- Your first stop in Iceland -
This busy town owes it development mainly to its fishing and other industries and also to the growth of Keflavik International Airport.
Keflavík is first mentioned in written sources about 1590 as the base of an English trader, who was followed by German, and later Danish, merchants. Reykjanesbær is a major center of fishing and fish processing, although in recent years tourism has played an increasingly important role in the local economy. The town's hotels and restaurants are among the best in Iceland, and the bus station is the departure point for a series of sightseeing tours of the region. Keflavík is also an excellent base from which to explore much of Reykjanes on foot. For golfers, one of Iceland's best courses, Leira, is just a short drive away, while other facilities on offer include an outdoor swimming pool, sea-angling, and whale spotting, with the possibility of sighting minke and killer whales, and cruises to the island of Eldey, home to the world's largest gannet colony. Only a five-min drive from Iceland's international airport, Reykjanesbær is also ideally placed for the Blue Lagoon.
Once an important fishing port, the picturesque village of Hafnir is today a growing tourist attraction. The local church, built in 1861, is also worth a visit, while the anchor which stands on the road south of the village is all that remains of the schooner Jamestown, which ran aground in 1870 with the loss of all hands on board, none of whom was ever found.
South of Hafnir a cairn near the ocean salmon fry ranch at Kalmannstjörn marks the commencement of Prestastígur, another of the many old trails which criss-cross the region. The main road, however, continues south to reach the spectacular cliff formations at Hafnarberg, home to countless thousands of seabirds and one of the greatest natural attractions in the Reykjanes region. Accessible by means of a path running from the car park, the walk takes 35-45 minutes, although visitors should leave themselves plenty of time to enjoy the stunning variety of birdlife on display.
For further information and details, please contact us at
The Reykjanes Tourist Information Center
Hafnargata 57
IS-230 Reykjanesbær
Iceland
Tel. + 354 421 5155, fax + 354 421 3150
reykjanes@reykjanesbaer.is
