Whale Watching
Whale watching Reykjanes is located seven minutes away from Keflavik International Airport and offers a variety of tours.
By boat we offer all year round whale watching and and sea angling.
For the summer we offer sunset sailing, and for the winter (15.september-15.april) we offer northern lights boat tours (aurora borealis).
By car we offer all year round sightseeing around the Reykjanes Peninsula and northern light tours between 15.september and 15.april.
Pick up and drop off are available at the Reykjanes area.
The Whale Watching harbor is only 300 meters (980 ft.) from Hotel Keflavik which amounts to about 3 minutes walking.
Open All Year
Whales to see
Whales likely to be seen are minke, humbpack, killer and fin whales, also the white beaked dophins.
Provider info
- Whale Watching Reykjanes
- Grófin, 260 Reykjanesbæ
- +354 779 8272
- utvorehf@gmail.com
- www.whalewatchingreykjanes.is
Vikingworld
Vikingaheimar is the home of the Viking Ship Íslendingur (the Icelander). Built in 1996, Icelander is an exact replica of the famous Gokstad ship, a remarkable archaeological find of an almost completely intact Viking ship, excavated in Norway in 1882.
The captain was inspired to build a replica of this beautiful ship based on his own background as shipbuilder and sailor. He copied the original nail for nail. In the year 2000, with a grant from the Leifur Eiríksson Commission of Iceland, he sailed from Iceland to New York, a journey of 4200 nautical miles. His voyage brought world-wide attention to Leif Eiriksson’s and Bjarni Herjólfsson’s discovery of America, dated, according to the Icelandic sagas, to exactly 1000 A.D.
Building Icelander was an extraordinary achievement; at 23 metres long, 5.25 meters wide and with a holding capacity of 80 tons (by modern standards), it took 2 years of effort. The sail is 130 square meters and the mast is 18 meters in length. Made from pine and oak, scholars believe this was the most common type of ship in use during the Viking Age.
The museum is about 5-10 minutes driving from Hotel Keflavik, it is also easily accessible walking from the hotel. We reccommend that every traveler in Keflavik visits the Vikin World museum to learn about Iceland’s cultural inheritance and more.
Opnunartímar
All week: 07:00 – 18:00
The ship
Building Icelander was an extraordinary achievement; at 23 metres long, 5.25 meters wide and with a holding capacity of 80 tons
Provider info
- Víkingaheimar
- Víkingabraut 1, 260 Reykjanesbær
- +354 422 2000
- info@vikingaheimar.is
- www.viking-world.com
Giganta in the Mountain
The Giganta in the mountain moved to the Town of Reykjanes during the family and cultural festival Night of Lights in 2008 and is now located in Black Cave at the marina in Gróf. There the Giganta has been settling in her nice cave with its superb view over the bay of Keflavík and Faxaflói.
The Giganta is originally the creation of author Herdís Egilsdóttir who has written 16 stories about the little girl Sigga and her friend the Giganta in the mountain, the last one describing her migration to the Town of Reykjanes, which first came out in 1959.
The design and making of the cave and the Giganta was in the hands of Norðanbál art group. The Giganta is full-sized and sits sleeping in a rocking chair in the kitchen. She some time’s occasionally snores and passes gas. Although she’s large there’s no need to be alarmed she’s always puts effort into being polite and helpful.
Open All Year
Everyday from 10:00-17:00
From the books
Although she’s large there’s no need to be alarmed she’s always puts effort into being polite and helpful
Provider info
- Duus Museum
- Duusgata 2-8
- +354 420 3245
- duushus@reykjanesbaer.is
- www.sofn.reykjanesbaer.is/duusmuseum/duus-museum
Free entry
Reykjanes Maritime Center
A rich chapter in Iceland’s maritime tradition seen through the model collection of Captain Grímur Karlsson. Almost since the the time the country was first settled, Icelanders have put to sea in search of fish. For centuries, they faced the might of the North Atlantic in open six- and eight-oared boats, a tradition which changed only with the coming of steam, and later diesel powered vessels in the years immediately following the First World War. Today, fishing is one of the pillars on which Icelandic society is built, and in creating his collection, Grímur Karlsson has preserved a vital chapter in his country’s rich maritime heritage, which might otherwise have been lost forever.
