After the Blue Lagoon, don’t just sit near the airport
The Blue Lagoon is the obvious stop near Keflavík Airport.
You land in Iceland, soak in the milky blue water, take the photos, rinse off, and then suddenly you have that awkward travel-day question:
Now what?
If you have a rental car and a few extra hours before heading to KEF, the Reykjanes Peninsula is where the day gets weird in the best possible way.
This is not the Golden Circle. It is not a polished “greatest hits of Iceland” route. It is more like Iceland’s volcanic side quest: lava fields, crashing waves, geothermal steam, ghost stories, extinct birds, movie props, and a bridge where you can walk between tectonic plates.
And the best part is that all of this is close enough to the Blue Lagoon and Keflavík Airport that it can turn a practical travel day into an actual Iceland memory. This route also works well as a supporting piece to our full 1 Day in Iceland itinerary, where we explain how we fit Reykjavík, the Blue Lagoon, and the Reykjanes Peninsula into one realistic stopover day.
That is the kind of stop we love at Road Trip & Travel: not necessarily the biggest attraction, but the one that makes you say, “I’m really glad we didn’t just sit around at the airport.”
Quick answer: what should you do after the Blue Lagoon?
If you have a rental car and at least three to four extra hours, a short Reykjanes Peninsula loop after the Blue Lagoon is absolutely worth considering.
The four stops I’d prioritize are:
- Brimketill Lava Rock Pool — a wild lava-carved coastal viewpoint.
- Gunnuhver Hot Springs — a loud, steamy geothermal area with serious “the earth is alive” energy.
- Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnúkamöl — coastal drama, lighthouse history, boulder fields, extinction history, and a ridiculous movie-photo bonus.
- Bridge Between Continents — a quick, touristy-but-fun stop where you can walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.
This route works best for travelers who want their Iceland stopover to feel like more than just the Blue Lagoon and the airport.
It is probably not worth it if you are exhausted, traveling without a car, dealing with rough weather, or cutting your flight timing close. Iceland is not the place to play games with airport stress, wind, weather, or road closures.
Reykjanes Peninsula after the Blue Lagoon: at a glance
| Question | Quick answer |
|---|---|
| Is this route worth doing? | Yes, if you have a rental car, decent weather, and at least three to four extra hours. |
| Best for | Travelers visiting the Blue Lagoon before or after a flight from Keflavík Airport. |
| Main stops | Brimketill, Gunnuhver, Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnúkamöl, Bridge Between Continents. |
| Bonus stops | Great Auk memorial, Eldey views, and the Volcano Man keyboards. |
| Who should skip it | Travelers without a car, tight flight timing, bad weather, or low energy after a long travel day. |
| Best route order | Blue Lagoon → Brimketill → Gunnuhver → Reykjanes Lighthouse / Valahnúkamöl → Bridge Between Continents → KEF. |
| Minimum time | Three to four hours, plus airport buffer. |
Why the Reykjanes Peninsula works so well after the Blue Lagoon
A lot of travelers treat Reykjanes like the part of Iceland you drive through on the way to somewhere else.
That is understandable. Keflavík Airport is here. The Blue Lagoon is here. Reykjavík is not far away. Most people are either arriving, leaving, or trying to get to the “real” Iceland.
But that is what makes this route interesting.
The Reykjanes Peninsula is not trying to be soft or convenient. It feels rough, exposed, volcanic, and a little strange. In a short drive, you can move from warm spa water to black lava coastline, boiling mud, a lighthouse battered by wind, and a footbridge over a tectonic fissure.
That variety exists because Reykjanes sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian plates are pulling apart. You do not need to understand the geology to enjoy the route, but it helps explain why this small airport-area peninsula has lava fields, fissures, geothermal areas, and landscapes that feel so different from one stop to the next.
For a one-day Iceland stopover, that variety matters.
You are not just filling time.
You are collecting four very different versions of Iceland without driving halfway across the country.
Who this route is best for
This mini road trip is a good fit if you:
- Have a rental car.
- Are visiting the Blue Lagoon before or after a flight.
- Have a few hours to fill near Keflavík Airport.
- Like weird roadside stops, geology, folklore, and coastal scenery.
