natural wonder
Blue Lagoon
Iceland's most famous geothermal spa, a milky-blue pool of mineral-rich water set amid a black lava field near Keflavík airport.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeIcelandSouthern Peninsula
Grindavík
Southern Peninsula, Iceland · Europe
About Grindavík
Grindavík is worth a stop: 20 minutes from Vogar, 5km from Blue Lagoon.
Grindavík is in Southern Peninsula, Iceland, with about 2,900 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Vogar, about 16 km away.
Grindavík (Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈkrɪntaˌviːk] ) is a fishing town in the Southern Peninsula district of Iceland, located near Þorbjörn.
It is one of the few towns with a harbour on this coast. Most of the inhabitants work in the fishing industry. The Blue Lagoon, Grindavík's première attraction, is located 5Read more
kilometres (3 mi) from the town.
In November 2023, in the midst of escalating and severe seismic activity, a state of emergency was declared and the town evacuated. On 18 December 2023, at around 22:00 local time (GMT), the Sundhnúkur volcano erupted. The eruption was close to Hagafell, about 3 kilometres (2 mi) northeast of Grindavík. A risk was also posed to Svartsengi Power Station. Fountains of lava, up to 100 metres (330 ft) high, could be seen from Iceland's capital, Reykjavík. Authorities said they were highly prepared.
The volcano erupted again on 8 February 2024, for the third time since December, this time at the edge of the town, and the lava flow destroyed a few buildings and infrastructure. The residents of Grindavík had remained evacuated. On 20 February, the residents were allowed to return to their homes, but on 2 March, Grindavík was again evacuated because of new seismic activity. On 16 March, a fourth eruption began near the site of the first eruption, which ended on 8 May. A fifth eruption began as a fissure on 29 May, but the eruptive activity quickly localized to a primary edifice in Sundhnúkur crater row, close to the northern edge of Grindavík town. This eruption ended on 22 June.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Grindavík?
Within an hour or so of Grindavík: Blue Lagoon (5 km), Hallgrímskirkja (42 km), Northern Lights: Reykjavik (42 km), Ring Road Iceland (42 km).
Are there any good drives near Grindavík?
The nearest famous roads are Ring Road Iceland, Golden Circle Route and Golden Circle, Iceland.
Where is Grindavík?
Grindavík is in Southern Peninsula, Iceland, about 16 km from Vogar.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 2,856
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Iceland
- Region
- Southern Peninsula
- Timezone
- Atlantic/Reykjavik
- Coordinates
- 63.8385, -22.4393
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Iceland
F-roads (mountain roads) require 4x4 and are closed much of the year. Safetravel.is for conditions.
Full driving guide for IcelandTags
Worth the detour from Grindavík
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Hallgrímskirkja
Reykjavik's towering expressionist church inspired by Iceland's basalt lava formations.
42 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Northern Lights: Reykjavik
Iceland's capital offers accessible Northern Lights viewing from September to March, with tours departing nightly to dark-sky areas.
42 km · about 50 min drive
famous road
Ring Road Iceland
Iceland's Route 1 circles the entire island over 1,322 kilometers past volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and black sand beaches.
42 km · about 50 min drive
restaurant
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
Reykjavík's harbourside hot-dog stand, family-run since 1937 and still serving lamb-based dogs 'with everything': crispy onions, remoulade and sweet mustard. Bill Clinton and virtually every Icelander have queued here.
42 km · about 50 min drive
tunnel
Hvalfjörður Tunnel
A 5.7 km road tunnel diving 165 m below sea level under Hvalfjörður on Iceland's Ring Road, saving an hour over the old fjord loop. The country's first subsea tunnel, opened in 1998 and now toll-free.
59 km · about 70 min drive
Driving roads near Grindavík
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 42 kmRing Road IcelandIceland's Route 1 circles the entire island over 1,322 kilometers past volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and black sand beaches.
- 59 kmHvalfjörður TunnelA 5.7 km road tunnel diving 165 m below sea level under Hvalfjörður on Iceland's Ring Road, saving an hour over the old fjord loop. The country's first subsea tunnel, opened in 1998 and now toll-free.
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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