10 Must-See Iceland Attractions Near KEF Airport
With a car and a short layover in Iceland at KEF airport, you can actually see and do quite a bit if you have a stopover. We had 24 hours to see and do as much as possible without completely bottoming out, and we managed to do all of it and then some.
If you are traveling with kids, be sure to check out my advice on how to manage an Iceland layover with kids, otherwise, read on for the best attractions to see Iceland at its finest, all within a matter of hours.
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Renting a Car in Iceland
You will need a car for this itinerary, but in some instances I have provided tours available.
Learn more about renting a car abroad here.
Check in advance for area closures on road.is.
Browse rental cars in Iceland here.
Now on to the itinerary.
First Stop: Turf Houses at Stekkjarkot
These adorable houses are painted black and covered in grass. It's not the Shire, but it's close!
Drive time from last stop: N/A
Time spent: 5-10 minutes
What to do there: Wander around the houses, peek inside and take photos!
Next Stop: Fuel Up
Whether you are buying road snacks at nearby Bonus or Kronan grocery stores, or popping in for a coffee and pastry at Kökulist Bakery, you'll want to get the road trip vibe going with some body fuel.
Drive time from last stop: Less than 5 minutes
Time spent: 20 minutes
What to do there: Browse the stores for snacks or have a morning coffee.
Stop Three: The Bridge Between Continents
Step foot in two continents at one time!
Drive time from last stop: 15 minutes
Time spent: 15-20 minutes
What to do there: Take the short hike from the parking lot (3 minutes) and read the signs about the tectonic plates, including where you will be standing - the Eurasian and North American plates.
Cross the bridge and shout across continents!
Bring a love lock for the bridge if you are into that sort of thing.
Tour options: This perfect tour will do the trick for seeing all of it.
Pro Tip: Have someone take your photo from across the plates for a great photo op.
Stop Four: Valahnúkamöl Cliffs and Scenic Vista
Drive time from last stop: 11 minutes
Time spent: 15-20 minutes
What to do there: Home of the Volcano Man from the cheeky Eurovision Movie, restage the scene on the clifftop.
Or, across the way take photos of stunning cliffs and say hi to the bird statue.
Tour options: Try this tour loaded with great stops.
Pro Tip: If the road is too rocky for your car, park at the lighthouse and walk.
Stop Five: Reykjanes Lighthouse
Drive time from last stop: 2 minutes
Time spent: 10 minutes
What to do there: This is your one and only bathroom opportunity, so use it here.
While there, check out the signs about the history of the area and the lighthouse. Find the cute stories and legends about trolls and ghosts!
There is also a cafe, which was closed when I visited, but there's nice picnic tables too if you need a refuel break on snacks.
Tour options: Prefer a tour? This one stops at all the sites on this list and then some. Click here to learn more about pricing and details.
Pro Tip: Use the bathroom!
Stop Six: Gunnuhver Geothermal Area and Hot Spring Geyser
Drive time from last stop: 3 minutes
Time spent: 20 minutes
What to do there: View the geyser from several vantage points and marvel at its fury. Enjoy reading the story of Gunna the ghost (really sounds more like a witch) who fell in (or perhaps was pushed? she sounds awful), who is now raging on forever more through the geyser.
Tour options: This minibus tour will take you there!
Pro Tip: For your GPS, plug in Gunnuhver West Parking. Otherwise, Google will send you a stupid roundabout way that takes 10 minutes longer.
Not this one:
Stop Seven: Brimketill Lava Rock Pool
Drive time from last stop: 10 minutes
Time spent: 10-15 minutes
What to do there: Ooh and aah at the smell of the ocean and the lava rocks piled high along the path to the ocean ledge. See a crater of a lava pool (think like a tide pool, but the rock is lava stone). It's great for stunning ocean views and questioning our existence on this planet with such insane landscapes surrounding you.
Tour options: This crazy tour has so much going on, including a visit to the lava pools.
Pro Tip: Although you may be tempted, taking lava rocks as souvenirs is not only uncouth (and probably illegal), but it is considered bad luck. My kid loves collecting rocks, so this was a good tip to give her!
Stop Eight: Gardur Old Lighthouse
At the end of the peninsula near the airport is a town called Gardur. For the longest stretch of the driving day, turn on some tunes and enjoy the return view scenery before reaching this destination.
Drive time from last stop: 40 minutes
Time spent: 30-45 minutes
What to do there: There are a few options upon arriving, including parking in the large lot and walking over to the cliff edge for views of the lighthouse and coast.
Or, venture over to the gorgeous Röstin Restaurant (also called the Old Lighthouse Cafe) where depending on the day they offer coffee and cakes, or full service dining. Views from the restaurant of two lighthouses are as pretty as the interior decor.
Downstairs, The Heritage Museum at Gardskagi is a charming and unexpected free museum full of artifacts from Icelandic life. Adjacent are some restrooms and a cute gift shop.
Pro Tip: Make time for the museum!
Stop Nine: Giantess Cave
Driving toward the town of Keflavik once more, explore this quirky children's attraction. Housing a giantess (a female giant), her home is super sized and great for photos.
Drive time from last stop: 15 minutes
Time spent: 15 minutes
What to do there: Take lots of photos and be silly. Enjoy the walk around the harbor. It is open from 10am-5pm, so be sure to visit when you can go inside.
Pro Tip: Park at Kaffi Duus or just below by the Keflavik sign below:
Last Stop: Lunch at Kaffi Duus
Drive time from last stop: N/A
Time spent: 1 hour
What to do there: Finish your amazing driving day with a nice meal of lamb goulash, fish and chips, and Einstok beer before heading back to the airport, which is just 4 minutes away.
Optional Last Top: Blue Lagoon
And because I must, yes the Blue Lagoon is also an option, just 20 minutes away from Keflavik. Soak in the waters, have a coffee in the shop, or whatever people do at the Blue Lagoon. Not my thing, but have at it! Tour information is plentiful, and almost all include transportation to or from the airport or hotels so check out the list here.
Total Time spent: 3-6 hours depending on pace and dining!
I hope you enjoy your travels around the peninsula, and be sure to check out my article on expectations for a layover in Iceland!
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