For as long as he can remember the sea has captured the heart of Grímur Karlsson. A fisherman for many years, several of them spent as a skipper, he knows at first hand what life is like for those who spend weeks on end at sea. far from land, families and loved ones. For any sailor, life on boars is a unique experience, be it good or bad. For better or worse, the hulls, decks and cabins of the vessels on which they sail are their second home, and as in any other close community life brings with it its daily round of joys and sorrows, ups and downs, problems to be solved and thoughts to be shared. Such a confined atmosphere gives birth to a lively collection of tales and stories to be shared among shipmates and between ships, the truth of which varies and some of which never reach shore.
The models on show are over 100 vessels from various periods of the Icelandic fishing industry.
Open All Year
Everyday from 12:00-17:00
History
The museum traces the history of Icelandic boats from 1860 to the present day
Provider info
- Duus Museum
- Duusgata 2-8
- +354 420 3245
- duushus@reykjanesbaer.is
- www.sofn.reykjanesbaer.is/duusmuseum/duus-museum
Adults ISK 1.000
Free entrance for children under 18, students, disabled and seniors (67+)
Bridge between continents
The Lava-scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid-AtlanticRidge. According to the continental drift theory, the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are continuously drifting apart with great forces under the gaping rifts. As the plates diverge, linear fractures, known as fissures form due to stresses are created by the tension that builds up as the plates move away from each other.
The bridge between two continents at Sandvík is a small footbridge over a major fissure which provides clear evidence of the presence of a diverging plate margin.
The bridge was built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America. One can cross the continental divide on Leif the Lucky’s Bridge and take home a personalized certificate at the Reykjanes Information Center as a conformation and a reminder of this spectacluar experience
The Bridge is a popular spot for tourists and photographers as well. It is a unique attraction that you will only find on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It has an rough volcanic landscape and is easy to access via car.
Open All Year
Geology
The Lava-scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world’s major plate boundaries, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Provider info
- Skógarbraut 945, 235 Reykjanesbær
Free entry
Blue Lagoon
This Geothermal spa is Iceland’s most famous attraction. Having generated an impeccable reputation around the world as one of the wonders of the world and one of the best 10 spas in the world. It annually generates over 600.000 visitors giving each and everyone a memorable experience and professional service.
The Lagoon is surprisingly warm (37-39 celcius) all year long. The lagoon is man made and is filled with blue colored mineral water which is full of silica and sulfur, and is known for treating bad skin conditions. The water is renewed every two days and pumped from the ground up.
This wonderful spa is positioned on the Reykjanes peninsula, with Hotel Keflavik being one of the closest fully operational hotel to the Lagoon. The Reykjanes’ volcanic landscape gives the trip to the Blue Lagoon an incredible touch as you will feel like you’re driving on the moon as you pass the turn to the Lagoon.
We will gladly assist you to find transport to the Blue Lagoon from the hotel, it is only a 15 minute drive. We recommend for our guest to book their tickets in the lagoon as soon as possible as the Blue Lagoon can fill up in advance. Please ask reception for further assistance.
Open All Year
Opening hours are visible at www.bluelagoon.com
Blue Lagoon
When visiting this magnificent place, choosing the right place to stay can lift up your experience to another level.
The Blue Lagoon is Iceland’s most popular and most sought after attraction, and for a reason. It is really a unique experience where you soak in a hot natural pool in the almost lunar landscape of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Provider info
- Blue Lagoon
- Norðurljósavegur 9, 240 Grindavík
- (+354) 420 8800
- www.bluelagoon.com
The Coastline
The coastline is a 10 km long path for walking along the coast of Town of Reykjanes. Ranging from the Duus houses and Bergid all the way to Viking World. During the whole walk you will have an beautiful view over the Atlantic Ocean.
We recommend also to further and go around the Keflavik Marina, the small boat harbour called Marina Gróf and walk on the walking trails on the cliffs called Bergid.
Signs have been put up to tell the story of the area and give information on what to see in the near surroundings and along the way. The trail gives an opportunity to enjoy the fresh sea air, the sea-birds, various kind of coastal vegetation and insight into geology of various rocks and cliffs. Providing good physical refreshment, one can walk, jog, bike or roll on roller skates.
Open All Year
Accessible all year
Great walking trail right next to Hotel Keflavik
Provider info
