Exploring Iceland, pt 1: Reykjanes Peninsula

January 19, 2011 @ 9:15AM

Exploring Iceland, pt 1: Reykjanes Peninsula

Travellers on their way to Iceland write to me on a regular basis, inquiring what are some main "points of interest" here in Iceland that they need to check out. It's tempting to address this with the following:

Seriously... Pretty much the whole country is worth checking out. But I realize that's not particularly helpful for those who may perhaps just be stopping by for one day, or perhaps can't afford to drive around the entire island and need to narrow down potentially cool places to stay while here.

I've decided to be a sport and compile a series of short posts highlighting places I've been to and have photographed, in the hope that this will not only help out those who've already decided to fly out here for their next vacation, but also encourage others who've never even heard of Iceland to consider it as a future destination. We don't have any amusement parks, the weather is completely unpredictable and often unpleasant, but if there's one thing Iceland is good for, it's photography.

A logical starting point is the Reykjanes peninsula, as this is where Keflavik International Airport (Iceland's ONLY international airport) is located. I've photographed this area extensively in the past few years, largely due to the fact that I live nearby, in Hafnarfjörður, which is right next door to the capital of Reykjavík.

In the Reykjanes area you'll find, among other things, the Blue Lagoon, Kleifarvatn lake (I've probably taken more of my photos there than anywhere else), some cool lighthouses, and plenty of rocky coast perfect for potential LE photography. The area is small enough so that you can explore most of it in one day, and I particularly recommend exploring during the night in summer—everything is more magical then. I'll let the following images do the rest of the talking.

Places mentioned in the captions can easily be located on a map.

The sheep are available in print.

Comments

Mirko

1 year ago

I didn't know about the lake, but I travelled around Reykjanes a little bit and loved it. It reminded me a little bit of my home in the Canary Islands.
hehe, I know that light house pretty well :-)
And the geothermal area in Hveragerdi is fantastic, there is even a hot river where you can have a bath and relax :-P

Rebekka Guðleif...

1 year ago

Yeah I did that once with a couple of friends, we managed to trespass through an angry farmers backyard trying to find the right spot in the river ;)

Chris Lazzery

1 year ago

Fantastic post, Rebekka. I only briefly got to visit Reykjanes, but I loved it. Unfortunately it rained a ton on the way there, but cleared up as I arrived, and I was able to photograph the Garðskagi lighthouses before the sun went down. Lovely area. Only wish I had allowed more time to explore more of it.

Terry Dwyer

1 year ago

Thanks for your article, Rebekka. It is very timely as I will be arriving in Iceland in early February but I am still deciding where to go.

George

1 year ago

thanks for the post Rebekka..
there's something, magical about Iceland (and you ;-). I haven't travelled there yet, but your art is a beautiful way to show this country. Keep up the wonderful work. I always look forward to seeing what you write about and create next :-)

Haley Steinhardt

Pixiq Editor

1 year ago

As always, your images are absolutley gorgeous! I have always wanted to visit Iceland. Just out of curiosity, is there, in fact, a road that follows the coast of the island all the way around?

Sergey

1 year ago

Finally!
I`ve been wait for this a long time and you start it :) Iceland is the next "new place" to visit and shoot for me, so this articles are right in time :)
Thank you!

Rebekka Guðleif...

1 year ago

@Haley: yes, there is indeed a road like that, it's actually named National Road #1, (also called the "circle road") that you can follow for a roundtrip around the country , altho it doesnt trace the coastline into the more remote fjords.

Winston Smith

1 year ago

Wow, thanks for this!! Iceland is working its way up on my list of places to go. Your photography helps it move up faster!

Malc

1 year ago

Perfect timing !! I'm heading to Iceland in July, spending one week in the north and one week in the south. I cant wait as its been on my must see places for many years now. Hoping to get a mix of landscape and wildlife shots and maybe have a go at long exposure for the first time. Many thanks for taking th etime and effort to share both your experiences and your photos.