- Want a more memorable Iceland stopover without committing to a full-day route.
- Prefer specific, interesting places over generic “top things to do” checklists.
It is especially good for people who enjoy the “what is this place?” side of travel.
You do not have to be a geology expert. You just have to appreciate lava fields, steam vents, old stories, and places that feel slightly dramatic for being so close to an international airport.
Who should skip it
Skip this route if:
- You do not have a rental car.
- Your flight timing is tight.
- Weather or road conditions are questionable.
- You are tired enough that driving exposed roads sounds stressful.
- You want indoor attractions, restaurants, shops, or a relaxed café day.
- You are expecting a polished attraction at every stop.
Reykjanes is memorable, but it is not gentle. Wind, waves, steam, rough ground, and changing conditions are part of the experience.
If you are flying the same day, airport timing wins. Always.
How much time do you need?
For these four stops after the Blue Lagoon, I would allow at least three to four hours if you want the route to feel enjoyable instead of rushed.
You could move faster, especially if you only take quick photos, but this is Iceland. The weather changes. The wind slows you down. The landscape keeps tempting you to pull over. One “quick stop” can easily become 25 minutes because the ocean is doing something dramatic.
A realistic version looks like this:
- Blue Lagoon to Brimketill
- Brimketill: 15–30 minutes
- Gunnuhver: 20–40 minutes
- Reykjanes Lighthouse, Valahnúkamöl, and Volcano Man keyboards: 30–60 minutes
- Bridge Between Continents: 15–30 minutes
- Drive back toward KEF with extra buffer
If you are doing this before a flight, add more time than you think you need.
The goal is to make your last few hours in Iceland better, not to create a dramatic airport sprint with lava fields in the background.
Suggested route order after the Blue Lagoon
If you are starting at the Blue Lagoon and eventually heading toward Keflavík Airport, I would plan the route like this:
- Blue Lagoon
- Brimketill Lava Rock Pool
- Gunnuhver Hot Springs
- Reykjanes Lighthouse, Valahnúkamöl, and Volcano Man keyboards
- Bridge Between Continents
- Keflavík Airport
This route gives the day a nice progression.
You start with the famous spa, then move into the rough lava coastline, then geothermal weirdness, then the dramatic edge of the peninsula, then finish with a quick symbolic walk between continents.
It feels like a mini Iceland sampler without trying to pretend you saw the whole country.
Stop 1: Brimketill Lava Rock Pool
Brimketill is not a hot spring.
Let’s get that out of the way immediately.
It may look like a natural pool in photos, and the word “pool” may make your brain think “maybe I can get in,” but no. This is not a relaxing soak. This is not a place to test your adventurous side. This is not where you recreate a Blue Lagoon moment with more danger and worse decision-making.
Brimketill is a lava-carved coastal formation where the Atlantic crashes into dark volcanic rock.
That is what makes it great.
After the warm, controlled comfort of the Blue Lagoon, Brimketill feels like Iceland showing you the other side of the deal. It is rough, exposed, loud, and shaped by the kind of ocean power that makes you instinctively take a step back.
It is a quick stop, but it has personality.
The folklore: Oddný’s pool
Brimketill is also known in folklore as the bathing place of the giantess Oddný.
Visit Reykjanes describes Brimketill as a small pool naturally carved by marine erosion at the lava shore west of Grindavík, and notes the folklore connection to Oddný.
That little detail changes the way the stop feels.
Without the story, you are looking at a lava formation carved by the sea. With the story, you are standing at a place where Icelandic landscape and imagination overlap. You can see why a pool-shaped hollow in black coastal lava would become something more than just geology.
This is one of the things Iceland does well. The natural world already looks strange, and then the folklore makes it stranger.
Is Brimketill worth visiting?
Yes, if you are already driving the Reykjanes Peninsula after the Blue Lagoon.
Brimketill is not a destination I would build an entire day around by itself, but as the first weird stop on this route, it works beautifully. It gives you crashing waves, dark lava, folklore, and a totally different mood from the Blue Lagoon.
How long do you need at Brimketill?
Most travelers only need 15 to 30 minutes.
