Southwest Iceland

• 🌍 Reykjavík — the capital of Iceland and focal point of the Southwest
• 🌍 Garður — just north of Keflavík
• 🌍 Grindavík — on the south coast of Reykjanes, Grindavík is perhaps today best known for its proximity to the Blue Lagoon, but it's also an important fishing centre
• 🌍 Hafnarfjörður — previously a separate fishing and trading town, today a suburb of Reykjavík and the second centre of gravity within the capital area
• 🌍 Keflavík — the main town on the Reykjanes peninsula and the location of Iceland's main international airport
• 🌍 Kópavogur — Iceland's second most populous town, known for its iconic hilltop church
• 🌍 Sandgerði — a small town on the western edge of Reykjanes, by the Atlantic ocean

• 🌍 Blue Lagoon — amazing geothermal spa with the water temperature around 40°C (104°F) all year round, even in freezing conditions

• 🌍 Bridge between continents — also called Leif the Lucky's (or Brú milli Heimsálfa) Bridge is a pedestrian bridge over the Álfagjá rift valley connecting symbolically the European and American continental plates. It is a part of the Mid Atlantic Ridge where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are continuously drifting apart with an average rate of about 2.5 cm (1 in) per year. The place can be reached by road 425 about 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Hafnir. Once on the American side of the rift, you are politically still in Europe, but on the North American plate.

Economically Southwest Iceland is dominated by Reykjavík and the capital area (Icelandic: Höfuðborgarsvæðið). It could be argued that all other towns in the Southwest today function partly as suburbs of Reykjavík. Geographically, however, the capital area is at the eastern fringe of a peninsula known as Reykjanes, which juts out from the west coast into the Atlantic Ocean. This peninsula is one of the youngest landscapes in Iceland and is mostly covered by a field of lava, making it very inhospitable away from the coastline. Between Reykjanes and Snæfellsnes (in West Iceland) is the Faxaflói bay.

Southwest Iceland has historically been considered part of South Iceland, and it was only over the last century or so that it gained the position of absolute dominance over other regions that it has today. The Southwest is home to over two thirds of the population of Iceland and in addition to some important fishing harbours, it is the location of most economic activity in Iceland other than primary production.

As in many other countries, there is a level of animosity (or at least competition) between the capital area and the rest of the country. Some would argue that the "real" Iceland is not found in the Southwest. Nevertheless it is the most area most visited by tourist, being home of popular destinations such as Reykjavík and the Blue Lagoon and with easy access to the Golden Circle.

See: Reykjavík#Get in

Southwest Iceland has some of the youngest lava in the country. Many who land there compare it to landing on the moon or on Mars. Nevertheless most people only visit the Blue Lagoon and Reykjavík, travelling to other regions to experience Icelandic nature. This is a shame, because the young lava is in fact quite spectacular and the Reykjanes peninsula absolutely fascinating. Sights include Kleifarvatn, a shallow lake which tends to shrink or expand as a result of geological activity, and the geothermal area of Krýsuvík. The south-western tip of Reykjanes, known as Reykjanestá (the Toe of Reykjanes) has large wave-beaten cliffs, beautiful beaches are dotted around other parts of the coastline. Despite the very ugly aluminium smelter next door, the area around Straumsvík (on the western edge of Hafnarfjörður) is a lush green bay for nice tranquil walks.

• Lava walking - You don't have to hike a mountain, a walk in the young lava of Reykjanes can be just as fun and just as exhausting due to the difficult surface. One location to spot in the lava is a symbolic bridge between the European and North American continents by the road along the eastern coast of Reykjanes.
• Volcano Tours, Víkurbraut 2, Keflavík, ☏ +354 426 8822. Adventure caving to lava tunnels and craters in the Reykjanes peninsula. No gear or experience is required. 17,000 kr. 

The Southwest is a fishing area with almost no agriculture so it's ideal to try to eat locally caught fish. The country's very small whaling industry is more or less based in Reykjavík and the whales are hunted in Faxaflói, the bay to the north of Reykjanes. There are very few dining options outside the main towns, but the Blue Lagoon (see above) has a restaurant, and there are of course several eateries at Keflavík International Airport.

Kaffitár is one of Iceland's main coffee companies, both as a roaster and a chain of cafés. It's based in Keflavík and their factory also has a nice café.

Reykjavík is of course known for its nightlife, and Keflavík has several good pubs. Apart from that, don't go to Southwest Iceland looking for nightlife.

As the Southwest contains larger urban areas than any other parts of Iceland, more care needs to be taken with regards to crime than in other parts of the country. On the southern and western coasts of Reykjanes it is especially important to be mindful of the sea, which is the Atlantic Ocean itself with its strong tides and currents. Be careful in the geothermal areas by Krýsuvík and Kleifarvatn, as there may be empty spaces beneath what seems to be solid land.

In 2023, a swarm of earthquakes occurred near the town of Grindavík at the Reykjanes Peninsula, and The Blue Lagoon Blue Lagoon was closed as a safety precaution. It has reopened as of January 20, 2024. Experts continue to monitor for seismic activity in the area. Check the latest reports before you go.

Southwest Iceland connects with the rest of Iceland through the ring road in Reykjavík, and with the road along the south coast from Grindavík to Eyrarbakki and the neighboring towns.

Many choose to explore to sights of Southwest Iceland and the Golden Circle in South Iceland together, and indeed this is probably the simplest way to get as much as possible out of your time in Iceland.