Towns

Outdoor enthusiasts should not miss out on the chance of visiting the town of Garður if they are traveling through the Reykjanes peninsula.On Garðskagi you can find diverse birdlife, dolphins or whales near the shore, untouched nature and an interesting regional museum with an extraordinary collection of engines. The restaurant Flösin is very popular and the view from its balcony is beautiful. Guests can camp on Garðskagi in the magnificent nature. The facility on the campsite includes bathrooms, running water and electricity and is ideal for guests with tents, trailer tents and winnabegos. After enjoying yourself out in the nature you can visit the local swimmingpool or relax in the hot tubs.

As of October 2024, Grindavík is reopen to the public on Monday, October 21. Emergency personnel and the incident management team will maintain their current operations, with electronic monitoring of traffic in and out of the town to ensure safety in case of evacuation. The decision to reopen is based on an ongoing risk assessment, which is regularly reviewed. The announcement highlights that several safety measures have been implemented in Grindavík, including mapping, geological surveys, geophysical measurements, and visual inspections. Crevices have been filled or fenced off, and load tests have been conducted to enhance safety. Final preparations are underway to install clear signage, with specific hazardous areas in the town being marked accordingly. However, despite these precautions, there remains a risk of ground subsidence into crevasses, particularly in and around Grindavík in open areas that have not been thoroughly inspected. The Chief of Police in Suðurnes emphasizes that anyone entering hazardous areas does so at their own risk, and that Grindavík is not a safe environment for children. “Everyone is responsible for their own actions or inactions. The Chief of Police has also reiterated that Grindavík is not a place for children, a stance fully supported by the Grindavík committee,” the announcement states. About Grindavík Grindavík, a family-oriented village, is one of the nations strongest fishing industry townships, and home to well established processing plants and a large fleet of fishing ships. Situated in a dramatic landscape of lava fields right next to the Atlantic Ocean, Grindavík boasts breathtaking natural beauty with priceless gems of nature, such as Eldvörp, Selatangar, Gunnuhver, Brimketill, the fierce lava, the Reykjanes Light House, and much more. With the Blue Lagoon, the nations most popular tourist destination, on it‘s doorstep, Grindavik has enjoyed a tremendous growth in tourism. Grindavik welcomes and accommodates tourist with  many services including a new camping area with state of the art facilities that opened in Grindavík in the summer of 2009. The area surrounding Grindavik offers endless opportunities for adventure, from dramatic hiking trails, to bird-watching from the the cliffs along the shore of Reykjanestá. Visitor‘s can also tour a volcano, hike through caves, fish for trout, rent an ATV, or a horse, or just enjoy the countless sightseeing venues. From it‘s 18-hole ocean side golf course, to the Saltfisksetur Íslands, and a selection of great restaurants, Grindavik offers every imaginable service that a tourist might need.On October 25, 2023, an earthquake swarm began north of Grindavík and intensified in the following days. By November 10, 2023, more than 22,000 earthquakes had been recorded since October 25, leading to the declaration of a state of emergency due to concerns of a possible volcanic eruption. Inhabitants were evacuated on the evening of 10 November 2023, after a magmatic intrusion was suspected to have formed beneath the town. Photographs from Grindavík taken on November 11 highlighted the damage to roads and the golf course resulting from fault movements triggered by seismic activity. On 18 December, a volcanic eruption north of Grindavík by Hagafell, prompted a further evacuation of the town.  On the morning of January 14, 2024, at 8:00 AM local time, another volcanic fissure erupted 450 meters (about 0.27 miles) from the town, with a second fissure opening around noon. Lava from these eruptions breached defensive barriers and destroyed three homes; however, civilians were not at risk as they had been evacuated overnight due to a series of earthquakes. There has now been 6 eruptions in the area since December 2023, and 9 in total since 2021.

The Town of Reykjanes is a young and vibrant rapidly growing town on Reykjanes peninsula. There has been a significant increase in number of citizens in Reykjanesbær in the past years and they are now 14.100. Reykjanesbær profits by its closeness to the capital and it is also located at Iceland's borders at the gate to the rest of the world. At the same time other boundaries have vanished and now Ásbrú, the former US naval base has been transformed into an innovative and progressive educational community.The town boasts of diverse recreational options and just on the town's doorstep there is pristine nature. With the new Ósabotnaroad the possibility of a roundtrip of Reykjanes peninsula with all its recreation and spectacular scenery opens up before driving back to the capital on the four lane and lit Reykjanes highway (41).