This is a viewpoint stop, not a long hike or major attraction. Take in the coastline, get your photos, appreciate the power of the ocean, and keep moving.
What to know before you go
Stay in the designated viewing area. Do not climb down toward the pool. Do not underestimate the waves.
This is the kind of place where the photo may look calm later, but the ocean in person feels very serious.
Brimketill is the stop for people who like their scenery a little angry.
Stop 2: Gunnuhver Hot Springs
Gunnuhver is where the Reykjanes Peninsula starts acting weird in the best way.
This geothermal area is full of steam, boiling mud, sulfur smells, boardwalks, warning signs, and that low-level sense that the ground is doing things it probably should have cleared with someone first.
It is loud. It is steamy. It smells like geothermal activity, which is the polite travel-writing way of saying your nose will notice.
And honestly, that is part of the fun.
After Brimketill’s cold Atlantic coastline, Gunnuhver gives you the opposite element: heat coming up from the earth. This is one of those places where Iceland does not need much interpretation to be interesting. You can see the steam. You can hear the bubbling. You can feel the atmosphere change.
It is not cute. It is not subtle.
It feels alive.
The story behind Gunnuhver
Gunnuhver is also tied to Icelandic folklore. The area is named after Gunna, a female ghost said to have caused trouble until she was trapped in the hot spring.
Visit Reykjanes tells the local version of the story as a ghost tale involving Gunna, a ball of yarn, and a trap that ends at the hot spring.
That little piece of story gives the stop extra personality. You are not just looking at steam vents and mud pools. You are standing in a place where geology and folklore overlap, which is one of the reasons Iceland is so good at making even short stops feel memorable.
Whether you are there for the science, the ghost story, the steam, or the “what is this place?” reaction, Gunnuhver earns its spot on this route.
Is Gunnuhver worth visiting?
Yes. If you only have time for one stop after the Blue Lagoon, Gunnuhver might be the one I would push hardest.
It feels distinctly Icelandic in a very immediate way. Steam is rising, mud is bubbling, the ground looks strange, and the story gives it a darker edge.
For a short stopover itinerary, that is a lot of payoff.
How long do you need at Gunnuhver?
Plan on 20 to 40 minutes.
You can move through quickly, but it is worth slowing down enough to walk the viewing areas and take in the setting.
This is also a great place for video because the motion and sound do a lot of the storytelling for you.
What to know before you go
Stay on the paths and platforms. This is not a place to wander off for a better angle.
Geothermal areas can be dangerous, and the ground may be unstable or extremely hot outside designated areas. This is also a place where wind matters. Steam can shift quickly, and your “perfect shot” may become “why can’t I see anything?” in about three seconds.
Bring a jacket, keep your camera ready, and accept that your hair may become part of the landscape.
Stop 3: Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnúkamöl
After Gunnuhver, do not rush straight to the Bridge Between Continents. This is where the route deserves one more stop: Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnúkamöl.
This part of the peninsula feels like the edge of Iceland in the best possible way. You have the lighthouse, the cliffs, the boulder ridge, the ocean, the wind, those birds and that dramatic volcanic coastline that makes even a short stop feel bigger than it looks on a map.
Reykjanes Lighthouse gives the area a strong visual anchor. There is real history here too: Iceland’s first lighthouse was built on Valahnúkur in Reykjanes in 1878, before earthquakes and surf eventually made the original location unsafe. It is the kind of place that instantly looks good in photos: a lonely lighthouse standing over a rough coastal landscape near the southwestern tip of Iceland.
But the real personality of this stop is the landscape around it.
Valahnúkamöl is a boulder ridge near Valahnúkur, shaped by the kind of storm energy that makes you understand why Icelandic coastlines feel so powerful. This is not a soft beach walk. It is a rugged, exposed, wave-battered place where the rocks, cliffs, and ocean all feel like they are telling the same story: Iceland was made by forces much bigger than us.
That is not just poetic travel language. Visit Reykjanes describes Valahnúkamöl as a high boulder ridge of rounded stones created by powerful storms, high waves, and surf.
That is exactly why this stop belongs on the route.
The Great Auk memorial: a sadder story near the sea
This area also has a quieter, sadder layer: the Great Auk memorial.
