7 Best Sights in Grindavík, Reykjanes Peninsula and the South Coast (with the Golden Circle)

Across a wide tension crack that opened due to the divergent movements of the North American and Eurasian plates is a narrow footbridge built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America. You can (symbolically) walk from one continent to another in seconds, marveling at the tectonic forces at work on this island; the average rifting of the plates amounts to about 2 cm (0.8 inch) per year. The bridge is just off Route 425, and there's plenty of information on-site as well as some classic photo ops (many visitors pretend to hold the bridge up).

Five kilometers (3 miles) west of Grindavík, this naturally carved lava tub is constantly filled and drained by ocean surf. Folklore says that the geological pool was the giantess Oddný's favorite spot to bathe. On windy days it's thrilling to watch the incredible force of the sea—just be careful of slippery rocks.

This 10-km-long (6-mile-long) row of craters formed in the Reykjanes Fires, a volcano-tectonic episode in AD 1210–40. The whole area has a spooky and majestic vibe thanks to the steam escaping the craters as well as a nearby borehole. Eldvörp is a bit hidden, but several well-marked walking trails pass near it, including the Reykjavegur. It's also accessible on foot, by bike, and by car on a dirt track from the Grindavík–Blue Lagoon link road.

This geothermal field is named for Guðrún Önundardóttir's ghost, who sought revenge after being mistreated by a lawyer. After several deaths connected to Guðrún (also called Gunna), a sorcerer was sent to put her to rest in the hot spring. The walk over the historical bridge is well worth the wet clothes and the strong smell of sulfur.

Walk or drive from the town of Grindavík to Hópsnes, and you will find old shipwrecks that washed ashore in the 20th century. At the end of the path is the lighthouse, Hópnes, which on clear days has views of the Eldey Island bird colony. The walk should take about two hours, with various stops along the way.

The petite but stunning mountain Þorbjörn is set between Grindavík and the Blue Lagoon. The mountain is only about 200 meters (656.2 feet) high, but it offers a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding area—including endless lava fields, mossy hills, the Atlantic Ocean, and the milky Blue Lagoon. The top of the mountain is split in two with a tight canyon in the middle called “the Thieves Gap.\" The peak is easily accessible by marked hiking trails, and near the foot of the mountain on the north side is a small forest and a wooden playground.

About 8 km (5 miles) east of Grindavík, just off the main road, you will see an information board about this historical site. Drive about 1 km (½ mile) along a rocky dirt road (ideally in a 4x4 vehicle), and at the end of road you will see a parking spot. From there a scenic 15-minute walk (with views of the wild ocean crashing into the black shores) takes you to the ruins of a former fishing station constructed from lava rocks. The stone is believed to date back to AD 1150, but the station was maintained from the Middle Ages until 1885.