Sandgerði is one of the country's major fishing communities. Rich fishing-grounds are found just off the coast of Sandgerði. There are interesting things to do in the town, among others, bird-watching, golfing, see historical significant places, go swimming or have a meal in the restaurant. A great variety of Icelandic hand made souvenirs is on offer at the Listatorg souvenir shop. One can go visit the Nature Center, a museum with insight to Icelandic nature. It is possible to rent a summerhouse in the northern part of town. A new road lies south from Sandgerði passing Hvalsnes and Stafnes on to the Hafnir village. This offers the possibility to make a roundtrip on the northern part of the peninsula.

On June 10th, 2018, a new municipality, Suðurnesjabær was created from the merger of Sandgerði and Garður. Residents voted on their new town’s name and Suðurnesjabær received 75 percent of the votes. Miðgarðar received 17,1% of the votes and Heiðarbyggð 6%. The total population of Suðurnesjabær was 3.588 on January 1st, 2020 according to Statistics Iceland's data. That makes it the second-largest municipality of Reykjanes Peninsula, after Reykjanesbær. Sandgerði: Sandgerði is one of Iceland’s major fishing communities and is located on the very northern tip of the peninsula. There are interesting things to do in the town, including birdwatching and golfing. A large variety of handmade souvenirs are on offer at the Listatorg souvenir shop and one can also take in the nature and research exhibits at the Suðurnes Science and Learning Center. It is possible to rent a quiet summer house on the north side of town and a camping site with all the necessary facilities recently opened. A newly constructed road takes you right around the coastline, passing Hvalsnes church, Stafnes village, and onwards to Hafnir village.Garður: Outdoor enthusiasts should not miss the chance to visit the town of Garður as they travel around Reykjanes Peninsula. Located in proximity to prime fishing grounds, Garður was once the most populated village on the peninsula. Nearby Garðskagi, at the very tip of the peninsula, provides magnificent sea views and two picturesque lighthouses. The area is known for its diverse birdlife, seals and dolphins that sometimes swim near the shore, white sand beaches and an interesting heritage museum with a collection of old machines on display. Garður is the hometown of the lead singer of the popular indie band Of Monsters and Men. Local restaurant Röstin is very popular and the view from its balcony is beautiful, especially at sunset. Ideal for guests with tents, trailers and motorhomes, facilities at the local campsite include toilets, running water and electricity. Take a dip at the local swimming pool and relax in the hot tubs - a perfect way to end a busy day of sightseeing.

In the Town of Vogar you will find various services and can enjoy a walk along the sea, watch the birdlife by Vogatjörn pond and the monument Íslands Hrafnistumenn by Erlingur Jónsson. The monument is in memory of fishermen from the area. In August The Family Day is held in thetown of Vogar, and then the town comes alive with people of all ages enjoying themselves together. At Kálfatjörn you will find an excellent 9 hole golf course, which is played around one of the largest wooden churches in Iceland. In the district of Vatnsleysuströnd are several landmarks, among them are Mount Keilir, Háibjalli, Snorrastaðatjarnir, Hrafnagjá and Staðarborg.Outdoor enthusiasts should therefore take a look at the district of Vatnsleysuströnd.

The town Hafnir owns the second most land in the Reykjanes peninsula and takes its name from two large farms Sandhöfn and Kirkjuhöfn which are now deserted. In Hafnir you can find remains of the oldest occupation in the peninsula dated back to the 9th century, you can also find an anchor from the ghost ship Jamestown that drifted ashore there in 1881. Today fewer people are living in Hafnir compared to before but Hafnir was a big fishing village until the turn of the century in 1900. In the last two decades, an average of 80-120 people have lived in the area. In 1994, Hafnir Njarðvík and Keflavík merged into the municipality of Reykjanesbær. Refrences: https://ferlir.is/reykjanesbaer-throun-byggdar/ https://www.reykjanesbaer.is/is/stjornsysla/rnb/saga/hafnir https://is.nat.is/hafnir/ https://reykjanesgeopark.is/is/destination/vogar-i-hofnum/