The Great Auk was a flightless seabird that was hunted to extinction, with the last documented pair killed on Eldey Island off the coast of Reykjanes in 1844. That makes the memorial feel less like a random coastal sculpture and more like a marker for one of the saddest wildlife stories tied to this coastline. The memorial looking toward Eldey adds a completely different kind of meaning to this stop.
It is easy to think of the Reykjanes Peninsula only in terms of volcanoes, lava, and geothermal energy. But this little memorial reminds you that Iceland’s coastline is also tied to wildlife, human choices, and loss.
The Volcano Man keyboards: ridiculous in the best way
And then, because Iceland apparently decided this stop needed one more layer, you may also find the Volcano Man keyboards.
These are connected to the movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga and the over-the-top “Volcano Man” scene with Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. Visit Reykjanes noted that the “Volcano Man” scene showed the duo playing keyboards at Valahnúkur by Reykjanes Lighthouse, which is why this little pop-culture stop feels so funny sitting in the middle of such dramatic scenery.
Are the keyboards essential Iceland history? No.
Are they a hilarious and memorable stop if you already watched the movie or enjoy weird travel finds? Absolutely.
This is the kind of thing I would never build a whole itinerary around, but I love as a bonus. You are standing near a dramatic lighthouse and storm-shaped boulder ridge, thinking about extinct birds and dangerous seas, and then suddenly there are movie keyboards in the volcanic landscape.
That is exactly the kind of weird little travel detail people remember.
Is Reykjanes Lighthouse worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you are already visiting Gunnuhver.
The lighthouse gives the route a strong scenic stop and adds historical context to the coastline. It is also one of the most photogenic places on this mini road trip.
Is Valahnúkamöl worth visiting?
Yes, if you like rugged coastal scenery and places that feel a little wild.
This is not a polished attraction. It is more about the atmosphere: waves, wind, boulders, cliffs, and the sense that you are standing at the far edge of the peninsula.
Are the Volcano Man keyboards worth stopping for?
Yes, if you like quirky pop-culture travel stops.
No, if you have no interest in the movie or are short on time. Treat them as a bonus, not the main reason to drive the route.
How long do you need here?
Plan on 30 to 60 minutes, depending on weather, visibility, and how many of the nearby points you want to see.
This is the stop where I would expect people to linger more than planned.
What to know before you go
This area can be windy, exposed, and dangerous near cliffs or unstable edges. Stay on marked paths, avoid cliff edges, and do not wander into cracked or unsafe-looking areas for a photo.
Also be realistic about the weather. A calm-looking photo may not show how intense the wind felt in person.
Photo caption idea:
Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnúkamöl bring together lighthouse history, wild coastal drama, extinct-bird history, and one very weird Volcano Man bonus stop.
Stop 4: Bridge Between Continents
The Bridge Between Continents is probably the most touristy stop on this list.
It is also still worth doing.
This small footbridge crosses a fissure between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. The bridge is symbolic, but the geology is real: Visit Reykjanes describes it as a footbridge over a major fissure on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the Eurasian and North American plates are diverging. Is it a little gimmicky? Yes. Are you literally going to walk across a bridge, take a photo, read a sign, and move on? Also yes.
But that does not make it bad.
Not every memorable road trip stop has to be epic. Some are quick, odd, educational, and fun. The Bridge Between Continents is exactly that kind of stop.
It gives you a simple story: you walked between two tectonic plates in Iceland on the way to the airport.
That is a better travel memory than sitting in a rental car lot two hours early because you ran out of ideas.
Is the Bridge Between Continents worth visiting?
Yes, if you are nearby and enjoy quick, quirky, educational stops.
No, if you expect a major attraction or long hike. This is a short symbolic bridge in a stark volcanic landscape, not a full geological park.
But for this specific route after the Blue Lagoon, it is a great final stop.
How long do you need at the Bridge Between Continents?
Most travelers only need 15 to 30 minutes.
Walk the bridge, take photos, read the signs, look around at the lava fields, and enjoy the fact that Iceland has a “walk between continents” stop sitting within reach of the airport.
