Seltjarnarnes — The Quiet Peninsula at the Edge of Reykjavík

Background

History & Background

Seltjarnarnes was one of the earliest settled areas in the Reykjavík region, with evidence of Viking-age farms. The Grótta lighthouse was first built in 1897 and has guided ships into Reykjavík harbour ever since. The area remained rural and sparsely populated until the 20th century suburban expansion of Reykjavík extended to the peninsula.

Seltjarnarnes is a municipality separate from Reykjavík (population ~4,500) but physically part of the peninsula that forms the capital city area. It is the westernmost municipality in Iceland. The main attractions are the coastal walking path around the peninsula, the Grótta tidal island and lighthouse, the local swimming pool (Seltjarnarneslaug — one of the best-sited in Iceland, with views over the bay), and birdwatching on the rocky shore and tidal flats. The coastal path around Seltjarnarnes is about 5 km long and takes 1–1.5 hours to walk at a comfortable pace. The path is paved for most of its length. Benches and viewpoints along the route look out over Faxaflói bay, the Esja mountain, and on clear days the Snæfellsjökull glacier 120 km away.