellisandur offers accommodation.

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