Reykjanes and Blue Lagoon - Day Tour
Tour description:
- from Reykjavík drive Kringlumýrarbraut and Hafnarfjarðarvegur (road no. 40) through the suburbs Kópavogur and Garðabær
- turn right onto road no. 415 to Álftanes peninsula, turn right to Bessastaðir
Bessastaðir
- one of the richest farms in mediaeval Iceland, center of education and culture for many centuries, first mentioned in the Icelandic Sagas
- site of the only Latin school in Iceland from 1805 until 1845, when it was moved to Reykjavík
- since 1944 residence of the President of Iceland
- church built in early 19th century, interesting stained glass windows, showing the history of Christianity in Iceland
- you can visit Bessastaðir, the church is open to visitors, the residence of the president is not
- drive back on road no. 415, turn right, pass the church of Garðar
Hafnarfjörður
- town, centered around the harbor, built on a lava field, inhab. approx. 20.000
- long history of trade at the harbor
- famous Viking village near by the harbor, Viking festival every second year
- local folk museum and Icelandic film museum in the oldest building of Hafnarfjörður, Sívertsen-house, recently reconstructed
- small but lovely garden Hellisgerði, ingeniously made into the lava, not far from Sívertsen-house
- tourist information centre
- guided walks on Icelandic folklore such as stories of hidden people and other fairies
- several restaurants, cafés, shops, churches etc.
- continue on road no. 41, drive road no. 42 in direction to Kleifarvatn and Krýsuvík
Kleifarvatn
- lake, 10 km², up to 97 m deep
- very interesting because the water level rises and falls, sometimes drastically, for examples in 2001 the water level dropped about 7 m due to a fissure that opened after an earthquake
- hot springs at the bottom of the lake, in 2001 they appeared at the beach
- lava all around the lake
- continue on road no. 42
Krýsuvík (Seltún)
- Krýsuvík is actually the name of an abandoned farm and a former church
- nowadays people use the name for the hot spring area Seltún
- hot mud and steam springs
- stop at the parking lot and enjoy a walk on a path
- this landscape changes very much, new springs appear at the surface, others „die“ or explode
- it depends on the weather, how much water there is on the surface
- be very careful, this hot springs can be dangerous, stay on the path
- facilities (during summer season)
- drive back to the junction, turn right onto road no. 427 in direction to Grindavík
Grindavík
- small town, 2.300 inhabitants
- living on fishing, fish processing, recently reconstructed harbor
- new church, school buildings
- very interesting museum on salt fish processing, salt fish (cod) was one of the main trade Icelandic goods until frozen fish products took over
- The motto of the museum „Lífið er saltfiskur“ (Life is salt fish) is taken from a novel by Halldór Laxness, Salka Valka.
- for further information on the Salt fish Museum see here
- restaurants, bank, shops
- from Grindavík drive road no. 43 to get to the Blue lagoon
Blue Lagoon
- one of the most famous and unique attractions in Iceland
- pool of pale blue warm water (38ºC), especially rich of minerals
- situated in the middle of black lava fields, often it looks very surreal, especially when fog swirls over the water
- The artificial lake was actually created by accident when geothermal seawater was used to cool down the nearby power station in the 1960s. The run-off water was meant to sink into the ground, but at a point the lava would not absorb any more water and a lake appeared. Experience and research have proved that the water is very healthy for several skin diseases and it is an unforgettable experience to relax in the hot, salty water. A new Blue lagoon was created and a modern service centre built 1998.
- restaurant, cafeteria, souvenir and cosmetic shops etc.
- walking path along the lake (500 m)
- drive back onto road no. 43, heading north, turn right onto road no. 41 back to the capital area