Introduction
The Southern Peninsula (Suðurnes) is the Reykjanes Peninsula — a volcanic, wind-swept strip of land between the Capital Region and the open Atlantic. Keflavík International Airport sits here, making it the first and last landscape most visitors experience. The Blue Lagoon, Iceland's most famous single attraction, is located on the peninsula amid a moss-covered lava field. A sequence of eruptions near the town of Grindavík that began in 2023 reawakened a volcanic system which had been quiet for some eight centuries, and it is now among the most closely watched in the country.
Overview
Reykjanes was long treated as a transit zone between airport and capital, but the UNESCO Global Geopark designation and the eruptions near Grindavík have drawn global attention to its raw volcanic landscape. The Blue Lagoon is the headline — milky-blue geothermal water at 37-40°C amid black lava, one of the most visited attractions in the country, bookable in advance (walk-ins are risky in summer). Beyond the lagoon, the peninsula offers the Bridge Between Continents (a footbridge spanning the visible rift between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates), the Gunnuhver hot spring area (boiling mud pots and steam vents near the coast), the Reykjanesviti lighthouse (Iceland's oldest, perched on a headland above crashing waves), and the Seltún geothermal area at Krýsuvík (colourful mineral deposits and bubbling mud). Access around the fishing town of Grindavík has been disrupted by the eruption sequence and the position changes — check current conditions before planning anything on that side of the peninsula. The drive from Keflavík airport to Reykjavik crosses lava fields covered in Icelandic moss (please don't step on it — it takes decades to regrow) with steam rising from fissures. The peninsula is flat, treeless, and windswept — a stark, beautiful introduction to Iceland's volcanic character.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The milky-blue geothermal spa set in a black lava field is Iceland's most iconic attraction — though the municipal pools are where Icelanders actually bathe. Book well in advance (especially summer). Options range from the standard Comfort package to the Retreat Hotel. Best visited en route from the airport or on the last day before departure — it is only 20 minutes from Keflavík.
Gunnuhver hot springs (boiling mud, steam columns), the Seltún/Krýsuvík geothermal area (colourful mineral deposits), the Bridge Between Continents (tectonic rift), and the reawakened eruption zone near Grindavík, where access depends on current conditions. The entire peninsula is a UNESCO Global Geopark — every lava field, fissure, and steam vent is part of a living volcanic system.
Reykjanesviti (Iceland's oldest lighthouse) sits above dramatic sea cliffs. Coastal walks along the peninsula's southern edge pass seabird colonies, wave-battered stacks, and the Valahnúkamöl pebble beach with its crashing surf.
Southern Peninsula Travel Notes
- Book Blue Lagoon in advance — it regularly sells out, especially in summer. Walk-in availability is not guaranteed. The facility is 20 minutes from Keflavík airport, making it ideal for arrival or departure day.
- Volcanic activity near Grindavík has at times closed roads and attractions in parts of the peninsula, and the picture changes as the eruption sequence evolves. Check safetravel.is and road.is for current conditions before visiting, and treat official closures as absolute.
- Do NOT step on the Icelandic moss (Racomitrium lanuginosum) covering the lava fields — it grows only 1 cm per year and takes decades to recover from foot traffic. Stay on marked paths.
- The peninsula is flat, treeless and open to the Atlantic, which makes it one of the windiest places in a windy country. Brace car doors and open them slowly here in particular — gusts catch a swinging door and bend it back against its hinges.
- The drive from Keflavík airport to Reykjavik takes about 45-50 minutes via Route 41. The Blue Lagoon turn-off is roughly halfway.
Treat this Visaja page as your starting point: verify the current rules directly with the official source before you submit an application.