What to know before you go
The area is exposed, so wind can make even a quick stop feel more intense. Wear decent shoes and be prepared for blowing sand or rough weather.
This is also one of the easiest short-form video stops on the route because the concept is instantly understandable.
What we would do again
We would absolutely build extra time around the Blue Lagoon again instead of treating it like the only thing to do near Keflavík.
The Blue Lagoon may be the famous stop, but the Reykjanes Peninsula is what makes the day feel like a mini road trip.
Brimketill gives you the lava coast. Gunnuhver gives you steam and ghost-story weirdness. Reykjanes Lighthouse and Valahnúkamöl give you the dramatic edge-of-Iceland feeling. The Volcano Man keyboards add a ridiculous bonus. The Bridge Between Continents gives you the easy final story.
Together, they turn a practical airport day into something much more memorable.
What we would do differently
The biggest thing we would do differently is build in more buffer time.
These stops are close enough to make sense, but Iceland has a way of slowing you down. The wind picks up. The steam shifts. The ocean looks dramatic. The road feels emptier than expected. You stop for one photo, and suddenly another viewpoint looks worth checking out.
That is not a problem unless you are watching the clock before a flight.
If you are doing this route before leaving Iceland, give yourself enough time to enjoy it without turning the day into a checklist.
Practical tips for this Reykjanes mini road trip
Rent a car
This route makes the most sense with a rental car. Without one, the logistics are much less appealing.
Check conditions before you go
Reykjanes is an active volcanic region, and conditions can change quickly. Before driving this route, check SafeTravel Iceland for general travel alerts, Traffic Info from the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration for road conditions, the Icelandic Met Office for earthquake and volcanic updates, and Blue Lagoon’s seismic activity updates if your route starts or ends there.
This sounds like overkill until you are actually standing in Reykjanes wind, steam, lava fields, and airport-deadline math. Check before you go, then adjust the route if conditions are not cooperating.
Do not overpack the route
Four main stops is enough if you are doing this after the Blue Lagoon and before a flight. You may see other tempting places nearby, but do not turn a good mini road trip into a rushed scavenger hunt.
Wear real shoes
Even quick stops can involve uneven ground, gravel, wind, wet surfaces, and short walks. This is not the ideal route for flimsy sandals.
Keep your airport timing sacred
No photo, steam vent, lighthouse, or movie keyboard is worth missing your flight.
Leave extra time for driving, refueling, rental car return, check-in, security, and anything else that could slow you down.
Is this route better before or after the Blue Lagoon?
Either can work.
I like it after the Blue Lagoon if you have an evening flight because it lets you relax first, then add adventure before leaving Iceland.
But if your Blue Lagoon reservation is later in the day, or if you are worried about time, it may be smarter to do the Reykjanes stops first and save the Blue Lagoon for the end.
The best order depends on:
- Your flight time
- Your Blue Lagoon reservation
- Weather
- Daylight
- Rental car timing
- How much stress you are willing to tolerate on a travel day
For most travelers, the safest plan is the one with the most buffer.
Is the Reykjanes Peninsula worth visiting if you only have one day in Iceland?
Yes, especially if your one day in Iceland is already centered around Keflavík Airport, Reykjavík, or the Blue Lagoon.
If your dream Iceland trip is waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, and long scenic drives, Reykjanes may not be the version of Iceland you pictured.
But for a short stopover, it is incredibly practical and surprisingly memorable.
You get lava fields, geothermal areas, folklore, coastal scenery, lighthouse history, movie weirdness, and tectonic plates without committing to a long drive across the country.
That is a strong return for a few extra hours.
Final verdict: should you explore Reykjanes after the Blue Lagoon?
Yes — if you have a car, enough time, decent conditions, and a little appetite for weird roadside Iceland.
This route is not about checking off the biggest Iceland attractions. It is about making the most of the part of Iceland many travelers rush through.
Brimketill, Gunnuhver, Reykjanes Lighthouse, Valahnúkamöl, the Volcano Man keyboards, and the Bridge Between Continents all add something different.
Together, they turn the space between the Blue Lagoon and Keflavík Airport into a real travel story.
And that is exactly the kind of road trip stop we are always looking for.
